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".

 

We are looking into XLR as well as a "preamplifier" version with volume control. However, we cannot not yet make any promises at this point, nor do we have a due-ready date.

It's great for me (I don't want to stop using my preamp) to know that there will be a future balanced version without a preamp.

 

It's great for me (I don't want to stop using my preamp) to know that there will be a future balanced version without a preamp.

Given the modular nature of the XDMI platform, anything is theoretically possible provided there is enough interest, however, we have not yet firmly decided which functionality the balanced/and/or volume-control implementation will offer. But when we offer volume control, it will likely be defeatable/bypassable.

 

Tuly exciting times for Taiko. The world is your oyster Emile

 

Emile, can I beg for an update on the silver chassis supply? November 20 you stated that a number of O's were shipping and listed some O + I/O's that would be next up. What is their status now? Any prognosis?

 

The Taiko room is more of a lab than demo room these days, so the measure is how revealing it is (voicing and tuning). It is remarkable how quickly and how audible changes are. This is where the “art” happens to complement the “engineering”

I was very impressed how well the Zellatons could keep up with the Olympus (speed, control, and coherence). It is the Olympus that has kicked me into considering a speaker upgrade, so it was a VERY interesting experience to hear Olympus with different speakers and electronics (the character of the speaker and electronics really came through) learned a great deal

One of my bucket list wishes is to find time to visit the Taiko team in Oldenzaahl and to hear all things Taiko and to meet all of the elves who work their butts off to bring such satisfaction to all of us who read this thread.

What really piqued my interest more so than ever was to read and to see photos of the Zellaton Reference Ultra in Emile's main room. I have been a Wilson owner for over 30 years and owned almost all their speakers up to my present Alexandria series ll. My other bucket list dream is that if I were to ever make a speaker change in my seasoned room, the Zellaton Reference Ultra tops my list and clearly would be an end game move. You rock Emile. I would love to hear them in your room and to go to school on your putt. Kudos

 

Given the modular nature of the XDMI platform, anything is theoretically possible provided there is enough interest, however, we have not yet firmly decided which functionality the balanced/and/or volume-control implementation will offer. But when we offer volume control, it will likely be defeatable/bypassable.

Dear Taiko Team, please do not forget the functionality of digital inputs, even if optional.

 

One of my bucket list wishes is to find time to visit the Taiko team in Oldenzaahl and to hear all things Taiko and to meet all of the elves who work their butts off to bring such satisfaction to all of us who read this thread.

What really piqued my interest more so than ever was to read and to see photos of the Zellaton Reference Ultra in Emile's main room. I have been a Wilson owner for over 30 years and owned almost all their speakers up to my present Alexandria series ll. My other bucket list dream is that if I were to ever make a speaker change in my seasoned room, the Zellaton Reference Ultra tops my list and clearly would be an end game move. You rock Emile. I would love to hear them in your room and to go to school on your putt. Kudos

Looking at the speakers' transducers, I would say they are the Zellaton Reference MKll, from the Klassik series and not the Zellaton Reference Ultra, which belong to the Ultra Series.

 

Looking at the speakers' transducers, I would say they are the Zellaton Reference MKll, from the Klassik series and not the Zellaton Reference Ultra, which belong to the Ultra Series.

I think you’re correct. Here is a photo of the Reference Ultra

 

Here is Emile’s

 

Given the modular nature of the XDMI platform, anything is theoretically possible provided there is enough interest, however, we have not yet firmly decided which functionality the balanced/and/or volume-control implementation will offer. But when we offer volume control, it will likely be defeatable/bypassable.

For me, vol control or preamp section are not essential because I will use my preamp.
Most important is a xlr analog output.
Thanks！

 

Honestly, I view live performance and recorded music as two very separate things ...

Same here. I've thought about this often recently, and prefer home listening for a number of reasons, not least of which are the long drive in traffic to the Meyerson Center for my preferred genre, parking in a garage, and sitting in seats which should've been replaced a decade ago. I think home sound quality is generally better than live. And after you've been through a thing or two as an old-timer, and you realize time is running out, perhaps you justify spending a huge chunk of your life savings for a home system.

 

Dear Taiko Team, please do not forget the functionality of digital inputs, even if optional.

The suggestion has been noted

 

Looking at the speakers' transducers, I would say they are the Zellaton Reference MKll, from the Klassik series and not the Zellaton Reference Ultra, which belong to the Ultra Series.

I think you’re correct. Here is a photo of the Reference Ultra

View attachment 143167

Here is Emile’s

View attachment 143168

Correct, we have the Zellaton Reference MKll.

 

The suggestion has been noted

I am about to open my Olympus in order to swap in the MSB module. Those directions are available online. But while the Olympus is open, I'd like to remove the music storage drive as well. How to do this was discussed earlier in this thread, I think, but I can't find it. Can anyone help me find this, or any other resource about how to remove the music storage drive?

 

The suggestion has been noted

For the Taiko DAC to replace my outboard DAC, having the ability to plug in a CD transport is important. For that, a switchable AES/EBU and SPDIF input is all that is needed.

 

I am about to open my Olympus in order to swap in the MSB module. Those directions are available online. But while the Olympus is open, I'd like to remove the music storage drive as well. How to do this was discussed earlier in this thread, I think, but I can't find it. Can anyone help me find this, or any other resource about how to remove the music storage drive?

The method to remove the Music Storage Drive in Olympus is as follows:

Put the system into standby, then use the BMS app to put the BPSes into shipping mode. That turns off power from the batteries and powers down the system.

• Locate the Music Drive. When looking at the server from the rear side where the connections are, the Music Drive is the second drive, closest to the cooling fins. Do not remove the Optane Drive, closest to the rear panel, which contains the Operating System.
• Remove the PCI bracket containing the two drives.
• Unscrew the backmost drive and remove it from the bracket, then reinsert the bracket. Don't forget to fixate it with the screw.
• When the drive bracket with the system drive is reinstalled, you can start the server normally. After booting, no further config is necessary.

 

Emile, can I beg for an update on the silver chassis supply? November 20 you stated that a number of O's were shipping and listed some O + I/O's that would be next up. What is their status now? Any prognosis?

Yes we have the I/O’s but not the accompanying silver server chassis. Those were promised to be delivered before the Christmas holidays, but weren’t ofcourse . In stead they only started working on them this Monday with a Friday delivery promise.

 

Given the modular nature of the XDMI platform, anything is theoretically possible provided there is enough interest, however, we have not yet firmly decided which functionality the balanced/and/or volume-control implementation will offer. But when we offer volume control, it will likely be defeatable/bypassable.

As for me, the most important feature would be an analogue XLR out.

However, if a version with a preamp (and therefore volume control) were to be released, the preamp would need to surpass mine (the Soulution 727). But with Taiko Audio and its XDMI platform, anything is possible.

From a strategic point of view, though, I would say the most impactful commercially would probably be a DAC so good that it outclasses all competition (regardless of price).

By “so good,” I mean something really obvious, like the sun in the middle of the sky. Something anyone could perceive, even without trained ears. Something that would make even the most "anti boutique HiFi" or die-hard AirPod worshipper envious.

We wouldn’t buy the Olympus simply because it’s the best Roon server available; it would also become the best DAC on the market.

At that point, I believe @Taiko Audio would need to invest in new machinery and production facilities, because the product would sell like hot cakes

 

As for me, the most important feature would be an analogue XLR out.

However, if a version with a preamp (and therefore volume control) were to be released, the preamp would need to surpass mine (the Soulution 727). But with Taiko Audio and its XDMI platform, anything is possible.

From a strategic point of view, though, I would say the most impactful commercially would probably be a DAC so good that it outclasses all competition (regardless of price).

By “so good,” I mean something really obvious, like the sun in the middle of the sky. Something anyone could perceive, even without trained ears. Something that would make even the most "anti boutique HiFi" or die-hard AirPod worshipper envious.

We wouldn’t buy the Olympus simply because it’s the best Roon server available; it would also become the best DAC on the market.

At that point, I believe @Taiko Audio would need to invest in new machinery and production facilities, because the product would sell like hot cakes

Very tall order regarding the 727! Sublime! It just keeps giving...

 

We wouldn’t buy the Olympus simply because it’s the best Roon server available; it would also become the best DAC on the market.

Some of us did this already for this reason

Even if not there right now for some folks (and for what I look for in a DAC it already is), the fundamentals will get us there sooner rather than later.