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".

 

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

For Upnp, does it mean Olympus acts as Upnp client?

 

The actual queue number would be around 150.

But I am #160

 

But I am #160

That's not an existing queue number, we're still just below 150. You can contact support@taikoaudio.com to get your correct queue number.

 

For Upnp, does it mean Olympus acts as Upnp client?

Yes, you can use free upnp remotes like mconnect to use it then, if you don't mind paying Jplay IOS appears to be very well received at 50 / year or 200 / lifetime.

 

View attachment 140073

View attachment 140074

View attachment 140075

View attachment 140076

I just contacted my dealer Ultimate Audio to ask him to request Taiko to change my Olympus to Black.

 

I just contacted my dealer Ultimate Audio to ask him to request Taiko to change my Olympus to Black.

This is actually very helpful, a lot of people have changed their orders, we're at 50/50 silver/black on the remaining orders already!

 

...the eagle has landed. Fiber pallet was broken, but flight case A-OK.

 

...the eagle has landed. Fiber pallet was broken, but flight case A-OK.

View attachment 140178

you're in for a real treat. The fun starts figuring out a way to get it mounted in your system. I hired two strong muscle men to get my O/IO up the stairs and on its shelf.

 

...oh yeah. A fella named "Jake" will be by a bit later. He enjoys lifting things and setting them down. It'll be the best 40 bucks I'll spend today.

 

This is actually very helpful, a lot of people have changed their orders, we're at 50/50 silver/black on the remaining orders already!

(I’ll take a bow for suggesting it here )

 

I ha

(I’ll take a bow for suggesting it here )

i had a different thought. Some of the rejected silver anodized units were somewhat eye catching to my eyes at least. The time and expense to find a proper anodizer is a monumental, daunting and I’m sure a very expensive task. I’m betting that if Emile showed the rejected units he had and offered to move people up in the queue to accept these as their order, things would fly off the shelf Perhaps also offer them at a small reduction in price. I listen in the dark. To me it’s what my ears hear rather than what my eyes see. One would take delivery of a sonically perfect O/IO at the price of a slight visual imperfection. People will move up in the queue and I bet will be tickled by their decision. This happens all the time and are called “ factory seconds”.

Just a thought rather than sending them back. My mother always said “ it never hurts to ask”

 

I ha

i had a different thought. Some of the rejected silver anodized units were somewhat eye catching to my eyes at least. The time and expense to find a proper anodizer is a monumental, daunting and I’m sure a very expensive task. I’m betting that if Emile showed the rejected units he had and offered to move people up in the queue to accept these as their order, things would fly off the shelf Perhaps also offer them at a small reduction in price. I listen in the dark. To me it’s what my ears hear rather than what my eyes see. One would take delivery of a sonically perfect O/IO at the price of a slight visual imperfection. People will move up in the queue and I bet will be tickled by their decision. This happens all the time and are called “ factory seconds”.

Just a thought rather than sending them back. My mother always said “ it never hurts to ask”

Factory second in that price range? I really hope Taiko has more pride than that.

 

Factory second in that price range? I really hope Taiko has more pride than that.

Plus, one could never get a matching I/O in the future if the O case wasn’t perfect.

 

Factory second in that price range? I really hope Taiko has more pride than that.

Never hurts to ask. I agree with you BTW. . Having said that all manufacturers sell their factory seconds I thought the one shown a few days ago with the swirls in it was very interesting.Members are switching to black to hasten delivery. Some of the rejects frankly are not that bad Taiko does have a high standard. that is to be commended.

 

Years ago I bought an expensive car. When I did the inspection there was a flaw in the paint towards the bottom of a door. I brought it their attention. My option was to forgo delivery, send it back to repaint or to purchase with a discount The car Btw was much higher priced than the Olympus so again just a thought

 

Steve, I will gladly buy your Olympus and I/O if you'd like a factory second to help out the community...

 

I get it. My point is that Taiko holds itself to a higher standard. There are many rejects and people are getting restless. So if you want to have the factory standard there will be waits such as they are finding. Switching to black has become acceptable to some to hasten delivery. Once again you never know unless an option becomes available. I am agreeing with everyone but there has been an amazingly high presale and that creates a queue. BTW my order was in fact delayed by 2 weeks at least because it was rejected upon return from anodizer. .i feel everyone’s pain. You never talk about an Indian until you have walked a mile in his moccasins.