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".

 

Can that link be added as a Summary to the upper of each page ?
Just like we had that USB/ Network / AES choices on the upper part of the original Taiko Extreme thread ?

that was merely a poll asking how members connected their Extreme to their DAC. After 5 years it was removed. AFAIK there is no way to add this as a Summary in the same fashion

 

that was merely a poll asking how members connected their Extreme to their DAC. After 5 years it was removed. AFAIK there is no way to add this as a Summary in the same fashion

just have it added as a link at the bottom of all the 'Taiko' organization posts. that's simple and easy to reference. and once recognized easy to find and come back to again to check on updates. update level could be referenced in the link.

 

we actually have just discovered a Xenforo add on that we are going to test to make sure it doesn't break anything but it serves the purpose exactly as to what Kris wants otherwise thank you to Mike for his suggestion

 

we actually have just discovered a Xenforo add on that we are going to test to make sure it doesn't break anything but it serves the purpose exactly as to what Kris wants otherwise thank you to Mike for his suggestion

Two man with idea and Oneobgyn to meake it happen

 

When will we get our first production photos?

 

When will we get our first production photos?

Thank you for posting This question.
I was nervous that my iPad is broker after zero posts since Wednesday.

 

Thank you for posting This question.
I was nervous that my iPad is broker after zero posts since Wednesday.

The breathing room this creates is being put to good use here We’re almost caught up on our e-mail backlog, I’m confident every e-mail will be answered by tonight, making good headway on ordering the 100.000s of parts and scheduling the additional PCB production we need. We’ve also almost finished adding a second room for “mass” production. It looks like we will be able to upscale the initial projected 6 servers a week to 12. Ofcourse we’ll need a continuous influx of supplies but that’s starting to look positive aswell.

 

Another quick cable question - will the Olympus need a C15 or C19 termination?

 

C15, me thinks.

 

Yes C15

 

Source: Lampi FB Page:

"Yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting the HQ of Taiko Audio, one of the leading brands in the field of digital audio. They are located in Netherlands, in a small town on the Dutch / German border.
Did I say ONE of the leading brands? Normally I am very modest but this is not about me - it is about another brand so I don’t need to beat around the bush. Taiko IS the leader of industry and shows the path moving forwards.
Emile, the owner and chief - as always was a very good host so even a strictly business visit turned into a nice experience.
After being properly and thoroughly caffeinated - I discussed with Emile the details of the connecting interface between their Taiko Olympus server and our top DACs - Horizon and Poseidon. The newly developed Olympus approaching its formal launch will revolutionize the definition of the term Music Server, especially in the context of words like flagship, reference, ultimate etc.
I have been in the business long enough to recognize that never in the history of digital audio (since the introduction of a CD player) has been an undertaking on such scale and scope. Olympus doesn’t take prisoners. As the vast majority of brands simply use with better or worse result the off the shelf PC building blocks, Taiko guys make everything by themselves. This is so rare that must be applauded. Obviously making an in-house designed and manufactured computer (on a small scale) is insanely expensive, but so is this hobby. Olympus IS insanely expensive and it doesn’t stop it from selling like crispy croissants on a Saturday morning.
I was lucky enough to be invited to one of two world class listening rooms where Taiko tests their products. The room itself as well as associated components are the best cost no object type of stuff, which I can certify as the guy who heard more rooms than almost anybody else. Needless to say that the Horizon is their test Dac in that room, along with AlsyVox biggest speakers and Conrad Johnson’s mono blocks.
The quality jump with the Olympus new architecture versus the best server before that - the former Taiko flagship Extreme - is quite shocking and hard to describe. The music simply sucks you in, like an industrial vacuum cleaner does a speck of dust. We are talking about entirely another level. Emile took two full hours to explain to me the details of protocols, jitters, clocks, data formats, heat dissipation, power noises etc and trust me I am a fast learner. I could swear that I hear all that mumbo jumbo hokus pokus technology in action. In short - I was in heaven.
Do I want to be a part of this? YES. Do I know how to do it - yes. We as Lampizator have already full compatibility with 3 out of five interface links - namely USB (least favored by Emile, ) the SPDIF , the AESEBU and also in speculative theory - the not ready yet i2S (we both agreed not favorable). But there is a fifth interf§ace in the pipeline - the one which should bring the best out of both machines - the Olympus Taiko Server and the Horizon / Poseidon DAC and we both agreed that this will be co developed as soon as possible. We want to propose a low jitter high current loop to send the stream from Olympus and fully utilize its glorious sound quality. We discussed all important issues like DSD compatibility, muting functionality, clock switching and flagging, cable lengths, volume control, ability to use the DAC as a preamplifier etc. Also the retro compatibility package for the existing Extreme Taiko users as well as Horizon users. Nobody from that user group should be left out on the platform when this train departs.
If you ever have a chance to listen to this mean machine at some event, show, demo room or at friend’s - do it. You won’t regret it. I can imagine a number of guys that I know, already holding their breath and saving their cash."

 

Also the retro compatibility package for the existing Extreme Taiko users

Interesting

 

Source: Lampi FB Page:

"Yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting the HQ of Taiko Audio, one of the leading brands in the field of digital audio. They are located in Netherlands, in a small town on the Dutch / German border.
Did I say ONE of the leading brands? Normally I am very modest but this is not about me - it is about another brand so I don’t need to beat around the bush. Taiko IS the leader of industry and shows the path moving forwards.
Emile, the owner and chief - as always was a very good host so even a strictly business visit turned into a nice experience.
After being properly and thoroughly caffeinated - I discussed with Emile the details of the connecting interface between their Taiko Olympus server and our top DACs - Horizon and Poseidon. The newly developed Olympus approaching its formal launch will revolutionize the definition of the term Music Server, especially in the context of words like flagship, reference, ultimate etc.
I have been in the business long enough to recognize that never in the history of digital audio (since the introduction of a CD player) has been an undertaking on such scale and scope. Olympus doesn’t take prisoners. As the vast majority of brands simply use with better or worse result the off the shelf PC building blocks, Taiko guys make everything by themselves. This is so rare that must be applauded. Obviously making an in-house designed and manufactured computer (on a small scale) is insanely expensive, but so is this hobby. Olympus IS insanely expensive and it doesn’t stop it from selling like crispy croissants on a Saturday morning.
I was lucky enough to be invited to one of two world class listening rooms where Taiko tests their products. The room itself as well as associated components are the best cost no object type of stuff, which I can certify as the guy who heard more rooms than almost anybody else. Needless to say that the Horizon is their test Dac in that room, along with AlsyVox biggest speakers and Conrad Johnson’s mono blocks.
The quality jump with the Olympus new architecture versus the best server before that - the former Taiko flagship Extreme - is quite shocking and hard to describe. The music simply sucks you in, like an industrial vacuum cleaner does a speck of dust. We are talking about entirely another level. Emile took two full hours to explain to me the details of protocols, jitters, clocks, data formats, heat dissipation, power noises etc and trust me I am a fast learner. I could swear that I hear all that mumbo jumbo hokus pokus technology in action. In short - I was in heaven.
Do I want to be a part of this? YES. Do I know how to do it - yes. We as Lampizator have already full compatibility with 3 out of five interface links - namely USB (least favored by Emile, ) the SPDIF , the AESEBU and also in speculative theory - the not ready yet i2S (we both agreed not favorable). But there is a fifth interf§ace in the pipeline - the one which should bring the best out of both machines - the Olympus Taiko Server and the Horizon / Poseidon DAC and we both agreed that this will be co developed as soon as possible. We want to propose a low jitter high current loop to send the stream from Olympus and fully utilize its glorious sound quality. We discussed all important issues like DSD compatibility, muting functionality, clock switching and flagging, cable lengths, volume control, ability to use the DAC as a preamplifier etc. Also the retro compatibility package for the existing Extreme Taiko users as well as Horizon users. Nobody from that user group should be left out on the platform when this train departs.
If you ever have a chance to listen to this mean machine at some event, show, demo room or at friend’s - do it. You won’t regret it. I can imagine a number of guys that I know, already holding their breath and saving their cash."

Man, would I have loved to have been a fly on the wall listening to what these two giants in the industry are talking about. To me this is a match made in heaven. Emile and Lukasz IMO are the industry leaders and with XDMI native a wish for we Lampi owners , my hope is that the meeting went well and that Lukasz and Emile put on their thinking hats.

 

The music simply sucks you in, like an industrial vacuum cleaner does a speck of dust. We are talking about entirely another level

so we now have a preliminary data point re XDMI and I must admit that I’m drooling with anticipation of some reassuring news about XDMI native

 

Source: Lampi FB Page:
Needless to say that the Horizon is their test Dac in that room, along with AlsyVox biggest speakers and Conrad Johnson’s mono blocks.

Goran, thanks. That was a wonderful read. I think the biggest surprise to me was the use of the CJ monoblocks in the Taiko Reference system. I recall that they had the big Heisenbergs planted there for quite a while. I'm not sure what model CJ is being used but assume its a current production (ART300?- can't quite tell from the pic). Imagine that, a KT-150 based tube amp with negative feedback and output caps that is priced less than the Olympus! You could have knocked me over with a feather! And driving panels no less! Wonderful. Tell us more Emile! I'm assuming it has some wonderful sonic merits or it wouldn't be there.

 

Source: Lampi FB Page:

"Yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting the HQ of Taiko Audio, one of the leading brands in the field of digital audio. They are located in Netherlands, in a small town on the Dutch / German border.
Did I say ONE of the leading brands? Normally I am very modest but this is not about me - it is about another brand so I don’t need to beat around the bush. Taiko IS the leader of industry and shows the path moving forwards.
Emile, the owner and chief - as always was a very good host so even a strictly business visit turned into a nice experience.
After being properly and thoroughly caffeinated - I discussed with Emile the details of the connecting interface between their Taiko Olympus server and our top DACs - Horizon and Poseidon. The newly developed Olympus approaching its formal launch will revolutionize the definition of the term Music Server, especially in the context of words like flagship, reference, ultimate etc.
I have been in the business long enough to recognize that never in the history of digital audio (since the introduction of a CD player) has been an undertaking on such scale and scope. Olympus doesn’t take prisoners. As the vast majority of brands simply use with better or worse result the off the shelf PC building blocks, Taiko guys make everything by themselves. This is so rare that must be applauded. Obviously making an in-house designed and manufactured computer (on a small scale) is insanely expensive, but so is this hobby. Olympus IS insanely expensive and it doesn’t stop it from selling like crispy croissants on a Saturday morning.
I was lucky enough to be invited to one of two world class listening rooms where Taiko tests their products. The room itself as well as associated components are the best cost no object type of stuff, which I can certify as the guy who heard more rooms than almost anybody else. Needless to say that the Horizon is their test Dac in that room, along with AlsyVox biggest speakers and Conrad Johnson’s mono blocks.
The quality jump with the Olympus new architecture versus the best server before that - the former Taiko flagship Extreme - is quite shocking and hard to describe. The music simply sucks you in, like an industrial vacuum cleaner does a speck of dust. We are talking about entirely another level. Emile took two full hours to explain to me the details of protocols, jitters, clocks, data formats, heat dissipation, power noises etc and trust me I am a fast learner. I could swear that I hear all that mumbo jumbo hokus pokus technology in action. In short - I was in heaven.
Do I want to be a part of this? YES. Do I know how to do it - yes. We as Lampizator have already full compatibility with 3 out of five interface links - namely USB (least favored by Emile, ) the SPDIF , the AESEBU and also in speculative theory - the not ready yet i2S (we both agreed not favorable). But there is a fifth interf§ace in the pipeline - the one which should bring the best out of both machines - the Olympus Taiko Server and the Horizon / Poseidon DAC and we both agreed that this will be co developed as soon as possible. We want to propose a low jitter high current loop to send the stream from Olympus and fully utilize its glorious sound quality. We discussed all important issues like DSD compatibility, muting functionality, clock switching and flagging, cable lengths, volume control, ability to use the DAC as a preamplifier etc. Also the retro compatibility package for the existing Extreme Taiko users as well as Horizon users. Nobody from that user group should be left out on the platform when this train departs.
If you ever have a chance to listen to this mean machine at some event, show, demo room or at friend’s - do it. You won’t regret it. I can imagine a number of guys that I know, already holding their breath and saving their cash."

If this doesn't make the juices flow, nothing will! Good stuff...

 

Goran, thanks. That was a wonderful read. I think the biggest surprise to me was the use of the CJ monoblocks in the Taiko Reference system. I recall that they had the big Heisenbergs planted there for quite a while. I'm not sure what model CJ is being used but assume its a current production (ART300?- can't quite tell from the pic). Imagine that, a KT-150 based tube amp with negative feedback and output caps that is priced less than the Olympus! You could have knocked me over with a feather! And driving panels no less! Wonderful. Tell us more Emile! I'm assuming it has some wonderful sonic merits or it wouldn't be there.

It was posted by Lukasz on Facebook, not Goran (he copied it)

 

Goran, thanks. That was a wonderful read. I think the biggest surprise to me was the use of the CJ monoblocks in the Taiko Reference system. I recall that they had the big Heisenbergs planted there for quite a while. I'm not sure what model CJ is being used but assume its a current production (ART300?- can't quite tell from the pic). Imagine that, a KT-150 based tube amp with negative feedback and output caps that is priced less than the Olympus! You could have knocked me over with a feather! And driving panels no less! Wonderful. Tell us more Emile! I'm assuming it has some wonderful sonic merits or it wouldn't be there.

Those are the newer models, ART88/ART108A. Very useful tools, they have plenty of resolution and allow for long fatigue free listening sessions.

 

Will I be able to connect a CD transport to the XDMI DAC @Taiko Audio ? Emile, as I am a great appreciator of CJ components (I use the GAT2 in my system) I am delighted to know you have chosen these given your ocean of options!

 

Will I be able to connect a CD transport to the XDMI DAC @Taiko Audio ? Emile, as I am a great appreciator of CJ components (I use the GAT2 in my system) I am delighted to know you have chosen these given your ocean of options!

Although we could implement that we don’t have it on our roadmap. You’d get much better performance from ripping that CD on to the server’s internal storage.