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".

 

Do the black chassis have a higher success rate?

Yes, those are at 95%, if all orders were black we probably would’ve finished shipping everything some time ago.

 

We could, obviously, however there's more to consider here, we have a sizeable group of customers being unhappy with us publishing this data.

Emile.
Since the lot numbers are not associated with the name of the owner (as is logical) the complaint of anyone that Taiko publishes these numbers is simply absurd. This numerical data without association to any name, does not belong to the buyer of the Olympus, but to Taiko Audio. I think that those of us who have paid a large amount of money months ago and are waiting to receive the Olympus, deserve at least to have updated information on the pace of manufacture and that this does not happen because there are people who are upset by the publication of some numbers on a website is a great………….. (let each one put the adjective)

 

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The sides almost look like wood grain

 

Yes, those are at 95%.

Emile, I can well imagine the frustration at your end. It was understood that there were persisting issues with finishing but it wasn't at all clear that these are no better than when you first described them here months ago and, indeed, the profound extent to which they are still crippling production. I suspect that sharing a little bit more detail, as you've done in the last few posts, goes a long way to generating understanding, goodwill and renewed patience within the order-holder group - thank you. As an aside, has offering customers a switch from silver to black been considered? Even if only a few take up the offer, that might help...

 

Cool looking finish with the waves but I see how that is not what you are going for. It is too bad that this process is so hard for them to get right at a higher clip. Sorry…

I like the wave effect, too. Kind like a more understated pattern similar to my Playback Designs ADC. But theirs is actually machined into the surface.



I'm all for alternative finishes, particularly powder-coating if you can get a finish that meets your stringent requirements. And I would love a discounted price on an I/O that is, shall we say, cosmetically challenged. Might be a way to move blemished product rather than just writing it off completely. In fact, I'd take a really grim example and just have the chassis powder-coated at our local hot rod shop.

Just sayin'

Steve Z

 

Emile.
Since the lot numbers are not associated with the name of the owner (as is logical) the complaint of anyone that Taiko publishes these numbers is simply absurd. This numerical data without association to any name, does not belong to the buyer of the Olympus, but to Taiko Audio. I think that those of us who have paid a large amount of money months ago and are waiting to receive the Olympus, deserve at least to have updated information on the pace of manufacture and that this does not happen because there are people who are upset by the publication of some numbers on a website is a great………….. (let each one put the adjective)

I cannot go into the problems associated with the existence of this webpage without upsetting people.

A good solution would be to just update information here on WBF and remove the webpage. The people interested in this information do appear to be following us here anyway. You’d have the date to go with it as well then.

 

Emile, I can well imagine the frustration at your end. It was understood that there were persisting issues with finishing but it wasn't at all clear that these were no better than when you first described them here months ago and, indeed, the profound extent to which they are still crippling production. I suspect that sharing a little bit more detail, as you've done in the last few posts, goes a long way to generating understanding, goodwill and renewing patience within the order-holder group - thank you. As an aside, has offering customers a switch from silver to black been considered? Even if only a few take up the offer, that might help...

If anyone is willing to chance their order from silver to black, please do!

 

I like the wave effect, too. Kind like a more understated pattern similar to my Playback Designs ADC. But theirs is actually machined into the surface.

View attachment 139707

I'm all for alternative finishes, particularly powder-coating if you can get a finish that meets your stringent requirements. And I would love a discounted price on an I/O that is, shall we say, cosmetically challenged. Might be a way to move blemished product rather than just writing it off completely. In fact, I'd take a really grim example and just have the chassis powder-coated at our local hot rod shop.

Just sayin'

Steve Z

Regular powder coating is not that great, a bit too “industrial”, but there are very thin layer options nowadays, we’re exploring those as well. This is an example of “regular” powder coating:

 

Regular powder coating is not that great, but there are very thin layer options nowadays, we’re exploring those as well. This is an example of “regular” powder coating:

View attachment 139708

Well, maybe my standards are much lower or perhaps I'm just different (I've been told that before) -- I kind of like the smooth, almost "wet look" of your powder-coated example.

Steve Z

 

If anyone is willing to chance their order from silver to black, please do!

I have made that request through my dealer. Is there someone at Taiko that can be notified as well?

 

I have made that request through my dealer. Is there someone at Taiko that can be notified as well?

Already changed to black months ago, heh.

 

I must say that I find my black Olympus quite beautiful. No regrets here.

 

I have made that request through my dealer. Is there someone at Taiko that can be notified as well?

Your dealer already did

 

Well, maybe my standards are much lower or perhaps I'm just different (I've been told that before) -- I kind of like the smooth, almost "wet look" of your powder-coated example.

Steve Z

This would be a much better option if you would not attempt to recreate a silver anodised aluminium look. If you do this in an entirely different colour like red, blue, purple the finish is more appealing, but quite a different look and feel relative to your other gear. Will share photos if we get a cool looking sample back which I feel warrants real consideration! Ultimately there’s a degree of manufacturers pride involved.

 

This would be a much better option if you would not attempt to recreate a silver anodised aluminium look. If you do this in an entirely different colour like red, blue, purple the finish is more appealing, but quite a different look and feel relative to your other gear. Will share photos if we get a cool looking sample back which I feel warrants real consideration! Ultimately there’s a degree of manufacturers pride involved.

as the saying goes, " no good deed goes unpunished"

I think we all feel your pain

 

MSB has verified our XDMI PRO ISL implementation meanwhile, so we're good to go there! I'm very excited about this and very eager to get feedback from the field on this. We'll update on when we can start shipping this next week.

Very happy to hear that indeed, congratulations!

Thanks for all the updates on the production issues, and the lengths you are having to go to get it sorted - more power to you (as always).

I'm happy to get updates on shipments, don't care if they are here or the webpage (or anywhere else) so if it eases even a tiny part of the current burden, you have my 10 million votes to delete the webpage!

 

This would be a much better option if you would not attempt to recreate a silver anodised aluminium look. If you do this in an entirely different colour like red, blue, purple the finish is more appealing, but quite a different look and feel relative to your other gear. Will share photos if we get a cool looking sample back which I feel warrants real consideration! Ultimately there’s a degree of manufacturers pride involved.

I'm actually all about the colors and have slowly been anodizing transformer covers and other accent parts of my tube equipment. So my look and feel is slowly migrating from all audiophile gear silver to rainbow of many colors.

I understand about manufacturer pride, however.

Steve

 

Perhaps it's time for the "Taiko Special Cardboard Edition" where you throw all the components into a cardboard box and give 5% discount

 

Regular powder coating is not that great, a bit too “industrial”, but there are very thin layer options nowadays, we’re exploring those as well. This is an example of “regular” powder coating:

View attachment 139708

What about a chrome finish like the DCD, Switch and Router? Too Wadax???

 

I believe the Riviera units are powder coated and then clear coated. This adds a dimension to the look of the finish that is more pleasing, IMO, than just powder coating.