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".

 

While we're talking logistics, how are people planning to handle the sheer weight of the pallet that shows up? My nightmare scenario is that FedEx or DHL just dump it on my driveway and leave. The carriers here in my neck of the woods (Austin, TX) are very lax about actually getting a signature on "signature required" shipments.

I am planning to either hire movers or bribe some friends to help me with the unpacking and installation of the Olympus on my rack. No way can my weak back handle this. But that has to be scheduled, and the possibility of a pallet left on my driveway is causing me some nightmares!

Customarily, pallet delivery will require your presence and signature. I suggest having the pallet delivered just inside your garage until you can secure help to unload the goodies.

 

...I recently imported some goods from SA and it was palletized. They dropped it on the front lawn. No notice. No sig. And a "cluster" ensued when I arrived later. In the rain. So...how about some transparency of process. Please.

 

FWIW FedEx cannot dump It and leave as a DIRECT signature is required.

I’ve hired 2 buff young guys to help me

 

...I recently imported some goods from SA and it was palletized. They dropped it on the front lawn. No notice. No sig. And a "cluster" ensued when I arrived later. In the rain. So...how about some transparency of process. Please.

I'm not sure what transparency you are looking for. Although a shipper can specify what kind of delivery services it wants, once the shipment is picked up the actual handling is at the mercy of the actual delivery person.

If I had special requirements I would request the shipping company name and the shipment/waybill number and then contact the shipping company by telephone and ensure your requirements are known to them. Follow up with tracking and delivery notifications, generally requested via the delivery company's website. That won't guarantee you'll get what you request, but it is about all you can do, unfortunately.

Steve Z

 

Customarily, pallet delivery will require your presence and signature. I suggest having the pallet delivered just inside your garage until you can secure help to unload the goodies.

Thank you, that is exactly what I am hoping to do. Request they deliver into my garage or just inside my front door.

I do plan to call FedEx or DHL as soon as Christoph gets me the tracking number, to pay the merchandise processing fee, customs duty, and any other bogus fees that they tack on. In that call, will try to nail them down to an actual signature.

I wish there were a better answer than “do this, and hope for the best.”

 

...so it's 100% it will ship to NY via FedEx? And it's 100% it's palletized?

I wouldn't describe my requirements as "special" but perhaps they are (Maybe others have a pallet jack at the ready) but I would only know that if I knew the details of the shipment. As far as return shipment info, I'm not sure that would be "special" to me.

Admittedly, some details will be provided by the shipper later in the process. Perhaps it's best I not let my concerns leak out publicly. The "double number" post admittedly triggered me.

 

...so it's 100% it will ship to NY via FedEx? And it's 100% it's palletized?

I wouldn't describe my requirements as "special" but perhaps they are (Maybe others have a pallet jack at the ready) but I would only know that if I knew the details of the shipment. As far as return shipment info, I'm not sure that would be "special" to me.

Admittedly, some details will be provided by the shipper later in the process. Perhaps it's best I not let my concerns leak out publicly. The "double number" post admittedly triggered me.

If the shipment is palletized then the delivery service will come with a lift-gate truck with a pallet jack onboard. When you ship your Extreme back you'll need to let the service know that they are picking up from a residence, the cargo is palletized (if it is) and they will need to send a lift-gate equipped truck. They'll have the pallet jack without you having to request that (at least in the many, many deliveries and pick ups from Rancho De Luxe West here, they've always had a pallet jack when they used a lift-gate truck.

Steve Z

 

For me I need to know all the details including size of the truck, time. Large 18 wheeler I need to meet out on the main road (I'm 1 mile back in) and slide it into my truck. Then I need to get it in the house or at least the front porch. Lift gate box truck different approach. Always exciting getting big deliveries in rural America.

 

If the shipment is palletized then the delivery service will come with a lift-gate truck with a pallet jack onboard. When you ship your Extreme back you'll need to let the service know that they are picking up from a residence, the cargo is palletized (if it is) and they will need to send a lift-gate equipped truck. They'll have the pallet jack without you having to request that (at least in the many, many deliveries and pick ups from Rancho De Luxe West here, they've always had a pallet jack when they used a lift-gate truck.

Steve Z

for the return shipment mt FedeX guy will carry the Extreme on his shoulders. he's a gorilla of a man

 

Thank you, that is exactly what I am hoping to do. Request they deliver into my garage or just inside my front door.

I do plan to call FedEx or DHL as soon as Christoph gets me the tracking number, to pay the merchandise processing fee, customs duty, and any other bogus fees that they tack on. In that call, will try to nail them down to an actual signature.

I wish there were a better answer than “do this, and hope for the best.”

I have received and sent a number of palletized shipments. It is the responsibility of the shipper (in this case Taiko) to specify three important requirements for a palletized shipment:
1. Liftgate truck delivery.
2. Call ahead from the truck delivery service to set the delivery date.
3. Direct signature.

The delivery should go smoothly with the above in place.

 

Thank you, that is exactly what I am hoping to do. Request they deliver into my garage or just inside my front door.

I do plan to call FedEx or DHL as soon as Christoph gets me the tracking number, to pay the merchandise processing fee, customs duty, and any other bogus fees that they tack on. In that call, will try to nail them down to an actual signature.

I wish there were a better answer than “do this, and hope for the best.”

Many FedEx delivery dudes in our area will tell you that they only need to get a signature and to deliver it to your front door and not inside the front door

 

If I can get them in front of my house I'm happy!

 

If I can get them in front of my house I'm happy!

I can write a book on delivery fiascos! Lady 3 miles away as I'm "patiently waiting" yea right, for my "timed window" delivery. She calls and asks if I'm expecting a delivery. I have no idea as to why they would assume it was me. I say yes! I never said good bye, I was on the 4 wheeler going as fast as I can and sure enough the DHL guy was unloading a piece to the wrong house! I calmly said "do those numbers on the mailbox appear to be 5602" Actually I went totally ballistic! Or the 5K cartridge that I eventually found around 300' down the road from my mailbox in the ditch blowing around in a plastic bag. So yes I'm very confident with all carriers and deliveries...Oh forgot the most recent one fork impaled flight case...

 

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

Take 9 Voodoo Rangers and call me in the late morning.

 

I have received and sent a number of palletized shipments. It is the responsibility of the shipper (in this case Taiko) to specify three important requirements for a palletized shipment:
1. Liftgate truck delivery.
2. Call ahead from the truck delivery service to set the delivery date.
3. Direct signature.

The delivery should go smoothly with the above in place.

This is good to know, and hopefully @tsaett will confirm that this is indeed being done by Taiko.

Many FedEx delivery dudes in our area will tell you that they only need to get a signature and to deliver it to your front door and not inside the front door

Agreed Steve, that is indeed the technical requirement. Although in practice, I've found drivers to be very accommodating when I ask nicely, especially when they notice the folded twenty between my fingers (how did that get there?!) If they balk, then I'll get them to deliver it into the garage. But all this is only possible if they knock for a signature.

It will be very interesting to hear how your delivery experience goes, Steve.

So far, with the 2 Olympus owners I know who have received their units, it has been a mixed bag:
1. The first had FedEx. They proactively reached out by email for fees payment, knocked for signature, and delivered to his garage (his preference)
2. The second had DHL. They did nothing proactively, so had to be called to pay fees. On delivery day, they did a dump and run on his driveway.

Obviously, 2 samples does not tell us much, other than to show the variability of the process. Perhaps @JYACO's suggestions to Taiko will make this go better in future shipments.

 

This is good to know, and hopefully @tsaett will confirm that this is indeed being done by Taiko.



Agreed Steve, that is indeed the technical requirement. Although in practice, I've found drivers to be very accommodating when I ask nicely, especially when they notice the folded twenty between my fingers (how did that get there?!) If they balk, then I'll get them to deliver it into the garage. But all this is only possible if they knock for a signature.

It will be very interesting to hear how your delivery experience goes, Steve.

So far, with the 2 Olympus owners I know who have received their units, it has been a mixed bag:
1. The first had FedEx. They proactively reached out by email for fees payment, knocked for signature, and delivered to his garage (his preference)
2. The second had DHL. They did nothing proactively, so had to be called to pay fees. On delivery day, they did a dump and run on his driveway.

Obviously, 2 samples does not tell us much, other than to show the variability of the process. Perhaps @JYACO's suggestions to Taiko will make this go better in future shipments.

I’ve commonly used the $20 bill to have them take both my 17 stairs to the 2nd floor. This however I’ve hired two buffed dudes that I used before

 

Little fun from Volent audio. I just hope they could speak English in that video.
But there are some internal pictures of Olympus in this video
and few music samples with TotaDac in charge !

 

Little fun from Volent audio. I just hope they could speak English in that video.
But there are some internal pictures of Olympus in this video
and few music samples with TotaDac in charge !

Damn! Liberty sounds utterly glorious in that video, better than from the Qobuz app that’s for sure.

 

Damn! Liberty sounds utterly glorious in that video, better than from the Qobuz app that’s for sure.

Same here on my ipad. Much more via good headphones .
Its funny to hear it „better” in comparison to other videos .
All of them with youtube compression unfortunately.
Cant wait for the real Olympus with IO in person.

 

Well now im drooling as my unit has not only reached Los Angeles but has been forwarded to my local destination station In Irvine. My dilemma is that the invoice says weekday delivery preferred which takes tomorrow out of the equation and Tuesday delivery as Monday is Labor Day. I spoke to Fedex asking about a tomorrow delivery but they need for the shipment to be fully entered into their system. They say it is a possibility and I need to call back later today. They also said they deliver on Labor Day, so the wait is now finite in nature from tomorrow to Tuesday. I also know that some in that delivery sequence from taiko got theirs yesterday and another is getting his today, These are all Olympus so I still think mine will be the first O/IO combo to be received. Prepaying definitely expedited the delivery out of LAX to Irvine and saved a day