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

[dminches]

A big part of this "equation" is XDMS-NSM which many people have yet to hear. After installing the switch/router/DCD combo Roon sounded better to me than XDMS. However, NSM sounds much better than Roon which has elevated things to a new level. When people add this to their setup I think they will start to fully appreciate and understand all the work Taiko has been doing.

 

[ctydwn]

And on that note, the advancement in sound from the contributions of the switch, DCD power supply, router and NSM is absolutely audibly incredible. Easily 50% increase on top of the original Extreme. Arguably 100%. To think Olympus tops this by a substantial margin, i just cannot wrap my head around yet. Is this like amazing car phones from the late 80s jumping to today’s bluetooth enabled calling? Not sure what the appropriate analogy is but this really does feel like a new chapter in hifi audio in serious suspenseful prologue, low key Taiko style

 

[Taiko Audio]

correct....and what is going to be the cost of a replacement daughterboard?

I cannot tell you that, it will depend on development cost divided by expected number of sales + parts cost and DAC manufacturer expenses, but I cannot imagine it coming anywhere near XDMI cost which has truly been a huge effort.

 

[Taiko Audio]

Emile, if I remember correctly the Olympus is a mixture of aluminium (outer casing) and copper (part of the inside): Does that mean our beloved Daizas are still a good starting point as they are targeted at aluminium vibrations (not good for copper though) or would you recommend not using the Daiza?
What are you placing the Olmypus on yourself… my guess is on the upcoming waffle maker (of course switched ON) which provides a heated air cushion - hovercraft style.

I’ll retry that when I get a chance but the last time I tried it was negative. I have it on the floor currently..

 

[RUIN*ish]

What is the output connector for the xdmi digital output (dd) daughter board?

Marc

 

[MusicFellow]

I’ll retry that when I get a chance but the last time I tried it was negative. I have it on the floor currently..

Alright. Either way would be fine, because I could re-use the Daizas from the Extreme and DAC and put them under my monos.

 

[Taiko Audio]

What is the output connector for the xdmi digital output (dd) daughter board?

Marc

We actually have 2 versions right now:

RCA+BNC
RCA+AES/EBU

But we’re just looking into integrating them so we have all 3 on one board, should be quite easy.

 

[TWJeff]

Yes, same card, USB performance from the Olympus is similar to adding this to your Extreme:

Olympus I/O to add to an Extreme server: € 20.800 (return your old USB and Network card)

Hi Emile, May I know how to connect Extreme to Olympus I/O?

 

[Taiko Audio]

Hi Emile, May I know how to connect Extreme to Olympus I/O?

With these 2 interface cards and a pair of QFSP cables.

 

[TWJeff]

A big part of this "equation" is XDMS-NSM which many people have yet to hear. After installing the switch/router/DCD combo Roon sounded better to me than XDMS. However, NSM sounds much better than Roon which has elevated things to a new level. When people add this to their setup I think they will start to fully appreciate and understand all the work Taiko has been doing.

The most impressive improvement in my system is NSM too. It's indeed a game changer.

 

[Kris]

We actually have 2 versions right now:

RCA+BNC
RCA+AES/EBU

But we’re just looking into integrating them so we have all 3 on one board, should be quite easy.

Yes Please.
I dont use RCA as This has 50 ohm connectors.
Only BNC is a true spidf with correct 75 ohm connectors and cable.
Spdif via BNC + AES via XLR
But if all 3 will be there that is ideal for everyone I believe

 

[Kris]

With these 2 interface cards and a pair of QFSP cables.

View attachment 122472

Actually I belive Emile wanted to say there are 2 PAIRS of This interface cards
so 4 cards in total. 2 in Extreme ( or Olympus) and 2 in Olympus IO.

 

[TWJeff]

XDMI -> I2S -> USB -> USB -> I2S will be inferior to USB -> I2S

MSB will not be Olympus/XDMI ---- XDMI/DAC, but Olympus/XDMI/Pro ISL --- DAC

Totaldac will be Olympus/XDMI/AESEBU --- DAC

DCS will be Olympus/XDMI/dual AESEBU -- DAC with perhaps external clocking options (unless they're interested in adopting XDMI natively, which I doubt)

Aries Cerat and Lampizator are interested in adopting XDMI natively

For the rest we'll have to see how things develop. There's a limit to what we can handle simultaneously.

Hi Emile, I am a dCS user. Now I use Extreme USB out to Vivaldi upsampler and upsampler Dual AES out to Vivaldi DAC. If I use Olympus/XDMI/ single AESEBU to Vivaldi upsampler in the future, it can support PCM up to 192k and Dop DSD/64?

Thanks.

 

[Taiko Audio]

Actually I belive Emile wanted to say there are 2 PAIRS of This interface cards
so 4 cards in total. 2 in Extreme ( or Olympus) and 2 in Olympus IO.

The Olympus IO side is different.

 

[Taiko Audio]

Hi Emile, I am a dCS user. Now I use Extreme USB out to Vivaldi upsampler and upsampler Dual AES out to Vivaldi DAC. If I use Olympus/XDMI/ single AESEBU to Vivaldi upsampler in the future, it can support PCM up to 192k and Dop DSD/64?

Thanks.

Yes, but we do have Dual AES/EBU on the to-do list.

 

[TWJeff]

Yes, but we do have Dual AES/EBU on the to-do list.

Sounds great. But Vivaldi upsampler only has a single AES/EBU input.

 

[Taiko Audio]

Sounds great. But Vivaldi upsampler only has a single AES/EBU input.

Well you’re all set then

 

[MOTU]

I there any chance that in 3 months when the Olympus and OIO XDMI ships it will ship with finished native daughterboard and native XDMI input module for horizon?

 

[Taiko Audio]

I there any chance that in 3 months when the Olympus and OIO XDMI ships it will ship with finished native daughterboard and native XDMI input module for horizon?

No that is virtually impossible.

 

[Steve Williams]

I there any chance that in 3 months when the Olympus and OIO XDMI ships it will ship with finished native daughterboard and native XDMI input module for horizon?

Now that's the $64 question but as I see it there are now 2 possibilities. I think that for Lampi owners, FredA has already announced that Lukasz is committed to this project and has already begun. I understand this is being done in collaboration with Emile. On the flipside however I read a post from Emile yesterday that loosely translated suggested that if the DAC manufacturers don't come up with their fix, Taiko is prepared to do it for them. Whether either happens before first units ship is yet to be determined.I too would love that to happen but it might be a huge reach to bring this as a finished product before the Olympus and I/O ship so I have decided that for now 50% of something is better than 100% of nothing and I will be using AES/EBU to connect the digital card to my Horizon