Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

[Kris]

I understand your point.
So we are talking more about 50 % + for the evo
and even more evo to Extreme difference.
But it is hard to name it exactly.

Also has enyone compre extreme to the other top servers ?
I know it is in the price range of W20 and others , but this is an old construction
So should be relatively easy for extreme to shine with superior SQ.

Also is extreme going to work better via usb or AES with totaldac twelve ?
I know some of you own totaldac so you could try to test it .
I had few opinions that totaldac is much better via AES input, but no one tested it with
Extreme server so far. Can you test it please ?

 

[Taiko Audio]

I'm sorry but I don't feel comfortable to comment on sound quality relative to other servers as a manufacturer. There are several comparisons to be found online, mainly versus the original SGM 2015.

As for the interface, there really is no "best". It depends on implementation and personal preference.

AES/EBU will sound closer to a CD transport.
USB is capable of a higher resolution type of sound.
Ethernet is a bit in between, but very much depending on your networking setup.

The interface sound quality differences are more in your 10% estimation range imho. A range in which cabling quality, or setup care can tip the scales.

With the Extreme I prefer USB over AES/EBU to our resident D1-12mk2, but Vincent of Totaldac send me a pair of Bibacord AES/EBU cables which may very well sway my preference back to AES/EBU.

The bottom line is not to worry to much about the interface but choose the one best fitting your preference / system setup.

 

[Kris]

Thank you.
There are many people who have no time to search fo best server but they can get fair amount of money and they still want the best .
We will have to base on our Korean friends aears.
It sounds they have tested a lot in comparison to the 2015 / evo and extreme.
Do you think you will be able to offer the upgades to the setup of extreme and if so how long in the future?

 

[CKKeung]

I compared Innuos Statement vs SGM2015 vs SGM EVO vd SGM Extreme in Hong Kong.

IMHO : Statement = SGM2015 < EVO << Extreme.
However it's difficult to grade the diff in percentage.

 

[Taiko Audio]

I compared Innuos Statement vs SGM2015 vs SGM EVO vd SGM Extreme in Hong Kong.

IMHO : Statement = SGM2015 < EVO << Extreme.
However it's difficult to grade the diff in percentage.

That's interesting, I would interpret that as healthy competition as Statement price around equals SGM2015 price with EVO and Extreme costing more.

 

[Taiko Audio]

Thank you.
There are many people who have no time to search fo best server but they can get fair amount of money and they still want the best .
We will have to base on our Korean friends aears.
It sounds they have tested a lot in comparison to the 2015 / evo and extreme.
Do you think you will be able to offer the upgades to the setup of extreme and if so how long in the future?

There is a new batch of Extreme's shipping soon so we should receive a lot more feedback in the coming weeks.

Yes we will support upgrades. It's very doubtful there will be any mayor upgrades to the basic framework in the next few years looking at technology roadmaps. However USB and networking technologies are advancing. In the SGM Evo/Extreme those can be retrofitted by means of an expansion card. There will undoubtedly be software upgrades as well. These can all be fitted on site though and don't require a return to the factory.

 

[nonesup]

I compared Innuos Statement vs SGM2015 vs SGM EVO vd SGM Extreme in Hong Kong.

IMHO : Statement = SGM2015 < EVO << Extreme.
However it's difficult to grade the diff in percentage.

Very interesting this opinion. I think you only need to know where to place the Wadax Server. I know that in Hong Kong they are both, but in different dealers, so a comparison is not easy, but it would be very, very interesting.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Does the Pink Faun 2.16x w multiple custom OCXOs belong in this company? At over €13k, it might.

 

[Kris]

That's interesting, I would interpret that as healthy competition as Statement price around equals SGM2015 price with EVO and Extreme costing more.

Money is a secondary thing here.
I wish there is a server that is few class better than anything else available and costs 30K.
This is a car price but it might be woth the sound pleasure.

For some of us the value of the extreme is a month work but for that kind of money it better burns everything else by a good margin.

Again I think SGM extreme is the only one I know of , that is getting there .
Please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Kris]

Does the Pink Faun 2.16x w multiple custom OCXOs belong in this company? At over €13k, it might.

I agree. This is a very well designed server . Especially with multiple OCXO clocks.
If this multiple clocks make soch gigantic differens in pink faun ,
I dont understand why Exteme sticks to the original motherboard clock?
Is it worst with upgated clocks ?

 

[Taiko Audio]

I dont understand why Exteme sticks to the original motherboard clock?
Is it worst with upgated clocks ?

We use a different mechanism in the Extreme. Yes it performs worse with "upgraded" clocks.

 

[Taiko Audio]

I wish there is a server that is few class better than anything else available and costs 30K.

I wouldn't mind increasing the price

 

[christoph]

I wouldn't mind increasing the price

 

[Kris]

I wouldn't mind increasing the price

We might all like it but this price is probably reserved to SGM extreme killer ,
Hope it will also come from SGM....
Are you working on a newer project already ?

 

[CKKeung]

I wouldn't mind increasing the price

Several very picky friends of mine and me myself after audition and had a look of the interior all opined that the Extreme was rather underpriced!
Were it from other brands, I guess the price would be set much higher.
Haha

You will have to see and listen to the real Extreme to appreciate its design and execution.

I have not listened to Pink Faun 2.16x but from its internal photos, I can see that its chassis is filled up by components completely.
On the other hand, the interior of the Extreme is neat and tidy and spacious "to the extreme"!
A day & night difference!

Also, I can say that I have never seen such high class internal components inside Extreme used in any other CAS servers before, not even the more expensive Wadax Atlantis.

I do hope that the internal photos taken by professional photographers will be avaialble soon.

 

[CKKeung]

Very interesting this opinion. I think you only need to know where to place the Wadax Server. I know that in Hong Kong they are both, but in different dealers, so a comparison is not easy, but it would be very, very interesting.

In Hong Kong, SGM and Wadax are carried by diff dealers.
They are sold not via retailers but directly by the dealers so direct comparison is near-impossible.

However I have a friend who own both!
Because he has to work and stay in Mainland China very often, he has set up another audio system there.
Let me ask him whether he has directly compared Extreme to Wadax Atlantis Server or not.
Will update you if I can get an answer.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Hey CK, if guys will run multiple tts, arms, carts, why not multiple servers?

 

[CKKeung]

Hey CK, if guys will run multiple tts, arms, carts, why not multiple servers?

Interesting question.

I have another interesting observation too :
Vinyl lovers in HK are willing to buy multiple turntables, multiple tonearms and multiple cartridges.
Very often one top cartridge worth nearly the price of a whole top CAS server.

However when they start to step into CAS, they rarely want to have several servers although they can afford to do so.

 

[spiritofmusic]

CK, I'm not greedy. One tt, arm, cart...and server will do me.

I know this is not the thread for it, but the Pink Faun 2.16 appeals, both in the base price, and it's upgradeability w multiple OCXOs.

My guess is that it's the competitive outlier to SGM and Wadax Atlantis servers.

 

[CKKeung]

I know this is not the thread for it, but the Pink Faun 2.16 appeals, both in the base price, and it's upgradeability w multiple OCXOs.
My guess is that it's the competitive outlier to SGM and Wadax Atlantis servers.

My guess is otherwise.
Once you have listened to and examined a real Extreme closely, you may change your mind too.