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".

 

Steve,
You have far bigger fish to fry at the moment but when you get the chance I'd be curious to hear what kind of difference the Grid Protector makes with the Olympus and I/O. I'm wondering if the Olympus doesn't accomplish some of the same things with it's isolation and reduction in "noise".

Interesting thought and I plan on being able to answer that in a few days by merely turning off the grid protector It’s an instant answer

 

Like I said, spin however you want. You’re a big boy. We all make our own decisions. I said very simply “ could there be a three fold improvement”. It’s tough for me to say that as I’m sure you’ll say that’s my spin but what I heard listening to native XDMI with the O/IO combo was for my ears a true audio epiphany that sounded like Extreme with USB on steroids. Spending the rest of the day listening to O/IO with USB was hugely netter than the same with the Extreme. One would never go wrong if they follow this path but once again you can’t uniting a bell and for me again I’ll say it was a true epiphany. Beyond that there’s nothing more I feel needs comment until this settles in and burning more

C'mon. You know we were talking about entirely different things. I never doubt your own experience or feedback. To say again, one cannot get 25% simply from Emile's numbers (BTW, because the baseline is 100%, it should be 2x or twofold rather than 3x fold better... 300% over 100%; the increase is 200% or 2x). We all know numbers are often stupid and subjective, but they worked exceedingly well as marketing strategy.

 

Steve, on that gain situation; Would you consider playing around with some different tubes? I know you like the combo you have been using...Double Triodes...

I did think of that John but frankly i enjoy the tube kit i use now and i find dialing back the gain is a cheaper means to that end