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".

 

https://help.roonlabs.com/portal/en/kb/articles/updating

Set to:

​

Ask before downloading any updates​

With this option, Roon will not automatically download any updates. When a new update is available we will display a notification that will allow you to update if you so choose.

"Ask before ..." is standard. I was thinking more of a corporate environment, where nothing is pushed out until the domain administrator checks it out.

 

There was a point this morning that I was wondering if a higher power did not want me to ever get my Olympus. Taiko Audio had done its job by building it and sending it over to the dangerous good certifier. They took a bit longer than normal due to the fact that they are overloaded with goods as a result of the US tariff situation. They completed their work last Friday and the unit was picked up by FedEx.

It made its way to the US in 2 days and was scheduled for delivery tomorrow. When I woke up this morning it said it would come today. Yea. 45 minutes later it said it was delivered except I did not have it! I called FedEx and they started to investigate. Long story short, the driver didn’t realize it was on his truck and delivered it to his first stop. Fortunately, they got in touch with him to retrieve it, which he did. 2 hours later it was dropped off. Whew.

Everything is connected and I have music. Thanks to everyone involved.

 

He sure is! Vassil has been amazing and is an enormous asset to Taiko.

I most certainly agree!
Helpful and friendly.
I recommend Emile to give him a raise in salary

 

Congratulations! Were you hit with tariffs? Should not (under the temporary reprieve), but who knows given the chaotic situation.

Not yet but who knows if I will be billed at some point.

 

Not yet but who knows if I will be billed at some point.

Congratulations! Were you hit with tariffs? Should not (under the temporary reprieve), but who knows given the chaotic situation.

I received a bill 6 weeks ago from the California Franchise Tax board telling me I owe sales tax on the import of my Taiko O/IO and my Lampi Horizon ...that was 6 months after I received delivery

 

CA "Use Tax" is different from federal import duties (or tariffs). CA treats any commercial item imported into the state (either from another state in the US or out of US) as an in-state sale under the name of "Use Tax" (around 8% based on the declared value of the item). On the federal level, US used to be an import-duty-free country for most items (including electronics), but the US Customs is required by CA state laws to pass along the information to the state. That's when the Use Tax is assessed to the "User" a few months later by the CA tax authority, which the user can pay in next year's state tax returns. That is to say, even under the old regime, even if one does not pay federal import duties or tariffs, one still needs to pay CA state Use Tax if he resides in CA. I suspect federal tariffs would need to be paid prior to release by US Customs (so if one does not get tariffs now, he would be hit later) but CA state Use Tax is assessed later because of the information relay and delay.

Duh...I know that. Im telling you and others who have ordered and live in California to be prepared to receive yet another payment due for California sales tax

 

Well, in Europe we don't have to worry about that uncertainty; charging you 21% IVA is as certain as 2 + 2 = 4

 

I think 1528 is a solid upgrade
More alive, specific imaging, dynamics, depth, body
I'm guessing 1528 has reduced all the background noise Roon has been running

^
What he said. It’s a fantastic upgrade!

 

Not yet but who knows if I will be billed at some point.

I thought I heard computers (and other tech items) were subsequently exempted from the tariffs.

 

I thought I heard computers (and other tech items) were subsequently exempted from the tariffs.

I heard that too but I don’t know how the Olympus was coded.

 

@Taiko Audio Emile, please pardon me for dwelling on the Router subject in respect of exclusive local playback. I asked the question (#3741), citing Taiko’s then latest Olympus Introduction and FAQ document (v034, dated Oct 9), pp. 38-39: “Local playback is not affected by the Router; Streaming / NAS playback is affected by router.” “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." I focused on the words “not affected”, which imply to me that the use of the Router is unnecessary for local playback SQ or does not improve SQ of local playback. In response to my question to you then (2024/10/25), you replied: “My views and ratings have not changed” (#3742).

@Christiaan Punter today gave an apparently different answer to my request for confirmation (submitted to support together with my other requests), different from the Taiko documentation and your answer: “Local playback and streaming on the Olympus both sound considerably better with the Extreme Router in place”; and “in both cases, the Router provides a significant improvement.”

I am citing statements from both of you not to show inconsistency. It is commonplace that people have different views regarding SQ, which is often subjective. I am asking only whether there is an “official” Taiko view on the benefits or lack thereof to the use of the Router for 100% playback; I intend to have exclusive local playback with O (in tandem with I/O). Perhaps I misunderstood the FAQ statements or your earlier statement. I thanked you then for being transparent (so that I would not need to buy the expensive Router if it would not affect SQ of local playback). I can see how the Router will affect streaming, but would appreciate explanation of how the Router will affect local playback (if it turns out that it does): is it because of the continuous interaction and communication of O with Roon? Thanks again.

 

Let me say that Vassil is doing an excellent job responding to individual inquiries! It's so nice to have this quality of responsiveness to questions.

He sure is! Vassil has been amazing and is an enormous asset to Taiko.

I most certainly agree!
Helpful and friendly.
I recommend Emile to give him a raise in salary

Thank you for the kind words. Very much appreciated.

 

I think 1528 is a solid upgrade
More alive, specific imaging, dynamics, depth, body
I'm guessing 1528 has reduced all the background noise Roon has been running

Interesting… you seem to hear much bigger differences than I do. I wonder if the I/O is neutralizing those changes on my end…

 

Interesting… you seem to hear much bigger differences than I do. I wonder if the I/O is neutralizing those changes on my end…

I believe Emile said something along those lines regarding I/O
When mine arrives I can add to these observations