Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

[ACHiPo]

Could Halo May Audio be a great match for Taiko?

I would conclude by saying that compared to an Extreme, there are several somewhat lower cost alternatives known to provide excellent sound quality and offering various engineering ways of ‘skinning the cat’, but I would judge all to represent similar value for money, relative to each other and to other hi-fi components

I have a Holo Audio May KTE DAC fed by the Extreme. It is quite good. That said, the Extreme is so good I’m sure it would benefit from a better DAC.

 

[grandsoir]

I have a Holo Audio May KTE DAC fed by the Extreme. It is quite good. That said, the Extreme is so good I’m sure it would benefit from a better DAC.

interesting feedback! thanks

Are you feeling the upgrade-itch? Halo got so many raving reviews when it came out, but I bet there are nice alternatives. I appreciate your input thanks

 

[grandsoir]

It's your apparent attitude and know it all comments the seem to stir the pot. Why don'y you arrange an audition and comment when you have some meaningful comments

sorry about that

 

[grandsoir]

This is a topic that has been discussed at length several years ago, so there is a natural reluctance here to rehash old topics. Like it or not, you are treading ground that has already been covered, so it behooves you to catch up first. I do understand that finding things in a long thread can be a challenge — although you may find the search function above on the top right to be surprisingly helpful.

In the spirit of helpfulness, I am posting a couple of links to get you started in your research. Please use them in the spirit intended — as a shortcut to help you catch up. Most of the other questions you asked have also been covered extensively already, which some searching and reading will reveal.

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/taiko-audio-sgm-extreme-the-crème-de-la-crème.27433/post-615725

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/...-music-server/?do=findComment&comment=1200106

thanks

 

[MarkusBarkus]

...I think I was reading this thread for at least six months before I bought an Extreme two years ago. I was trying to get the flavor of the group and Taiko, consider the approach, and digest the info. Jumping in now, with over 700 pages of "ketch-up" is a challenge, because there are always some off-piste tracks in there as well.

@grandsoir I think folks here are helpful and friendly, and will try to answer questions, or point to sources you can explore. But if you try to convince "us" that we just don't know better, that will likely land heavy. There's a lot of info here, and folks trying to push the SQ envelope. Some of the tech is new. See what you think...

 

[cat6man]

i can't resist...........what time does the post office/shipping office open on Monday morning??

 

[oldmustang]

This is a topic that has been discussed at length several years ago, so there is a natural reluctance here to rehash old topics. Like it or not, you are treading ground that has already been covered, so it behooves you to catch up first. I do understand that finding things in a long thread can be a challenge — although you may find the search function above on the top right to be surprisingly helpful.

In the spirit of helpfulness, I am posting a couple of links to get you started in your research. Please use them in the spirit intended — as a shortcut to help you catch up. Most of the other questions you asked have also been covered extensively already, which some searching and reading will reveal.

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/taiko-audio-sgm-extreme-the-crème-de-la-crème.27433/post-615725

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/...-music-server/?do=findComment&comment=1200106

@grandsoir

Reading all 700+ pages, including all the detours, can be quite a task. But if you are seriously considering purchasing an Extreme or some other server in this price range it is an investment in time that will be well rewarded -- and not just in terms of doing your "due diligence" before such a sizeable purchase.

If you search using the search engine in the upper right-hand corner of the page and use the terms, "This thread" and "Taiko-Audio" you will get a lengthy list of the posts Emile Bok, owner and chief designer, has made to this thread.

If you do the same (search in this thread) for posts by Nenon, Austinpop and Romaz you will also get perspectives from folks who have pursued their own SOTA computer based servers and in the case of two of them, ended up purchasing an Extreme rather than continue chasing their own builds (Austinpop and Romaz).

Good luck to you,

Steve Z

 

[austinpop]

Some of our posts on "why we bought the Extreme" are on Audiophile Style, so try searches there too. Here's one I actually had forgotten about!

A novel way to massively improve the SQ of computer audio streaming

audiophilestyle.com

 

[grandsoir]

Awesome! Thank you so much @austinpop and @oldmustang

 

[Olivier59]

Hello any news about XMDS availability?

 

[Christiaan Punter]

Hello any news about XMDS availability?

Hi Olivier, we are working on XDMS every day of the week with new builds being released almost every week. We have ever fewer bugs to squash and are adding ever more features while being in the process of obtaining streaming service certification. There are still a few important items on the to-do list but once these are fixed, we are nearing the expected release of the Beta version. However, because we prioritize stability and sound quality, we are not working on a predetermined timeline. As such, we cannot provide a due date for the Beta version or the final public release.

 

[Steve Williams]

Hello any news about XMDS availability?

Hi Olivier, we are working on XDMS every day of the week with new builds being released almost every week. We are squashing ever fewer bugs and adding ever more features and are in the process of obtaining streaming service certification. There are still a few important items on the to-do list but once these are fixed, we are nearing the expected release of the Beta version. However, because we prioritize stability and sound quality, we are not working on a predetermined timeline. As such, we cannot provide a due date for the Beta version or the final public release.

The wait is worth every second. You will be quite impressed

 

[Olivier59]

Thanks for your reply, I am quite press because want to try usb cables, Xlr cables once release in order to make the recipe I like

 

[Kris]

@grandsoir

Reading all 700+ pages, including all the detours, can be quite a task. But if you are seriously considering purchasing an Extreme or some other server in this price range it is an investment in time that will be well rewarded -- and not just in terms of doing your "due diligence" before such a sizeable purchase.

If you search using the search engine in the upper right-hand corner of the page and use the terms, "This thread" and "Taiko-Audio" you will get a lengthy list of the posts Emile Bok, owner and chief designer, has made to this thread.

If you do the same (search in this thread) for posts by Nenon, Austinpop and Romaz you will also get perspectives from folks who have pursued their own SOTA computer based servers and in the case of two of them, ended up purchasing an Extreme rather than continue chasing their own builds (Austinpop and Romaz).

Good luck to you,

Steve Z

View attachment 105157

I agree reading all 700+ pages is not easy task..

if we have short update of progress documents created by Christiaan related to each :
switch , router, TACDA , …
I believe there should be a relatively short summary document for
future customer called : Why should I buy Taiko Extreme and why it costs so much ?

I think preparing such a document will help to decide majority of the newcommers
Everyone of us was one of them long ago.

I purchsed my extreme more than 3 years ago and I still remember my resistance to jump into the Taiko train.
This is the best I did, but it was very hard to do At that time.

 

[Ackcheng]

To cut these 700 pages short, you can focus on Emile replies only. That will give you a good understanding about the sprit behind Extreme

 

[grandsoir]

I agree reading all 700+ pages is not easy task..

if we have short update of progress documents created by Christiaan related to each :
switch , router, TACDA , …
I believe there should be a relatively short summary document for
future customer called : Why should I buy Taiko Extreme and why it costs so much ?

I think preparing such a document will help to decide majority of the newcommers
Everyone of us was one of them long ago.

I purchsed my extreme more than 3 years ago and I still remember my resistance to jump into the Taiko train.
This is the best I did, but it was very hard to do At that time.

A very good idea!

Can I add SSD disks myself?

Will Taiko upgrade the extreme in the near future, so I dont decide to order one let say before summer and then there is a upgraded version coming out

 

[dminches]

So, how’s the assembly and packaging process going?

 

[MusicFellow]

I have a strong feeling that the next 2-3 weeks will be filled with first hand impressions of new sonic bliss …and I‘m really looking forward to the individual reports of the experienced user base here. This will ease my wait until the switch becomes available in either copper or the standard Extreme silver.

So I want to wish happy listening to all the early adopters!

 

[Kris]

A very good idea!

Can I add SSD disks myself?

Will Taiko upgrade the extreme in the near future, so I dont decide to order one let say before summer and then there is a upgraded version coming out

This is the buty of Extreme.
you get it once and like me , aftre that you get free softwere upgrades. For more than 3 years already in my case.
we are awaiting XDMS player and server softwere that they did foe 2 years I belive
and also is going to be free of charge.
who else is doing it ?

Only a hardwere will be charged in the future .
you will be able to upgrade any time.

 

[Taiko Audio]

A very good idea!

Can I add SSD disks myself?

Will Taiko upgrade the extreme in the near future, so I dont decide to order one let say before summer and then there is a upgraded version coming out

Yes you can expand storage yourself.

@Christiaan Punter , can you look into creating a document like @Kris suggests in post 15074?