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

[cykin]

When can we expect the next update on production and delivery dates?

hopefully tomorrow? If they still keep bi-weekly updates...

 

[nonesup]

We have several exciting developments in progress. However, as a small team, we must prioritize our efforts and cannot tackle everything simultaneously. By focusing on key decisions now, we can ensure that our future projects receive the attention they deserve, even if some may need to wait a bit longer. Thank you for your understanding!

Yes, of course I understand. You should decide the priorities of your projects. Only if "almost finished" means what I think it means, it seemed strange to leave something unfinished that's so close to completion. We'll wait then.

 

[Christiaan Punter]

hopefully tomorrow? If they still keep bi-weekly updates...

The next update will be available as soon as possible.

Please note that we remove the email addresses of those who have already received their Olympus, meaning they no longer receive updates.

 

[RUIN*ish]

The next update will be available as soon as possible.

Please note that we remove the email addresses of those who have already received their Olympus, meaning they no longer receive updates.

I would imagine those waiting on IO continue to be on comm list?

 

[Christiaan Punter]

I would imagine those waiting on IO continue to be on comm list?

Naturally

 

[John T]

Awhile back I was mentioning when stacking the Olympus and IO that I would make sure they both sat on a proper shelf/foundation/platform. (As long as you have the space) Several of us were discussing different substrates etc. This is a combination of Baltic Birch, MDF, and 3/8" aluminum. The Birch is what is in contact with the aluminum. This design is for my Monoblock's. Hence the girth and size 29" X 23". I have made a bunch of these for some professional musicians in Nashville. Typically Marshall amps. All have reported It tightens everything up. Stages sometimes have a lot of give. I don't finish the ones I make for them as they beat the snot out of them, just a clear coat. These will be wrapped in a maple veneer. Waiting on a veneer vacuum press. Insanity!! I'm thinking something similar for the Olympus/IO but with a thinner profile, same materials. For the Olympus/IO I could make the platform the same sexy shape, just a little bigger all around. I have a guy with a waterjet who cuts the aluminum. I'm still not sure what footers I would use if I make one for the O/IO, maybe the same ones? I did make a prototype, just square, with the same footers and the Olympus minus the IO did sound better than without it. I'll experiment more with that. I use 6 of the ones in the pic for each platform, along with sorbothane gaskets that I hand cut...

 

[MarkusBarkus]

...how much would you estimate that sonic sandwich weighs,
@John T ? Looks nice and dense.

 

[seatrope]

As MarkusBarkus mentions, it's best to use the same phase. Further, to avoid ground loops, it's best to use the same AC ground. Generally speaking, I find that using the same single ground for the entire system yields the best coherence and focus. Conversely, when sourcing ground via different cables and from different spurs, this tends to have a blurring effect. This is not an issue for galvanically isolated devices like Routers, which are frequently located in other rooms and on different circuits. When you have multiple 100% identical spurs, the outcome can differ, and there are other exceptions, as no two situations are alike, so it may be worth experimenting.

Regarding Roon extensions, basically, the more Roon does, the more network traffic it generates, and the more audible its effect. Then again, with Olympus, the Router, Switch, and DCD, we have various measures in place to minimize Roon's influence.

In cases where I disabled Roon volume control for a DAC, this has often been audible, even at 100% volume. However, in such cases, it is hard to determine whether the impact is due to Roon traffic or processes within the DAC. A preamplifier could behave similarly or differently, but neither Emile nor I have a preamp that allows this, so we have no first-hand experience with it.

If or when you decide to test this, I would be interested to hear the results.

I have now done some testing with using Roon with the Home Assistant extension. Unfortunately it does seem like turning on the connection to Home Assistant for convenient volume control does cast a veil on low level signals, I hear it best during quiet orchestral pieces where the ambient information seems a bit less "real".

I will have to confirm this with different pieces of music but I am leaning towards a negative impact.

 

[John T]

...how much would you estimate that sonic sandwich weighs,
@John T ? Looks nice and dense.

Sonic sandwich!!! I like that Mark. I would say between 45-50 lbs. I'll eventually weigh it. 6 of those footers are rated at 300 lbs...Dense they are! I was going to do the typical veneer application. But the vacuum press is the cats ass!

 

[MarkusBarkus]

...I'm a bit jealous of the vacuum bag/press, John. Those things really bump up the final quality. Nice!

 

[Christiaan Punter]

I have now done some testing with using Roon with the Home Assistant extension. Unfortunately it does seem like turning on the connection to Home Assistant for convenient volume control does cast a veil on low level signals, I hear it best during quiet orchestral pieces where the ambient information seems a bit less "real".

I will have to confirm this with different pieces of music but I am leaning towards a negative impact.

Thanks for the feedback. Too bad, but in line with general Roon expectations. This confirms that everything still matters, and it remains beneficial to keep the Roon configuration as clean and straightforward as possible.

 

[cykin]

Naturally

Hi, any August production update? Even a minor update would be nice.

 

[cat6man]

Hi, any August production update? Even a minor update would be nice.

At a higher level, when might all this "production hell" be over so things can get back to innovative development? Thus summer? This year? Next year?

 

[dminches]

At a higher level, when might all this "production hell" be over so things can get back to innovative development? Thus summer? This year? Next year?

I am sure Emile is keeping the innovation going since he is not involved in production at a significant level.

 

[cat6man]

I am sure Emile is keeping the innovation going since he is not involved in production at a significant level.

I agree, but when does stealth mode end? This summer/year/next year?

 

[Kingsrule]

I am sure Emile is keeping the innovation going since he is not involved in production at a significant level.

Does anyone find it weird that Emile has been basically gone from posting?

 

[SwissTom]

Does anyone find it weird that Emile has been basically gone from posting?

Nothing strange about that

In Europe, summer's the holiday season, so everything tends to slow down a bit. Which I personally think is a good thing.

Still, I've no doubt that production is ticking along nicely despite the quieter period.

I'm also pretty sure development is carrying on. Emile and his team surely have some great things in the pipeline.

Wishing you all a chance to enjoy the summer. Life's short!

Here's a photo from a couple of weeks ago, I took a friend on a lovely ridge climb in the Mont Blanc Massif. Her first ridge climb at that altitude.

(that's me on the pic btw)

 

[StefanK]

My last update from Vassil is from 14/07, when he was very kind sending me an email with explanation as a response to my growing frustration with the current situation.

Story is unfortunately still the same. Anyone waiting for a silver unit has to wait until a luck strikes and a batch of anodized chassis contains at least one usable piece.
For the moment it has been a real roller coaster with some batches being 100% acceptable and others with 0%, from what I’ve heard.
Black coated are now getting far ahead of the silver ones and I know from my dealer, that a client who has placed his order several months after me got his black unit already.

Unfortunately in my case a black option would not look good at all in my setup, so as many others (or possibly only very few now) I need to sit tight and pray that next anodized batch will finally advance the silver units further…

 

[joet]

My last update from Vassil is from 14/07, when he was very kind sending me an email with explanation as a response to my growing frustration with the current situation.

Story is unfortunately still the same. Anyone waiting for a silver unit has to wait until a luck strikes and a batch of anodized chassis contains at least one usable piece.
For the moment it has been a real roller coaster with some batches being 100% acceptable and others with 0%, from what I’ve heard.
Black coated are now getting far ahead of the silver ones and I know from my dealer, that a client who has placed his order several months after me got his black unit already.

Unfortunately in my case a black option would not look good at all in my setup, so as many others (or possibly only very few now) I need to sit tight and pray that next anodized batch will finally advance the silver units further…

I've been waiting 15 months for a black, so color isn't the reason more recent orders were prioritized over mine.

 

[cykin]

Are we asking too much or pushing them too hard? We heard lots of stories and I believe we were so patient with them. Those updates gave me hope and I even convinced my friends to get an Olympus after everything happened.

I don’t understand how can a regular update be so difficult. I can accept an update that told us everything is failed again but we will keep working on it.

I run my business for 15 years and the most important thing is to keep my promises. You promised a weekly or bi- weekly and now almost a monthly thing. We are already a joke in front of our HiFi friends and please understand our frustration. So please Taiko, don’t keep us asking for an update.

Kin