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".

 

Two independently adjustable, separately regulated outputs; Voltage choices are user set from the back panel: 5V, 7V, 9V, or 12V.
Guaranteed continuous current capability:
4.7 Amps at 5V
5.5 Amps at 7V
7.0 Amps at 9V
7.4 Amps at 12V
Instantaneous capability of up to 10A

That is a nice beefy LPS and perfect to run the trio of components.

 

Two independently adjustable, separately regulated outputs; Voltage choices are user set from the back panel: 5V, 7V, 9V, or 12V.
Guaranteed continuous current capability:
4.7 Amps at 5V
5.5 Amps at 7V
7.0 Amps at 9V
7.4 Amps at 12V
Instantaneous capability of up to 10A

Hmm interesting, screenshot info below is either outdated or there are 2 revisions. Either way, it will do the job!

 

An Uptone JS-2 (6.8A rated) , easy-peasy

Actually, I'm running the DCD with a 2nd Uptone JS-2, with the 2nd output unused at the moment. But I gather that it would be preferable to run the NAS directly off the DCD rather than use either of the 2nd outputs of the Uptones, yes?
Thanks again,
Jerry

 

...I am planning to do the same thing, swapping in the JS2 on the DDC for Tswitch and that same NAS on the WDReds you noted, and thank you.

 

...I just scraped my post info from their site, FWIW. But as you noted, both work. Cheers, Emile.

 

Actually, I'm running the DCD with a 2nd Uptone JS-2, with the 2nd output unused at the moment. But I gather that it would be preferable to run the NAS directly off the DCD rather than use either of the 2nd outputs of the Uptones, yes?
Thanks again,
Jerry

I think that is what Emile would recommend - all the power runs through the DCD.

 

Some confusing posts here...

@steve williams , have you tried the digital daughter board? I think when @oldmustang refers to the "digital board" he is referring to the AES/EBU daughter board. The Taiko DAC, this digital board, and the XDMI native board are attached to the main XDMI board. I assume with your Horizon you using the XDMI native daughter board, not any digital board. Correct me if I am wrong.

Second, I believe AES/EBU and S/PDIF can pass up to 192 kHz.

As far as my part of this (@oldmustang) -- right on all counts, David. I should have been more clear. I am only using the XDMI analog daughter card, or the XDMI AES/RCA digital output daughter card.

AES/EBU or just AES for short, and SPDIF are basically the same digital protocol. AES/EBU was developed for professional recording and studio use and generally uses balanced XLR or BNC connectors, while SPDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) utilizing less expensive RCA connectors (though sometimes BNCs) was developed for consumer products.

AES main advantage is the ability to drive much longer cables and also in balanced configuration, it's ability to remain unaffected by common mode noise.

Neither are the DAC-specific format such as used by Lampizator, and soon MSB and Aires Cerat.

Both have the ability to transmit a 192kHz stream and DSD64.

Steve Z

 

Emile

What are the cable requirements for the MSB XDMI implementation?

 

Emile

What are the cable requirements for the MSB XDMI implementation?

The actual output module is supplied by MSB, so you can use the fiber cable you’re using now. Of course you could try using a DAC cable if you so desire, if you do please share what you prefer!

 

I think that is what Emile would recommend - all the power runs through the DCD.

It’s still the only scenario I actually tested myself!

We are absolutely completely swamped here limiting my own experimentation / listening to what is absolutely critical to not hold up any ongoing projects.

 

Hmm interesting, screenshot info below is either outdated or there are 2 revisions. Either way, it will do the job!

View attachment 138712

I suspect two versions. I distinctly remember the total current rating as being 10A when I ordered my JS-2 some years ago, back when my server was a Mac Mini which I had modified with the Uptone Mac modifications (power supply and fan boards).

I suppose a motivated person could check at archive.org using their Wayback machine for what they were advertising when the JS-2 came out (if archive.org has recovered from the malicious DDoS attack on their website). I don't think they de-rated because of JS-2 failures. IIRC they advertise that they've never had a failure or a return of a JS-2.

Steve Z

 

Actually, I'm running the DCD with a 2nd Uptone JS-2, with the 2nd output unused at the moment. But I gather that it would be preferable to run the NAS directly off the DCD rather than use either of the 2nd outputs of the Uptones, yes?
Thanks again,
Jerry

Correct. The JS-2 features two rails but they share a common ground. I only use one output from my JS-2 to the DCD. Everything downstream comes off DCD (filtered) outputs.

Steve Z

 

The actual output module is supplied by MSB, so you can use the fiber cable you’re using now. Of course you could try using a DAC cable if you so desire, if you do please share what you prefer!

Yes I figured that but what cable from Olympus to the MSB module?

BTW I prefer fiber vs DAC cable going to the MSB Select dac. I haven't tried fiber vs DAC on the Cascade

 

Yes I figured that but what cable from Olympus to the MSB module?

BTW I prefer fiber vs DAC cable going to the MSB Select dac. I haven't tried fiber vs DAC on the Cascade

The Olympus will have a direct fiber output.

This will be mounted inside your Olympus:

 

...for MSB users, I think we can just unplug the fiber cable (or DAC) from the ProISL converter box, ditch the USB cable (and box) and plug the fiber (or DAC) into the daughter board above. Main-line digital flow from Taiko to MSB. I cannot wait to hear that workflow!

 

...for MSB users, I think we can just unplug the fiber cable (or DAC) from the ProISL converter box, ditch the USB cable (and box) and plug the fiber (or DAC) into the daughter board above. Main-line digital flow from Taiko to MSB. I cannot wait to hear that workflow!

Yep !

 

The Olympus will have a direct fiber output.

This will be mounted inside your Olympus:


View attachment 138714

Emile, Thank you!

 

...for MSB users, I think we can just unplug the fiber cable (or DAC) from the ProISL converter box, ditch the USB cable (and box) and plug the fiber (or DAC) into the daughter board above. Main-line digital flow from Taiko to MSB. I cannot wait to hear that workflow!

You and me both!

 

You and me both!

On a different but related topic -- I have been successfully playing digital music via SPDIF from the XDMI digital daughter card. However, when I unplug the SPDIF cable and try to use an AES cable my Vivaldi gives me a "Non-Audio" message and no music plays even though Roon says it is playing an active track. dCS advises me that my set up of the Vivaldi for AES is correct.

I will try a different cable to be sure (though the one I have is brand new). Is the XDMI digital daughter card AES output simply in parallel with the SFDIF or are they being processed or routed differently inside the Taiko XDMI digital daughter card?

The reason I ask is that dCS tell me the "Non-Audio" flag is one of several flags in the bit stream, such as "Single-AES", or "Dual-AES" and that it seems strange to them the Non-Audio flag would be set for AES but not for SPDIF.

Regardless, SPDIF to Vivaldi from Olympus sounds great!

Thanks!

Steve Z

 

On a different but related topic -- I have been successfully playing digital music via SPDIF from the XDMI digital daughter card. However, when I unplug the SPDIF cable and try to use an AES cable my Vivaldi gives me a "Non-Audio" message and no music plays even though Roon says it is playing an active track. dCS advises me that my set up of the Vivaldi for AES is correct.

I will try a different cable to be sure (though the one I have is brand new). Is the XDMI digital daughter card AES output simply in parallel with the SFDIF or are they being processed or routed differently inside the Taiko XDMI digital daughter card?

The reason I ask is that dCS tell me the "Non-Audio" flag is one of several flags in the bit stream, such as "Single-AES", or "Dual-AES" and that it seems strange to them the Non-Audio flag would be set for AES but not for SPDIF.

Regardless, SPDIF to Vivaldi from Olympus sounds great!

Thanks!

Steve Z

OK, just tried two different AES cables and the Vivaldi still returns a Non-Audio error for AES, even though it does recognize it is getting an 88.2kHz stream, which is consistent with the track Roon is playing.

Steve Z