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".

 

I would recommend to use the stock footers first for the following reasons:

1) We have tested a lot of footers / materials and picked the acrylic discs for the most neutral balance with a multitude of shelf / floor materials. This is not just a random pick, even the size of the discs matters, down to the millimetre, which is why they are somewhat “odd” looking in the relative large space available.

2) The chassis itself has multiple independently decoupled sections. It all works very well together, but you can also very easily undo the efforts we put into this.

3) If you do decide to use after market footers, and of course they can alter the sound very significantly, I would recommend to at the very least stick to the large round cutouts we designed for that purpose.

4) Last but not least, listen carefully, the Olympus does not behave like you’re used to from other equipment. I would recommend to listen to multiple recordings, and even spread out over multiple days.

Dear Emile,

What would you recommend?
a) Olympus on a Taiko Daiza platform. Daiza on the wood floor (over cement).
b) Olympus directly on the wood floor (over cement).

Thanks.

 

...I thought the Daiza was not recommended for the Olympus due to the abundance of copper vs. aluminum in the Extreme and other audio chassis fabrications.

 

...I thought the Daiza was not recommended for the Olympus due to the abundance of copper vs. aluminum in the Extreme and other audio chassis fabrications.

I read that a while ago. Since so many things changed with the Olympus, perhaps including these special feet, so I would like to hear from Emile what is recommended now.

 

Dear Emile,

What would you recommend?
a) Olympus on a Taiko Daiza platform. Daiza on the wood floor (over cement).
b) Olympus directly on the wood floor (over cement).

Thanks.

I recommend to try it out yourself and pick what sounds best to you! Do share your preference, we’re still collecting datapoints!

 

as Paul Harvey used to say....."and now you know the rest of the story"

A big shout out first to Mike Lavigne and SteveZ and theaudiogeek

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...

whatsbestforum.com

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...

whatsbestforum.com

Mike's fix is genius so after I ordered the C13 sheaths 4 days ago for my power cord, I also bought Mikes suggestion from Home Depot today. Upon getting home the UPS package was on my door step with the C13 sheaths. I bought 4 of them for $0.65 each. Took me all of 10 seconds to slide it over the end of my Master Built Ultra power cord and it is rock solid. There is zero slip and so far the effect of gravity is non existent. I will leave the MB Ultra in and reevaluate tomorrow but the connection as stated is rock solid. All for $0.65


I would encourage members awaiting their delivery and plan on using a heavy PC to preorder a few of these sheaths. I bought 4 so I will need one more for connection to the IO and have 2 to use at a later date should the need arise.

Thanks again

 

I've had the Olympus powered up and playing / burning-in 24 hrs/day since Saturday night. I'm using USB at present to the Aries Cerat Ithaca DAC and Aries Ageto pre amp. I want to get a good idea of the comparison between Olympus USB and Extreme USB before listening to the Olympus XDMI analog out to the Ageto Pre.

As background, the Extreme, with the latest version of Xdms player software was sounding the best I have ever heard here. I would be more than content to have that sound forever without ever feeling the need for any kind of an upgrade. This actually led me to have some apprehension about making any kind of change.

When I first listened to the Olympus on Sunday, it was obvious that this was a significant change. The change I believe is mostly due to battery replacing mains power and producing a result with much less noise, along with a revelation of nuance and fine detail. But I also noticed that something else seemed missing: some density and dynamics which was leaving the music a bit anemic. I was a little concerned about this, fearing that this could be a negative effect of battery power.

However, with another day or so of burn-in, the dynamics have come back to the party and has produced a new musical level here. I have Roon Radio running through a lot of avantgarde leaning jazz which can sometimes be demanding and fatiguing. I have yet to be fatigued and have yet to come across a track which seems to be poorly recorded. All recordings so far seem very good to exceptional. That say a lot!

I feel no impatience or compulsion to leave USB and go to XDMI any time soon. It's like climbing a mountain, and along the way, finding a perfect campsite next to a beautiful lake. Why leave? Maybe this weekend...

 

Good eval Will I agree 100%. I listened to USB for 2 days. Loved it and loved Roon even though XDMS is my favorite. But then I went to XDMI via the digital card into my Horizon with native XDMI and all bets were off. Bottom line for me is I won’t ever listen to USB again. XDMI to my ears is so far beyond anything I have ever heard in digital. To my ears it has become the de facto standard I have a very expensive Masterbuilt Ultra USB cable for sale. You can’t unring a bell. Once you hear XDMI ………in fact you know how much I have said I can’t listen to Roon as I prefer XDMS. Roon now is on a level beyond and my internal library is stored in a far away part of my home yet accessing it is simple and the sound is magnificent

Report back Will once you switch to XDMI Maybe you might want to buy my USB cable

 

Good eval Will I agree 100%. I listened to USB for 2 days. Loved it and loved Roon even though XDMS is my favorite. But then I went to XDMI via the digital card into my Horizon with native XDMI and all bets were off. Bottom line for me is I won’t ever listen to USB again. XDMI to my ears is so far beyond anything I have ever heard in digital. To my ears it has become the de facto standard I have a very expensive Masterbuilt Ultra USB cable for sale. You can’t unring a bell. Once you hear XDMI ………in fact you know how much I have said I can’t listen to Roon as I prefer XDMS. Roon now is on a level beyond and

Good eval Will I agree 100%. I listened to USB for 2 days. Loved it and loved Roon even though XDMS is my favorite.

So, over USB the extreme + xdms was preferred to Olympus/io + roon?
Then xdmi moved the Olympus/io to another level?

 

So, over USB the extreme + xdms was preferred to Olympus/io + roon?
Then xdmi moved the Olympus/io to another level?

As I recall reading, Steve preferred the Oly USB + Roon to the Extreme USB + Xdms. (I have also found it to be better, but both are very good.)

 

If the Olympus is "software agnostic" as described by Emile then I would guess that anything played on the Olympus using the same digital interface would sound better than the Extreme.

 

As I recall reading, Steve preferred the Oly USB + Roon to the Extreme USB + Xdms. (I have also found it to be better, but both are very good.)

In my system, USB Roon from the Extreme has a noticeably wider soundstage than USB XDMS from the Extreme, but the presentation is also noticeably less well defined. The experience of music from USB XDMS from the Extreme is, to me, a more engaging conveyance of the subtleties that make listening so satisfying. Of course, different systems have different signatures, so YMMV.

 

So, over USB the extreme + xdms was preferred to Olympus/io + roon?
Then xdmi moved the Olympus/io to another level?

Not at all. What I tried to say is that pre Olympus my listening preference with the Extreme was XDMS. I prefer the XDMS sound. But with. the Olympus and no XDMS choice I used Roon initially with USB and it sounded spectacular BUT as I said you cant unring a bell and when I went to Roon via XDMI using the digital board to my Lamppi Horizon it was game over UNTIL I swapped out the Chin Cheng PC from Olympus to wall with my Masterbuilt Ultra, I can honestly say there was no turning back. I still have a Chin Cheng in the IO but I do have a MasterBuit Ultra coming for the IO so there might be yet even more to gain with this power cord. The unknown for me and everyone is what XDMS when available for the Olympus will bring to the table as that was my preference with the Extreme BUT TBH Roon right now with XDMI sounds spectacular.

 

As I recall reading, Steve preferred the Oly USB + Roon to the Extreme USB + Xdms. (I have also found it to be better, but both are very good.)

I also share this opinion. The Olympus via USB was a clear step up from the Extreme via USB with both Roon and XDMS.

XDMS was often (not always) my preference for critical listening on the Extreme but right now I am actually greatly enjoying having the Roon interface as I get to know this exceptional new component..

 

Any update on what's shipping this week? Also, I don't believe the status page reflects last week's shipments.

 

I also share this opinion. The Olympus via USB was a clear step up from the Extreme via USB with both Roon and XDMS.

XDMS was often (not always) my preference for critical listening on the Extreme but right now I am actually greatly enjoying having the Roon interface as I get to know this exceptional new component..

I will echo this as well. The Olympus+USB win over what is already a world class performance level with Extreme+USB really speaks to the lessons learned with the many years of SQ optimization on Extreme, and how they were applied in the Olympus design.

XDMI analog is something else all together though

 

I will echo this as well. The Olympus+USB win over what is already a world class performance level with Extreme+USB really speaks to the lessons learned with the many years of SQ optimization on Extreme, and how they were applied in the Olympus design.

XDMI is something else all together though

I clearly misinterpreted Steve's first sentence. Mea culpa.

 

I clearly misinterpreted Steve's first sentence. Mea culpa.

No big deal. As some once said, the proof of the pudding is in the eating and the Olympus/IO is quantum leaps up from everything I have heretofore heard including the Extreme which in and of itself remains a world class piece of equipment and as Emile has promised there will be changes coming to the Extreme presumably from trickle down technology plus Im convinced as well that the Extreme plus IO combination will bring the extreme to a new high

 

The first Olympus lands in Oz! Being #20 in the queue, mine was ready about 2 weeks ago but I was travelling overseas so had to get the guys to hang onto it until I was back. I’ve only just plugged this in today so will reserve any thoughts until it’s had some time to settle in - from what others have said, it needs a few days.

You’ll see a pic below of the Extreme v Olympus - although the Extreme appears bigger, that’s only because it is sitting on the Daiza platform and the side pic probably tells a truer story.

 

No big deal. As some once said, the proof of the pudding is in the eating and the Olympus/IO is quantum leaps up from everything I have heretofore heard including the Extreme which in and of itself remains a world class piece of equipment and as Emile has promised there will be changes coming to the Extreme presumably from trickle down technology plus Im convinced as well that the Extreme plus IO combination will bring the extreme to a new high

Steve.
Could you please make a picture of the back of the main Olympus ?
I am curious how the QSFP cards are located and what cables are chosen .
Those interconnecting QSFP cables have a big SQ impact as far as I remember Emile opinion about that.

 

The Rhapsody Brooklyn #11 silver O and I/O shipped today.......