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".

 

Bass? Naw, it hardly matters at all. . . says the man with six subwoofers.

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Steve Z

have to ask.....how do you stabilize/support that floor, or is it wood flooring over concrete?

 

We can accommodate those yes though not featured in the 2 output board options we supply it with now. This is something which is necessary for MSP Pro ISL to function for example as one of the 2 fibers of the PRO ISL links provides clock from the DAC as master. So we designed it so it can both accept external clocking and provide clocking itself.

Can it accept the clock frequencies of the dCS clocks ( 44.1 and 48kHz and multiples ) or just an external 10 MHz clock, as can be fed to the dCS master clock?

 

have to ask.....how do you stabilize/support that floor, or is it wood flooring over concrete?

2X12 joists 16" o/c, 6"X6" posts on concrete piers and poured beams.

Steve Z

 

Bass? Naw, it hardly matters at all. . . says the man with six subwoofers.

View attachment 122073

Steve Z

View attachment 122074View attachment 122074

This is fun! I started a systems photos thread here:

Taiko Audio Systems Gallery

Post your audio system photos here. I will be first:

www.whatsbestforum.com

It's very interesting to look at systems photos.

 

I run my Extreme into a Merging Nadac stack via RJ45/Ethernet cable. in this configuration the Nadac will play files natively up to DSD512.

Will the Olympus XDMI with 2 Network cards, and any other ancillary Taiko items, connected via Ethernet cable to my Nadac stack currently be the only way to realize full XDMI potential AND play files natively up to DSD512?

 

I run my Extreme into a Merging Nadac stack via RJ45/Ethernet cable. in this configuration the Nadac will play files natively up to DSD512.

Will the Olympus XDMI with 2 Network cards, and any other ancillary Taiko items, connected via Ethernet cable to my Nadac stack currently be the only way to realize full XDMI potential AND play files natively up to DSD512?

The Olympus XDMI comes with 1xNIC, 1xUSB, and 1xXDMI card.
In your case, you may want to consider getting a custom built Olympus XDMI with 2xNICs and 1xXDMI card instead. You don't need the USB card with the Merging Nadac.

If you believe that the Merging Nadac will outperform the XDMI analog output, you don't need to trade up to the Olympus XDMI. You can simply keep your Taiko Extreme and add an Olympus I/O with two NICs.
But if I was a betting man, I would bet on XDMI analog...

The problem with keeping the Extreme and adding an Olympus I/O with two NICs is curiosity. Every night when you go to bed you will be wondering if the Olympus XDMI with an XDMI analog would have been a better sounding option .

 

The Olympus XDMI comes with 1xNIC, 1xUSB, and 1xXDMI card.
In your case, you may want to consider getting a custom built Olympus XDMI with 2xNICs and 1xXDMI card instead. You don't need the USB card with the Merging Nadac.

If you believe that the Merging Nadac will outperform the XDMI analog output, you don't need to trade up to the Olympus XDMI. You can simply keep your Taiko Extreme and add an Olympus I/O with two NICs.
But if I was a betting man, I would bet on XDMI analog...

The problem with keeping the Extreme and adding an Olympus I/O with two NICs is curiosity. Every night when you go to bed you will be wondering if the Olympus XDMI with an XDMI analog would have been a better sounding option .

another reason to go that way is to upgrade from old hardware technology to something more up to date and more maintainable/repairable for a longer period of time into the future

 

So, then the answer to my question is Yes, but the promise of the XDMI analog output outperforming my Nadac stack, or most current DACs, may negate the desirability of using an external DAC.

 

I might miss the posts but how Extreme outputs to Olympus I/O? Through Extreme network card?

 

So, then the answer to my question is Yes, but the promise of the XDMI analog output outperforming my Nadac stack, or most current DACs, may negate the desirability of using an external DAC.

My bet is that the internal DAC is going to leave us gobsmacked as we look for excuses to proclaim our external DAC is the way to go. ………curse you Emile

 

Steve, I can’t believe what I’m hearing from you- no more Lampi tube rolling and tube DAC love, life in the digital age is ever evolving.

 

Steve, I can’t believe what I’m hearing from you- no more Lampi tube rolling and tube DAC love, life in the digital age is ever evolving.

Better add the price of all those sets of tubes onto the cost of upgrading!

 

I might miss the posts but how Extreme outputs to Olympus I/O? Through Extreme network card?

See post #131

Here's an attempt at making the Olympus I/O configuration as clear as possible using photos:

On the left side we have a Switch, then a BPS which powers the Olympus "I" module, this is then connected to our new PCIe interface card by means of a QFSP cable, this card is then plugged into the Extreme replacing the internal network card.

On the right side we have an Olympus "O" module containing the XDMI interface with an analogue output module fitted, this connects to another PCIE interface card by means of another QFSP cable, this card is plugged into the Extreme replacing the USB card:

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Olympus "I" module, you can see the QFSP DAC cable being substantially "beefier" then the SFP DAC cable:

View attachment 121611

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And the Olympus "O" module with XDMI interface:

View attachment 121612

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The Interface cards:

View attachment 121615

 

Steve, I can’t believe what I’m hearing from you- no more Lampi tube rolling and tube DAC love, life in the digital age is ever evolving.

Ahh, but there's the rub.....it's called "letting go and learning a new pradigm"....I'm a slow learner and still am of the hope that Lukasz will come to the rescue

 

About a 3rd orders the I/O to add to the Olympus. Very few I/O only orders.

Kudos to Taiko. 50 orders pre launch. That is an impressive rolodex of wealthy audiophiles that have significant trust in Team Taiko. I am sure that is more than justified,

Are the majority (all) of orders XDMI…? That might explain limited I/O orders for current Extreme owners given proportionately narrower price gap when including the XDMI.

I hope to be able to jump on at some point but its a big jump for me.

PS: NSM is amazing!

 

...I know of one order that is non-XDMI I/O only.

 

I run my Extreme into a Merging Nadac stack via RJ45/Ethernet cable. in this configuration the Nadac will play files natively up to DSD512.

Will the Olympus XDMI with 2 Network cards, and any other ancillary Taiko items, connected via Ethernet cable to my Nadac stack currently be the only way to realize full XDMI potential AND play files natively up to DSD512?

I am also a Ravenna user and since I am using dsp crossover all linked to Revanna in and out. I am also currently using 2 NiC card in my extreme. Right now I have to use Roon SRC to make all output 24/96 so it is compatible with my dsp XO. I have placed my order with Olympus server upgrade. Initially, I intended to do the same but I think I will place my order for XDMI analog out as well. This way I can forget roon and have everything output to xdmi analog and than AD back to my dsp XO. Sure there may be loss on the AD conversion. But with 5000 initially discount I figure that if my experiment turns out favouring Ravenna all the way. I can still sell my XDMI card at my discount cost and I would be able to sell it.

 

See post #131

See post #131

Thank you for the information but still don’t know how Olympus I/O does. if I buy a Olympus I/O for my extreme, Extreme will be only USB out to my DAC and the extreme Network card will move to Olympus I/O from my current Extreme?
Olympus I/O to my extreme by QFSP

By any new interface? A little confused.

 

Thank you Emile
Looks fantastic
Where are the XDMI RCA or AES exits planned ?

RCA in and XLR above the expansion card slots.

 

If the board can accept external clock signal, what clock frequency will it accept for different file sampler rates. For example, dCS vivaldi Clock can feed 44.1 or 48 to the board? Thanks.

Whatever we design the daughterboard and adjust the firmware for to accept.