Introducing Olympus & Olympus I/O - A new perspective on modern music playback

For those who just started reading up on Olympus, Olympus I/O, and XDMI, please note that all information in this thread has been summarized in a single PDF document that can be downloaded from the Taiko Website.

https://taikoaudio.com/taiko-2020/taiko-audio-downloads

The document is frequently updated.

Scroll down to the 'XDMI, Olympus Music Server, Olympus I/O' section and click 'XDMI, Olympus, Olympus I/O Product Introduction & FAQ' to download the latest version.

Good morning WBF!​

We are introducing the culmination of close to 4 years of research and development. As a bona fide IT/tech nerd with a passion for music, I have always been intrigued by the potential of leveraging the most modern of technologies in order to create a better music playback experience. This, amongst others, led to the creation of our popular, perhaps even revolutionary, Extreme music server 5 years ago, which we have been steadily improving and updating with new technologies throughout its life cycle. Today I feel we can safely claim it's holding its ground against the onslaught of new server releases from other companies, and we are committed to keep improving it for years to come.

We are introducing a new server model called the Olympus. Hierarchically, it positions itself above the Extreme. It does provide quite a different music experience than the Extreme, or any other server I've heard, for that matter. Conventional audiophile descriptions such as sound staging, dynamics, color palette, etc, fall short to describe this difference. It does not sound digital or analog, I would be inclined to describe it as coming closer to the intended (or unintended) performance of the recording engineer.

Committed to keeping the Extreme as current as possible, we are introducing a second product called the Olympus I/O. This is an external upgrade to the Extreme containing a significant part of the Olympus technology, allowing it to come near, though not entirely at, Olympus performance levels. The Olympus I/O can even be added to the Olympus itself to elevate its performance even further, though not as dramatic an uplift as adding it to the Extreme. Consider it the proverbial "cherry on top".

 

Any units being shipped this week?

I hope so, at this rate I'm looking at next year. I wouldn't I have gone out and purchased another new Horizon (XDMI) (loss of 6-7K) if I knew this was going to happen...

 

I think things are going to go quicker once the EU vacation period is over and once Taco get licensure to ship the batteries which I understand to be very soon. Presently the units that ship are packaged to code by a 3rd party who then hands off the properly sealed shipment to fedEx or DHL. I believe both these things will soon be corrected and the units will be shipping faster.
@John T . speaking to Lukasz, who at the moment AFAIK is the only one to have heard native XDMI via the Horizon, I believe the wait will have been worth the effort in the new Horizon

 

New Horizon w XDMI all burned in and ready to go here. I have made peace w saying goodbye to XDMS for a bit. Will be really interesting if Horizon tube selection changes w the Olympus. I believe Emile said same tubes will be great but am ready to roll (still have original ~80 tubes) to test.

Thought the same regarding tubes...

 

I think things are going to go quicker once the EU vacation period is over and once Taco get licensure to ship the batteries which I understand to be very soon. Presently the units that ship are packaged to code by a 3rd party who then hands off the properly sealed shipment to fedEx or DHL. I believe both these things will soon be corrected and the units will be shipping faster.
@John T . speaking to Lukasz, who at the moment AFAIK is the only one to have heard native XDMI via the Horizon, I believe the wait will have been worth the effort in the new Horizon

I've always been confident regarding the Horizon XDMI with the Olympus....

 

A couple questions please.
Is having the IO directly under the Olympus going to produce marks on the top of the IO over time ?
Does the distance of the connection between the two unit have a effectiveness limitation? if say I wanted to place the IO 3/4 or 1 meter below the Olympus location on a lower rack shelf?

 

New Horizon w XDMI all burned in and ready to go here. I have made peace w saying goodbye to XDMS for a bit. Will be really interesting if Horizon tube selection changes w the Olympus. I believe Emile said same tubes will be great but am ready to roll (still have original ~80 tubes) to test.

If I were to go out on a limb, strictly guessing. I would say tubes that previously presented "fat" or "heavy" might be more accommodating...

 

New Horizon w XDMI all burned in and ready to go here. I have made peace w saying goodbye to XDMS for a bit. Will be really interesting if Horizon tube selection changes w the Olympus. I believe Emile said same tubes will be great but am ready to roll (still have original ~80 tubes) to test.

I love the tubes I use now so I’m hoping Emile is correct in saying same tubes will be fine. I have no desires to roll again unless what I have proves too overpowering

 

A couple questions please.
Is having the IO directly under the Olympus going to produce marks on the top of the IO over time ?
Does the distance of the connection between the two unit have a effectiveness limitation? if say I wanted to place the IO 3/4 or 1 meter below the Olympus location on a lower rack shelf?

Hi Richard,

I'm in a similar situation: I'm going to stack the Olympus on top of the Olympus I/O.

To avoid marking the I/O I'm planning to tinker some pads to place under the feet of the Olympus. Probably a felt and leather sandwich (4mm).

Stacking the two devices may not be optimal, but it's certainly negligible compared to other parameters such as room acoustics and power management.

And stacking the two devices will avoid the need for an overly imposing rack.

As far as the distance between the devices is concerned, I think the limit will be the maximum length of the QSFP cable.

The length of the QSFP cable supplied is not specified in the Olympus manual, at least I haven't found it (@Christiaan Punter )

https://taikoaudio.com/taiko-2020/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Olympus-Server-and-IO-Manual-v002.x80569.pdf

Cheers,

Thomas

 

Some eye candy (and virtual wine) to share

 

California dreamin' with XDMI analog out...the wrap around wall of sound is quite something

(bonus: media console hasn't collapsed under the weight yet)

 

Look forward to your impressions!

 

Some eye candy (and virtual wine) to share


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Are those big white snakes the QSA Lanedri Ultimatum Infinity speaker cables or something else?

Can't wait for your early Olympus XDMI impressions.