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".

 

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

I’ve gone black and couldn’t be happier - jump on board guys if you can and save yourself some waiting time!

 

I’ve gone black and couldn’t be happier - jump on board guys if you can and save yourself some waiting time!

The Black is beautiful! A no brainer imho considering the ongoing difficulties. Let Emile get back to Research and Development!

 

Anyone who understands production realizes changing such a big aspect mid stream (in the middle of a roll out) is just not a prudent direction to take...No doubt Taiko and Emile understand this...

 

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

The Olympus is too big for that, would be cool though!

 

Anyone who understands production realizes changing such a big aspect mid stream (in the middle of a roll out) is just not a prudent direction to take...No doubt Taiko and Emile understand this...

Indeed, we’ll just have to make peace with the discard rate and keep increasing production to compensate. 12 servers and 2 IOs for this week is not that bad a yield relative to before. I’m not displeased, carefully optimistic even.

 

...ever try micro-milling a "bad" anodized chassis to see the effect?

 

...ever try micro-milling a "bad" anodized chassis to see the effect?

Sort of like sculpting a piece of marble with a hammer and chisel...

 

...there are some applications where they do this, dependent upon coat thickness, etc. for a desired result.

 

Very difficult process to predict with final results...Similar as reactionary dyes or acid etching which is part of the anodizing process...

 

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

I have changed mine to a Black through my dealer. Fingers crossed.

 

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

Welcome to the dark side.

 

Anyone who understands production realizes changing such a big aspect mid stream (in the middle of a roll out) is just not a prudent direction to take...No doubt Taiko and Emile understand this...

I guess I don’t understand…

If, for instance, there were 100 remaining Olympus chassis’s remaining to be cnc’d to fulfill orders…

Wouldn’t it simply be a matter of customers changing the color on their order before anodizing?

 

I guess I don’t understand…

If, for instance, there were 100 remaining Olympus chassis’s remaining to be cnc’d to fulfill orders…

Wouldn’t it simply be a matter of customers changing the color on their order before anodizing?

Not Black Vs Silver Wil. People were mentioning powder coating and other types of finishing...Emile is all for changing from silver to Black as to alleviate the PITA silver anodizing that he is dealing with...

 

Not Black Vs Silver Wil. People were mentioning powder coating and other types of finishing...Emile is all for changing from silver to Black as to alleviate the PITA silver anodizing that he is dealing with...

Right, changing to another finishing method, midstream other than anodizing would not be a good idea!

 

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

i guess you should have done a Henry Ford

 

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

and black sounds better anyway!

 

#TeamSilverRulz !

 

#TeamSilverRulz !

Black is the new silver.

 

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

Emile, could you send a good quality picture of the Olympus server in black?

 

Many audiophiles prefer the look of black components. Many audiophiles prefer the look of silver components. I think it's nice when manufacturers offer those two color options.

(Or make it simple, and offer only silver. )