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".

 

The explanation is actually quite simple in this case. It’s now just a matter of current draw.

The m.2 drives as used in the Extreme operate at 3.3 volts. U.2 / U.3 drives operate at 12 volts.

These drives can consume up to 15 watts each.

For the U.2 / U.3 drives that equates to 15/12 = 1.25A

For the M.2 drives it equates to 15/3.3 = 4.55A

On top of that you’d run those in pools of 4 (4*4.55=18.2A) or 8 for 36.2A

On top of this the type of current draw drives create is extremely “dirty”, and scales up with increased draw.

Unless I'm missing something, I think he was asking about memory, not storage.

 

Unless I'm missing something, I think he was asking about memory, not storage.

Well that’s easy then, the maximum amount of memory is included, there are no upgrade / extension options for that. But I do strongly suspect the question was in fact about storage

 

Yeah indeed, there’s a point where you just run out of expansion slots. There are 5 in total. Then you have the same “issue” we have with the Extreme that certain devices sound better in certain slots.

The current config we run here is:

Slot 1: combined for graphics and OS drive
Slot 2: network card
Slot 3: XDMI or USB
Slot 4: prefer not to use (heat)
Slot 5: USB or U.3 storage drive

Looks like all the slots are used up. Need to think of a way to transfer the old files from Extreme to Olympus. That’s 10T of data.

 

Looks like all the slots are used up. Need to think of a way to transfer the old files from Extreme to Olympus. That’s 10T of data.

Actually, for the fastest possible file transfer you could also plug the U.3 drive into the Extreme and copy locally. We could include an adapter to that end.

 

Hi @MarkusBarkus ,

We're working on it! It's a bit complicated due to the custom proprietary nature of the MSB PRO ISL interface, which requires design efforts in both hardware as software/firmware. But it's in progress!

The other interface options/expansions we're working on in parallel are:
-Aries Cerat XDMI interface
-Generic I2S interface
-Analogue balanced out (XLR)
-Volume control

No fixed timelines here, but we're hoping to have Aries Cerat and MSB ready before Munich, Lampizator XDMI boards are on order and are expected to arrive mid April.

These are indeed thrilling times for Taiko owners. I am super excited to get my hands on the Olympus and I/O and especially the coming XDMI/Pro ISL/MSB interface.

Do you have any information on whether this interface will be presented in Munich? Additionally, could you provide an updated ETA?

Also, I would appreciate it if you could detail any specific components of the interface that MSB owners will need to acquire directly from MSB.

 

The explanation is actually quite simple in this case. It’s now just a matter of current draw.

The m.2 drives as used in the Extreme operate at 3.3 volts. U.2 / U.3 drives operate at 12 volts.

These drives can consume up to 15 watts each.

For the U.2 / U.3 drives that equates to 15/12 = 1.25A

For the M.2 drives it equates to 15/3.3 = 4.55A

On top of that you’d run those in pools of 4 (4*4.55=18.2A) or 8 for 36.2A

On top of this the type of current draw drives create is extremely “dirty”, and scales up with increased draw.

Thank you for the explanation. If I understand, the max benefit comes when you max out the number of drives. For a 14TB drive in my current Horizon, can you suggest what % benefit might be gained from switching from my current Horizon drive to a new 14TB drive in the Olympus. If not a quantitative estimate, how about a qualitative one? Nominal? Very significant? Somewhere in between?

 

Thank you for the explanation. If I understand, the max benefit comes when you max out the number of drives. For a 14TB drive in my current Horizon, can you suggest what % benefit might be gained from switching from my current Horizon drive to a new 14TB drive in the Olympus. If not a quantitative estimate, how about a qualitative one? Nominal? Very significant? Somewhere in between?

I would say so much that it’s mandatory. Expanding to 16TB (14TB doesn’t exist) adds somewhere between Euro 1200-1500.

 

These are indeed thrilling times for Taiko owners. I am super excited to get my hands on the Olympus and I/O and especially the coming XDMI/Pro ISL/MSB interface.

Do you have any information on whether this interface will be presented in Munich? Additionally, could you provide an updated ETA?

Also, I would appreciate it if you could detail any specific components of the interface that MSB owners will need to acquire directly from MSB.

It won’t be ready before Munich, we’ll post updates on additional XDMI output options as soon as more information is available.

 

Hi @MarkusBarkus ,

We're working on it! It's a bit complicated due to the custom proprietary nature of the MSB PRO ISL interface, which requires design efforts in both hardware as software/firmware. But it's in progress!

The other interface options/expansions we're working on in parallel are:
-Aries Cerat XDMI interface
-Generic I2S interface
-Analogue balanced out (XLR)
-Volume control

No fixed timelines here, but we're hoping to have Aries Cerat and MSB ready before Munich, Lampizator XDMI boards are on order and are expected to arrive mid April.

-Analogue balanced out (XLR)
-Volume control
These items are the ones I will be looking forward the most, and where my highest expectations are.
The Taiko environment/culture/ecosystem.
Cheers to that Emile!

 

-Analogue balanced out (XLR)
-Volume control
This items are the ones I will be looking forward the most, and where my highest expectations are.
The Taiko environment/culture/ecosystem.
Cheers to that Emile!

I add to your list: - At least two or three digital inputs to the DAC board: AES, spdif Coax, toslink, usb. I connect my two video sources, Kaleidescape and Appletv X to the DAC.

 

Actually, for the fastest possible file transfer you could also plug the U.3 drive into the Extreme and copy locally. We could include an adapter to that end.

I’m all in for that Emile I have 16 TB to copy from and it would make life easier

 

Yes correct. Do note we have only tested a NAS connected to our Router / powered by the DC distributor in this scenario. I will put testing other scenarios on the to-do list. It’s quite possible a more remote NAS leads to similar results as the NAS competes with Tidal/Qobuz streaming for SQ which is most definitely a remote source. The Olympus with XDMI just changes some things we accepted as a norm in the “prior age of streaming”. The NAS we used is a 10 year old 2 bay Synology, nothing special unless you want to label this as “NOS” storage

Just to clarify. In your test, is the NAS in the same subnet of Olympus?

 

I am going to follow Taiko’s advice and just use my NAS for music storage.

 

I'm very tempted by the quick and easy approach -- plug a high capacity USB drive into the Taiko router and power it from one of the unused outputs of the DC Distributor.

Steve Z

 

Just to clarify. In your test, is the NAS in the same subnet of Olympus?

Yes, plugged into the Taiko Router so in the same “audio only” subnet. It’s quite possible this doesn’t matter though as Tidal/Qobuz perform equally well, we’ll definitely run more tests and share our results.

 

@Lukasz "Lampizator" Fikus / @Ron Resnick interview at Axpona, talk about XDMI specifically starts at around the 4:30 mark.

 

Yeah indeed, there’s a point where you just run out of expansion slots. There are 5 in total. Then you have the same “issue” we have with the Extreme that certain devices sound better in certain slots.

The current config we run here is:

Slot 1: combined for graphics and OS drive
Slot 2: network card
Slot 3: XDMI or USB
Slot 4: prefer not to use (heat)
Slot 5: USB or U.3 storage drive

@Taiko Audio

Hi Emile,

Thanks for your reply.

But there's a doubt lingering in my mind.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

In the context of Olympus + Olympus I/O XDMI (plus USB)

it seems to me that it won't be enough space for the USB card.

Which means my little diagram below is not correct.

And therefore that the "full monty" config is not possible.

OLYMPUS SERVER :
Slot 1: combined for graphics and OS drive
Slot 2: "IN" card + QFSP cable
Slot 3: "OUT" card + QFSP cable
Slot 4: --- empty --- heat management
Slot 5: U.3 storage drive

OLYMPUS I/O :
Slot 1: XDMI
Slot 2: "OUT" card + QFSP cable
Slot 3: "IN" card + QFSP cable
Slot 4: Network Card

So, a priori, there's no more room left for the USB interface card.

What am I missing ?

Thank you for your help

Cheers,

Thomas


The "full monty" config

 

@Taiko Audio

Hi Emile,

Thanks for your reply.

But there's a doubt lingering in my mind.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

In the context of Olympus + Olympus I/O XDMI (plus USB)

it seems to me that it won't be enough space for the USB card.

Which means my little diagram below is not correct.

And therefore that the "full monty" config is not possible.

OLYMPUS SERVER :
Slot 1: combined for graphics and OS drive
Slot 2: "IN" card + QFSP cable
Slot 3: "OUT" card + QFSP cable
Slot 4: --- empty --- heat management
Slot 5: U.3 storage drive

OLYMPUS I/O :
Slot 1: XDMI
Slot 2: "OUT" card + QFSP cable
Slot 3: "IN" card + QFSP cable
Slot 4: Network Card

So, a priori, there's no more room left for the USB interface card.

What am I missing ?

Thank you for your help

Cheers,

Thomas


The "full monty" config
View attachment 128831

The I/O interface card hardly produces any heat, I have no reservations about using slot 4 for USB in this particular scenario. The XDMI card with analogue outputs though does consume around 5-6 watts and does produce some heat. In all honesty though I just cannot imagine any future Olympus/XDMI owner would be even remotely interested in listening to USB.

 

The I/O interface card hardly produces any heat, I have no reservations about using slot 4 for USB in this particular scenario. The XDMI card with analogue outputs though does consume around 5-6 watts and does produce some heat. In all honesty though I just cannot imagine any future Olympus/XDMI owner would be even remotely interested in listening to USB.

Hey thanks for your quick reply!

In my case, the USB card will be used in parallel with the XDMI interface for a transitional period and for the fun of testing purposes, which I'll be sure to report here.

I don't doubt for a second that once we've tried the XDMI interface there'll be no looking back.

Just reading Lukasz's non-verbals when he talks about the Olympus XDMI it's clear that the XDMI interface was a shock

I'm referring to the video you posted above.

I guess Munich will be a major event for Taiko Audio!

Wishing you all the best!

Cheers,

Thomas

 

@Lukasz "Lampizator" Fikus / @Ron Resnick interview at Axpona, talk about XDMI specifically starts at around the 4:30 mark.

I'm getting goose-bumps just listening to Lukasz describe listening to music via XDMI.

Thanks for doing the interview and asking the right questions, Ron.

Steve Z