Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

spiritofmusic

Well-Known Member
Jun 13, 2013
14,604
5,413
1,278
E. England
I have no reason to doubt your words.
 

EuroDriver

Well-Known Member
Sep 16, 2015
926
2,479
450
Monaco
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.

OCXOs, implemented well, can provide a nice sonic uplift for their parts cost, but the following should be noted
- they take quite a while to stabilize and deliver their best sound
- they have their unwanted sound signature too that needs to be managed

What Emile has been able to do in the Extreme setup is to replicate and surpass the OCXO sound enhancing functionality with no downsides that we have been able to detect.
 
  • Like
Reactions: onsionsi

bibo01

Member
Nov 26, 2013
201
1
16
...
It can be seen from the slots that the back-plate is very thick!
View attachment 48451
Hi Emile and EuroDriver,
What are the other two cards sandwiching the sfp fiber card?
You put the fiber card in the 4th slot from CPU1. What's the idea behind it?
Would it be in a different slot if it was connected to a NAS/switch or to a DAC?
Thanks
 

flkin

Well-Known Member
Mar 7, 2019
70
87
105
59
Bangkok
My guess is otherwise.
Once you have listened to and examined a real Extreme closely, you may change your mind too.

I'll be very interested to listen to the SGM Extreme later this month when I get a chance to visit HK. Would like to compare it to my Pink Faun 2.16x. It would truly be a special device if it is able to top the PF as it's playing at a very high level already.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CKKeung

flkin

Well-Known Member
Mar 7, 2019
70
87
105
59
Bangkok
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!

It's true that the Pink Faun 2.16x is pretty tight internally - perhaps it's to do with their focus on the power feed side - around half of the space is taken by the 800,000 uF capacitors supplied by 3 transformers and star-earthing. Then they need space for the 4 OCXO clocks too... :)
 

Taiko Audio

Industry Expert
Feb 10, 2017
4,233
13,025
1,925
The Netherlands
taikoaudio.com
OCXOs, implemented well, can provide a nice sonic uplift for their parts cost, but the following should be noted
- they take quite a while to stabilize and deliver their best sound
- they have their unwanted sound signature too that needs to be managed

What Emile has been able to do in the Extreme setup is to replicate and surpass the OCXO sound enhancing functionality with no downsides that we have been able to detect.

I'd like to add that this discovery does not make high level OCXO's obsolete in appliances outside of the Extreme, especially the higher grade 10M variants. I don't know if it's common knowledge that 24M or 25M XO's (common on motherboards) have considerably worse noise specs then 10M XO's, just by function of higher frequency. Given the same general XO, the lower frequency models have much better noise specs, it can easily make a ~20dB difference where the "battle" in the 10M XO's is about single digit dB noise differences.

With that said we have found a way to simply bypass the dependency on XO quality in the Extreme, the result is something that surpasses the effect of even the best available OCXO's. As forthcoming as I have been sharing detailed information in this thread, this is a discovery I will not disclose and keep as one of our competitive advantages.
 

Taiko Audio

Industry Expert
Feb 10, 2017
4,233
13,025
1,925
The Netherlands
taikoaudio.com
Hi Emile and EuroDriver,
What are the other two cards sandwiching the sfp fiber card?
You put the fiber card in the 4th slot from CPU1. What's the idea behind it?
Would it be in a different slot if it was connected to a NAS/switch or to a DAC?
Thanks

Hi Bibo,

Nice catch! Yes we do have preferred card placements for spreading processing loads and card to memory traffic. However it's worth to note that the QPI interconnect between the CPU's, the way we have configured it, has so much excess bandwidth that it's a minor rather then mayor tweak. It's audible though, as almost everything is :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: CKKeung

nonesup

VIP/Donor
Feb 15, 2017
1,044
623
355
Spain
Hi Emile.
I see that on the back of the Extreme, there is only one Ethernet port. He has done tests with a second port that goes directly to the Player without having to go through Switch, like Melco, Innuos and others.
 

Taiko Audio

Industry Expert
Feb 10, 2017
4,233
13,025
1,925
The Netherlands
taikoaudio.com
Hi Emile.
I see that on the back of the Extreme, there is only one Ethernet port. He has done tests with a second port that goes directly to the Player without having to go through Switch, like Melco, Innuos and others.

There are 3 ethernet ports, 2 UTP and 1 SFP.

You can bridge network adapters but they all need to run at the same speed.

It all depends a little, for ethernet switches and routers, faster is better, but faster also means higher current draw which influences your powersupply. It’s not about high speed, as we dont need it, but about low load. That’s why you will find tweaky audiophiles stacking switches, to reduce load.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: CKKeung

nonesup

VIP/Donor
Feb 15, 2017
1,044
623
355
Spain
But are any of them ready to transmit directly to the Player without going through the Switch?
 

nonesup

VIP/Donor
Feb 15, 2017
1,044
623
355
Spain
OK thanks.
A new point for Extreme.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Taiko Audio

bibo01

Member
Nov 26, 2013
201
1
16
Hi Bibo,

Nice catch! Yes we do have preferred card placements for spreading processing loads and card to memory traffic. However it's worth to note that the QPI interconnect between the CPU's, the way we have configured it, has so much excess bandwidth that it's a minor rather then mayor tweak. It's audible though, as almost everything is :)
Thanks for the reply.
Are you going to tell me what are the two cards sandwiching the sfp fiber card? :)
 

Esotar

VIP/Donor
Mar 27, 2016
411
361
340
South Korea
www.digituslabs.kr
I ordered Taiko Audio [[DAIZA]].

I tested DAIZA with SGM 2015 EVO and SGM Extreme.

DAIZA is just spiral imprinting on Panzerholtz.

But sound quality is increased dramatically~!!

EVO and Extreme are both quality up, but in case of Extreme, quality is highly up.

Sound is exact and dynamic is much better~!!!

Highly recommended~!!!

P1000378.JPG

P1000382.JPG
 
  • Like
Reactions: Taiko Audio

CKKeung

Well-Known Member
Jun 17, 2011
3,053
3,172
1,410
Hong Kong
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.
;)

I got a reply from my friend Paul who owns a Wadax Atlantis Server and SGM Servers.
However, his pre-ordered SGM Extreme will arrive in April so he has done a direct comparison between his Wadax Atlantis and SGN EVO only.

This is his reply :
" ... Very good questions, I was also wondering what is their differences. I only have the SGMS Evo right now, my Extreme may arrive in April.

I called Javier of Wadax to fix my Atlantics server yesterday so as to hv a comparison with my Evo.

All connected with same power cord and pair with Reclocker Reclocker/Bespoke Silver Preamp/Lampizator Pacific.

I can tell Evo is much better in Dynamics and presentation of soundstage, and better density/analog tone.

Atlantics is also good, crystal clear of resolution with more musical presentation.

I think they have different presentation, but I like Evo a little bit more.

In summary, I think TotalDac Reclocker is must buy, it is really a game changer, it does boost up the potential of the servers.

In conclusion, I expect Extreme then will be better than Atlantics server.

BTW, I have just received my Cybershaft OP21
..."
 

spiritofmusic

Well-Known Member
Jun 13, 2013
14,604
5,413
1,278
E. England
So, for top results, one needs a top server, top dac, AND a re-clocker?
 

bonzo75

Member Sponsor
Feb 26, 2014
22,442
13,471
2,710
London

Taiko Audio

Industry Expert
Feb 10, 2017
4,233
13,025
1,925
The Netherlands
taikoaudio.com
Thanks for the reply.
Are you going to tell me what are the two cards sandwiching the sfp fiber card? :)

Those look like m.2 nvme to pcie expansion cards... for the music storage.

1 is the optane PCIe OS drive, the other is what jturbo said :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: bibo01

Taiko Audio

Industry Expert
Feb 10, 2017
4,233
13,025
1,925
The Netherlands
taikoaudio.com
So, for top results, one needs a top server, top dac, AND a re-clocker?

It all adds up, before you think complexity, consider you are doing something similar in your vinyl rig, turntable, arm, cartridge, motor etc.

I'd like to add top vibration control to the list :p
 

About us

  • What’s Best Forum is THE forum for high end audio, product reviews, advice and sharing experiences on the best of everything else. This is THE place where audiophiles and audio companies discuss vintage, contemporary and new audio products, music servers, music streamers, computer audio, digital-to-analog converters, turntables, phono stages, cartridges, reel-to-reel tape machines, speakers, headphones and tube and solid-state amplification. Founded in 2010 What’s Best Forum invites intelligent and courteous people of all interests and backgrounds to describe and discuss the best of everything. From beginners to life-long hobbyists to industry professionals, we enjoy learning about new things and meeting new people, and participating in spirited debates.

Quick Navigation

User Menu

Steve Williams
Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator
Ron Resnick
Site Co-Owner | Administrator
Julian (The Fixer)
Website Build | Marketing Managersing