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".

 

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.......

 

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

Fantastic news Bob.
Silver O + IO were the worst in terms of overall time delay I believe.
It's sad that the most expensive option has so much delay for delivery.
Hopefully it will pay back in the top performance.

It looks your nr 11 is probably the second silver O + IO after Steve.
Please report your impressions.

 

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.

Here you go. I hope this helps I don’t have much room behind the rack. The most important take away is the QSFP cables cross going from the Olympus to the IO. IOW number one and two on Olympus are on the opposite side on IO. It’s self explanatory and the numbers are clearly marked

 

I haven’t heard the Olympus as a stand alone and reading early posts it is sensational. I have however heard the O/IO with both USB as well as with Native XDMI to my Horizon. Mine is completely burned in and there isn’t a track from any source or any format that I listen to that doesn’t sound spectacular. Emile has stated the IO gives a boost in SQ over the O by an additional 30% I have no comparison other than to say that what I’m hearing using Roon via XDMI is beyond a doubt the best digital I have ever heard. I have also compared a Chin Cheng PC vs my MasterBuilt Ultra PC when tsaett from Taiko visited. Both of us turned and looked at each other as it was a WTF just happened moment. If you look at my prior posts I had stated that this combination brought things earth shattering close to vinyl. In fact as much as I love vinyl I honestly feel that XDMI is such a different beast that those who don’t have vinyl won’t ever miss it. To be fair I have not heard the XDMI analogue card as my Olympus sits on top of my IO as recommended by Emile. Everyone however will hear the analogue board when Emile visits which will still become a reality once he has ramped up his production rate to catch up with orders. This will be a great comparison especially for those considering using the analogue board in lieu of an outboard DAC.

Finally my new Horizon 360 arrives today so even more fun awaits As well Lukasz and Fred will be here to help launch the Horizon 360 so it will be all hands on deck.

I will have an announcement very soon

 

I also have forgotten to comment about my music library. Previously my 12 TB was on internal cards in the Extreme. Emile suggested using an external NAS which I did and use the same one as tsaett…..a Qnap TS 464 I omitted to omit the 3 TB of storage offered by Taiko. I had originally hoped to have this powered in my sound room but my LPS did not offer sufficient power for the NAS, Taiko router and Tsiko switch via DCD. As a result my NAS is downstairs at least 100 feet away (connected to my house router with a cheap $3 RJ45) from the Olympus. With the help of tsaett he did port forwarding from my Taiko router to find my NAS. Listening to these files is every bit as good as streaming direct from the Olympus and Taiko router. People were concerned as was I. Suffice it to say you can dispel these concerns as it is all good. Also using Roon I am once again able to play my extensive DSD 256 and 512 files which I could not do using the Extreme and alpha XDMS. I know XDMS will fix this in beta but for me who has always preferred the sound of XDMS over Roon I can honestly say I’m a happy camper as the sound is truly spectacular. So I’m quite happy to wait however long it takes for XDMS to be available for the Olympus

I think that covers pretty much everything so far other than to say I have another Masterbuilt Ultra PC incoming to replace the Chin Cheng on the IO I’m looking forward to even further SQ enhancement from that

 

For those who will be using a big heavy PC for the Olympus and IO and also have their O/IO up high as I do and therefore gravity is an issue with the wight of the PC preorder the C13 sleeve for $0.65 as recommended by Old Mustang and theaudiogeek

Best $0.65 tweak I have ever purchased

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

 

For those who will be using a big heavy PC for the Olympus and IO and also have their O/IO up high as I do and therefore gravity is an issue with the wight of the PC preorder the C13 sleeve for $0.65 as recommended by Old Mustang and theaudiogeek

Best $0.65 tweak I have ever purchased

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

My friend the master furniture maker that allows me to use his shop was very disappointed we couldn't help make a fancy wooden gizmo to accommodate your heavy IEC. He asked why I couldn't just get the components shipped to me! So funny, he had 10 different drawings, and it was to be made in maple. But as I shared with you without the actual components, so very difficult to create an accurate piece to properly fit. I still appreciated his passion to help...

 

Please extend my thanks however to ship the Olympus and IO was not something I could ever consider. I do appreciate the time you spent with me and all of the advice given I decided to order the $0.65 sleeve with zero expectations. I was also fascinated by Mike Lavigne’s solution and he was also nice enough to walk me through it. I purchased everything necessary and have kept it pending any need when I add another heavy PC to the IO

 

There was once a feeling that with the advent of digital CD playback in the 1980s, and streaming in the 2010s, audiophiles would have less options for tweaking. This thread and many others on WBF shows how wrong that sentiment was, and how creative audiophiles are to find new ways to tweak their systems. The options for tweaking digital seem far more numerous than the humble tweaks that vinyl aficionados did over the past few decades. I am still waiting for the Lampi version of a media server that lets you "chip-roll" like Lampi DACs allow with tubes. Then you can go to town and order as many different DAC chips you'd like from parts catalog and tweak away....

 

Please extend my thanks however to ship the Olympus and IO was not something I could ever consider. I do appreciate the time you spent with me and all of the advice given I decided to order the $0.65 sleeve with zero expectations. I was also fascinated by Mike Lavigne’s solution and he was also nice enough to walk me through it. I purchased everything necessary and have kept it pending any need when I add another heavy PC to the IO

OMG! I would never consider shipping an option. My pleasure and I will share your thanks to Ben. He's fascinated with our insanity and I seriously think he wanted to be part of it, even in a small way....

 

Happy to say that #19 has just arrived.

 

I have a QNAP NAS crammed with my music files connected to my home router located far away from my Taiko router and don't know how to implement port forwarding to allow my Olympus to access music files from my NAS once it arrives. I would appreciate detailed instructions on how to get the Olympus to my NAS using port forwarding. If this is covered somewhere in the current Taiko download guides can someone direct me there or if not, would Taiko consider making instructions available?

 

I have a relatively simple network setup but this “just worked” for me (configure roon on Olympus with the ip address and share on your NAS, and Bob’s your uncle)