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".

 

That report was posted by me, and so I will chime in.

My friend is an analog guy - he doesn’t even take digital seriously. His dealer sold him the MSB Select 2 DAC and Digital Director as the best digital source money can buy. As a Taiko Extreme customer, he got curious about the Taiko Olympus. He has a really nice system that was recently upgraded, and I wanted to hear it too, so we arranged a listening session.

This wasn’t about going after the MSB Select 2 aggressively - far from it. It was just a friendly gathering that could turn into a sale for me. But yeah, it was a long drive, and I had to justify it as a “business trip”. The highlight of the long drive was spending the night in a sketchy highway motel with over $100K worth of gear in the trunk - including the Olympus. Let’s just say I was really hoping everything would still be there in the morning.

So no, there was no agenda here - just curiosity, fun, and a chance to share impressions. His MSB gear was for sale shortly after I left, though.

That said, we didn’t conduct any double-blind tests, and the results weren’t based on statistically significant data. It was just a casual listening session to share impressions. So nothing is conclusive, and more data points are definitely welcome.

This is curious to me. You have Olympi to sell? Several of us are still awaiting ours after a year from down payments. How can there be units available for the "try and then buy" group?

 

My credo in this hobby has always been,,,,"my ears, my wallet, my ass in the sweet spot, thus my preference"

surely we can all agree that we have 2 very fine options from which to choose and it is always going to come down to personal preference based on what we can afford

 

Hi Vassil @nenon ,

I’m replying to your message but also addressing those who might read this.

The issue you raise is both complex and systemic.

Its origins are numerous, but in my view, they share the following common factors:

• Rigid preconceptions,
• Cognitive defence mechanisms.
• A lack of general scientific knowledge.

The problem of acoustic treatment is a classic example. How can one accept and understand that the listening room is both the most important element and the weakest link in a HiFi system if one doesn’t grasp what sound really is (i.e. what an acoustic wave is)?

It’s easy enough to replace every component in a HiFi chain, especially if money isn't a problem. However, moving to a new listening space, or transforming the one we have, which is often a living space, is far more challenging, even when budget constraints aren’t an issue.

Conversely, when the budget is limited, objects tend to become trophies. And this is entirely understandable, particularly in a hobby driven by passion. This is all the more true given that, for most people, money doesn’t fall from the sky, it’s hard-earned.

So, how can one accept that a $100,000 DAC might be replaced by a humble little $900 daughterboard? Or that a bit of acoustic treatment is more valuable than a $90,000 amplifier?

This is where cognitive defence mechanisms come into play. And it’s perfectly natural.

Shifting paradigms, setting aside one’s certainties, is intellectually challenging. History offers countless examples (Galileo, Copernicus, Bohr, etc.).

I’ll admit that I would struggle to part with my Soulution 760 DAC (paid full price); I fall into the category of those with a limited budget.

But I would do it.

No, I’m not more intelligent than others or more open-minded. I simply have an advantage: HiFi is not my primary hobby. If I had to choose, I could live without it.

This is to say that I understand the resistance you’re referring to.

That said, I do appreciate Taiko’s spirit: shifting paradigms.

Most players in the HiFi industry innovate very little, they optimise.

Taiko is rather audacious. They’ve decided to innovate and take risks, going against what is typically done. In fact, I don’t believe they’re making any profit on their DAC board, just have to look at the price of the chip and do some rough calculations (the DAC board is probably being sold at cost).

In short, if we appreciate the brand and value innovation in HiFi, @Taiko Audio is worth supporting.

Cheers,

Thomas

I like what you've said here Thomas, particularly the line about doing without, a healthy attitude to have about all material things.

That said, another huge problem with this hobby is getting an accurate audition of super-expensive gear before pulling the trigger.

 

I like what you've said here Thomas, particularly the line about doing without, a healthy attitude to have about all material things.

That said, another huge problem with this hobby is getting an accurate audition of super-expensive gear before pulling the trigger.

Hi @pleroma ,

Thank you! but I’m far less moderated when it comes to climbing or alpinisme. Far from it ;-)))

I’ve lost count of my injuries.

I’ve fallen into a crevasse twice. I narrowly escaped a massive serac collapse. And more than once, I’ve come close to killing myself on a gully or when ice climbing.

I listen to a lot of music (classical), and that’s why I have a decent system and a dedicated space. Music is something that brings me peace/pleasure. It’s similar to reading a novel but with an added meditative element. Classical music is a journey.

I completely agree with you about the importance of being able to listen to HiFi components. The selection is limited to what’s available in our region. In my case, it’s been Swiss brands (with the exception of the speakers).

As for the Taiko Audio components (I’ve got the complete set, so to speak), I ordered them solely based on this forum, and Emile's reputation.

Cheers,

Thomas

 

This is curious to me. You have Olympi to sell? Several of us are still awaiting ours after a year from down payments. How can there be units available for the "try and then buy" group?

I have a demo unit here (and a second demo unit I am still waiting for). If anyone likes the demo, they place an order that goes at the end of the queue.

 

OT:

I favor Kubelik (with the BRSO) as conductor and lately Klaus Makala (go see a live performance with the RCO, or the Vienna Phil)

Not talking of his Mahler recordings (which I am yet to explore in depth), conductors like Kubelik, Jochum, Bohm, Monteux, Kempe have been undermarketed and underpromoted by their recording companies. They are greater as conductors generally than Karajan (sick of the endless remastering of his recordings, which are not my first choices for virtually any composer) or Bernstein. Think of Kubelik's Meistersinger and Parsifal recordings (which DG shamelessly withheld from release to make room for Karajan's). Bavarian Radio and Cleveland Orchestra, among others, have many live-concert recordings of Kubelik which should be released. I have petitioned Warner to remaster Jochum's complete recordings (his EMI Bruckner set with Staatskapelle Dresden, recorded in analog in the 1970s, cries for remastering; the initial CD releases are metallic in sound).

 

I have a demo unit here (and a second demo unit I am still waiting for). If anyone likes the demo, they place an order that goes at the end of the queue.

Ah, that makes sense. I got confused because you noted the client listed his MSB for sale right after, so I thought he had an Olympus to jump to already.

 

The yellow line leads to O(lden)z(aal)!

 

The yellow line leads to O(lden)z(aal)!

View attachment 143071

You’re off to see the Wizard?
(Because of the wonderful Things he does…)

 

Defying Gravity…

 

Some bling from Emerald City.

 

 

Many thanks to Emile and team for being such gracious hosts! Fascinating and thought provoking visit (and a graduate seminar in Highend audio).

As a community we are fortunate to have the combination of world class ear, world class engineer, and world class person leading Taiko (just awesome)

 

So wonderful to see those pictures You are a lucky elf Ray. It must have been a truly unforgettable day

 

...hey honchos: What are those speakers in the Taiko room?

 

They look like Zellaton Reference

 

Yes, quite the pleasant surprise (and I had high expectations going in). Definitely on my list for this next chapter in my reality quest

 

(I sort of want to trade in my taiko network stack for the raw copper versions)

 

So wonderful to see those pictures You are a lucky elf Ray. It must have been a truly unforgettable day

I’m more like a flying monkey Steve!

 

I’m more like a flying monkey Steve!

Oreo!

Steve Z