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".

 

Wow! Full mobo replacement—I’m going to guess that is the one of very few instances where that has been needed, maybe a first. Mobos are pretty reliable these days as a general rule. As a geek who has assembled quite a few computers over the last few decades I’m curious to know how the prognosis was arrived at? And team Taiko arrived with a spare mobo in their pocket?

Yeah that is quite an uncommon occurrence, this one took us quite some time to figure out, there’s a batch of early Asus motherboards which have a stability issue, it appears we have received some of those which were used in a few Olympus servers somewhere in the 30-40 order number mark. We have replaced one in the UK, now in Sweden, there’s one in Switzerland we’re going to replace soon, and we have one in Italy and one in the US.

Servicing on site simply makes sense as shipping of the Olympus is at least as expensive as travelling and it saves the customer a lot of hassle, it’s seriously challenging for most people to handle the weight, strap it on a pallet etc, and shipping itself is not always smooth sailing.

The improved customer satisfaction over being serviced this way is obviously a nice plus.

 

@Taiko Audio are there any proactive steps an owner in the order range noted can take for you (I am number 38 IIRC)? I am thinking serial numbers, etc. on mobo, if visible...along those lines.

Related item: if a server has to be shipped back home, must the customer get a haz-mat company to certify and ship? That alone might make the in-home solution necessary/preferable.

Thank you, Emile.

 

@Taiko Audio are there any proactive steps an owner in the order range noted can take for you (I am number 38 IIRC)? I am thinking serial numbers, etc. on mobo, if visible...along those lines.
.

No unfortunately it’s not visible but we can identify it based on your problem description and system logs.

Related item: if a server has to be shipped back home, must the customer get a haz-mat company to certify and ship? That alone might make the in-home solution necessary/preferable.

Thank you, Emile.

Airplane shipping is indeed somewhat tricky, which is indeed why local service or ground shipping is preferable.

Obviously one of the reasons @nenon will be taking over the helm from us in the US. And don’t be surprised if manufacturing (for US sales) will move there aswell.

In the EU we have Dream Audio willing to fill a similar role in the entity as distributors for Europe. They are willing to drive up to a 1000km radius (from Bratislava) for service / demos or home installations. And ofcourse we can still assist.

 

@Taiko Audio are there any proactive steps an owner in the order range noted can take for you (I am number 38 IIRC)? I am thinking serial numbers, etc. on mobo, if visible...along those lines.

Related item: if a server has to be shipped back home, must the customer get a haz-mat company to certify and ship? That alone might make the in-home solution necessary/preferable.

Thank you, Emile.

I'm interested in this question also, Emile. As a rule, I always have to cycle the front button off/on every morning in order to reestablish Roon connection, but (generally) it will play Roon all day with no interruptions at all (once or twice this has occurred, but very seldom--and perhaps due to something else, like a loss of servie/internet connection as happened the other day). I was #50, fwiw, but curious if there's a S/N or mobo check also. Thanks.

 

I'm interested in this question also, Emile. As a rule, I always have to cycle the front button off/on every morning in order to reestablish Roon connection, but (generally) it will play Roon all day with no interruptions at all (once or twice this has occurred, but very seldom--and perhaps due to something else, like a loss of servie/internet connection as happened the other day). I was #50, fwiw, but curious if there's a S/N or mobo check also. Thanks.

Hmm that does indeed sound like a network connection loss. We can see that in your system logs. Can you open a support ticket @ support@taikoaudio.com so we can take a look?

There’s no S/N check, no way for you to identify them, but you’ll know, you would’ve opened a support call a long time ago.

 

Hmm that does indeed sound like a network connection loss. We can see that in your system logs. Can you open a support ticket @ support@taikoaudio.com so we can take a look?

Thanks. We can take this offline. I'm in communication with Vassil about it, but he's having me replace a board first for another issue (and maybe that will address this one as well). Just curious but don't want to bog down the forum with personal items.
Cheers.

 

And don’t be surprised if manufacturing (for US sales) will move there aswell.

This would be an excellent executive decision for many reasons, and tariff-free!

 

I have no ties to Taiko but from a rational perspective, I truly don’t understand the gripes a few customers have with Taiko’s communication. In all respects they are upfront, responsive, and reply to emails and queries within hours. They have an open communication and are honest with the challenges that they face and solution provided, both on technical and product fronts. The only limitation I can think of is responses on the WTB forum not issued always within the hour, but as the team is busy it is fully understandable, and maybe just best sending out an email if any doubt arise. There is a little bit of the feel “no matter what you do is never good enough”. Lead time have gone through the roof, but since Covid supply chains have entered a new pattern and will sadly not go back to the pre-covid times that we all got accustomed to. For such a complex manufacturing challenge and supply chain it is somewhat expected that long delay emerge, as it brings machining, a novel battery management system, vibration control, compute architecture, and firmware/software, that require extensive testing of each unit. In the current times it is refreshing to see values of transparencies, trust, and community building pushed at the forefront, those are in rare supply at the moment.

 

Also adding to this that supporting such values doesn’t mean being biased towards Taiko, most or us can recognize merit where due.

 

A Quick Note on my Olympus-I/O XDMI Analog Card Experience

TIMELINE

11.12.24
Received/Installed O-I/O (USB to External DAC)
The effect of the O-I/O was immediate. It was clear that O-I/O brought a definite improvement over the Extreme.

12.13.24
Installed Analog Card
The effect of the analog card was also dramatically clear from the very first note.

01.26.25 to 01.29.25
Speaker Whisperer (SW) sets up system
This was the fourth time SW had visited system. So he had plenty of listening experience with the system.

The original intent was to optimize the system setup for the analog card. Then go back to compare to my current external DAC via USB. Then decide which option was preferred.

However, after only a few minutes of listening, it was clear to SW that there was no need to to test the USB/external DAC option. There was simply no doubt to him that the O-I/O XDMI analog out configuration would be superior.

To my ears, the system, even before setup, was sounding superior to everything I’d heard in my room before. I knew I was in a different realm, I was truly in heaven. But little did I know how much better it could perform under the hands of the SW.

The setup involves disassembling the system. Then reconfiguring it by optimizing the vibration control, gain structure and more importantly, the speaker placement. Unless you’ve seen the setup process in person, it’s incredible to see how even minute changes in speaker positioning (on the scale of even a few millimeters) can have a dramatic change in the system performance.

I’ll have more to say about that process in a later post.

But what is clear, is that, at least in my case, we truly don’t know, what we don’t know. And in this instance, we don’t know how much better a system performance can get after being convinced that a system can’t possibly sound any better.

And in terms of the Olympus-I/O XMDI Analog out, the improvement of the system after the SW finished setting up the system after four days, was jaw dropping - it was by no means an incremental improvement - the mantra of decreasing marginal returns did not apply here in any way.

Suffice it to say, that accompanying the SW was an experienced audiophile and a manufacturer of a well regarded turntable who is also very familiar with previous iterations of my system. His system is also very similar to mine, and he wanted to hear the O-I/O for himself. Lets just say that that he left slack jawed, unable to process what he’d heard. Toward the end of the digital setup, he also set up my turntable and I’ll have more to say about that at a later time.

03.29.25
Current Observations

After eight weeks of the system settling in after SW optimized the system, the sound has stabilized to what I can only described as a purity of sound with a heretofore unparalleled level of emotional engagement. As the byline of someone here on WBF states: I'm not interested in knowing where the musicians are, I want to know why they're here. The musical intent of the musicians is now clearer than ever and raises the musical enjoyment to an even higher level that approximates that of a live event.

For those of you who are waiting the arrival of your system, or have already received your system and have not hired a preeminent setup wizard, or feel you can do the set up yourself, I strongly recommend you hire one…..you may think it can’t possibly sound any better…but there is still likely a lot of performance left under the hood. For a price that is likely less than one of your less expensive components, the return on your investment/enjoyment will be well worth it.

Again KUDOS to the Emile and Taiko Team. I know that there have been trials and tribulations on the production side, but their technological advances in the digital realm truly deserve acknowledgment and recognition.

 

A Quick Note on my Olympus-I/O XDMI Analog Card Experience

TIMELINE

11.12.24
Received/Installed O-I/O (USB to External DAC)
The effect of the O-I/O was immediate. It was clear that O-I/O brought a definite improvement over the Extreme.

12.13.24
Installed Analog Card
The effect of the analog card was also dramatically clear from the very first note.

01.26.24 to 10.29.24
Speaker Whisperer (SW) sets up system
This was the fourth time SW had visited system. So he had plenty of listening experience with the system.

The original intent was to optimize the system setup for the analog card. Then go back to compare to my current external DAC via USB. Then decide which option was preferred.

However, after only a few minutes of listening, it was clear to SW that there was no need to to test the USB/external DAC option. There was simply no doubt to him that the O-I/O XDMI analog out configuration would be superior.

To my ears, the system, even before setup, was sounding superior to everything I’d heard in my room before. I knew I was in a different realm, I was truly in heaven. But little did I know how much better it could perform under the hands of the SW.

The setup involves disassembling the system. Then reconfiguring it by optimizing the vibration control, gain structure and more importantly, the speaker placement. Unless you’ve seen the setup process in person, it’s incredible to see how even minute changes in speaker positioning (on the scale of even a few millimeters) can have a dramatic change in the system performance.

I’ll have more to say about that process in a later post.

But what is clear, is that, at least in my case, we truly don’t know, what we don’t know. And in this instance, we don’t know how much better a system performance can get after being convinced that a system can’t possibly sound any better.

And in terms of the Olympus-I/O XMDI Analog out, the improvement of the system after the SW finished setting up the system after four days, was jaw dropping - it was by no means an incremental improvement - the mantra of decreasing marginal returns did not apply here in any way.

Suffice it to say, that accompanying the SW was an experienced audiophile and a manufacturer of a well regarded turntable who is also very familiar with previous iterations of my system. His system is also very similar to mine, and he wanted to hear the O-I/O for himself. Lets just say that that he left slack jawed, unable to process what he’d heard. Toward the end of the digital setup, he also set up my turntable and I’ll have more to say about that at a later time.

03.29.25
Current Observations

After eight weeks of the system settling in after WS optimized the system, the sound has stabilized to what I can only described as a purity of sound with a heretofore unparalleled level of emotional engagement. As the byline of someone here on WBF states: I'm not interested in knowing where the musicians are, I want to know why they're here. The musical intent of the musicians is now clearer than ever and raises the musical enjoyment to an even higher level that approximates that of a live event.

For those of you who are waiting the arrival of your system, or have already received your system and have not hired a preeminent setup wizard, or feel you can do the set up yourself, I strongly recommend you hire one…..you may think it can’t possibly sound any better…but there is still likely a lot of performance left under the hood. For a price that is likely less than one of your less expensive components, the return on your investment/enjoyment will be well worth it.

Again KUDOS to the Emile and Taiko Team. I know that there have been trials and tribulations on the production side, but their technological advances in the digital realm truly deserve acknowledgment and recognition.

Hi, great post. However, I don't understand what software you had to reconfigure?

 

A Quick Note on my Olympus-I/O XDMI Analog Card Experience

TIMELINE

11.12.24
Received/Installed O-I/O (USB to External DAC)
The effect of the O-I/O was immediate. It was clear that O-I/O brought a definite improvement over the Extreme.

12.13.24
Installed Analog Card
The effect of the analog card was also dramatically clear from the very first note.

01.26.24 to 10.29.24
Speaker Whisperer (SW) sets up system
This was the fourth time SW had visited system. So he had plenty of listening experience with the system.

The original intent was to optimize the system setup for the analog card. Then go back to compare to my current external DAC via USB. Then decide which option was preferred.

However, after only a few minutes of listening, it was clear to SW that there was no need to to test the USB/external DAC option. There was simply no doubt to him that the O-I/O XDMI analog out configuration would be superior.

To my ears, the system, even before setup, was sounding superior to everything I’d heard in my room before. I knew I was in a different realm, I was truly in heaven. But little did I know how much better it could perform under the hands of the SW.

The setup involves disassembling the system. Then reconfiguring it by optimizing the vibration control, gain structure and more importantly, the speaker placement. Unless you’ve seen the setup process in person, it’s incredible to see how even minute changes in speaker positioning (on the scale of even a few millimeters) can have a dramatic change in the system performance.

I’ll have more to say about that process in a later post.

But what is clear, is that, at least in my case, we truly don’t know, what we don’t know. And in this instance, we don’t know how much better a system performance can get after being convinced that a system can’t possibly sound any better.

And in terms of the Olympus-I/O XMDI Analog out, the improvement of the system after the SW finished setting up the system after four days, was jaw dropping - it was by no means an incremental improvement - the mantra of decreasing marginal returns did not apply here in any way.

Suffice it to say, that accompanying the SW was an experienced audiophile and a manufacturer of a well regarded turntable who is also very familiar with previous iterations of my system. His system is also very similar to mine, and he wanted to hear the O-I/O for himself. Lets just say that that he left slack jawed, unable to process what he’d heard. Toward the end of the digital setup, he also set up my turntable and I’ll have more to say about that at a later time.

03.29.25
Current Observations

After eight weeks of the system settling in after WS optimized the system, the sound has stabilized to what I can only described as a purity of sound with a heretofore unparalleled level of emotional engagement. As the byline of someone here on WBF states: I'm not interested in knowing where the musicians are, I want to know why they're here. The musical intent of the musicians is now clearer than ever and raises the musical enjoyment to an even higher level that approximates that of a live event.

For those of you who are waiting the arrival of your system, or have already received your system and have not hired a preeminent setup wizard, or feel you can do the set up yourself, I strongly recommend you hire one…..you may think it can’t possibly sound any better…but there is still likely a lot of performance left under the hood. For a price that is likely less than one of your less expensive components, the return on your investment/enjoyment will be well worth it.

Again KUDOS to the Emile and Taiko Team. I know that there have been trials and tribulations on the production side, but their technological advances in the digital realm truly deserve acknowledgment and recognition.

Who is SW? How does one get in touch?

 

You mean it's not our very own Steve Williams

That reminds me, I need to respond to his White Lotus thread...

 

In other news...
The latest build appears to be the best sq I've heard from Roon.
Ymmv

Agreed! I recently had a fellow here Chris Embers who helped me with a cartridge setup. He also helped me with speaker tweak. BTW I really "thought" I knew what I was doing setting up speakers. After he finished I realized I don't know S--T! I heard the uptick with Roon's latest update before the speaker tweak. After I was blown away! I agree with @RUIN*ish this update is more open, and detailed...

 

...whatever side of the Roon-update-coin one lands upon, it feels like time travel to me: I thought we were immunized against Roon sonic viruses with the Taiko vaccine protocols. Are we really back there again? Ugh.

 

I have the Extreme without the router...Not sure what side of the coin, I know what I hear...Or think I know what I hear...

 

Agreed! I recently had a fellow here Chris Embers who helped me with a cartridge setup. He also helped me with speaker tweak. BTW I really "thought" I knew what I was doing setting up speakers. After he finished I realized I don't know S--T! I heard the uptick with Roon's latest update before the speaker tweak. After I was blown away! I agree with @RUIN*ish this update is more open, and detailed...

My finger was practically poised above the iPad update button, when, to my horror, I read Kingsrule’s post that the update sound quality went straight to Heck.

Is this Roon Derangement Syndrome or am I just fundamentally Audio Anxious??

Btw, I am suspicious and superstitious about being blown away — as I feel in my bones that whatever blows away will inevitably blow back.

 

My finger was practically poised above the iPad update button, when I read Kingsrule’s post that the update sound quality went straight to Heck.

Is this Roon Derangement Syndrome or am I just fundamentally Audio Anxious??

Btw, I am suspicious and superstitious about being blown away — as I feel in my bones that whatever blows away will inevitably blow back.

Perhaps I should be more specific when I describe things. The speaker readjustment made me BLOWN AWAY. I thought the Roon update was a nice subtle improvement from other versions...

 

Interesting
I am thinking the opposite
The new build is dull, slow and sluggish sounding. No dynamics. Sounds like a major step backwards.
The previous build was dynamic, dimensional, spacious......

Must be system dependent, I have tried the latest Roon update on several sets of speakers/systems and all sound REALLY GOOD.

 

Who is SW? How does one get in touch?

Speaker Whisperer (SW) is the setup master extraordinaire Stirling Trayle. Great guy. Highly recommended. Extraordinary skills. May want to email him. He lost his phone while traveling and it may be a few days before he gets it back.

Stirling Trayle
Audio Systems Optimized
stirling.trayle@gmail.com
+1 707 494-5482
www.audiosystemsoptimized.com