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".

 

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

Sorry for the confusion. There is no software that had to be reconfigured. If you’re referring to the initials “SW”, I was using it to refer to the Speaker Whisperer” who set up my system - not the term software.

 

Sorry for the confusion. There is no software that had to be reconfigured. If you’re referring to the initials “SW”, I was using it to refer to the Speaker Whisperer” who set up my system - not the term software.

Oh, sorry Google Translate translated SW as software.

 

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.

Thanks for the great feedback! Can you comment on sound with aes/ebu to the external dac?

 

Thanks for the great feedback! Can you comment on sound with aes/ebu to the external dac?

The only real time comparison occurred on the day when I switched from the XDMI AES/EBU-External DAC to the XDMI Analog-out. At that point, the AES/EBU had been breaking in for about thirty days. While the Analog out (and new RCA cable) was stone cold.

Even stone cold, with everything else the same, it was immediately clear, from the first notes that the XDMI Analog-out had significantly more bass and dynamics than the AES/EBU connection.

 

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,

 

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...