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

[treitz3]

I spent an hour trying to figure out why it wouldn't join the network only to realize i hadn't turned it on.

"Ain't got no gas in it."

Congratulations!

Tom

 

[jbrrp1]

Well, after a long wait it's installed and working! I spent an hour trying to figure out why it wouldn't join the network only to realize i hadn't turned it on.

Made me laugh hard, as that's exactly how I started my life the pair! That darned little button you have to press....

 

[spiritofmusic]

Not Olympus or Taiko related — just a little horror story about parcel delivery and customs.

I ordered something from Poland, €500 retail. A few days later I get an email from UPS saying I owe $1,538 in customs fees, to be paid directly to the driver on delivery. No online payment option, no breakdown of charges, nothing. Just that number in the email. Customs fees more than 3 times the purchase price - who knows why...

Driver shows up while I’m home, knocks so lightly I didn’t even hear it, never rings the doorbell, and leaves. Perfect.

Day 1:

• Call #1 to UPS: 40 minutes on hold, finally someone picks up… and the line drops.
• Call #2 to UPS: 1 hr 10 mins on hold, finally someone picks up - wrong department.
• Transferred: 1 hr 20 mins more, then told I needed a different department. But since it was already 5:35 pm and they close at 5:30, they wouldn’t even transfer me. After 3 hrs 10 mins on hold that day, I missed them by 5 minutes. Told to “try again tomorrow.”

Day 2:

• Call #3 to UPS: 1 hr 30 mins on hold with the “right” department. Their system is down, so they send me to billing.
• Billing: 50 mins on hold, only to be told the guy only handles exports, not imports.
• Transferred again: 1 hr 50 mins on hold. They told me they could not help and they could not send me a breakdown of the charges. The only way to know is if I send an email to a specific email and wait for a reply.
• Sent the email and waiting to see what's next....

So yeah — these companies just don’t have enough staff, and their systems are a mess. Doesn’t matter if it’s UPS, FedEx, DHL… they’re all drowning.

I've now had Parcelforce in the UK send two consecutive items back to Germany...after I've paid both customs charges and chosen delivery dates on their website.
The first was sent back with no attempt at delivery here, the second apparently was attempted to be delivered, yet we heard not even a peep at the front door.
This insane company would rather send the items back abroad than attempt to re-deliver.
Losing me over £150 in wasted customs and delivery charges, £200+ if I attempt to pre-order the second item at least (DG Original Source vinyl).

 

[MarcelNL]

it usually comes down to who the actual delivery guy/girl was, IME they often can't be bothered to try and label the package as 'attempted delivery' to get some $... same thing happens to me too at times every now and then, and it usually only gets better after filing a (few) complaint(s) with the delivery company.

 

[John T]

Worldwide incompetence...

 

[John T]

Monday I had a palleted pickup. I leave instructions for the driver to call 30 minutes prior as to not drive a large truck down my mile long gravel road. He does call. I say look for the white Dodge Pickup Truck at my entrance. After 45 minutes the Large Box truck comes barreling down the road and proceeds to just keep going past me! I call him and ask "Did you not see the white Dodge Pickup with the lights flashing"! His response was GPS told me different and I yell F--K GPS! I keep my exposure to a minimal but the more I see, the closer I get to Mensa Status!

 

[nenon]

If I may make a suggestion start with the platform you have and if possible try some different footers. This will at least give you a reference...

I quite like the HifiStay Absolute Point footers - it's hard to unhear what these do once you hear them.
I am sending a couple of sets of these on a tour in the US for people to try.

HifiStay just made custom caps for the Olympus (and I/O).

 

[MarkusBarkus]

...I don't know how to interpret some of the delivery scenarios I have had. Pay for the product. Pay for so-called "white-glove" service into the house. And one guy shows up.

I'm not talking "audio-heavy." I'm talking 875lbs. 1250lbs. A mere 250lbs. but 6'x6'x2' in size.

No one person not enhanced by gamma rays, or similar lab/extra-terrestrial phenomenon is getting those things into the house alone.

So it leaves the warehouse facility, with folks knowing they cannot fulfill the obligation. I believe the thinking is: drop the lift-gate use the pallet-jack to deliver it, and if they don't like that...tough. Or leave it on the truck and bring it back. See how they like that.

 

[Kingsrule]

Pretty sure most delivery companies think lift-gate delivery is white glove service!

 

[Bobvin]

Freight companies move freight. Less than truckload (LTL) is fast paced work for the most part, pickup drivers are in a rush to get to the next stop, always expecting freight is prepared for shipment (palletized, shrink wrapped, secure with proper documentation its supposed to be ready to go). Then it gets moved out of the trailer onto the dock with hundreds of other shipments of all weights, sizes, and shapes now its just “freight” to the forklift drivers who are in a hurry and don’t give a shit so it gets banged, bashed, and occasionally punctured by fork blades.

Now repeat wherever the freight gets “broken” as a trailer full of LTL goes from one stop to another before its out for delivery. The opportunity for damage is clearly very, very high. Sometimes (often) the trailer gets stacked on a rail car for that nice bouncy ride for a thousand or more miles.

Its all freight to the drivers, not our precious components. Prepare accordingly. While many drivers are good hard working fellas (and some gals) many are not exactly of the highest IQ.

A word of wisdom — always, I mean always, sign the freight delivery bill, even if the package appears perfect, with “no visible damage - subject to inspection” because a clean signature absolves the company of liability. (It makes getting a claim paid much, much harder.) And if there is any visible sign of damage be sure to notate the freight bill NEVER sign a bill without notating any visible or potential damage.

 

[RUIN*ish]

If everything matters, this is my triage....

1. Mains
2. Room remediation
3. Kit
4. Vibration control/support
5. Chair

We can discuss/dispute the benefits of each. But, I will always believe Jordan and Bird to be the GOAT.
Morning...

 

[SwissTom]

Quite an interesting topic (prioritization of elements in a HiFi system).

Although I don’t follow all of them myself, here are (or would be) my priorities:

0 – Room dimensions

1 – Acoustic treatment

2 – Listening position

3 – Speaker placement in the room and relative to the listening position

4 – Choice of speakers

5 – Choice of electronics

6 – Mains management

7 – Vibration control (rack)

For me, points 0, 1, and 2 are by far the most important.

 

[wil]

Quite an interesting topic (prioritization of elements in a HiFi system).

Although I don’t follow all of them myself, here are (or would be) my priorities:

0 – Room dimensions

1 – Acoustic treatment

2 – Listening position

3 – Speaker placement in the room and relative to the listening position

4 – Choice of speakers

5 – Choice of electronics

6 – Mains management

7 – Vibration control (rack)

For me, points 0, 1, and 2 are by far the most important.

I would move speaker placement higher than listening position. I think, if everything else is right, the speaker placement in particular, the listening position should be good in different locations within the room.

 

[John T]

I tend to agree with Marc, @RUIN*ish regarding Mains being number 1. Without clean, stable juice, its an uphill battle with every aspect...

 

[joet]

It's been 3 days since I figured out that one needs to turn on the Olympus to get it to work. While it's much too soon for substantive evaluations, I enjoyed others' early reviews. So here are some initial impressions (despite being later to the party than others).
1) The IO is beautiful, easy to set-up and use (unless you don't turn it on), incredibly well designed, and satisfying to receive. Many manufacturers treat audiophiles like suckers, selling poorly packaged and designed products at premium prices. All the while, giving us attitude when we contact them. Not the case with Taiko. Despite the price, I feel as if I received something of great value.

2) Despite knowing both the Olympus and analogue card require break-in, on first listen there was concern, even regret. This happens with every audio product I buy. But within a day those concerns turned to wonder and excitement. Harshness and uneveness turned to effortlessness and coherence. While it's still getting there, I can tell this is something special. So much so, I think it might drive changes to room treatments and other components that, apparently, compensated for previous flaws.

3) The analogue card is impressive, although, perhaps, still evolving. I expect it to improve with additonal use. On one 96/24 track I did hear the "rippling" that Ray Dude described in his great review. (Im not sure that's the exact term he used.) Unlike Ray Dude, I still hear a benefit from hi-res vs Redbook, and I don't always hear the "rippling" on hi res files. Perhaps the difference I'm hearing is mastering, not resolution. I really look forward to V2 of the analogue card, but anticipate I might eventually use an XDMI compatible DAC.
4) For this slightly OCD user, the concept of batteries takes some getting used to. I'm always (unnecessarily) worried about drain and manually recharging the batteries that don't go to 100% overnight. This is admittedly illogical. The BPS app is very easy to use, but the Bluetooth range is limited. The range is likely more a function of Bluetooth tech than Taiko.

Overall, Emile and team have done an impressive job. It is gratifying to be in the fold, and while the wait is frustrating, the product appears well worth it. Color me excited.

 

[Steve Williams]

It's been 3 days since I figured out that one needs to turn on the Olympus to get it to work. While its much too soon for substantive evaluations, I enjoyed others' early reviews. So here are some initial impressions (despite being later to the party than others).
1) The IO is beautiful, easy to set-up and use (unless you don't turn it on), incredibly well designed, and satisfying to receive. Many manufacturers treat audiophiles like suckers, selling poorly packaged and designed products at premium prices. All the while, giving us attitude when you contact them. Not the case with Taiko. Despite the price, I feel as if I received something of great value.

2) Despite knowing both the Olympus and analogue card require break-in, on first listen there was concern, even regret. This happens with every audio product I buy. But within a day those concerns turned to wonder and excitement. Harshness and uneveness turned to effortless and coherence. While it's still getting there, I can tell this is something special. So much so, I think it might drive changes to room treatments and other components that, apparently, compensated for previous flaws.

3) The analogue card is impressive, although, perhaps, still evolving. I expect it to improve with additonal use. On one 96/24 track I did hear the "rippling" that Ray Dude described. (Im not sure that's the exact term he used.) Unlike Ray Dude, I still hear a benefit from hi-res vs Redbook, and I don't always hear the "rippling" on hi res files. Perhaps the difference is mastering, not resolution, and this might change with break-in. I really look forward to V2 of the analogue card, but anticipate I might eventually use an XDMI compatible DAC.
4) For this slightly OCD user, the concept of batteries takes some getting used to. I'm always (unnecessarily) worried about drain and manually recharging the batteries that don't go to 100% overnight. This is admittedly illogical. The BPS app is very easy to use, but the Bluetooth range is limited. But this is likely more a function of Bluetooth tech than Taiko.
Overall, Emile and team have done an impressive job. It is gratifying to be in the fold, and while the wait is frustrating, the product appears well worth it.

Keep your seat belt buckled and seat in the upright position as it is only going to get better. Everything you find bothersome now will soon be in your rear view mirror

 

[Dave777tx]

It's been 3 days since I figured out that one needs to turn on the Olympus to get it to work. While it's much too soon for substantive evaluations, I enjoyed others' early reviews. So here are some initial impressions (despite being later to the party than others).
1) The IO is beautiful, easy to set-up and use (unless you don't turn it on), incredibly well designed, and satisfying to receive. Many manufacturers treat audiophiles like suckers, selling poorly packaged and designed products at premium prices. All the while, giving us attitude when we contact them. Not the case with Taiko. Despite the price, I feel as if I received something of great value.

2) Despite knowing both the Olympus and analogue card require break-in, on first listen there was concern, even regret. This happens with every audio product I buy. But within a day those concerns turned to wonder and excitement. Harshness and uneveness turned to effortlessness and coherence. While it's still getting there, I can tell this is something special. So much so, I think it might drive changes to room treatments and other components that, apparently, compensated for previous flaws.

3) The analogue card is impressive, although, perhaps, still evolving. I expect it to improve with additonal use. On one 96/24 track I did hear the "rippling" that Ray Dude described in his great review. (Im not sure that's the exact term he used.) Unlike Ray Dude, I still hear a benefit from hi-res vs Redbook, and I don't always hear the "rippling" on hi res files. Perhaps the difference I'm hearing is mastering, not resolution. I really look forward to V2 of the analogue card, but anticipate I might eventually use an XDMI compatible DAC.
4) For this slightly OCD user, the concept of batteries takes some getting used to. I'm always (unnecessarily) worried about drain and manually recharging the batteries that don't go to 100% overnight. This is admittedly illogical. The BPS app is very easy to use, but the Bluetooth range is limited. The range is likely more a function of Bluetooth tech than Taiko.

Overall, Emile and team have done an impressive job. It is gratifying to be in the fold, and while the wait is frustrating, the product appears well worth it. Color me excited.

Hi,

I’m late to the party too—I got my Taiko Olympus on Friday, hooked it up to my Ideon Clock and Streamer, and boom… it was amazing from day one. I’ve been a strong critic of Taiko for all the delays and everything, but I have to say my dealer was chef’s kiss when it came to customer service. He always gave me options, and now after six months, I have zero regrets, I’d share his name but he is banned here unfortunately.

The Olympus is better than anything I’ve ever heard in my system, and it just keeps getting better. Even after only three days, that little bit of digital glare I first noticed has already started to fade away.

Overnight, I became a big cheerleader for Taiko, and I can’t wait to see what’s next. I still need to try the XDMI analog card, but that’ll be in a few weeks—I just want to get more familiar with the Olympus first. Hopefully this is the start of a long-term partnership that might eventually end with a XDMI-compatible DAC and I/O down the road.

 

[Dave777tx]

Also I really want to thank my friend @ctydwn who has been a great Taiko ambassador, he has been very supportive and all this time and till today has been super patient to explain me every detail and every question I have, probably without all his support for the brand I would just find a different option

 

[kadiddle]

I quite like the HifiStay Absolute Point footers - it's hard to unhear what these do once you hear them.
I am sending a couple of sets of these on a tour in the US for people to try.

HifiStay just made custom caps for the Olympus (and I/O).

Nenon,
I just installed a pair of Hifi stay Mythology Transform racks and amp stands, the improvement was IMMEDIATELY apparent. I had no idea just how much difference a rack could make. These things are amazing! What was the audible change when you installed the Absolute Point footers? Did you try them under other components?

 

[joet]

After about 50 to 60 hours of break-in. Wow!