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".

 

Well yes we did specifically design the Olympus platform this way to be as flexible as possible.

Future features could be largely determined by customer reception / demand / desire.

If we’re strictly thinking DAC directions you could create multiple setups.

You could dedicate 1 I/O to XDMI and either leave the network card inside the Olympus or dedicate a second I/O to that.

You could even use 2 I/Os, 1 digital, 1 analogue, and/or you could split them into left/right.

But obviously this would need to make sense.

Much to my annoyance our shipping rate is still low while feedback is more or less limited to our customers communicating with us here on WBF. This is only about 15-20% of our order volume so it will take some time before we have the feedback we’re looking for.

Dear Emile,

Lots of options, thanks!

So the development effort will depend on the feedback regarding the DAC portion.

I suppose the feedback you will be looking for will be:

1. XDMI analog vs. XDMI native to Lampizator Horizon
2. XDMI analog vs. XDMI native to Lampizator Posseidon
3. XDMI analog vs. XDMI Pro ISL (when ready) to MSB Cascade
4. XDMI analog vs. XDMI Pro ISL (when ready) to MSB Select II
5. XDMI analog vs. XDMI native (when ready) to Aries Cerat
6. XDMI analog vs. XDMI AES to Totaldac Sublime
7. XDMI analog vs. XDMI AES or USB to other dacs (DCS Vivaldi Apex, CH C10, etc).

I will try to do #6, but I don't use a preamp with volume control, so I would have to use the digital volume control of Roon with the Totaldac Sublime Drivers, or borrow a top notch preamp.

I suppose some people may refrain from posting A vs. B comparisons here directly, so you will receive the feedback in private.

 

Well yes we did specifically design the Olympus platform this way to be as flexible as possible.

Future features could be largely determined by customer reception / demand / desire.

If we’re strictly thinking DAC directions you could create multiple setups.

You could dedicate 1 I/O to XDMI and either leave the network card inside the Olympus or dedicate a second I/O to that.

You could even use 2 I/Os, 1 digital, 1 analogue, and/or you could split them into left/right.

But obviously this would need to make sense.

Much to my annoyance our shipping rate is still low while feedback is more or less limited to our customers communicating with us here on WBF. This is only about 15-20% of our order volume so it will take some time before we have the feedback we’re looking for.

Don't forget about stacking 2 big Olympus chassis. ( that will look awesome)
Than we have an unlimited space for whatever is needed in a second one.
And 2 BPS in each.

 

or let's not forget Olympus +IO (analogue card) + IO (digital card)

 

Dear Emile,

Lots of options, thanks!

So the development effort will depend on the feedback regarding the DAC portion.

I suppose the feedback you will be looking for will be:

1. XDMI analog vs. XDMI native to Lampizator Horizon
2. XDMI analog vs. XDMI native to Lampizator Posseidon
3. XDMI analog vs. XDMI Pro ISL (when ready) to MSB Cascade
4. XDMI analog vs. XDMI Pro ISL (when ready) to MSB Select II
5. XDMI analog vs. XDMI native (when ready) to Aries Cerat
6. XDMI analog vs. XDMI AES to Totaldac Sublime
7. XDMI analog vs. XDMI AES or USB to other dacs (DCS Vivaldi Apex, CH C10, etc).

I will try to do #6, but I don't use a preamp with volume control, so I would have to use the digital volume control of Roon with the Totaldac Sublime Drivers, or borrow a top notch preamp.

I suppose some people may refrain from posting A vs. B comparisons here directly, so you will receive the feedback in private.

I would vote to have comparisons shared. #6 would be very interesting here.

 

As one of the first few, my story is a bit more mundane. I only had my unit for a couple days before traveling for work for a week (which was fortuitous since the burn in cycle those first couple days was notable). Just started listening this past weekend, but taking things in before starting to do proper critical listening or comparative listening.

At a high level, combination of Roon+Qobuz is sublime (I hadn't used Roon in ages...I missed it). Still getting my ear/head around PCM/DSD and lower/higher res patterns. Have not tried O+USB yet, nor compared to Extreme+USB (alas, work and family still at the front of the line)

More definitely to come, including hopefully a full write up like I did for Extreme, but it will be a couple month journey to get there. As always, happy to answer any questions that I am able to

 

As one of the first few, my story is a bit more mundane. I only had my unit for a couple days before traveling for work for a week (which was fortuitous since the burn in cycle those first couple days was notable). Just started listening this past weekend, but taking things in before starting to do proper critical listening or comparative listening.

At a high level, combination of Roon+Qobuz is sublime (I hadn't used Roon in ages...I missed it). Still getting my ear/head around PCM/DSD and lower/higher res patterns. Have not tried O+USB yet, nor compared to Extreme+USB (alas, work and family still at the front of the line)

More definitely to come, including hopefully a full write up like I did for Extreme, but it will be a couple month journey to get there. As always, happy to answer any questions that I am able to

Thanks, @ray-dude. I did not intend to pressure you to air prematurely or at all; sorry if it ended that way; as I said, I want to make a general point of view. There is no guarantee that 150 or so buyers of Olympus will have the same glowing views. One or two may even miss the USB sound from Extreme (a bit similar to the feedback I read in respect of the latest XDMS/NSM builds, esp. Jan11 2024 build, gaining in clarity but losing out on warmth, body, and weight to previous builds or to Roon, some variants like that). Some may eventually conclude that the gain is not 1.75x or 2x from Extreme or not worth the steep price in upgrading. Those "outliers" (a word used by a user who tried but did not like build 25 of XDMS; I did not like Build 17/19 but like 25 but it still lacks crucial features and has serious bugs for me to eschew Roon, which I otherwise don't miss or like) should feel free to air their views. I have confidence that Olympus will meet my expectations (given my experience with a modded DVD player with purist i2s out and the similarly modded DAC on the receiving end - I said it several times that it gave me an inkling of what purist source treatment could entail; once I have heard the purer and more natural sound from the purist i2s connection I am bothered more and more by the USB connection; Extreme with Switch combo costs 15x more than the lowly, used DVD player). But my view will be only my view and reflect my taste. Lukacs alluded to this subjectivity element in his second feedback (that it may not (completely) satisfy every single adopter and that there is "no miracle" whatever it means).

 

No pressure felt! I know how keen I would be feedback while waiting for my unit to be shipped, so happy to provide same (even if it is a journey right now)

 

Today is exactly one month since I received my Taiko Olympus XDMI.

People may wonder how I feel about it now that the honeymoon is over. Simply put I have not heard a better source (analog or digital). It keeps amazing me every time I sit down to listen.

A friend of mine asked me an interesting question today: Could I invest that money in another component that would make a bigger improvement to my system? After giving it some serious thought, my answer was a resounding, “Absolutely not!”

Here’s why:

First, the power quality in my area can be really inconsistent. I’ve tried all sorts of solutions - conditioners, regenerators, isolation transformers, components with better power supplies - but none have fully solved the problem. While battery-powered sources like the Stromtank help with some issues, they tend to introduce new ones. However, the battery-powered Olympus XDMI has been a game-changer. It’s the first time I’ve been able to immerse into the music during those periods of poor power quality.

Second, I haven’t encountered another component that makes poorly recorded tracks sound so engaging. That’s a big deal for me. An audiophile neighbor dropped by yesterday and played a Rolling Stones track. I thought, “Oh no, a poorly recorded Rolling Stones track on a tube/horn system - this isn’t going to end well.” But to my surprise, not only did it sound great, we kept turning up the volume (98+ dB) and really enjoyed it. After he left, I played the track another 4-5 times and added it to my favorites playlist.

Speaking of which, my favorites playlist is growing rapidly because I’m adding nearly every track I listen to these days - definitely a good sign!

On the less positive side, I can see how a sub-optimal system might require some adjustments. For example, I recently tried out some highly regarded interconnects, but they made my system sound so bright that I could barely listen to it (relatively speaking and exaggerating a bit). This experience reminded me that certain setups might need fine-tuning to achieve the best results. Additionally, the Olympus XDMI delivers exceptionally deep and low bass, which might require further adjustment in some systems.

My Olympus is getting plenty of good use, though most of the people who come to listen aren’t members of WBF, so they can’t comment. However, I’ll be lending my Olympus to a WBF member for an at-home trial next weekend. I’m eager to hear his feedback and hope he’ll share his thoughts here.
Also, in a couple of weeks, I’ll be visiting a system where we’ll compare the Olympus XDMI’s analog output to an MSB Select II DAC in an outstanding setup. I’m really looking forward to both - listening to that system and the A/B comparison.

If anyone in the Chicago area is interested to hear the Olympus, please let me know. I'll be happy to get in touch and make arrangements.

 

However, I’ll be lending my Olympus to a WBF member for an at-home trial next weekend. I’m eager to hear his feedback and hope he’ll share his thoughts here.

I’ll share my thoughts here. ; )

Will probably be the first Olympus on a headphone system. I’m eager to hear the difference against the Extreme.

 

Thank you very much for your report, Vassil!

 

Also, in a couple of weeks, I’ll be visiting a system where we’ll compare the Olympus XDMI’s analog output to an MSB Select II DAC in an outstanding setup. I’m really looking forward to both - listening to that system and the A/B comparison.

Hi Vassil,

Thanks for your feedback!

This comparison you're going to make will be really interesting.

The MSB Select DAC II is considered by some to be one of the finest DACs on the market.

If it turns out that the Olympus XDMI Analogue Out is right up there with the Select DAC II, it will give us food for thought and will probably pave the way for a Taiko Audio DAC (perhaps in the form of an additional box, similar to the I/O).

Cheers,

Thomas

 

I would not at all be shocked if the current XDMI analogue (O or I/O) was better / very competitive with Select DAC / USB (as @nenon hinted at in his earlier posts), the key comparison for me (as a Select DAC owner) is the comparison with Select DAC via XDMI.

I also see this as a long term process, so obviously MSB, Lampi, or whoever will continue to push the state of the art wrt the D-A conversion process, and Taiko will (hopefully) continue to release new improved analogue XDMI daughterboards. I think the BPS is also a huge advantage for Taiko, it'll be interesting to see how that evolves (e.g. hypothetical standalone BPS products?).

 

I heard a rumor that my Ollie (#32) will be on the way shortly. Great news, but strangely mixed with a vague sense of dread, as my system, seemingly at the random whim of the audio gods, has hit it's zone. It might be the 5 RPG quadratic diffusors I was able to buy used (recommended by Vassil btw). It might be the XDMS software which keeps getting better and better. In any case, I'm reluctant to even move a cable, much less replace a major component (and software).

But I'm confident the Olympia will be worth it. The big question is how the analog out will compare with the Areis Cerat Ithaca dac. My thinking at present is, if the Oly Analog sounds better, I will let the Ithaca go. This is tempered by the fact that Aries is working on it's own XDMI implementation which I'm confident will be very good.

If the Ithaca dac via usb is as good or better than the Taiko analog, I'll stick with Ithaca and wait for the Aries xdmi. If the Taiko analog via xdmi is better, and keeping in mind that Taiko will also be continuing development/improvement of it's dac, it may make the most sense to leave the source and conversion to Taiko, save some $$, and run the signal straight from the Taiko source into the Aries Ageto pre and Essenita amps.

 

I heard a rumor that my Ollie (#32) will be on the way shortly. Great news, but strangely mixed with a vague sense of dread, as my system, seemingly at the random whim of the audio gods, has hit it's zone. It might be the 5 RPG quadratic diffusors I was able to buy used (recommended by Vassil btw). It might be the XDMS software which keeps getting better and better. In any case, I'm reluctant to even move a cable, much less replace a major component (and software).

But I'm confident the Olympia will be worth it. The big question is how the analog out will compare with the Areis Cerat Ithaca dac. My thinking at present is, if the Oly Analog sounds better, I will let the Ithaca go. This is tempered by the fact that Aries is working on it's own XDMI implementation which I'm confident will be very good.

If the Ithaca dac via usb is as good or better than the Taiko analog, I'll stick with Ithaca and wait for the Aries xdmi. If the Taiko analog via xdmi is better, and keeping in mind that Taiko will also be continuing development/improvement of it's dac, it may make the most sense to leave the source and conversion to Taiko, save some $$, and run the signal straight from the Taiko source into the Aries Ageto pre and Essenita amps.

Wil, having an AC system myself I will be most interested in your comparisons.

 

My new NAS setup, preparing for the Olympus:
- Existing Plixir Statement PS, 6A 12V = 72W + Taiko DCD
- Synology DS923+ (4 bay, 35,5 W - I suppose if using HDD, not SSDs) running in silent mode.
- 2x Samsung PM893 2.5" 7.68 TB SSD (completely quiet). Space for two more SSDs if necessary.
- Additional 4GB Synology memory
- 1TB NVMe Read Cache
- Synology 10Gbe module (to be used at 1Gb with Taiko Router, but better than original port).
The 10Gb port (running at 1Gb) will be connected to the Taiko Router, feeding audio to the Olympus, and the regular 1Gb port will be connected to the upstream top quality switch to feed dowloaded video to the appletv X. The NAS will have both music and video, which will never be used simultaneously.

Would someone who has a Synology NAS, attached to their main network (rather than to the Taiko Router), be able to outline the steps to set up port forwarding so that an Olympus / Extreme attached to the Taiko Router can access the music library on the Synology NAS attached to the main network?

 

Would someone who has a Synology NAS, attached to their main network (rather than to the Taiko Router), be able to outline the steps to set up port forwarding so that an Olympus / Extreme attached to the Taiko Router can access the music library on the Synology NAS attached to the main network?

No port forwarding needed. The Taiko network has full access to your home network by default.

 

I have a suggestion for those in the USA who are patiently awaiting shipment and delivery. This will save a day of waiting and it worked for me. Make sure Taiko has your SSN to include in their invoice as this will definitely save time but on top of that your shipment needs to clear customs and pay the duty tax. This also adds a day or more

Once you get a tracking number from FedEx call their toll free international order and tell them you want to prepay the duty on the shipment. They will connect you to their billing department. With the tracking number they can easily retrieve the invoice with the papers and declared value submitted to them by Taiko. With that in hand I was told the amount and with the FedEx invoice number I prepaid my duty fees online several days ago. So next leg for me will be the flight to :LAX and then out for delivery without repeated emails asking for my SSN as well as telling me there is a tax due. This should help expedite your delivery

 

Social Security #? No other means of identification can be used?

 

Relax John

I use my SSN as I am retired. If you have a Federal ID number use that for whatever ID you use to pay the IRS

 

I'm attempting to relax Steve....I will delete my expletive...