Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

[Mike Lavigne]

Isn't streaming bad for family life? You aficionados keep saying hours go by like mins
Isn't it bad enough that our partners put up w the hobby, without the hobby meaning even less contact for them? Lol

you can make that case.

but another case to be made is that personal contentment from a fulfilling hobby/obsession can contribute to better job performance, resilience, and personal relationships. i've been on my job at the same place for 39 years, and been married to the same person for 45 almost 46 years.

and as i get older, high quality late night streaming or playlists becomes a more sensible alternative to late night vinyl. i do tend to fall asleep.

yet i feel that the digital is not such a step back as i once did.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Mike, just my personal amusement. I'm genuinely happy this part of the hobby is so consistently engrossing and easy to utilise for adopters like you etc. Sounds hugely appealing.

I've also had plenty of encouragement from Asuify and Sound Of Tao. And more and more Blue58 is leaving his IPad in my hand as he goes and makes yet another coffee for me.

I guess I've spent my whole life avoiding computer based interaction (a Mac never got anyone's low back strain better), the joy of vinyl and cd was the tactile thing. You know that more than most.

I guess I'll have to wrangle my mindset that IPad interaction with a universe of music is the new tactile.

One's record collection is now a giant Tower Records.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

Mike, just my personal amusement. I'm genuinely happy this part of the hobby is so consistently engrossing and easy to utilise for adopters like you etc. Sounds hugely appealing.

I've also had plenty of encouragement from Asuify and Sound Of Tao. And more and more Blue58 is leaving his IPad in my hand as he goes and makes yet another coffee for me.

I guess I've spent my whole life avoiding computer based interaction (a Mac never got anyone's low back strain better), the joy of vinyl and cd was the tactile thing. You know that more than most.

I guess I'll have to wrangle my mindset that IPad interaction with a universe of music is the new tactile.

One's record collection is now a giant Tower Records.

the digital server/streaming stuff is way simpler mostly than the vinyl stuff. just dive in and know you have plenty of help. and once you get past a certain point no more futzing at all. it's all music with zero hassle.

the only thing is occasional updates to control software, which are also almost too simple to even mention, especially with the support for the better servers and control programs.

 

[Blackmorec]

It is for me. I'm listening to Internet Radio/RadioSwissClassique and I can't bear to change it as the Christmas music selections are beyond wonderful. Not thinking about the system or audio at all. Almost overwhelmed by the beauty of the music.

3D floating soundstage, totally immersive.

Ha, you’ve no idea how happy hearing that makes me! I’ve been banging on about Swiss Radio Classic for some time. Their selection is brilliant and a lot of it completely new to me, especially things like Concertos for Bassoon, Flute French Horn and the like. Some incredible music that I’ve never heard before. No adverts or talk....just title, composer, orchestra and conductor. The quality of the performances is really high and the sound quality is excellent....highly listenable and not particularly variable...its all high standard. Its 128kbps but frankly when you’re deeply engrossed in the music, which you will be, you won’t give a damn about that. Of course when you switch to hi-res you’ll be blown away by....well Everything, but that doesn’t devalue SRC in the least. And the announcements make wonderful sound checks, because you can hear clearly when something is off.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Is there a real analogy to be made btwn the streamer/renderer equating to the tt (tt/arm), and the dac being the cart (cart/phono)?
Or even tt/arm/cart as server, and phono as dac?

Back in the halcyon days of Linn running the show in 80s and 90s when I was fully immersed as newbie analog groupie, Linn would often suggest going all out for the top LP12 tt, a cheaper cart, and upgrade that at a later date.

Noone ever suggested a totl Linn Troika cart on day one fitted on an entry Linn Basik tt.

So in 2019/2020, is it really feasible to go Extreme with a dac at a way lower pricepoint?

There are some fascinating dacs at cheaper levels like the MHDT Orchid at $1k, soon to be released 2 box Holo Audio May $4k, various Chord dacs $1k-$12k, TotalDac D1 $5k.

Can we replicate that totr Linn LP12 w entry level cart type choice many in UK made back in the day, w running a $25k-30k Extreme w $1k-5k dac?

 

[Taiko Audio]

@spiritofmusic , 10K-15K is a better starting point. Considering your descriptions, I think you should look into getting a Lampizator. It will give you a degree of control in the areas important to you by means of tube rolling.

 

[matthias]

Is there a real analogy to be made btwn the streamer/renderer equating to the tt (tt/arm), and the dac being the cart (cart/phono)?
Or even tt/arm/cart as server, and phono as dac?

Back in the halcyon days of Linn running the show in 80s and 90s when I was fully immersed as newbie analog groupie, Linn would often suggest going all out for the top LP12 tt, a cheaper cart, and upgrade that at a later date.

Noone ever suggested a totl Linn Troika cart on day one fitted on an entry Linn Basik tt.

So in 2019/2020, is it really feasible to go Extreme with a dac at a way lower pricepoint?

There are some fascinating dacs at cheaper levels like the MHDT Orchid at $1k, soon to be released 2 box Holo Audio May $4k, various Chord dacs $1k-$12k, TotalDac D1 $5k.

Can we replicate that totr Linn LP12 w entry level cart type choice many in UK made back in the day, w running a $25k-30k Extreme w $1k-5k dac?

IMO, within a limited budget it is really feasible to go Extreme with a DAC at a way lower price point.

I see the hierarchy as follows from most important to least important:

Turntable.......Extreme
Tonearm.......USB cable
Cartridge.......DAC

I can imagine to combine the Extreme with Schiit Yggdrasil with the new upcoming Unison USB board.

Matt

 

[spiritofmusic]

@spiritofmusic , 10K-15K is a better starting point. Considering your descriptions, I think you should look into getting a Lampizator. It will give you a degree of control in the areas important to you by means of tube rolling.

Emile, if I got a Lampi, i would STILL be the only audiofool Ked would be reluctant to visit Lol.

 

[Taiko Audio]

I can imagine to combine the Extreme with for example something like Schiit Yggdrasil with the new Unison USB board.

Admittedly I do not have much experience with DACs in that price range

 

[spiritofmusic]

IMO, within a limited budget it is really feasible to go Extreme with a DAC at a way lower price point.

I see the hierarchy as follows from most important to least important:

Turntable.......Extreme
Tonearm.......USB cable
Cartridge.......DAC

I can imagine to combine the Extreme with for example something like Schiit Yggdrasil with the new Unison USB board.

Matt

Matthias, where does the phono fit into yr analogy? Fascinating to see you class the Usb cbl as a critical component in it's own right.

My ideas on dac are coalescing around the new Holo Audio May or TotalDac D1, both R2R at a good price. And just like there are some killer carts at reasonable money, maybe the same applies to dacs?

 

[spiritofmusic]

Admittedly I do not have much experience with DACs in that price range

Emile, I know you're a crazy busy fellow. But maybe testing Experience w more affordable dacs could be educational. Tbh if I ever go down the Extreme route, it could only be via using a dac no pricier than €5k.

Audiosciencereview.com have just declared the Holo Audio May is the best measuring R2R dac they've tested. Jitter as minimal as possible. Gotta be good for $4k.

 

[matthias]

Matthias, where does the phono fit into yr analogy? Fascinating to see you class the Usb cbl as a critical component in it's own right.

My ideas on dac are coalescing around the new Holo Audio May or TotalDac D1, both R2R at a good price. And just like there are some killer carts at reasonable money, maybe the same applies to dacs?

I come from a Linn/Naim background and have so far seen no contradiction to the Source First principle.
If you set-up your system to this principle it is always musically superior and more cost effective.

Yes, I think the Holo May is a very interesting DAC and the TotalDac D1 as well.

The phono amp comes after the cartridge.

Matt

 

[matthias]

Emile, I know you're a crazy busy fellow. But maybe testing Experience w more affordable dacs could be educational. Tbh if I ever go down the Extreme route, it could only be via using a dac no pricier than €5k.

+1

Matt

 

[matthias]

Admittedly I do not have much experience with DACs in that price range

@Al M. owns a Schiit Yggdrasil and he likes it. There is a post where he preferred it to the Vivaldi stack.

Matt

 

[spiritofmusic]

Matt, I have chatted w him about it, esp after he rejected the Denafrips Terminator. The good news is my most local dealer is a Holo dealer, so a May audition could happen.

Again, I don't want to hog this thread, it's all about Extreme. I find it telling that Emile hasn't looked at anything below Aqua Formula XHD price point. So unless an Extreme owner out there posts about using it with a way cheaper dac, it'll all be speculation.

 

[matthias]

So unless an Extreme owner out there posts about using it with a way cheaper dac, it'll all be speculation.

What to fear?
When the input of the DAC is better by the Extreme it will sound better, it is so easy.
I think I would prefer Extreme/Yggdrasil to Statement/Select Two.

Matt

 

[spiritofmusic]

Matt, have you ever regretted setting eyes on a 4K Hi Defn pic of someone ugly? They're REALLY ugly Lol.

It's not sufficient compensation to know a really pretty girl could come along next.

Point taken however. I have a sneaking feeling that giant killer dacs like the Schitt, or maybe this Holo May, could really keep up w Extreme.

Emile is planning this lower level server that can be upgraded all the way to Extreme spec. Maybe this foundation server w something like Holo May is my way fwds.

 

[Esotar]

Matt, I have chatted w him about it, esp after he rejected the Denafrips Terminator. The good news is my most local dealer is a Holo dealer, so a May audition could happen.

Again, I don't want to hog this thread, it's all about Extreme. I find it telling that Emile hasn't looked at anything below Aqua Formula XHD price point. So unless an Extreme owner out there posts about using it with a way cheaper dac, it'll all be speculation.

Emile has Terminator DAC.

I sent it to him.

Because Emile is very busy, he doesn't support Terminator users perfectly, but he will support Terminator DAC soon.

I have Spring DAC Lv. 3 KTE, but I don't like it. So I didn't send it to Emile.

Taiko Audio will support Denafrips products.

He can't support all DAC brands.

 

[matthias]

I have a sneaking feeling that giant killer dacs like the Schitt, or maybe this Holo May, could really keep up w Extreme.

I think the Schiit may be a good match for the Extreme because it has one of the best USB inputs and needs bitperfect input for its own oversampling.

Matt

 

[spiritofmusic]

Emile has Terminator DAC.

I sent it to him.

Because Emile is very busy, he doesn't support Terminator users perfectly, but he will support Terminator DAC soon.

I have Spring DAC Lv. 3 KTE, but I don't like it. So I didn't send it to Emile.

Taiko Audio will support Denafrips products.

He can't support all DAC brands.

Esotar, Holo Spring left you cold?