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".

 

Very interesting, given that Vincent (Total DAC) decided that given the “exceptional” handling of the AES/EBU interface that he designed for his DACs, he did not see the point in designing an XDMI input,

He's clearly just seeing it through his lens

 

He's clearly just seeing it through his lens

Probably Olympus and TotalDac owners can save a lot of money by selling their TotalDacs

 

Probably Olympus and TotalDac owners can save a lot of money by selling their TotalDacs

...and probably the same for Extreme/TD owners when XDMI for Extreme is ready

 

Hello Everyone,

As we’ve been sharing for several months, we are raising the prices for Olympus Servers and the Olympus I/O. We have learned a great deal over the past year, and it is clear that with the much discussed complexity of the Olympus, our manufacturing costs are exceeding our launch pricing.

In addition, it is also clear that we can not yet support new orders for anodized chassis or silver chassis, so we will be limiting new orders to black powder coated only. Once we have a proven process for silver coated chassis, we will make that option available in the future.

We will of course honor existing orders for anodized chassis, and will offer existing owners of anodized chassis the option of special ordering matching components (please contact us for special order pricing, these special orders will be available only directly from Taiko).

We are hopeful we are close to having a viable manufacturing option for silver coated chassis, but I suspect it may be several months until we have enough confidence in the new process to start accepting new orders. When we do, we will make that option available for new orders.

Effective from the 7th of April 2025 (next week Monday), the following is our new pricing:

€84,000 - Black coated Olympus Server
USD pricing in North America - $95,000

€28,000 - Black coated Olympus I/O
USD pricing in North America - $32,000

€46,500 - Add Olympus I/O with XDMI to a Taiko Extreme server
USD pricing in North America - $53,000

Additionally we are reviewing the Extreme trade-in policy, to which we may need to make changes as well, to be announced at a later date.

At current production rates, we expect that new orders for black coated Olympus Servers and I/O should be in stock and available to ship starting in approximately 4-6 months, we are accepting orders for customers who wish to get in the production queue.

Given the global uncertainty around fees and tariffs, I feel I should address this directly. Customers will continue to be responsible for any VAT or sales taxes or import duties or tariffs for their country of residence, as well as shipping costs.

We will do our best to absorb any fee or tax or tariff changes for import of components to the Netherlands for manufacturing, but may need to make pricing adjustments in the future if costs become excessive. For committed orders, we will hold the line on our pricing that was in place at the time of the order, but can not control what other countries charge in fees/taxes/tariffs. Should significant issues arise, we will thoughtfully review individual circumstances and determine the most suitable solution for each customer.

 

Should there be tariffs to the US, will we have the option of canceling our orders and getting a refund? 25% is an extremely high premium to pay and might be cause reconsideration. While I completely understand why Taiko can't absorb these costs, and am entirely sympathetic to what you're going through and all the effort you've taken to rectify the situation, I'm sure you can understand our frustration in being doubly penalized by the delay. 1) Waiting over a year for the product (the last estimate places my best case delay at 14 months) and 2) Having to pay extra as a result of the delay.

 

Should there be tariffs to the US, will we have the option of canceling our orders and getting a refund? 25% is an extremely high premium to pay and might be cause reconsideration. While I completely understand why Taiko can't absorb these costs, and am entirely sympathetic to what you're going through and all the effort you've taken to rectify the situation, I'm sure you can understand our frustration in being doubly penalized by the delay. 1) Waiting over a year for the product (the last estimate places my best case delay at 14 months) and 2) Having to pay extra as a result of the delay.

I fully understand but as a manufacturer I cannot make a blanket statement on behalf of all of our partners. Which is why we added this sentence to the previous post: “Should significant issues arise, we will thoughtfully review individual circumstances and determine the most suitable solution for each customer.” Aka contact your point of sale.

 

Should there be tariffs to the US, will we have the option of canceling our orders and getting a refund? 25% is an extremely high premium to pay and might be cause reconsideration. While I completely understand why Taiko can't absorb these costs, and am entirely sympathetic to what you're going through and all the effort you've taken to rectify the situation, I'm sure you can understand our frustration in being doubly penalized by the delay. 1) Waiting over a year for the product (the last estimate places my best case delay at 14 months) and 2) Having to pay extra as a result of the delay.

Think of it as an investment. With the higher retail prices the ROI is better than gold .

But more seriously. Does anyone know if and when the US tariffs will affect the import of assembled units? Wondering if I will be the first guinea pig.

 

I may be wrong and I am not an attorney to give advice on the issue, but as I understand it, if the purchase order was made prior to the start of tariffs on April 2 , one can make a case that the tariff on said goods would not apply.......I say this as I have new speakers on order since January and that was a question that I asked at the time of purchase. I did pay in full at the time to solidify the fact that the purchase was made in full before delivery

 

I may be wrong but as I understand it, if the purchase order was made prior to the start of tariffs on April 2 , one can make a case that the tariff on said goods would not apply.......

Thanks for that info.

 

Thanks for that info.

I may be wrong and I am not an attorney to give advice on the issue, but as I understand it, if the purchase order was made prior to the start of tariffs on April 2 , one can make a case that the tariff on said goods would not apply.......I say this as I have new speakers on order since January and that was a question that I asked at the time of purchase. I did pay in full at the time to solidify the fact that the purchase was made in full before delivery

Again, I have no etched in stone advice nor do I even know that the goods must be paid in full prior to April 2. I was made to understand that it all depends on the date of the Purchase Order...but once again I have no good advice

 

Thank you Steve. My prior experience with customs suggests they don't always get it right and pertinent arguments can yield results.

I'll know more, along with some others here, in the next couple weeks.

If anyone wants to know how it turned out, please PM me. Specific information should be private.

 

Thank you Steve. My prior experience with customs suggests they don't always get it right and pertinent arguments can yield results.

I'll know more, along with some others here, in the next couple weeks.

If anyone wants to know how it turned out, please PM me. Specific information should be private.

Bottom line is to have your purchase order which shows the date, should one be told they have tariffs due. Don’t forget taxes will be due regardless based on the declared value of the shipped goods

Living in California and having received my O/IO in 8/24 as well as my Horizon 360, last week I received a letter from the State of California that I owed sales tax due on both units over and above what I paid on import taxes at the time of receipt of both shipments That was the first time this had ever happened to me.

 

Bottom line is to have your purchase order which shows the date, should one be told they have tariffs due. Don’t forget taxes will be due regardless based on the declared value of the shipped goods

Living in California and having received my O/IO in 8/24 as well as my Horizon 360, last week I received a letter from the State of California that I owed sales tax due on both units over and above what I paid on import taxes at the time of receipt of both shipments That was the first time this had ever happened to me.

Does this mean both ebay tube sellers and the CA Department of Revenue are lurking on WBF

 

Does this mean both ebay tube sellers and the CA Department of Revenue are lurking on WBF

Probably not but it does mean the Calif. Franchise Tax Board is tied into U.S. Customs. I bought a Totaldac three or four years ago and got a bill for a few hundred bucks from the state about three months later.

 

@Taiko Audio Does the I/O offer equal benefit whether using analog out or a stand alone DAC? In my case the 360. This is very difficult at best making an informed purchase with so little "in the field" information available...

 

@Taiko Audio Does the I/O offer equal benefit whether using analog out or a stand alone DAC? In my case the 360. This is very difficult at best making an informed purchase with so little "in the field" information available...

Yes about equal.

 

Re tariffs, it will be fluid, in that a tariff could shortly go away if an agreement is reached. It will also be helpful to know how broadly goods are classified for determinations of reciprocity. Lastly, I'm wondering how soon Taiko would consider sending components to Vassil at cost for final assembly in the US (anodizing?).

 

Yes about equal.

In my experience, the analog out of the Olympus is just excellent. It has all I wanted like speed, resolution, lots of space and layering, tonality, harmonics, no digital harshness, dynamic.

Mind you, I nevertheless still like to listen to vinyl which, in my case, still betters my digital solution though the margin has shrunk quite a bit.

When hearing there would be a built-in DAC in the Olympus, I did not hesitate a moment to order the Olympus and to sell my DAC at the same time.
Didn't regret it one second.

Thanks to team Taiko!

 

In my experience, the analog out of the Olympus is just excellent. It has all I wanted like speed, resolution, lots of space and layering, tonality, harmonics, no digital harshness, dynamic.

Mind you, I nevertheless still like to listen to vinyl which, in my case, still betters my digital solution though the margin has shrunk quite a bit.

When hearing there would be a built-in DAC in the Olympus, I did not hesitate a moment to order the Olympus and to sell my DAC at the same time.
Didn't regret it one second.

Thanks to team Taiko!

May I ask what your former DAC was? I ask as I have not ruled anything out. I'm keeping an open mind and will let my ears be the final judge...

 

To add a I/O to the Olympus is it just a matter of moving and installing cards between the units or is there programming as well?