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".

 

Quick question for you electronic gurus: to break in my newly arrived Olympus-I/O combo, I will be putting music on non-stop for the foreseeable future, but to be effective do I need to have my preamp turned on? And my amps? I'm running the analog/DAC XDMI out of the I/O.
And, just for a general checkpoint, I was #50, with the anodized combo, and received my unit yesterday. I drafted 3 friends to help get everything rearranged on my racks.
Jerry

 

Quick question for you electronic gurus: to break in my newly arrived Olympus-I/O combo, I will be putting music on non-stop for the foreseeable future, but to be effective do I need to have my preamp turned on? And my amps? I'm running the analog/DAC XDMI out of the I/O.
And, just for a general checkpoint, I was #50, with the anodized combo, and received my unit yesterday. I drafted 3 friends to help get everything rearranged on my racks.
Jerry

I see no benefit or reason you would need to have your preamp or amps on to burn in your Olympus/IO.

 

I see no benefit or reason you would need to have your preamp or amps on to burn in your Olympus/IO.

I agree. I just had my DAC and O/IO on

 

I agree. I just had my DAC and O/IO on

Thanks to both of you for confirmation.

 

I would stop your music at 11:45PM and let the XDMI battery recharge then start music at 9AM...repeat
600 hours here for break-in

 

I would stop your music at 11:45PM and let the XDMI battery recharge then start music at 9AM...repeat
600 hours here for break-in

Excellent suggestion. Thanks.
And on a completely different note, I wondered if you and/or others could recommend a suitably appropriate yet (hopefully) not exorbitant RCA audio cable for my XDMI to preamp connection. It's been a long time since I've had RCA in my main system.
Thanks again, Jerry

 

How long does the cable run need to be?

 

How long does the cable run need to be?

8’ would reach but 9-10 would be preferable.

 

8’ would reach but 9-10 would be preferable.

Everyone has their own opinion on these but I will say that the Sablon Audio RCA cable that I have used with my Horizon is very neutral.

 

Everyone has their own opinion on these but I will say that the Sablon Audio RCA cable that I have used with my Horizon is very neutral.

Thank you. I'll definitely consider the Sablon cable.

 

There's also a new kid on the block that IMO is worth a listen and that is KBL (Extrema series) out of Poland. I use the KBL XDMI Extreme cable from O/IO to my H360 and for the price it is superb

@LampiNA here is the North American distributor and he has a bunch of KBL cables on tour now in the USA

KBL Sound - Extrema Series by KBL Sound

KBL Sound Extrema series

www.kblsound.com

 

There's also a new kid on the block that IMO is worth a listen and that is KBL (Extrema series) out of Poland. I use the KBL XDMI Extreme cable from O/IO to my H360 and for the price it is superb

@LampiNA here is the North American distributor and he has a bunch of KBL cables on tour now in the USA

KBL Sound - Extrema Series by KBL Sound

KBL Sound Extrema series

www.kblsound.com

Thank you for the recommendation, Steve. These certainly look impressive--and I'm sure sound wonderful. I will include them in my growing list of considerations.
Jerry

 

Quick question for you electronic gurus: to break in my newly arrived Olympus-I/O combo, I will be putting music on non-stop for the foreseeable future, but to be effective do I need to have my preamp turned on? And my amps? I'm running the analog/DAC XDMI out of the I/O.
And, just for a general checkpoint, I was #50, with the anodized combo, and received my unit yesterday. I drafted 3 friends to help get everything rearranged on my racks.
Jerry

Thank you for the post. Wow, #50 arriving just now. ~50 in a ~year. not sure what Julien meant by saying Taiko was more than half way through queue. Doesn’t seem to be adding up. Looking forward to the clarification posts expected Monday.

 

They have shipped well more than 50. #50 was a silver unit and they are behind on silver more than black due to the anodizing issue.

 

oh great. would love to see that information. sounds like you have. how many?

 

I don’t have the specifics. I just know what I posted. I will let the taiko team fill in the details.

 

ok…. so you know ‘well more’ than 50 have shipped but you don’t have the specifics? what does that even mean? if you know more than x have shipped why not just say so? that would be useful information. especially as @CKKeung says ‘more than 15 pre-orders of Olympus from Hong Kong and for some of them the order numbers are quite early’. and only one received to date. there were other units that had not shipped with orders less than #50 when last reported by taiko over a month ago.

 

Jeez, maybe take a deep breath. Your hostility towards me is completely unnecessary. Prior posts have indicate higher queue numbers than 50.

I was just trying to provide some information. You have made me regret that decision.

 

your post adds to the confusion imho and you seem to have specific information to justify that “well more” than 50 have shipped but don’t provide any basis. not very helpful. my initial post indicated approximately 50 (~) and within approximately (~) one year.

and as i said i am looking forward to the clarifying posts monday.

frankly your post is tone deaf given the frustration that is out there, your speculatory comment that somehow you know more than the rest of us including dealers that are imploring taiko for an explanation and help. please pass on your assurances to @CKKeung ‘s customers, and the dozens of others that have been patiently waiting.

 

I guess you think I am lying then when I say I have no more information than what I posted. #50 was silver and they are behind on silver. Thus, they have shipped other units whose numbers are higher than 50. I have no clue what specific numbers have shipped.