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".

 

They have chosen to optimize the critical path (chassis production), instead of rigidly holding the queue order, which is the right thing to considering the circumstances, imo. But the queue numbers become fluid in a short time window, not shot way down.

 

Does this mean my silver O/IO at #48 just got shot way down the production list?

Let me know if @dminches and @Tuckia spot on replies leave any lingering questions.

 

As I look on from afar at this unfortunate anodizing adventure, I’m left thinking “if only Taiko could have foreseen the difficulties…”

If so, they might have decided to offer it only in (beautiful) Black.

And, if so, (as Emile has said here) all the Olympus orders would already be shipped!

I understand that the Silver is obviously preferred by many, but I can’t help but (respectfully) wonder: “Is the chassis color really worth the consequences?”

The consequences being:

1. presumably a far longer wait for all those in the queue.

2. diversion of time/resources of a small company away from further research/development.

We all know that Taiko has groundbreaking innovations in the works, but it takes a massive amount of time and effort to bring these about. I hate to see the anodizing hassle slowing their progress.

Maybe just think of Black as being a much darker version of Silver?

Just my 2 cents, etc.

 

We all know that Taiko has groundbreaking innovations in the works, but it takes a massive amount of time and effort to bring these about. I hate to see the anodizing hassle slowing their progress.

+1
if this block scheduling of black/silver speeds things up, please please!

anything that speeds up
1. XDMS going into beta phase
2. enhancements (previously hinted at with announcement delayed) to the Extreme
3. new higher end DAC for Olympus (and Extreme?)
4. BPS functionality to new use cases (Extreme?, other?)

@emile--any chance enhancements targeted to the Extreme might happen this year? 1Q25?

 

As I look on from afar at this unfortunate anodizing adventure, I’m left thinking “if only Taiko could have foreseen the difficulties…”

If so, they might have decided to offer it only in (beautiful) Black.

And, if so, (as Emile has said here) all the Olympus orders would already be shipped!

I understand that the Silver is obviously preferred by many, but I can’t help but (respectfully) wonder: “Is the chassis color really worth the consequences?”

The consequences being:

1. presumably a far longer wait for all those in the queue.

2. diversion of time/resources of a small company away from further research/development.

We all know that Taiko has groundbreaking innovations in the works, but it takes a massive amount of time and effort to bring these about. I hate to see the anodizing hassle slowing their progress.

Maybe just think of Black as being a much darker version of Silver?

Just my 2 cents, etc.

Dark silver. Nice.
Likewise the color palette could be expanded to - charcoal, onyx, obsidian, carbon, and burnt Wadax.

 

Dark silver. Nice.
Likewise the color palette could be expanded to - charcoal, onyx, obsidian, carbon, and burnt Wadax.

Maybe after current orders are filled, increase price for silver?

 

Does this mean my silver O/IO at #48 just got shot way down the production list?

Hi @gds7368 ,

We don't have an I/O listed for your order, only a silver Olympus server, which is ready to ship BTW!

 

Does anyone use Starlink as a dedicated isp for their kit?

 

+1
if this block scheduling of black/silver speeds things up, please please!

It does, applying this approach our shipping schedule now looks like this:

Shipping now:
Silver Olympus servers (without I/O): 41.1, 47, 48, 51, 58, 63
Next up:
Black Olympus servers (with 3 I/Os) : 34.1, 40, 42, 44, 49, 60
Followed by:
Silver Olympus servers (all with I/O): 31, 44.1, 45, 46, 50, 55

Additionally we have around 30 rejected silver server chassis which we will try to get refinished in black as fast as possible.

@emile--any chance enhancements targeted to the Extreme might happen this year? 1Q25?

Q1 2025 more likely.

Maybe after current orders are filled, increase price for silver?

That does indeed make sense.

 

Emile could you post a good quality picture of the Olympus in black?

 

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Black looks SWEET with the copper!

 

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That copper on BLACK is simply sweet!

 

Hi Emile.. how can I get my internal order number? I placed an order via the dealer - thank you

 

If you email support they will have it. I also got an email from Taiko with the specifics of my order. I also bought through a dealer. The email subject was “Taiko Olympus Order Specification”

 

If you email support they will have it. I also got an email from Taiko with the specifics of my order. I also bought through a dealer. The email subject was “Taiko Olympus Order Specification”

Thank you

 

31 Oh Yea ......

 

Hi @gds7368 ,

We don't have an I/O listed for your order, only a silver Olympus server, which is ready to ship BTW!

Fantastic ... yes I/O in silver as well. And I just paid the final invoice for Olympus and I/O ... thank you!

 

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Thx Emile

 

As we now have experience developing Bluetooth and Wi-Fi interfaces something particularly interesting might be the ability to stream your mobile device output directly to XDMI. We were initially contemplating on adding this functionality to the Router but directly to XDMI might make more sense.

Emile - notwithstanding all the unanticipated intervening difficulties, are you able to give an update on this? Is Airplay still on the roadmap? Would represent a substantial functional addition...

 

Emile - notwithstanding all the unanticipated intervening difficulties, are you able to give an update on this? Is Airplay still on the roadmap? Would represent a substantial functional addition...

It is, these protocols are on the roadmap, you will be able to use all of these with the Olympus AND the Extreme:

1) UPNP
2) Tidal connect
3) Qobuz connect
4) Airplay
5) Chromecast