Fault tolerant for computer data is a bit different from high SQ digital audio. It's not just "bits is bits."
Grimm MU1 vs Aurender N30SA vs Taiko Audio
- Thread starter Audire
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Exactly. With high end audio, what matters is that the right bits arrived at exactly the right time and nothing else came along for the ride.
TCP/IP only guarantees that the right bits get transmitted. It can do nothing to address noise nor can it guarantee that the bits are supplied to the DAC at exactly the right time.
Yes it's polite for sure, but please tell me you were using the AES output and not USB when you initially evaluated the MU1. The MU1's magic is only realized via the AES output.
and choosing the right oversampling rate (3 available) for your particular DAC (right according to your ears).
fast.freight: I want to know what internal ethernet cable you upgrade to in the MU1?
Questions for the group: I am looking to upgrade from an AfterDark Rossana Server to the Grimm Audio MU1. In my system, I want to incorporate the Theoretica BACCH4MAC Processor/Roon Endpoint so I plan to maintain the following set-up using Wireworld Platinum ethernet cables: Google Fiber Router-Fidelizer AirStream2 switch-Grimm MU1 to A side of Uptone Audio EtherRegen-Waversa REF LAN filter (connected to B side of EtherRegen)-(all ethernet)BACCH4MAC-USB output to Ayon Audio Kronos Ultimate DAC/Preamp. From the reviews, the use of the AES digital cable from the Grimm to DAC takes full advantage of the FPGA chip processing as compared the ethernet connection. I would be buying a current Grimm MU1 directly from Grimm which has the latest internal upgrade. Any inputs?
It looks like I need to move the Grimm MU1 before the DAC and skip the BACCH4MAC so I connect the Grimm using the AES digital out for optimum performance. If I want to maintain the ethernet chain as originally planned, what Server is recommended (Pink Faun, Taiko, Grimm, Antipodes, or Lumin) using all ethernet connections up until the BACCH4MAC?
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The timing of the bits is a red herring. It matters at the dac data input generally speaking (in many dacs the data input is not particularly jitter sensitive anyway), but it's really unimportant in the ethernet packets. There are all sort of mechanisms aligning, bufferring and reclocking data between ethernet and dac, especially in well engineered high end dacs.
For what it’s worth, different systems may present different results, but I’ve had the Grimm MU1, Aurender N30SA, and the Taiko Audio Extreme all in my system. Taiko was the winner, with the N30SA being app 10-15% of it and the Grimm not even close to the N30SA. Needless to say I own a Taiko.
The existence of this thread proves that it is not a red herring. That music servers still bring substantial improvements, despite the fact that DACs feature all these mechanisms, tells us that this is an extremely difficult problem to solve. Reducing noise to a point where it can no longer negatively impact sound quality isn’t yet possible.
Hello, can you clarify please? The N30SA performed at 15 % while the Extreme was 100%? And the Grimm was then below 0%? Thanks.
I interpreted it as rating the Aurender N30SA to be within 10-15% (or 85-90% as good as) Taiko Extreme, with the Grimm performing well behind and not even close to the N30SA.
From a product perspective, an ecosystem is a grouping of compatible accessories that co - benefit. It's also a great way to increase revenue, sell em' the big item(s) and you have them bought in to buy the accessories, adapters doodads and gen on gen sell, rinse repeat. Think Apple. And that's definitely Taiko, they seem to make a vg music server, but the product and "ecosystem" is expensive and continued revisions of parts keeps $$ evergreen. A nice dollop of good free advertising doesn't hurt either ;-)
As many have discovered, the network can have an influence on how well a music server performs. I believe Taiko discovered that the solving the network problem was essential to getting their server to the next level of performance. It appears that their customers agreed, despite it costing them more than what most of us spent on our servers to get there.
I’m not sure what you mean by “solving the network problem”. The TCP/IP protocol that runs the internet solved the network problem and it was developed 60 years ago as a Cold War project by DARPA. Every day literally millions of terabytes flows through the internet flawlessly. Businesses depend on error-free transmission. Perhaps you means something else?
If you're referring to their network switch, there are dozens out there for decades that will aid on pretty much any network server / streamer. I'm not sure how this is remotely novel to Taiko. Are they generating some unique network traffic / protocol where their "special" switch aids only their device? Let me guess, it's part of their ecosystem. ;-)
I can understand how being disinterested in what is novel about Taiko’s approach might leave one with that impression - though I think most folks would reserve judgement until they’ve done their homework.
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