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

[Moladiego]

@Taiko Audio Emile, could you please kindly further clarify the issue of the reported SQ degradation from the existence of an internal storage based on your latest view? Let's me quote your/Taiko's view on the subject matter below first. Taiko's latest Olympus Introduction and FAQ document (v034, dated Oct 9), pp. 38-39, has a long answer to the question. To quote: " Update 21-05-2024: Adding an internal music drive no longer degrades SQ. Network based playback is still slightly ahead, by about 1%, IF you own the Router/Switch/DCD with a good quality power supply. If you don’t, local playback is superior, easily 10-15% better." Specifically, "Provided the Extreme Router is used, local storage file playback quality is not inferior to router + network sourced playback files, it’s basically equal"; "The NAS SQ will be 1-2% better than an internal storage (U.2/U.3) with router/switch/DCD. (The Router alone is mostly responsible for this, while the switch/dcd allow for a degree of “voicing” to taste)"; "Adding an internal storage drive to the Olympus very slightly degrades overall SQ compared to using no storage and using only a NAS. However, it is nothing huge, but you can hear a tiny difference on a highly resolving system. We’d rate this at a 1-2% impact, not enough to actually worry about"; "Local playback is not affected by the Router; Streaming / NAS playback is affected by router." The conclusion: "What it boils down to is 2 scenarios: 1) If you have the Taiko Router -> everything sounds about the same; 2) If you don’t have the Taiko Router -> local files sound best."

Based on your views stated above, I decided to have internal storage for a variety of reasons (I never have any use for online services like Qobus or Tidal, would love to dispense with the expensive Router (I applaud your candor and transparency displayed in the above statements), and make life simple), having no reason to worry about 1-2% SQ difference. But ray-dude reported a very significant or audible SQ degradation from the presence of internal HD. Understand the caveat that we all have different ears and systems (e.g., unlike him, I always found file format in excess of 24/96 or DSD64 inferior with Extreme). While I have a big and growing library (currently around 15TB), I do not plan to store such big library either internally or on a NAS (if that's the way to go); I will limit my active library around 4-7TB. I always have PCM files uncompressed to WAV (for having heard an audible difference). Could you please share your latest view on the subject matter? If the non-installation of internal storage is Taiko's recommended way (the improvement to local storage has to be over 2%), I am open to such prospect. Same caveat about personal preferences. Thanks in advance.

 

[Taiko Audio]

@Taiko Audio Emile, could you please kindly further clarify the issue of the reported SQ degradation from the existence of an internal storage based on your latest view? Let's me quote your/Taiko's view on the subject matter below first. Taiko's latest Olympus Introduction and FAQ document (v034, dated Oct 9), pp. 38-39, has a long answer to the question. To quote: " Update 21-05-2024: Adding an internal music drive no longer degrades SQ. Network based playback is still slightly ahead, by about 1%, IF you own the Router/Switch/DCD with a good quality power supply. If you don’t, local playback is superior, easily 10-15% better." Specifically, "Provided the Extreme Router is used, local storage file playback quality is not inferior to router + network sourced playback files, it’s basically equal"; "The NAS SQ will be 1-2% better than an internal storage (U.2/U.3) with router/switch/DCD. (The Router alone is mostly responsible for this, while the switch/dcd allow for a degree of “voicing” to taste)"; "Adding an internal storage drive to the Olympus very slightly degrades overall SQ compared to using no storage and using only a NAS. However, it is nothing huge, but you can hear a tiny difference on a highly resolving system. We’d rate this at a 1-2% impact, not enough to actually worry about"; "Local playback is not affected by the Router; Streaming / NAS playback is affected by router." The conclusion: "What it boils down to is 2 scenarios: 1) If you have the Taiko Router -> everything sounds about the same; 2) If you don’t have the Taiko Router -> local files sound best."

Based on your views stated above, I decided to have internal storage for a variety of reasons (I never have any use for online services like Qobus or Tidal, would love to dispense with the expensive Router (I applaud your candor and transparency displayed in the above statements), and make life simple), having no reason to worry about 1-2% SQ difference. But ray-dude reported a very significant or audible SQ degradation from the presence of internal HD. Understand the caveat that we all have different ears and systems (e.g., unlike him, I always found file format in excess of 24/96 or DSD64 inferior with Extreme). While I have a big and growing library (currently around 15TB), I do not plan to store such big library either internally or on a NAS (if that's the way to go); I will limit my active library around 4-7TB. I always have PCM files uncompressed to WAV (for having heard an audible difference). Could you please share your latest view on the subject matter? If the non-installation of internal storage is Taiko's recommended way (the improvement to local storage has to be over 2%), I am open to such prospect. Same caveat about personal preferences. Thanks in advance.

My views and ratings have not changed. The experiences of people who’ve received their Olympus largely match my own. If someone rates something 3% or 5% which I’ve rated at 2% I don’t consider that an alarming difference. These percentages are highly subjective, I would expect them to differ from person to person, system to system, etc.

 

[Moladiego]

My views and ratings have not changed. The experiences of people who’ve received their Olympus largely match my own. If someone rates something 3% or 5% which I’ve rated at 2% I don’t consider that an alarming difference. These percentages are highly subjective, I would expect them to differ from person to person, system to system, etc.

Thanks, Emile! For now I am staying with local storage. My choice is 8TB, more than enough for my active library (seeing no reason, as an example, to keep 40 different albums for one symphony, Bruckner 8, in Olympus' local storage; I only care about 8 albums for that symphony). I have my other digital source, the modded DVD transport connected to Horizon via special i2s (for operas and live concerts, and I have 300+ DVD/blu-ray discs and my video library is also growing fast). Life is too short for the vast repertoire of music. Keep it simple, stupid (referring to myself only).

 

[2ndLiner]

I'm now curious regarding placement of the Olympus. My plan was to place it to the right of the 360 vs on the concrete floor platform on this new shelf I built. Feedback will be very helpful...Did Emile mention the Olympus is less fussy than the Extreme??

Gorgeous setup, John T!

 

[Armsan]

Not critical. The internal drive of the Olympus will not fit unfortunately.

Emile,
Please, can you inform the specifications of the hardware needed to install the internal drive? I mean, does it need a certain processor and motherboard?
My NAS is a ATX PSU from Pink Faun, and I could try to assemble a processor and motherboard where I, maybe, could install the Taiko Olympus internal SSD.
Also, the double PCiE adapter for the OS disk and files disk, is changed to a single PCiE adapter if only the OS disk is present when a Taiko Olympus customer doesn’t order any internal storage?
Thank you.

 

[dminches]

I think Emile meant to say that the internal music drive of the Extreme won’t fit in the Olympus. The internal Extreme drives are m.2 SSDs in a PCIe Hyper card.

 

[Levitator]

After reading the fantastic review from @ray-dude I was inspired to remove my internal music drive given I hadn’t had the opportunity anyway to transfer music from my Extreme.

I thought I’d take the opportunity with my son to do a quick video to help those that might end up down this same path - nothing overly professional but very simple to do! Here is the link

 

[austinpop]

After reading the fantastic review from @ray-dude I was inspired to remove my internal music drive given I hadn’t had the opportunity anyway to transfer music from my Extreme.

I thought I’d take the opportunity with my son to do a quick video to help those that might end up down this same path - nothing overly professional but very simple to do! Here is the link

Excellent, and very helpful.

Although, if it were me, I would have added "Bob's your uncle" at the very end.

 

[SwissTom]

Down-Sampling

To make the most of the Taiko XDMI DAC daughterboard, I'm planning to down-sample some of my music from 24/352.8 and 24/192 down to 24/96, or even 16/44.1.

However, I'd like to ensure I do it correctly.

I've found three pieces of software that look promising:

• SoX
• iZotope RX
• PGGB

iZotope RX seems to stand out, but which one do you think would be the most suitable for high-quality down-sampling?

Also, what are your experiences with these programs?

Thanks for your help.

Cheers,

Thomas

 

[kevn]

Emile/ray-dude, I’m assuming the quality of power cable for the external NAS will also make a difference to the signal quality feeding the Olympus - might you be able to say to what degree the effect might be, and more vitally, if regardless of quality of cable, sound quality will always be improved over that of the standard 4TB internal storage?

Thanks for your patience with this : ) - kevin

 

[Steve Williams]

Emile/ray-dude, I’m assuming the quality of power cable for the external NAS will also make a difference to the signal quality feeding the Olympus - might you be able to say to what degree the effect might be, and more vitally, if regardless of quality of cable, sound quality will always be improved over that of the standard 4TB internal storage?

Thanks for your patience with this : ) - kevin

FWIW I am using the wall wart that came with my NAS as well as a cheap Ethernet cable wired into my house router 100 feet away from my sound room and if there is a difference to be gained I just cant see what I am missing now as I am loving listening to my library. Emile did correct me when he commented that a good PC for the IO reaps rewards equally as did a great PC for the Olympus. So if I am wrong here I will add a good PC to my NAS but all I am using now is the supplied wall wart and smiling ear to ear.

 

[kevn]

FWIW I am using the wall wart that came with my NAS as well as a cheap Ethernet cable wired into my house router 100 feet away from my sound room and if there is a difference to be gained I just cant see what I am missing now as I am loving listening to my library. Emile did correct me when he commented that a good PC for the IO reaps rewards equally as did a great PC for the Olympus. So if I am wrong here I will add a good PC to my NAS but all I am using now is the supplied wall wart and smiling ear to ear.

Thanks Steve, and you know, at the level we’re playing at, I’d be sure as hell already in bliss with internal storage in the Olympus : ) - at this point, I’m just weighing the finest points of gain in sound realism with the inconvenience of finding and routing another (shortest) ethernet line to my taiko router from an NAS, and routing another power cable from my power outlets to the NAS. : ) - I’m sure your music sounds absolutely amazing with just that wallwart in place!

- kevin

 

[ray-dude]

So far, I too am leaning on the taiko network stack to provide a moat to whatever is upstream of it. At this point, I can’t really hear a difference between my home file server and Qobuz

Is there a lift to having an audio optimized NAS? Maybe, but I haven’t gone that road yet. I have found that anything you throw at your Taiko network stack has a huge positive impact, so that is where I’m spending my attention right now (power, dc cables, etc)

 

[RichardA]

Is anyone running their NAS off the Extreme DC power distributor? I seem to remember people talking about it.

 

[dminches]

Is anyone running their NAS off the Extreme DC power distributor? I seem to remember people talking about it.

I am.

 

[RichardA]

I am.

Thank you for your reply.
Would it be possible to describe you NAS setup? What type of NAS, type of cable to dc power distributor, what is powering your dc power distributor, and is anything else running of the power distributor? I have a synology ds423+ and it uses a 4-pin dc cable into the back of it.
Any information or input would be appreciated.

 

[dminches]

Thank you for your reply.
Would it be possible to describe you NAS setup? What type of NAS, type of cable to dc power distributor, what is powering your dc power distributor, and is anything else running of the power distributor? I have a synology ds423+ and it uses a 4-pin dc cable into the back of it.
Any information or input would be appreciated.

I am using a DS224+ which pulls about 1A. It connects with a DC cable with barrel connectors on both sides. I am also powering the Taiko router and switch.

The DS423+ requires a lot more power so you would need a more powerful LPS connected to the DCD to power that.

 

[MarkusBarkus]

@dminches what drives are you using in the 224+ ? I need to set this up myself. Cheers...

 

[dminches]

@dminches what drives are you using in the 224+ ? I need to set this up myself. Cheers...

2 x 8 TB WD Red. I have the array formatted as RAID0 so there is no redundancy. You end up with about 14 TB of space. Obviously there are larger drives if you need more.

 

[soarsz]

would it be possible to give MSB owners some insight into plans for finalizing the MSB connection. You mentioned the need to send MSB an Olympus so they can finish the process. Is that Olympus availability for the MSB unit going to have to wait until the end of the order catchup?