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

[Doc76]

I understand that Olympus does not sound digital or analog, but what the recording engineer thought to convey.(Introducing Olympus & Olympus I/O, post #1).

Taiko Audio —> We are introducing a new server model today, called the Olympus. Hierarchically it positions itself above the Extreme. It does provide quite a different music experience then the Extreme, or any other server I've heard for that matter. Conventional audiophile descriptions as sound staging, dynamics, colour 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.

What about those of us that like the glorious sound of analogue? For many of us this sound is closer to live music than Digital has ever been! (this doesn’t mean Digital can’t be very very good).

Would it be better for us to continue with the Extreme (which presently seems close to analogue; NSM sounds awesome), or are you working behind the scenes to create another unit that will give us the true analogue sound some us still crave from Digital.

Thanks.

 

[Tuckia]

I understand that Olympus does not sound digital or analog, but what the recording engineer thought to convey.(Introducing Olympus & Olympus I/O, post #1).



What about those of us that like the glorious sound of analogue? For many of us this sound is closer to live music than Digital has ever been! (this doesn’t mean Digital can’t be very very good).

Would it be better for us to continue with the Extreme (which presently seems close to analogue; NSM sounds awesome), or are you working behind the scenes to create another unit that will give us the true analogue sound some us still crave from Digital.

Thanks.

I think what Emile was saying is that the Olympus sound transcends the capabilities of current digital or analog technology. If you want the sound of analog playback, maybe you could feed the analog output from the Olympus into a recording tape machine, then feed the output from the playback head to your preamp

 

[SK8]

Hi @jeremya ,

In theory yes, you should be able to add an Olympus I/O to your DIY server assuming it runs windows 10 or 11 and uses either Intel Xeon datacenter (not the xeon versions of consumer level chips) or AMD Epyc gen3 or gen4 CPUs. However we just cannot guarantee performance as we cannot put considerable effort in supporting this very limited use case. As an example we did indeed attempt to supply some components for the DIY market in the past, but we ended up spending a lot of time and selling very few components. For example we ran a batch of 100 pieces of a GaN fet based DC-DC ATX power-supplies and we sold ..35.. While the accompanying ULPS design ended up being copied 1 on 1 in a competitor’s product.. We’re absolutely sympathetic to the DIY community but in the end we do have a business to run and our main focus should be on our customers buying our servers.

Hi Emile

I am also interested in adding an Olymbus I/O XDMI to my DIY server. My basic use case is to position it as a high quality DAC connected through the XDMI interface. A few questions here:

1) Why the support is only limited to Xeon datacentre and AMD Epyc gen3 or gen4 CPUs but not the more popular newer CPUs like Intel Core 14th Gen desktop processors? Are these limited by the hardware of QFSP interface boards or device drivers?

2) I assume all third-party software players like HQPlayer and Foobar2000 can be used as the same software interface will be provided by your device drivers. Is that correct?

3) Why Windows 10 and 11 were selected instead of Windows Server used in the Extreme?

4) For the pricing of Euro 37400 of the Olymbus I/O XDMI, the whole package will include: 1 x XDMI base board, 1 x RCA stereo output daughter board, 1 x AES/EBU + SPDIF daughter board, 1 x Taiko network card, 1 x Taiko USB card, 2 x QFSP PCI interface cards to be installed on the server side, 2 x QFSP cables. Is my understanding correct?

Thank you.

 

[howiebrou]

Hi Emile,

If we’re starting to count votes, my own preference is to use: (1) balanced analog output to a preamp (I don’t envision not using my current CH Precision L10 anytime in the near future - but never say never); and (2) AES digital output to DAC - specifically to a totaldac sublime.

Okay since we're making our wish lists, here's mine
1. Analogue outputs in both RCA and XLR
2. Digital outputs in XLR AES/EBU and RCA SPDIF
3. A Taiko Waffle Maker

 

[Kris]

Okay since we're making our wish lists, here's mine
1. Analogue outputs in both RCA and XLR
2. Digital outputs in XLR AES/EBU and RCA SPDIF
3. A Taiko Waffle Maker

I need that too.
Waffle Maker is a must to have

I believe We have already AES board with XLR, Spdif with RCA and BNC .
So the real need for me is Analog XLR . Best with volume control,

Just imagine you could skip your preamp and DAC With interconnecting cables.
Olympus with Olympus IO could be in this case considered as FREE of charge.

 

[Taiko Audio]

Okay since we're making our wish lists, here's mine
1. Analogue outputs in both RCA and XLR
2. Digital outputs in XLR AES/EBU and RCA SPDIF
3. A Taiko Waffle Maker

All joking aside, the waffle maker idea is genius.

 

[cmarin]

All joking aside, the waffle maker idea is genius.

I hereby amend my vote to include the waffle maker.

Bravo Howie!!

 

[SwissTom]

Here we go!

I've just placed an order for an Olympus Server + Olympus I/O XDMI.

Santa has been pretty generous this year!

I'm looking forward to trying it out and comparing the digital and analogue outputs.

Soulution 760 DAC + Olympus Server + Olympus I/O XDMI - AES/EBU

and

Soulution 725 Preamp + Olympus Server + Olympus I/O XDMI - Analogue

I don't own the Soulution 725 but I'm going to borrow it specially for the occasion.

I'll be sure to give a detailed feedback.

The Soulution 760 is a fine DAC, particulary in its price braquet. And the synergy with the 711 is really something special.

But who knows, I might be surprised ! ;-)

Cheers,

Thomas

 

[John T]

View attachment 122394

Here we go!

I've just placed an order for an Olympus Server + Olympus I/O XDMI.

Santa has been pretty generous this year!

I'm looking forward to trying it out and comparing the digital and analogue outputs.

Soulution 760 DAC + Olympus Server + Olympus I/O XDMI - AES/EBU

and

Soulution 725 Preamp + Olympus Server + Olympus I/O XDMI - Analogue

I don't own the Soulution 725 but I'm going to borrow it specially for the occasion.

I'll be sure to give a detailed feedback.

The Soulution 760 is a fine DAC, particulary in its price braquet. And the synergy with the 711 is really something special.

But who knows, I might be surprised ! ;-)

Cheers,

Thomas

Ought to be One Very Fine Listening Experience...I will be very interested in what you come up with...

 

[Taiko Audio]

Hi Emile

I am also interested in adding an Olymbus I/O XDMI to my DIY server. My basic use case is to position it as a high quality DAC connected through the XDMI interface. A few questions here:

1) Why the support is only limited to Xeon datacentre and AMD Epyc gen3 or gen4 CPUs but not the more popular newer CPUs like Intel Core 14th Gen desktop processors? Are these limited by the hardware of QFSP interface boards or device drivers?

2) I assume all third-party software players like HQPlayer and Foobar2000 can be used as the same software interface will be provided by your device drivers. Is that correct?

3) Why Windows 10 and 11 were selected instead of Windows Server used in the Extreme?

4) For the pricing of Euro 37400 of the Olymbus I/O XDMI, the whole package will include: 1 x XDMI base board, 1 x RCA stereo output daughter board, 1 x AES/EBU + SPDIF daughter board, 1 x Taiko network card, 1 x Taiko USB card, 2 x QFSP PCI interface cards to be installed on the server side, 2 x QFSP cables. Is my understanding correct?

Thank you.

Hi @SK8 ,

It's starting to dawn on me that this may be a no go anyway. But I'll answer your questions pending a closer look into do-ability.

1) These lack specific features we use.
2) No that is incorrect.
3) Because of the way we use it.
4) For the Olympus I/O you have to choose between USB and XDMI, the Olympus Server contains both, otherwise correct.

 

[John T]

Hi @SK8 ,

It's starting to dawn on me that this may be a no go anyway. But I'll answer your questions pending a closer look into do-ability.

1) These lack specific features we use.
2) No that is incorrect.
3) Because of the way we use it.
4) For the Olympus I/O you have to choose between USB and XDMI, the Olympus Server contains both, otherwise correct.

Most "normal" people arise in the morning, cup of tea, or coffee, read a few newspapers. Then we have WBF people! Totally focused on another subject! I think the (New Yorker) used to be a good magazine, Did a piece on audiophile mentality? It would take a very good writer to capture the true dedication, focus, undivided obsessive attention that many of us share. It's really a fascinating subject as to the captivation we have or how it was instilled upon us...Or why?

 

[Steve Williams]

Most "normal" people arise in the morning, cup of tea, or coffee, read a few newspapers. Then we have WBF people! Totally focused on another subject! I think the (New Yorker) used to be a good magazine, Did a piece on audiophile mentality? It would take a very good writer to capture the true dedication, focus, undivided obsessive attention that many of us share. It's really a fascinating subject as to the captivation we have or how it was instilled upon us...Or why?

I can't drink my coffee without reading the Taiko threads

 

[SwissTom]

I can't drink my coffee without reading the Taiko threads

I have to admit that I don't read everything, far from it. I select. Which is sometimes a bit of a problem as I miss some interesting information. One can't do everything, can one?

Right now I'm off to train at the climbing gym. At my age, if one wants to keep climbing at a certain level, one can never stop training...

 

[howiebrou]

All joking aside, the waffle maker idea is genius.

If you can make the waffle maker as a hot swappable card I'm all in!

 

[Steve Williams]

I have to admit that I don't read everything, far from it. I select. Which is sometimes a bit of a problem as I miss some interesting information. One can't do everything, can one?

Right now I'm off to train at the climbing gym. At my age, if one wants to keep climbing at a certain level, one can never stop training...

Well FWIW we here are all climbing Mount Olympus

 

[Steve Williams]

Reading about Mount Olympus suggests Emile has the new server appropriately named........

Mount Olympus, mountain peak, the highest (9,570 feet [2,917 metres]) in Greece. It is part of the Olympus massif near the Gulf of Thérmai (Modern Greek: Thermaïkós) of the Aegean Sea and lies astride the border between Macedonia (Makedonía) and Thessaly (Thessalía). It is also designated as Upper Olympus (Áno Ólympos), as opposed to Lower Olympus (Káto Ólympos), an adjacent peak on the south rising to 5,210 feet (1,588 metres).

Mount Olympus is snowcapped and often has cloud cover. According to Homer’s Odyssey, however, the peak never has storms and it basks in cloudless aith?r(Greek: “pure upper air”; thus “ether”). Later writers elaborated upon this description, which may have originated from the observation that the peak is often visible above a belt of relatively low clouds. In Greek mythology, Mount Olympus was regarded as the abode of the gods and the site of the throne of Zeus. The name Olympus was used for several other mountains as well as hills, villages, and mythical personages in Greece and Asia Minor.


The big question now is whether we start addressing Emile as Zeus

 

[MusicFellow]

… well all I know is that Olympus Mons is the heighest mountain on Mars and with approx. 22-26 km in peak nearly 3x the height of Mount Everest.

For me this means Emile is quite confident in his latest creation.

 

[John T]

I have to admit that I don't read everything, far from it. I select. Which is sometimes a bit of a problem as I miss some interesting information. One can't do everything, can one?

Right now I'm off to train at the climbing gym. At my age, if one wants to keep climbing at a certain level, one can never stop training...

I hope your fingers and hands are in better shape than mine...

 

[Taiko Audio]

The big question now is whether we start addressing Emile as Zeus

That does have a better ring to it then Mr. Waffle.

 

[Steve Williams]

… well all I know is that Olympus Mons is the heighest mountain on Mars and with approx. 22-26 km in peak nearly 3x the height of Mount Everest.

For me this mean Emile is quite confident in his latest creation.

I do agree. I am interested in how many of you who purchased the Olympus are giving up their external DAC's for the XDMI analogue board. None of us has heard the sound from the internal DAC but reading all of Emile's posts since the announcement suggests to me he is playing it tight to the hip and that this DAC will rise to the occasion and be quite competitive. This again shows that we are learning a new paradigm.It seems many are going solely with the XDMI analogue. Im betting they will be extremely happy with their decision. I wish there was a way to fit a tube or 2 on that XDMI analogue board