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".

 

No. The first reason is outlined in post#16, the second reason is with the network card "isolated" from the Extreme/Olympus by interface and floating on it's own dedicated battery supply it's just not necessary.

I see. I thought that was just about a mini bps.

 

Not a bad estimate! If you rank Extreme + IO at 200% I'd rank Olympus at ~300% and Olympus + IO at ~330%.

So the big question would be the price difference between „just“ the IO upgrade vs a Extreme to Olympus trade-in.

Hopefully the Olympus is price wise not in the stratosphere like other High-End offerings these days, that makes such a consideration even possible. Fingers crossed!

 

Well the future is now is indeed the mantra.

Pricing to come as well as trade back on existing Extreme....fabulous

A few questions for those interested in option 4

1. Availability -ETA

2. The question of transferring one's library from existing Extreme to Olympos --how does that happen

3. For Olympus is the Taiko USB board necessary with XDMI coming

4. Will XDMI be part of Olympus when Olympus is shipped

 

No. The first reason is outlined in post#16, the second reason is with the network card "isolated" from the Extreme/Olympus by interface and floating on it's own dedicated battery supply it's just not necessary.

Not too sure I understand your reply. Do we use Olympus to power router and switch? Or there is no need for that because network card is isolated and floating.

 

Hopefully the music Hyper Cards in Extreme can just be installed into Olympus

 

Well the future is now is indeed the mantra.

Pricing to come as well as trade back on existing Extreme....fabulous

A few questions for those interested in option 4

1. Availability -ETA

2. The question of transferring one's library from existing Extreme to Olympos --how does that happen

3. For Olympos is the Taiko USB board necessary with XDMI coming

4. Will XDMI be part of Olympos when Olympos is shipped

I did see that XDMI comes included with the Olympos so the big question is how to convert ones internal library to that on the Olympos

 

with the new XDMI, I gather that that makes the Taiko USB card obsolete...In the trade in of the Extreme what happens to that USB card? Is there some sort of credit given on it or does it become an expensive paper weight

 

1 - XDMI is an interface. I am not sure how that affects one's music library.

2 - The question is, does one's DAC require that interface to optimize it? I assume so but I am curious what Emile says.

 

1 - XDMI is an interface. I am not sure how that affects one's music library.

2 - The question is, does one's DAC require that interface to optimize it? I assume so but I am curious what Emile says.

I never said it affects ones library but I thought that XDMI obviates the need for USB. And yes I know it's an interface. There has still been no explanations to how each different externalDAC will pair with the new interface. I thought I read several months ago that the Horizon uses i2s and MSB uses their Pro usb interface

as for Library I have 16 TB to copy and IIRC the memory cards are not used any more

 

I never saiid it affects ones library but I thought that XDMI obviates the need for USB

as for Library I have 16 TB to copy and IIRC the memory cards are not used any more

Sorry. I misunderstood "I did see that XDMI comes included with the Olympos so the big question is how to convert ones internal library to that on the Olympos"

 

Sorry. I misunderstood "I did see that XDMI comes included with the Olympos so the big question is how to convert ones internal library to that on the Olympos"

that was my question.

 

Not a bad estimate! If you rank Extreme + IO at 200% I'd rank Olympus at ~300% and Olympus + IO at ~330%.

Thank you.
This looks very optimistic.
I am not ranking extreme + Io at 200 % as I had no chance to see it or hear it.
This is estimate based purely on your first introduction chapter.
it looks the biggest improvements are with adding Io to extreme .
But from what you say it is triple the improvement from pure extreme to pure olympus.
Not sure if Emile will find a moment to write his estimates and sady few works about his sonic impresions with new Olympus

 

To everyone not picking it correct.

This is OLYMPUS not Olympos .

 

How the 2 are connected ? Extreme to Io and Olympus to Io ?

I use to have and use adnaco pciexpress to isolate usb card and network
with my server 7 years ago .
is that a simmilar concept ?
I used fiber to connect 2 chassiss Because they had separate supplys.

 

View attachment 121546

Can‘t wait to hear YT videos on the different configurations in the same system using the same media.

 

As I am setting up my audio budget for 2024 I am hoping we can be provided with price estimates sooner than later.

 

Not a bad estimate! If you rank Extreme + IO at 200% I'd rank Olympus at ~300% and Olympus + IO at ~330%.

Very nice designs!

Does your baseline of 100% include extreme + Xdmi card digital out, or just today's extreme with the USB output card?

The IO architecture suggest that the xdmi card, without daughter card, would reside in the extreme and move data to the IO via the new xdmi output format and the function of the daughter board(s) would move to the IO where it would be battery powered.

Can we expect an announcement for the xdmi digital output card soon? That is actually what I had been expecting today. The Olympus was quite unexpected here.

 

After careful consideration I’ll be all in on the Olympus IO. I really like this design and idea, it offers a great platform for experimentation and it is a great upgrade path. So count me in!

 

I never said it affects ones library but I thought that XDMI obviates the need for USB. And yes I know it's an interface. There has still been no explanations to how each different externalDAC will pair with the new interface. I thought I read several months ago that the Horizon uses i2s and MSB uses their Pro usb interface

as for Library I have 16 TB to copy and IIRC the memory cards are not used any more

How do u know the memory cards are not used?

 

How do u know the memory cards are not used?

I thought the memory cards in my Extreme have been replaced by more current ones but I might be mistaken