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".

 

When I mentioned the digital interface, I was indeed referring to AES/EBU.

@oldmustang has indeed sold his dCS Vivaldi Stack, and uses the Taiko DAC daughterboard.

That says a lot about having the DAC integrated into the I/O.

Since the XDMI interface is modular, it’s easy to switch DACs.

All it will take is for @Taiko Audio to offer an even better DAC daughterboard, and if it’s not already the case, the Olympus will clearly position itself as a Giant Killer.

I think you're missing my point. What I am seeing is that the analogue board bests the digital board if the user connects via aes/ebu to external DAC

 

I think you're missing my point. What I am seeing is that the analogue board bests the digital board if the user connects via aes/ebu to external DAC

Yes, I better understand what you meant.

You were referring to XDMI DAC versus XDMI "Native" Digital (LampizaTor, MSB, Total DAC, or Aries Cerat).

These comparisons will no doubt come soon and will be very interesting to read.

If I lived closer to you, I’d happily come over to help with the comparison. By placing the I/O updside down, I believe it’s possible to do an A/B comparison without too much hassle.

 

When I mentioned the digital interface, I was indeed referring to AES/EBU.

@oldmustang has indeed sold his dCS Vivaldi Stack, and uses the Taiko DAC daughterboard.

That says a lot about having the DAC integrated into the I/O.

Since the XDMI interface is modular, it’s easy to switch DACs.

All it will take is for @Taiko Audio to offer an even better DAC daughterboard, and if it’s not already the case, the Olympus will clearly position itself as a Giant Killer.

I did indeed sell my Vivaldi APEX DAC and Vivaldi Clock after hearing my Olympus XDMI analog. The Upsampler was already gone before the Olympus was available. XDMS on Extreme made the Upsampler superfluous.

Steve Z

 

Xdmi analog installed and playing ...
This is the best dac I've ever heard.
There's not a chance I'll ever put back the xdmi digital.
I can't imagine what it will be in three weeks with run in..
Ymmv

 

...MSB solution has not yet shipped, so far as I am aware.

I installed the MSB card on my I/O on Friday (with great help from Ted) and connected the I/O to my MSB Cascade. It is the best Christmas present I have received since I was a child. It is a major step up from the USB connection with my Ansuz Gold Signature cable. The vocals and instruments are more lifelike, the soundstage wider, and the noise floor lower than I thought possible. If there are any digital artifacts on the recordings, I cannot hear them.

I am extremely grateful for Taiko's hard work in making this possible. It was definitely worth the long wait.

Please forgive me for not comparing the MSB card to the analogue card.

 

...whoah! OK...hopefully mine will be along soon. Any other MSB honchos get your boards?

 

I installed the MSB card on my I/O on Friday (with great help from Ted) and connected the I/O to my MSB Cascade. It is the best Christmas present I have received since I was a child. It is a major step up from the USB connection with my Ansuz Gold Signature cable. The vocals and instruments are more lifelike, the soundstage wider, and the noise floor lower than I thought possible. If there are any digital artifacts on the recordings, I cannot hear them.

I am extremely grateful for Taiko's hard work in making this possible. It was definitely worth the long wait.

Please forgive me for not comparing the MSB card to the analogue card.

Throw away your USB cable. You’ll never use it again

 

I installed the MSB card on my I/O on Friday (with great help from Ted) and connected the I/O to my MSB Cascade. It is the best Christmas present I have received since I was a child. It is a major step up from the USB connection with my Ansuz Gold Signature cable. The vocals and instruments are more lifelike, the soundstage wider, and the noise floor lower than I thought possible. If there are any digital artifacts on the recordings, I cannot hear them.

Thanks for posting - I’m so looking forward to hearing for myself!

 

For some, Santa has already arrived!
For others, he’s still on his way.
One thing’s for certain, Santa always delivers!

Wishing you all a magical Christmas Eve with your loved ones and dearest friends.

Cheers from Schwarzsee, Switzerland.

Thomas

 

View attachment 141989

For some, Santa has already arrived!
For others, he’s still on his way.
One thing’s for certain, Santa always delivers!

Wishing you all a magical Christmas Eve with your loved ones and dearest friends.

Cheers from Schwarzsee, Switzerland.

Thomas


View attachment 141990

That is incredibly beautiful