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".

 

One important thing that Emile reminds us all is that to either have the XDMI cable in play or the USB . You should NOT have both cables attached as IIRC it defaults to USB when you think you are playing XDMI.

Yeah that’s kind of important if you want to perform a proper A/B comparison. Having ANY usb device connected to the Olympus will significantly degrade XDMI sound quality, no matter if it’s a DAC, USB stick or drive.

Additionally Roon performance does suffer from having multiple audio output devices enabled, so make sure to ONLY enable the used audio output.

I guess we should now add ensuring you are both VOLUME and PHASE matched

 

I do.

If you feed the DCD with 12V power you can run the switch, router and DS224+ off it as long as the LPS have enough wattage. What LPS are you using and what is its power rating?

 

If you feed the DCD with 12V power you can run the switch, router and DS224+ off it as long as the LPS have enough wattage. What LPS are you using and what is its power rating?

An Uptone JS-2 (6.8A rated) , easy-peasy

 

we're going in circles. That was the point I was making in my post from above. From my understanding when we ordered when specified which digital board we wanted. Lampizator and now MSB Digital boards have the ability to play native was my point. Yet having said that Im betting Steve is also blown away as to what he is hearing with. the digital card outputting to his DAC. AS I have commented, XDMI IMO makes USB an albatross and a thing of the past

I think the confusion is in your use of the word "native." Yes, you need a DAC with an XDMI input to play XDMI native. However, with an S/PDIF or AES/EBU output you can play native too, up to 24/192.

Enjoy the gathering at your house. It should be great!

 

An Uptone JS-2 (6.8A rated) , easy peasy

Yes, that should work very well!

 

Yeah that’s kind of important if you want to perform a proper A/B comparison. Having ANY usb device connected to the Olympus will significantly degrade XDMI sound quality, no matter if it’s a DAC, USB stick or drive.

Additionally Roon performance does suffer from having multiple audio output devices enabled, so make sure to ONLY enable the used audio output.

I guess we should now add ensuring you are both VOLUME and PHASE matched

Perfect. I have presently the Taiko Lampi device enabled. Once I Run the USB cable I will disable the Taiko Lampi device and enable the Taiko USB device, all done through Roon.

 

An Uptone JS-2 (6.8A rated) , easy-peasy

Two independently adjustable, separately regulated outputs; Voltage choices are user set from the back panel: 5V, 7V, 9V, or 12V.
Guaranteed continuous current capability:
4.7 Amps at 5V
5.5 Amps at 7V
7.0 Amps at 9V
7.4 Amps at 12V
Instantaneous capability of up to 10A

 

Perfect. I have presently the Taiko Lampi device enabled. Once I Run the USB cable I will disable the Taiko Lampi device and enable the Taiko USB device, all done through Roon.

Perfect

 

Two independently adjustable, separately regulated outputs; Voltage choices are user set from the back panel: 5V, 7V, 9V, or 12V.
Guaranteed continuous current capability:
4.7 Amps at 5V
5.5 Amps at 7V
7.0 Amps at 9V
7.4 Amps at 12V
Instantaneous capability of up to 10A

That is a nice beefy LPS and perfect to run the trio of components.

 

Two independently adjustable, separately regulated outputs; Voltage choices are user set from the back panel: 5V, 7V, 9V, or 12V.
Guaranteed continuous current capability:
4.7 Amps at 5V
5.5 Amps at 7V
7.0 Amps at 9V
7.4 Amps at 12V
Instantaneous capability of up to 10A

Hmm interesting, screenshot info below is either outdated or there are 2 revisions. Either way, it will do the job!

 

An Uptone JS-2 (6.8A rated) , easy-peasy

Actually, I'm running the DCD with a 2nd Uptone JS-2, with the 2nd output unused at the moment. But I gather that it would be preferable to run the NAS directly off the DCD rather than use either of the 2nd outputs of the Uptones, yes?
Thanks again,
Jerry

 

...I am planning to do the same thing, swapping in the JS2 on the DDC for Tswitch and that same NAS on the WDReds you noted, and thank you.

 

...I just scraped my post info from their site, FWIW. But as you noted, both work. Cheers, Emile.

 

Actually, I'm running the DCD with a 2nd Uptone JS-2, with the 2nd output unused at the moment. But I gather that it would be preferable to run the NAS directly off the DCD rather than use either of the 2nd outputs of the Uptones, yes?
Thanks again,
Jerry

I think that is what Emile would recommend - all the power runs through the DCD.

 

Some confusing posts here...

@steve williams , have you tried the digital daughter board? I think when @oldmustang refers to the "digital board" he is referring to the AES/EBU daughter board. The Taiko DAC, this digital board, and the XDMI native board are attached to the main XDMI board. I assume with your Horizon you using the XDMI native daughter board, not any digital board. Correct me if I am wrong.

Second, I believe AES/EBU and S/PDIF can pass up to 192 kHz.

As far as my part of this (@oldmustang) -- right on all counts, David. I should have been more clear. I am only using the XDMI analog daughter card, or the XDMI AES/RCA digital output daughter card.

AES/EBU or just AES for short, and SPDIF are basically the same digital protocol. AES/EBU was developed for professional recording and studio use and generally uses balanced XLR or BNC connectors, while SPDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) utilizing less expensive RCA connectors (though sometimes BNCs) was developed for consumer products.

AES main advantage is the ability to drive much longer cables and also in balanced configuration, it's ability to remain unaffected by common mode noise.

Neither are the DAC-specific format such as used by Lampizator, and soon MSB and Aires Cerat.

Both have the ability to transmit a 192kHz stream and DSD64.

Steve Z

 

Emile

What are the cable requirements for the MSB XDMI implementation?

 

Emile

What are the cable requirements for the MSB XDMI implementation?

The actual output module is supplied by MSB, so you can use the fiber cable you’re using now. Of course you could try using a DAC cable if you so desire, if you do please share what you prefer!

 

I think that is what Emile would recommend - all the power runs through the DCD.

It’s still the only scenario I actually tested myself!

We are absolutely completely swamped here limiting my own experimentation / listening to what is absolutely critical to not hold up any ongoing projects.

 

Hmm interesting, screenshot info below is either outdated or there are 2 revisions. Either way, it will do the job!

View attachment 138712

I suspect two versions. I distinctly remember the total current rating as being 10A when I ordered my JS-2 some years ago, back when my server was a Mac Mini which I had modified with the Uptone Mac modifications (power supply and fan boards).

I suppose a motivated person could check at archive.org using their Wayback machine for what they were advertising when the JS-2 came out (if archive.org has recovered from the malicious DDoS attack on their website). I don't think they de-rated because of JS-2 failures. IIRC they advertise that they've never had a failure or a return of a JS-2.

Steve Z

 

Actually, I'm running the DCD with a 2nd Uptone JS-2, with the 2nd output unused at the moment. But I gather that it would be preferable to run the NAS directly off the DCD rather than use either of the 2nd outputs of the Uptones, yes?
Thanks again,
Jerry

Correct. The JS-2 features two rails but they share a common ground. I only use one output from my JS-2 to the DCD. Everything downstream comes off DCD (filtered) outputs.

Steve Z