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".

 

That was Friday, webpage was not updated till this morning.

Okay got it, the days and weeks seem to blend too quickly...

 

I only have 101 issues left. I'm definitely going to become a teetotaler.

You have 101 issues but an Olympus ain't one of them.

 

It has probably already been answered but here is my question… since the Olympus is all about minimizing processing steps has it been determined which file format is optimum? WAV is generally regarded (argued to be) the best sound format, does it hold true with Olympus? Is Olympus so good wav vs. flac is moot point?

Interestingly I marked my tests as inconclusive as it appears converting files can have an effect of its own. I had a small preference for the “untouched” file no matter the original format..

 

I was reading the Olympus manual and it is clearly stated few times that without the power cord batteries will be discharged completely after 30 minutes.
This suggests that ALL batteries MUST BE charged continuously during playback.
So one might think this is not battery powered equipment, as it looks like a hybrid power support.

Should that be corrected to specify exacly how long each of the battery pack will be able to keep power on in both Olympus and Olympus IO ?

 

I was reading the Olympus manual and it is clearly stated few times that without the power cord batteries will be discharged completely after 30 minutes.
This suggests that ALL batteries MUST BE charged continuously during playback.
So one might think this is not battery powered equipment, as it looks like a hybrid power support.

Should that be corrected to specify exacly how long each of the battery pack will be able to keep power on in both Olympus and Olympus IO ?

Hi Kris, Upon re-reading it, I can see why it may cause confusion. The 30-minute remark pertains to the System battery, not the XDMI battery. The XDMI section can actually be powered by the battery for up to 36 hours. But they are both powered from the same power inlet, meaning the server should still always remain connected to mains. This has now been further clarified and I will post an updated version of the manual shortly. Please find the updated information below.

Olympus Server BPS

The Server’s first battery section powers the core system. It is configured such that the battery is constantly charged, combining the technical advantages of battery power with the practical benefits of smaller cell sizes. When the server is in standby mode with fully charged batteries, the system batteries can hold a charge for up to 6 hours. But when the server is switched on and playing music, fully charged system batteries will only provide up to 30 minutes of charge. For this reason, it is recommended to always switch the server to standby before disconnecting it from the mains power and to make sure to always reconnect the server to the mains power as soon as possible after relocating it.

The Server’s second battery section powers the XDMI Output cards, and is configured to charge in cycles, like a traditional battery. The XDMI battery holds a charge for up to 36 hours, to provide more than enough pure battery power to cover the longest listening sessions.

Olympus I/O BPS

When the Olympus I/O is added, the Server’s second battery section is reconfigured to power the XDMI Interface cards that connect the Olympus to the I/O.

The Olympus I/O contains 2 battery power supplies and a custom power supply for charging the battery cells. The first battery section powers the Network Card, and the second section powers the XDMI Output. The batteries are configured to charge in cycles, like a traditional battery. They hold a charge for up to 36 hours, to provide more than enough pure battery power to cover the longest listening sessions.

Charge Cycle

To maintain ideal battery circumstances, there is a pre-programmed charging cycle between 00:00 and 07:00 for the Olympus Server’s second battery section and both the Olympus I/O’s sections. For these battery sections, the charging period may also be freely adjusted to precisely fit in with your personal schedule.

 

Hi Kris, Upon re-reading it, I can see why it may cause confusion. The 30-minute remark pertains to the System battery, not the XDMI battery. The XDMI section can actually be powered by the battery for up to 36 hours. But they are both powered from the same power inlet, meaning the server should still always remain connected to mains. This has now been further clarified and I will post an updated version of the manual shortly. Please find the updated information below.

Olympus Server BPS

The Server’s first battery section powers the core system. It is configured such that the battery is constantly charged, combining the technical advantages of battery power with the practical benefits of smaller cell sizes. When the server is in standby mode with fully charged batteries, the system batteries can hold a charge for up to 6 hours. But when the server is switched on and playing music, fully charged system batteries will only provide up to 30 minutes of charge. For this reason, it is recommended to always switch the server to standby before disconnecting it from the mains power and to make sure to always reconnect the server to the mains power as soon as possible after relocating it.

The Server’s second battery section powers the XDMI Output cards, and is configured to charge in cycles, like a traditional battery. The XDMI battery holds a charge for up to 36 hours, to provide more than enough pure battery power to cover the longest listening sessions.

Olympus I/O BPS

When the Olympus I/O is added, the Server’s second battery section is reconfigured to power the XDMI Interface cards that connect the Olympus to the I/O.

The Olympus I/O contains 2 battery power supplies and a custom power supply for charging the battery cells. The first battery section powers the Network Card, and the second section powers the XDMI Output. The batteries are configured to charge in cycles, like a traditional battery. They hold a charge for up to 36 hours, to provide more than enough pure battery power to cover the longest listening sessions.

Charge Cycle

To maintain ideal battery circumstances, there is a pre-programmed charging cycle between 00:00 and 07:00 for the Olympus Server’s second battery section and both the Olympus I/O’s sections. For these battery sections, the charging period may also be freely adjusted to precisely fit in with your personal schedule.

Hey @Christiaan Punter - could you also add into the last sentence above, that the ‘auto’ charging cycle will only charge the batteries above the defined SOC level which by default is set at 80% in the BMS app. I thought mine wasn’t charging in the charging window until Emile pointed out that if it is already above the SOC level, it will not charge.

Thanks!

 

Hi Kris, Upon re-reading it, I can see why it may cause confusion. The 30-minute remark pertains to the System battery, not the XDMI battery. The XDMI section can actually be powered by the battery for up to 36 hours. But they are both powered from the same power inlet, meaning the server should still always remain connected to mains. This has now been further clarified and I will post an updated version of the manual shortly. Please find the updated information below.

Olympus Server BPS

The Server’s first battery section powers the core system. It is configured such that the battery is constantly charged, combining the technical advantages of battery power with the practical benefits of smaller cell sizes. When the server is in standby mode with fully charged batteries, the system batteries can hold a charge for up to 6 hours. But when the server is switched on and playing music, fully charged system batteries will only provide up to 30 minutes of charge. For this reason, it is recommended to always switch the server to standby before disconnecting it from the mains power and to make sure to always reconnect the server to the mains power as soon as possible after relocating it.

The Server’s second battery section powers the XDMI Output cards, and is configured to charge in cycles, like a traditional battery. The XDMI battery holds a charge for up to 36 hours, to provide more than enough pure battery power to cover the longest listening sessions.

Olympus I/O BPS

When the Olympus I/O is added, the Server’s second battery section is reconfigured to power the XDMI Interface cards that connect the Olympus to the I/O.

The Olympus I/O contains 2 battery power supplies and a custom power supply for charging the battery cells. The first battery section powers the Network Card, and the second section powers the XDMI Output. The batteries are configured to charge in cycles, like a traditional battery. They hold a charge for up to 36 hours, to provide more than enough pure battery power to cover the longest listening sessions.

Charge Cycle

To maintain ideal battery circumstances, there is a pre-programmed charging cycle between 00:00 and 07:00 for the Olympus Server’s second battery section and both the Olympus I/O’s sections. For these battery sections, the charging period may also be freely adjusted to precisely fit in with your personal schedule.

Great Job !
Now it is perfectly clear.
Olympus + IO should be able to supply power from their battery packs for 36 hours
Except of the System battery power that is upto 30 minutes only.

 

Hey @Christiaan Punter - could you also add into the last sentence above, that the ‘auto’ charging cycle will only charge the batteries above the defined SOC level which by default is set at 80% in the BMS app. I thought mine wasn’t charging in the charging window until Emile pointed out that if it is already above the SOC level, it will not charge.

Thanks!

Sure thing. I added this, and a few more clarifications, to both the Olympus Manual and the BMS App Guide. The updated versions can be found in the Downloads section on our website.

 

Yesterday, I had the good fortune to visit Steve Williams for my first listen to the Olympus/IO together with the new Horizon 360 Dac. The connection was with the XDMI digital card via the KBL EXTREMA cable. The listening room was also newly equipped with the Scherzinger Grid and EMI protection devices. I last heard Steve’s system in May with the Taiko Extreme and the original Horizon. My comments are based on these two systems. While the original Extreme/Horizon were top notch the Olympus/IO/Horizon 360 were quite a revelation. Overall, I would say the sound quality/presentation was 25% better with the new components. The bass was more articulate with greater impact. The sound stage was improved side to side and floor to ceiling. Dynamics, image and focus were all improved. There were many “performer in the room” moments. I can’t say to what extent these improvements were due to the Olympus or Horizon, but the synergy between the two was impressive. I can’t imagine anyone not being impressed with this combination….but there might be a few. I was not able to listen to the XDMI Analog card as Steve has his Olympus stacked on top of the IO preventing an “easy” switch of the cards. Perhaps this will be possible during the November audition. The build quality, fit and finish of the Olympus pieces were first class. These were more impressive in person than in the photos. Same holds true for the Horizon 360. The Olympus runs warm to the touch, so needs a bit of room over the top plate.
At the end of the session we switched the Scherzinger devices on and off running the same “Liberty” track. With the devices off there seemed to be less focus and detail. The difference wasn’t huge, but it was noticeable. These are on my list to explore further.
Steve, thank you very much for the visit and the opportunity to listen to your wonderful system again. Very impressive!

 

Under consideration for a “preamp” functionality version.

Dear Emile,

Do you expect the new preamp DAC version (hopefully with two digital inputs), expected for July-October/2025, to require an I/O Chassis? Or to fit in the Olympus without I/O?

In my view, if you made a super dupper preamp DAC, each channel using half of the I/O chassis, keeping the network card in the Olympus, possibly doing the pre-processing in the Olympus (like the MSB director) it would be great.

Cheers.

 

Dear Emile,

Do you expect the new preamp DAC version (hopefully with two digital inputs), expected for July-October/2025, to require an I/O Chassis? Or to fit in the Olympus without I/O?

In my view, if you made a super dupper preamp DAC, each channel using half of the I/O chassis, keeping the network card in the Olympus, possibly doing the pre-processing in the Olympus (like the MSB director) it would be great.

Cheers.

Hi @VPN ,

I really cannot tell you that yet. Naturally the I/O can be used creatively if we run out of space in the Olympus server, or for performance reasons.

 

While I am certain many are interested in the future product direction Taiko will take, most are more concerned with the immediate/current Olympus status/production...

 

@Taiko Audio

Hi Emile,

I hope you're doing well!

I understand that the output voltage of the Taiko XDMI-DAC daughterboard is 2Vrms (unbalanced, RCA).

Will the upcoming balanced (XLR) version have an output of 4Vrms?

Are you planning any additional changes, or will the two daughterboards be identical apart from the added connectors?

Cheers,

Thomas

 

While I am certain many are interested in the future product direction Taiko will take, most are more concerned with the immediate/current Olympus status/production...

Hi @John T ,

We’re painfully aware that we’ve only managed to finish/ship about 30% of the Olympus + I/O orders as of this week, but the pace is going to pickup.

Reality is though that the Olympus and the I/O are very elaborate builds, they’re just not suited for mass production and it scales poorly.

Even though we have taken several steps to expand production rates, these are simply not instant and take time to implement. And there’s a limit to this as well as this very large order volume is a one off, a once in a 5 year event, we simply cannot mindlessly invest heavily in new equipment and more staff which will all be fully idle 3 months down the line.

But production rates are increasing, although not always visible, the first 30% of the orders is I/O “heavy”, the percentage of I/Os ordered by higher order numbers is significantly lower (Olympus + I/O equals 2 Olympus servers in resources/time). So by multiple means we’re just going to keep hitting higher numbers, but to a limit…

 

@Taiko Audio

Hi Emile,

I hope you're doing well!

I understand that the output voltage of the Taiko XDMI-DAC daughterboard is 2Vrms (unbalanced, RCA).

Will the upcoming balanced (XLR) version have an output of 4Vrms?

Are you planning any additional changes, or will the two daughterboards be identical apart from the added connectors?

Cheers,

Thomas

Hi @SwissTom ,

Doing well, plowing through, thank you for asking

What is already becoming a bit obvious is that some systems benefit from lower gain where others perform better with higher gain, we’re actually considering to have a selectable gain. 2 or 3 steps perhaps to avoid mayor delays in the design.

 

Hi @John T ,

We’re painfully aware that we’ve only managed to finish/ship about 30% of the Olympus + I/O orders as of this week, but the pace is going to pickup.

Reality is though that the Olympus and the I/O are very elaborate builds, they’re just not suited for mass production and it scales poorly.

Even though we have taken several steps to expand production rates, these are simply not instant and take time to implement. And there’s a limit to this as well as this very large order volume is a one off, a once in a 5 year event, we simply cannot mindlessly invest heavily in new equipment and more staff which will all be fully idle 3 months down the line.

But production rates are increasing, although not always visible, the first 30% of the orders is I/O “heavy”, the percentage of I/Os ordered by higher order numbers is significantly lower (Olympus + I/O equals 2 Olympus servers in resources/time). So by multiple means we’re just going to keep hitting higher numbers, but to a limit…

I think we all understand Emile that this is/was no small undertaking. My comment was not intended to be snarky or rude. Only to point out the obvious. People asking about future this or that, at this juncture, is not helpful and perhaps adds to some frustration. It also places you in an awkward position. All of us wouldn't be onboard if we didn't have complete faith in your foresight and ability....

 

Hi Emile,
Being forced to keep a keen “don’t go spending our retirement $$ on audio gear” budget, what would you consider a better sonic investment to include with an Olympus order — I/O or router/switch?

 

Hi Emile,
Being forced to keep a keen “don’t go spending our retirement $$ on audio gear” budget, what would you consider a better sonic investment to include with an Olympus order — I/O or router/switch?

That's a good question.

They’re pretty competitive 1 on 1...

My decision would be based on the main music source you are currently using, or what you'd prefer to use going forward.

If you mainly use Tidal/Qobuz, absolute no brainer, the Router first, the DC-Distributor/Switch second, and perhaps a nice power supply. You could use a cheap NAS for music file storage then and recover some cash on ordering without internal storage.

If you mainly use your own files / internal storage I would go for the I/O as the benefit of the I/O is relatively larger if you use internal storage.

In general, if you value sound staging, both the Router and I/O significantly enhance staging, but ultimately the I/O pulls the best listening room walls vanishing act, which is why you read/hear more comments on crazy sound staging abilities of I/O owners.

 

Order Self-check​

Shipping Soon:​

16, 18, 25, 25.1, 26, 27, 28, 29, 33.1

 

Order Self-check​

Shipping Soon:​

16, 18, 25, 25.1, 26, 27, 28, 29, 33.1

29 has never before held any particular magic for me…until today!!