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".

 

I wrote about this in my long write up, but the amazing thing to me is that even with a very vanilla DAC on the v1 XDMI analog card, XDMI is already a giant killer.

We’re only in the gentle foothills of Mt Olympus today, and already way beyond all the mountains that surround us. Incredible.

Olympus + BPS + XDMI is by far and away the most revealing DAC research and development environment in the world, whether for existing DAC topologies or future to be invented ones.

Where next generation DAC R&D is going with XDMI is the most exciting thing in audio for me since the CD 40 years ago.

 

I wrote about this in my long write up, but the amazing thing to me is that even with a very vanilla DAC on the v1 XDMI analog card, XDMI is already a giant killer.

We’re only in the gentle foothills of Mt Olympus today, and already way beyond all the mountains that surround us. Incredible.

Olympus + BPS + XDMI is by far and away the most revealing DAC research and development environment in the world, whether for existing DAC topologies or future to be invented ones.

Where next generation DAC R&D is going with XDMI is the most exciting thing in audio for me since the CD 40 years ago.

Well now I'm really looking forward to hearing the analogue card in my system and truly hope I can still put together the much awaited visit from Emile

 

Finally installed the XDMI Analog DAC card on the Olympus-I/O on Thursday.

I’ve been in a virtual heaven listening to the Olympus-I/O XDMI digital (AES) break-in over the last three weeks, but especially the last week.

It’s been a delightful progression of musical engagement above any past system configurations I’ve ever heard before in my room.

On Thursday, I felt that the performance of the XDMI digital card had stabilized sufficiently to try the XDMI analog card.

After a number of self-inflicted unforced errors (including blown fuses and incorrect cable connections), I was finally able to get music through the XDMI analog card on Friday evening - due in no short measure to the patient, timely, and expert help of the usual suspects at Taiko.

Thank you kindly Gents!

However, what became immediately and abundantly clear after just a couple of hours of listening was that the XDMI analog card performance exceeded the XDMI digital card in no uncertain terms.

And what’s become clearer now, after just a little over 36 hours of break-in, that rather than being in heaven as I thought when listening to the digital XDMI card, that I was just in the lower basement - about to ascend in the opposite direction of Dante’s nine circles of hell.

Every few hours, the performance leaps forward.

All along, Emile has been modest and downplayed the expectations of the XDMI Analog DAC.

After less than 48 hours, and given previous reports that the XDMI analog card would take weeks to stabilize, I can only imagine where the performance will end up.

Emile and the Taiko team have pulled a lion out of their collective hat!

Bottom line, all that’s need now is a couple of more inputs to the XDMI DAC for flexibility, the potential addition of XLR outputs, and which when combined with I’m sure a couple of additional treats up Emile’s sleeve - and it’s GAME OVER!

Well at least for Steve Z, myself, and a couple of other crazies!

Carlos, what DAC are you using

 

Im interested that 100% of XDMI AES/EBU users seem to favor the analogue board. I made the comment a few days ago that Im still sensing that all Lampi and likely all MSB users will favor the digital board and AES users will prefer the analogue.

 

Finally installed the XDMI Analog DAC card on the Olympus-I/O on Thursday.

I’ve been in a virtual heaven listening to the Olympus-I/O XDMI digital (AES) break-in over the last three weeks, but especially the last week.

It’s been a delightful progression of musical engagement above any past system configurations I’ve ever heard before in my room.

On Thursday, I felt that the performance of the XDMI digital card had stabilized sufficiently to try the XDMI analog card.

After a number of self-inflicted unforced errors (including blown fuses and incorrect cable connections), I was finally able to get music through the XDMI analog card on Friday evening - due in no short measure to the patient, timely, and expert help of the usual suspects at Taiko.

Thank you kindly Gents!

However, what became immediately and abundantly clear after just a couple of hours of listening was that the XDMI analog card performance exceeded the XDMI digital card in no uncertain terms.

And what’s become clearer now, after just a little over 36 hours of break-in, that rather than being in heaven as I thought when listening to the digital XDMI card, that I was just in the lower basement - about to ascend in the opposite direction of Dante’s nine circles of hell.

Every few hours, the performance leaps forward.

All along, Emile has been modest and downplayed the expectations of the XDMI Analog DAC.

After less than 48 hours, and given previous reports that the XDMI analog card would take weeks to stabilize, I can only imagine where the performance will end up.

Emile and the Taiko team have pulled a lion out of their collective hat!

Bottom line, all that’s need now is a couple of more inputs to the XDMI DAC for flexibility, the potential addition of XLR outputs, and which when combined with I’m sure a couple of additional treats up Emile’s sleeve - and it’s GAME OVER!

Well at least for Steve Z, myself, and a couple of other crazies!

Very enlightening indeed. I had been waiting for someone with a top of the range Total DAC system to give their opinion on the comparison with the XDMI analog card, ever since Vincent claimed that their handling of the AES/EBU interface was so extraordinary that he saw no reason to implement an XDMI receiver in his DACs. And that without having done a single test to verify it. Well it seems that no matter how many reclockers you put in the path of a signal with limitations such as AES/EBU………….

 

Carlos, what DAC are you using

Very enlightening indeed. I had been waiting for someone with a top of the range Total DAC system to give their opinion on the comparison with the XDMI analog card, ever since Vincent claimed that their handling of the AES/EBU interface was so extraordinary that he saw no reason to implement an XDMI receiver in his DACs. And that without having done a single test to verify it. Well it seems that no matter how many reclockers you put in the path of a signal with limitations such as AES/EBU………….

Hi nonesup,

Just a quick note of clarification that a final comparison between the XDMI digital and XDMI analog cards will be done in late January when my favorite speaker whisperer will be visiting to optimize the system/speaker setup for each card. And then lending his ear to the final comparison.

Having seen it myself in person how small, even minute, changes in speaker positioning can affect a system’s sound quality significantly, I’m a firm believer in the critical importance of optimizing a system/speaker setup to fully get the maximum performance from set of components in a given room - and to conduct a fair comparison between components.

It should be fun.

I wanted to note that the visit will also involve setting up my “Kodo the Beat” turntable
- which will provide an interesting and additional comparison/reference point.

 

has anyone implemented an I/O with an extreme?
it seems like no one here has gone that route, unless i've missed it.

 

has anyone implemented an I/O with an extreme?
it seems like no one here has gone that route, unless i've missed it.

I don't think so Marty, too few out into the wild...Mark @MarkusBarkus was going for that approach but changed the order to an Olympus...Unless someone in Europe took that route?

 

I don't think so Marty, too few out into the wild...Mark @MarkusBarkus was going for that approach but changed the order to an Olympus...Unless someone in Europe took that route?

i expect the value of the trade in for the extreme makes the extreme+IO+xdmi option less desirable than just going the olympus route. if i was playing in that neighborhood, that is what i would do as well. eliminating the external DAC then makes it almost a no brainer choice between the two.

as for me, i enjoy reading about the summit of sound, listening to demos and waiting for trickle down

 

I still have my Extreme, so on my list to try this when my I/O arrives (tbd, if practical)

 

#49.... A good weekend coming up.
Thank you Team Taiko and Chicago Hifi...

 

#49.... A good weekend coming up.
Thank you Team Taiko and Chicago Hifi...
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deserves the 20 !

 

Pappy >> XDMI (sorry, not sorry)

 

Any update on the batch of 45 chassis received last week from the anodizer? curious if i / others have been naughty or nice this holiday season…

 

Yes, please. I feel like I've been held in "silver suspense" for quite some time now!

 

Indeed, the MSB modules have arrived, we’re testing all of them now, we do need to make some minor modifications to the mounting brackets.

They’re performing really well. The improvement over USB is very similar to the XDMI Lampizator link, which is an interesting datapoint as MSB PRO ISL connects over fiber and Lampizator over copper. I still have to try a copper DAC cable in stead of fiber, but I suspect others may get around to that before me

any progress/update report available on the MSB modules?

 

Yes, please. I feel like I've been held in "silver suspense" for quite some time now!

Unfortunately we’re being kept in suspense thus far as well.

 

any progress/update report available on the MSB modules?

Those are about to ship!

 

Those are about to ship!

Emile, could you share how many MSB modules did you get in total, and how many are about to ship?

 

A huge thank you to @nenon(Vassil) for his help and expertise setting up my O at my house today. As usual, an absolute pleasure being with him.