Introducing Olympus & Olympus I/O - A new perspective on modern music playback

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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".
 
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XDMS - NSM is ASIO only

So XDMS - NSM can deliver data to any ASIO USB Driver, and also XDMI ASIO client
Ed, does this mean that I will not be able to hear xdms/nsm on my wadax atlantis DAC, and only xdms by way of aes/ebu; and I can only hear xdms/nsm directly over RCA cables direct to my preamp?
Thanks! - kevin
 
@Taiko Audio

Hi Emile,

To draw the little graphic summary posted above, I went through all 49 pages of posts o_O

If I'm not mistaken, there are still some points that remain unclear.

And I'm afraid I may have introduced some inaccuracies in that summary.


Question 1:

In the context of Olympus Server + Olympus I/O :

Is it possible to have both the USB and XDMI cards in the Olympus I/O chassis, at the same time?


Question 2:

What powers what?

Again in the context of Olympus Server + Olympus I/O, is the following correct?

1704188208572.png
 
Ed, does this mean that I will not be able to hear xdms/nsm on my wadax atlantis DAC, and only xdms by way of aes/ebu; and I can only hear xdms/nsm directly over RCA cables direct to my preamp?
Thanks! - kevin
XDMS-NSM works with an ASIO USB driver and with the XDMI ASIO client. This means that Olympus USB, AES/EBU, S/PDIF, and Analog all can use XDMS-NSM. The Wadax Atlantis Reference and Arcadia are on the supported DAC list.
 
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Question 2:

What powers what?

Again in the context of Olympus Server + Olympus I/O, is the following correct?

View attachment 122715
According to the document on Taiko HP:

BPS – Olympus Server
• 1x BPS powering the OS and the music drives
• 1x BPS powering the first set of the Interface Cards
• 1x BPS powering the second set of the Interface Cards
BPS – Olympus I/O
• 1x BPS powering the Network Card
• 1x BPS powering Audio Output Cards
 
According to the document on Taiko HP:

BPS – Olympus Server
• 1x BPS powering the OS and the music drives
• 1x BPS powering the first set of the Interface Cards
• 1x BPS powering the second set of the Interface Cards
BPS – Olympus I/O
• 1x BPS powering the Network Card
• 1x BPS powering Audio Output Cards

Hello Matthias,

That's what I read as well.
However, doubts remain.
What powers the QSFP cards in the I/O?

That's why I'm asking Emile to clarify those points for us.

I might do a few more diagrams. But I won't do it until I have all of the information required.

Cheers,

Thomas
 
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Hi Thomas,
my understanding is that they are powered from the Olympus server.

I believe not.

There doesn't seem to be any power between the Server and the I/O.

Check post #119

I really read nearly all Emile's posts :)))

The two points mentionned above (#965) are, for me, remaining uncertainties.
 
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Hi @SwissTom , very much appreciate your help in painting an as clear as possible picture.

As we are launching a series of new technologies all packed together in 2 main products it can easily become confusing to the point where it's easy to mix up aspects from individual parts.


Let me therefor start with listing the individual new components / technologies:


1) The Olympus Server utilises the latest available computer hardware with the following differences to the Extreme:

-The Extreme has 2 Intel Xeon Scalable processors with 10 CPU physical CPU cores each for total of 20 physical CPU cores (40 virtual), 48Gb DDR4-2400 Memory, PCIe gen3 interfaces, uses PCIe gen3 M.2 music storage drives and runs Windows 10
- The Olympus has 1 AMD Epyc 4th gen processor with 4*8 physical CPU cores for a total of 32 physical CPU cores (64 virtual), 128Gb DDR5-4800 Memory, PCIe gen5 interfaces, uses MCIO (PCIe) gen5 U.2/U.3 music storage drives and runs Windows 11


2) We are launching new power supply technologies, both linear as battery powered, both are highly power conversion efficient (90% +) and very low noise / transparent, made possible by utilising modern GaN fet technology with our own "twists".


3) We are also launching a new external interface solution utilising high speed (aggregated 112Gbs) QFSP28 cables, this enables the Olympus I/O product. In a nutshell this allows PCIe cards to be placed in an external chassis without the usual drawbacks of such a solution, it even improves performance rather then deteriorating it.

4) Last but not least we are launching our new XDMI music interface. XDMI has an ASIO driver as input, which you can use directly as an output from either Roon or XDMS playback software. This ASIO driver then directly transports the audio bitstream to the XDMI baseboard, over PCIe, where it is converted to I2S, bypassing multiple stages of processing and conversions which are inherent to other protocols. This as as direct a conversion as possible. The XDMI baseboard lastly has a connector which allows connecting the optional output boards, which can either generate a direct analogue output by means of a DAC, or a variety of digital outputs.

-------------------------------------------------

From a practical point of view:

The Olympus server has 4 PCIe slots in which you can mount interface cards.
The Olympus I/O has 2 PCIe slots in which you can mount interface cards.

The Olympus server contains 2 Linear Gan Fet based power supplies and 3 Gan Fet based battery power supplies.
The Olympus I/O contains 1 Linear Gan Fet based power supplies and 2 Gan Fet based battery power supplies.

The Olympus server 5 power supplies are utilised in this way:

1 Linear power supply powers the motherboard/CPU
1 Linear power supply is a battery charger
1 Battery power supply powers the storage drives
1 Battery power supply powers the network interface card
1 Battery power supply powers the output cards (USB and/or XDMI)

The Olympus I/O 3 power supplies are utilised in this way:

1 Linear power supply is a battery charger
1 Battery power supply powers the network interface card + the external interface solution PCIe card
1 Battery power supply powers the output cards (USB or XDMI) + the external interface solution PCIe card

The Olympus server + Olympus I/O stack 8 power supplies are utilised in this way:

On the Olympus server side:
1 Linear power supply powers the motherboard/CPU
1 Linear power supply is a battery charger
1 Battery power supply powers the storage drives
2 Battery power supplies power the external interface solution PCIe cards connecting to the Olympus I/O

On the Olympus I/O side:
1 Linear power supply is a battery charger
1 Battery power supply powers the network interface card + the external interface solution PCIe card
1 Battery power supply powers the output cards (USB or XDMI) + the external interface solution PCIe card

In case this is still unclear, which is completely understandable:

The Olympus server can provide BOTH USB and XDMI as it has enough PCIe expansion slots (4), where the Olympus I/O has 2 PCIe expansion slots and therefor you will have to choose between USB and XDMI, as the other PCIe expansion slot is occupied by the network card.

Again I understand this reads as complete gibberish to many, especially those less versed in computing technologies, it will become much clearer when this actually starts arriving, it's only complicated if you try to understand it without an actual hands-on experience, I think :)
 
Again I understand this reads as complete gibberish to many, especially those less versed in computing technologies, it will become much clearer when this actually starts arriving, it's only complicated if you try to understand it without an actual hands-on experience, I think :)

Hi Emile,

It's all crystal clear now. Thanks! :)

If I find some time, I'll draw up a few diagrams. It might save you a few questions.

Cheers,

Thomas
 
Hi @SwissTom , very much appreciate your help in painting an as clear as possible picture.

As we are launching a series of new technologies all packed together in 2 main products it can easily become confusing to the point where it's easy to mix up aspects from individual parts.


Let me therefor start with listing the individual new components / technologies:


1) The Olympus Server utilises the latest available computer hardware with the following differences to the Extreme:

-The Extreme has 2 Intel Xeon Scalable processors with 10 CPU physical CPU cores each for total of 20 physical CPU cores (40 virtual), 48Gb DDR4-2400 Memory, PCIe gen3 interfaces, uses PCIe gen3 M.2 music storage drives and runs Windows 10
- The Olympus has 1 AMD Epyc 4th gen processor with 4*8 physical CPU cores for a total of 32 physical CPU cores (64 virtual), 128Gb DDR5-4800 Memory, PCIe gen5 interfaces, uses MCIO (PCIe) gen5 U.2/U.3 music storage drives and runs Windows 11


2) We are launching new power supply technologies, both linear as battery powered, both are highly power conversion efficient (90% +) and very low noise / transparent, made possible by utilising modern GaN fet technology with our own "twists".


3) We are also launching a new external interface solution utilising high speed (aggregated 112Gbs) QFSP28 cables, this enables the Olympus I/O product. In a nutshell this allows PCIe cards to be placed in an external chassis without the usual drawbacks of such a solution, it even improves performance rather then deteriorating it.

4) Last but not least we are launching our new XDMI music interface. XDMI has an ASIO driver as input, which you can use directly as an output from either Roon or XDMS playback software. This ASIO driver then directly transports the audio bitstream to the XDMI baseboard, over PCIe, where it is converted to I2S, bypassing multiple stages of processing and conversions which are inherent to other protocols. This as as direct a conversion as possible. The XDMI baseboard lastly has a connector which allows connecting the optional output boards, which can either generate a direct analogue output by means of a DAC, or a variety of digital outputs.

-------------------------------------------------

From a practical point of view:

The Olympus server has 4 PCIe slots in which you can mount interface cards.
The Olympus I/O has 2 PCIe slots in which you can mount interface cards.

The Olympus server contains 2 Linear Gan Fet based power supplies and 3 Gan Fet based battery power supplies.
The Olympus I/O contains 1 Linear Gan Fet based power supplies and 2 Gan Fet based battery power supplies.

The Olympus server 5 power supplies are utilised in this way:

1 Linear power supply powers the motherboard/CPU
1 Linear power supply is a battery charger
1 Battery power supply powers the storage drives
1 Battery power supply powers the network interface card
1 Battery power supply powers the output cards (USB and/or XDMI)

The Olympus I/O 3 power supplies are utilised in this way:

1 Linear power supply is a battery charger
1 Battery power supply powers the network interface card + the external interface solution PCIe card
1 Battery power supply powers the output cards (USB or XDMI) + the external interface solution PCIe card

The Olympus server + Olympus I/O stack 8 power supplies are utilised in this way:

On the Olympus server side:
1 Linear power supply powers the motherboard/CPU
1 Linear power supply is a battery charger
1 Battery power supply powers the storage drives
2 Battery power supplies power the external interface solution PCIe cards connecting to the Olympus I/O

On the Olympus I/O side:
1 Linear power supply is a battery charger
1 Battery power supply powers the network interface card + the external interface solution PCIe card
1 Battery power supply powers the output cards (USB or XDMI) + the external interface solution PCIe card

In case this is still unclear, which is completely understandable:

The Olympus server can provide BOTH USB and XDMI as it has enough PCIe expansion slots (4), where the Olympus I/O has 2 PCIe expansion slots and therefor you will have to choose between USB and XDMI, as the other PCIe expansion slot is occupied by the network card.

Again I understand this reads as complete gibberish to many, especially those less versed in computing technologies, it will become much clearer when this actually starts arriving, it's only complicated if you try to understand it without an actual hands-on experience, I think :)
Hi Emile, if the Olympus is used continuously during the charging phase when the batteries are low , how are the 5 power supplies utilised then ?
 
@Taiko Audio

I've updated the diagram (#949)
There was just one small inaccuracy.

There is still one question that someone will certainly ask.

So I'll ask it straight away:

In the context of Olympus Server + Olympus I/O, is the following configuration possible?


Olympus_XDMI_USB.JPG
 
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