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".

 

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

 

@Christiaan Punter. do we have the green light to update to 1528

Yes, we recommend always staying up to date.

 

@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.

What you are referring to is early information supplied on WBF, which was collated in the FAQ document. It lacks some context and essential information, such as the presence of local storage and the I/O. Additionally, as we progress, we acquire new knowledge and gain fresh insights, and consequently, our recommendations may evolve accordingly.

Before responding to you in email yesterday, I double-checked with Emile. Please regard my response (part of which you quoted above, and which I will copy in full below for future reference) as our official stance.

Local playback and streaming on the Olympus both sound considerably better with the Extreme Router in place.

When you do not have the Router, local playback sounds better than streaming. This does not mean the Sound Quality is better without the Router. Just that, when you do not have the Router, local sounds better than streaming.

Streaming with the Router can sound better than local playback without the Router. This signifies a certain benefit for streaming playback. However, this does not mean the Router is best left out.

To clarify, in both cases —local playback and streaming —the Router provides a significant improvement.

This has been added to the FAQ document, which I will upload to the site after making a few other additions. I will create a diagram to clarify the variables better. I will also remove the "not affected" section from the FAQ doc. However, please note that we have the following disclaimer on our website: "(This document is retained as an archive and may contain outdated information. Please see the Manuals and Guides for up-to-date information)."

For the most recent information, please refer to the official Manuals and Guides, and be cautious of older information on WBF and in the FAQ document.

 

When people check their charging status after an overnight of recharging is their XDMI level at 100%? I check this morning and mine was at 93%. I know it charged overnight since it was at 71% when I shut the system down last night.

 

The XDMI BPS/BMS unit is charging during the predefined charging window (usually at night), after which charging stops. If you check the charge status some time later, after the unit has stopped charging, it may indeed read a value lower than 100%.

Should I be extending the window to try to get the XDMI to a full charge?

I forget at what level of discharge the sound quality may degrade.

 

When people check their charging status after an overnight of recharging is their XDMI level at 100%? I check this morning and mine was at 93%. I know it charged overnight since it was at 71% when I shut the system down last night.

The XDMI BPS/BMS unit charges during the predefined charging window, typically at night. Charging stops either when the batteries are fully charged or when the charging period has elapsed.

Usually, the batteries are full well before the charging period has ended. The charging time varies with the XDMI module that is fitted. On average, this takes about 5 hours.

If you check the charge status some time later, after the unit has stopped charging, it may indeed read a value lower than 100%.

 

Should I be extending the window to try to get the XDMI to a full charge?

I forget at what level of discharge the sound quality may degrade.

You may choose to adjust the charging period as required.

Regarding SQ in relation to charging voltages, there is no need to worry about that, as the updated software prevents non-ideal circumstances. You can run it without charging for an easy 24 hours before SQ starts degrading. To reach that point, you need to miss a charge cycle.

Please refer to the info below.

System Battery
• Minimum Operating Voltage is 13.6 V.
• The system will shut down if the voltage dips lower.
• Sound Quality is not affected by higher voltages.

XDMI Battery
• Minimum Operating Voltage is 12 V.
• The cards will stop working if the voltage dips lower.
• Sound Quality is not affected by higher voltages.

In other words, the only thing you have to worry about is missing a charge cycle due to, for example, a power interruption, or if you place the batteries in Shipping mode.

 

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 hear no difference without an IO.