Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

[7ryder]

Guess his room is in Ruins...

Thank you, I'll be here all week and don't forget to tip the waitstaff.

 

[Malcng]

Where are we now with regard to rolling out XDMS to the rest of us? I presume that comes when the app is fully signed off and submitted for general download - is that close or far off? In other words, are we nearly there yet?

 

[EuroDriver]

Where are we now with regard to rolling out XDMS to the rest of us? I presume that comes when the app is fully signed off and submitted for general download - is that close or far off? In other words, are we nearly there yet?

We are getting there, but there are new requirements that we have to code for

Patience

 

[Malcng]

We are getting there, but there are new requirements that we have to code for

Patience

I’ve been on the waiting list since last December so I thought I was being patient - for me anyway. In fairness, I did say I was low priority because I am entirely content with how my system sounds anyway, so it’s merely a curiosity thing for me. Blasphemy around here, I know!

 

[Steve Williams]

I’ve been on the waiting list since last December so I thought I was being patient - for me anyway. In fairness, I did say I was low priority because I am entirely content with how my system sounds anyway, so it’s merely a curiosity thing for me. Blasphemy around here, I know!

the word "curiosity" will change to "necessity" once you hear XDMS and FWIW the next version XDMS-NSM is coming soon and according to Emile it gives the biggest uptick in SQ other than the BPS. Be patient little grasshopper. The wait is worth it

 

[VPN]

We are getting there, but there are new requirements that we have to code for

Patience

Ed, Could you share a rough estimate of when the XDMS-NSM version is coming (even in alpha)?
Thanks.

 

[EuroDriver]

Ed, Could you share a rough estimate of when the XDMS-NSM version is coming (even in alpha)?
Thanks.

The current plan is to have XDMS-NSM as part of the Beta Release

 

[Pokey77]

OK Steve,
’NSM’ - would you please define this? Thx

 

[EuroDriver]

OK Steve,
’NSM’ - would you please define this? Thx

NSM is a acronym / abreviation for the next genration XDMS

 

[Steve Williams]

OK Steve,
’NSM’ - would you please define this? Thx

I have no idea what it stands for but a rewritten form of XDMS was done by Wilson and was named XDMS-NSM. As stated the sound uptick is allegedly quite amazing and second only to the upcoming BPS.

 

[Christiaan Punter]

I have no idea what it stands for but a rewritten form of XDMS was done by Wilson and was named XDMS-NSM. As stated the sound uptick is allegedly quite amazing and second only to the upcoming BPS.

Better believe it!

For a few days, I have now had NSM XDMS running. Here's how I felt 10 seconds into the playback of the first track:

Holy guacamole, this is something else!

There’s an immense fluidity and retina-like resolution with deep soundstaging yet no shortage of dynamics. Transients are crisp, the pacing is upbeat, and there is no blur or roundness. Previously, with non-NSM XDMS, we had many sonic advantages to XDMS in comparison to Roon but to some, XDMS was comparatively a little square or rough sounding. To others (myself included), it was Roon that was sounding a little mellow, round, and soft, albeit very fluid and spacious. Well, any residual squareness/hardness that characterized XDMS playback in comparison to Roon is now gone when using NSM.

It has to be said: Emile has stated this would be the outcome since the start and now that we have finally been able to test it in practice, I am confident in confirming that we have indeed achieved what we set out to do. What NSM achieves is a perfect hybrid of Roon and XDMS: organic and free-flowing with no edge or hardness yet also no softness or veiling and no lack of expression and incisiveness.

Superlative SQ aside, please note that NSM as it is being tested now has a few operability issues that we need to fix before we can roll it out. This may go fast or not so fast, at this moment we do not yet know. But rest assured it will come!

 

[gereric]

Better believe it!

For a few days, I have now had NSM XDMS running. Here's how I felt 10 seconds into the playback of the first track:

Holy guacamole, this is something else!

There’s an immense fluidity and retina-like resolution with deep soundstaging yet no shortage of dynamics. Transients are crisp, the pacing is upbeat, and there is no blur or roundness. Previously, with non-NSM XDMS, we had many sonic advantages to XDMS in comparison to Roon but to some, XDMS was comparatively a little square or rough sounding. To others (myself included), it was Roon that was sounding a little mellow, round, and soft, albeit very fluid and spacious. Well, any residual squareness/hardness that characterized XDMS playback in comparison to Roon is now gone when using NSM.

It has to be said: Emile has stated this would be the outcome since the start and now that we have finally been able to test it in practice, I am confident in confirming that we have indeed achieved what we set out to do. What NSM achieves is a perfect hybrid of Roon and XDMS: organic and free-flowing with no edge or hardness yet also no softness or veiling and no lack of expression and incisiveness.

Superlative SQ aside, please note that NSM as it is being tested now has a few operability issues that we need to fix before we can roll it out. This may go fast or not so fast, at this moment we do not yet know. But rest assured it will come!

Holy _____, Batman!

 

[Steve Williams]

Reading this thread every morning first thing IMO is better than coffee and my morning cereal. Having followed the Taiko grand scheme of pursuing the best SQ, it becomes almost unreal listening to the upgrades Taiko brings to the table. in fact even though I’m betting Emile’s new interface will become the industry standard I have to admit that this means eliminating the Taiko USB card which for my ears was a huge uptick in the SQ but Emile has never failed to deliver on his promises. The last half of this year I’m betting will bring to fruition so many of the Taiko projects under development.
Router
XDMS-NSM
New interface
Extreme with BPS

ti name but a few. Emile I think once said he has 17 projects in the pipeline of which only a few have been revealed so far. This is better than finding the prize in a Cracker Jacks box

 

[Johnny Moondog]

Nothing but Superlative Music

 

[Christiaan Punter]

Taiko Audio Extreme Network Switch and Extreme Network Card - Part 3​

Tested on Finite Elemente Pagode Master Reference Platform​

The other day, a friend dropped by with a Finite Elemente Pagode Master Reference (MR) Platform which presented the perfect opportunity to try together with the Taiko Audio Extreme Switch.

This will be Part 3 in my coverage of the Extreme Switch.

Click here for Part 1
Click here for Part 2

Coming from Part 2, my favorite support was the Artesania Aire rack with Carbon linear Arms and KSH2 Krion shelf, with Ansuz T2S Darkz footers under the Switch, as shown below.



The above configuration achieved the cleanest, tightest, most articulate, and most transparent sonic rendition so far. When visually comparing the Artesania rack with the Finite Elemente, one can't help but feel the latter must surely sound relatively colored with all the wood compared to the Artesania's Metal and Carbon. I know I sure had my expectations.

As the Ansuz Darkz T2S footers had already been selected as the "winners", I refrained from further experiments and applied the same footers with the Pagode again.

The platform is fitted with four Finite Elemente Cerabases which according to Finite (and many users) are the optional ideal footers.



As it turned out, the Pagode platform is actually very well-balanced. When you rap it with your knuckles it certainly sounds resonant and wooden but the Finite team has taken counter-measures using advanced measuring techniques and implementing 4 anti-resonance rods. As a result, any resonances are dampened very quickly, making for a much cleaner and more linear sound than I expected.

When placed on the Pagode, the platform provides the Switch with a slightly more robust upper bass and a midrange that at first seems just the tiniest bit forward and wooden (or maybe the Artesania combo is slightly restrained in that area) but within minutes, the new presentation grows on you and makes you forget about the technicalities while enjoying the music. Timbrally, I would say the Pagode platform can at times seem more realistic or convincing but I can't really make up my mind as to whether the platform adds some coloration or the Artesania combo is missing something. In any event, going back and forth between the two, I feel emotionally more drawn to the presentation with the Pagode while my conscious mind feels the Artesania is just a little bit cleaner, high-res, and transparent, but comparatively also a tad cooler and arguably slightly more technical. Finally, I should add that these latter aspects are to be attributed to the KSH2 Krion shelf as the Aire platform itself is actually very organic. It's just that the Aire's footers are not ideal for use with small components such as the Switch and are impossible to use with multiple smaller components (such as the upcoming Router and DC Distributor.



How about that? I did not expect it but must admit that the Pagode poses a solution that I would place at the same high sonic level as the Artesania solution. They provide different renditions but they both work very well.

Now, I know what some of you might be thinking... "How would the Extreme server sound on the Pagode platform?!" Well, with some help, I hope to test that next.

 

[jelt2359]

You can also try putting FE footers under your switch directly (but still on top of the platform). My whole system is wired with FE including footers on every component and multiple carbon fibre boards

 

[wil]

I think my IP for the Extreme may have spontaneously changed as I can’t get onto VNC or connect to XDMS.

@oldmustang suggested a site for looking up IP’s but I’ve forgotten what that was. (I can’t use Fing, because I don’t have WiFi - only wired).

 

[oldmustang]

I think my IP for the Extreme may have spontaneously changed as I can’t get onto VNC or connect to XDMS.

@oldmustang suggested a site for looking up IP’s but I’ve forgotten what that was. (I can’t use Fing, because I don’t have WiFi - only wired).

LanScan is what I use. There is both a free version and a "premium" or pro version. The free one does what I need it to do. Works with macOS and iOS.

Steve Z

 

[wil]

LanScan is what I use. There is both a free version and a "premium" or pro version. The free one does what I need it to do. Works with macOS and iOS.

Steve Z

That’s it! Thanks as always, Steve!

 

[oldmustang]

That’s it! Thanks as always, Steve!

You're very welcome, Wil. I'm glad I could help.

Steve Z