Uber High End Streamer Wars: Taiko vs. Wadax. What are the Design and Subjective Sonic Differences between the 2?

andromedaaudio said:

All this Uber / whats best BS stems from the US where you re valued according to your bankaccount

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I was not born in the U.S., although I am now an American.
I can unequivocally state that - generally speaking - your statement is untrue. I am confident that one is mostly valued according to his or her accomplishments in the U.S. Those accomplishments may certainly result in financial wealth, but they do not always. I have spent my career in close contact (on boards, committees, working groups, and otherwise) with literally dozens of people whose wealth is 10x to100x mine, and I have never been disregarded, devalued, or dismissed because of that..
One particular shortcoming that can sometimes be too prevalent in the U.S. is a tendency to judge too quickly or evaluate over too short a time span. In many cases, however, that may be preferable to never evaluating at all...

andromedaaudio said:

Its all about what you like to listen to ...

UBER .....


All this Uber / whats best BS stems from the US where you re valued according to your bankaccount

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Wow you really do not know Americans or America. Bank account is two words.

andromedaaudio said:

Its all about what you like to listen to ...

UBER .....


All this Uber / whats best BS stems from the US where you re valued according to your bankaccount

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Dude, this is an incredibly offensive post. Really taints imho what you say on this forum.

Guys Ceasar started this thread he can handle it , dont worry

Would be nice if someone eventually were to be in a position to compare the Wadax vs Taiko streamers.

Comparing equipment (even if sometimes there are plenty of caveats and limitations in the exercise) is a key aspect of this hobby. It is interesting, it is part of the fun and can even be helpful.

At least I think so.

In this case, it is perfectly understandable if dealers don't carry the two brands in question. But sometimes some audiophiles are still able to manage such comparisons.

Over the years, I have been able through home trials, bringing equipment to dealers and liaising with friends to do comparisons that otherwise just relying on a single dealer's inventory would not have been possible. I do not find this remarkable.

I have heard both to me its a NC.
Wadax

Key points .
Palpable sonic presentation , almost deprived of the usual digital artifacts.
Its in a class of its own ( if all things are in order system wise ,)
Best vocal rendition of any digital equipment to date

andromedaaudio said:

I have heard both to me its a NC.
Wadax

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Did you listen to Taiko Olympus when you compared to Wadax?

matthias said:

Did you listen to Taiko Olympus when you compared to Wadax?

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I dont know .
I heard Taiko in Veldhoven a couple of years ago and i suppose i ve heard their latest offering in Munich 2024 .

andromedaaudio said:

i suppose i ve heard their latest offering in Munich 2024 .

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In Munich I was never impressed by Wadax.

andromedaaudio said:

Guys Ceasar started this thread he can handle it , dont worry

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And you insult and denigrate the rest of us by lumping us all into your stereotypes. Ignored.

andromedaaudio said:

Its all about what you like to listen to ...

UBER .....


All this Uber / whats best BS stems from the US where you re valued according to your bankaccount

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While there are many here in the US who have sensibilities such as you describe, to extrapolate as you have is like someone on this side of the pond suggesting Europeans are arrogant and condescending. Stereotyping groups is intellectually lazy...

andromedaaudio said:

I dont know .
I heard Taiko in Veldhoven a couple of years ago and i suppose i ve heard their latest offering in Munich 2024 .

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I did not make myself clear.

I was referring to people who have had a chance to compare them head to head.

I have heard the Wadax server and the Taiko as well. But never head to head.

PLF said:

Would be nice if someone eventually were to be in a position to compare the Wadax vs Taiko streamers.

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did it three years ago. it was a lot of work to make sure each was optimized. it took a willing Wadax dealer with faith in a willing customer who had a state of the art digital set up. and the mental energy and drive to make it happen. lots of dominos to fall right. at that point i was a serial comparer. with years of format comparing behind me. so it was in my wheelhouse. it's not for everyone.

now three years later the Wadax has had a number of advancements (to Level 4) and i have them, and the Taiko has a new version. i have zero appetite to do it again. while my suppressed audiophile urges are curious, my state of mind is not really that interested as i am in an end game "turned-the-page" mind set all around. i'm just happy listening every day.

PLF said:

Comparing equipment (even if sometimes there are plenty of caveats and limitations in the exercise) is a key aspect of this hobby. It is interesting, it is part of the fun and can even be helpful.

At least I think so.

In this case, it is perfectly understandable if dealers don't carry the two brands in question. But sometimes some audiophiles are still able to manage such comparisons.

Over the years, I have been able through home trials, bringing equipment to dealers and liaising with friends to do comparisons that otherwise just relying on a single dealer's inventory would not have been possible. I do not find this remarkable.

Click to expand...

moving Wadax gear from place to place is quite a job. doing it (Level 4) right you have three 100 pound chassis and 2 50 pound chassis, and the cases too. and then you have racks and resonance control and proper routers and switches and power cords and the room space. and that is just the Wadax side. and most Wadax owners are not as adventurous as me.

Mike Lavigne said:

did it three years ago. it was a lot of work to make sure each was optimized. it took a willing Wadax dealer with faith in a willing customer who had a state of the art digital set up. and the mental energy and drive to make it happen. lots of dominos to fall right. at that point i was a serial comparer. with years of format comparing behind me. so it was in my wheelhouse. it's not for everyone.

now three years later the Wadax has had a number of advancements (to Level 4) and i have them, and the Taiko has a new version. i have zero appetite to do it again. while my suppressed audiophile urges are curious, my state of mind is not really that interested as i am in an end game "turned-the-page" mind set all around. i'm just happy listening every day.

moving Wadax gear from place to place is quite a job. doing it (Level 4) right you have three 100 pound chassis and 2 50 pound chassis, and the cases too. and then you have racks and resonance control and proper routers and switches and power cords and the room space. and that is just the Wadax side. and most Wadax owners are not as adventurous as me.

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We did compare what was the top of the line Taiko at the time. I understand that they meaning Taiko have a new product but you can't compare what they didnt have.

matthias said:

In Munich I was never impressed by Wadax.

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Just for my information what exactly does this mean?

As an Engineer these past several decades I found a rule of thumb to be mostly true: Nobody believes the test results except for the guy who did the testing, and everyone believes the calculations except for the guy who did them.

Comparisons are good for the person who does them. They get peace of mind but not likely to convince others. If enough comparisons are made to do a statistical study, then it might be more convincing.

Making judgments based on hearing something at a show seems unwise. Best to hear a system or component in someone‘s home or your own home where things can be adjusted and tuned. Back in the 1990s I remember hearing Theil speakers at various stores around the country. In every case I did not like their sound. Then I heard a pair in someone‘s home with the right electronics for the Thiels and that was enough to convince me to buy a pair for myself- replacing my large panels. Up to then no cone speaker could make the cut to my ears.

One last note: A cheap component outperforming a top of the line component? Really? Sometimes a first impression can be positive and I think, wow! This budget piece is really good. But after a longer listening session of more than a few minutes I begin to hear the differences. Yes, most of the time it is, turn that thing down!, immediately but sometimes a budget piece isn‘t too bad, but it is still a budget piece of gear with limitations. An anecdotal story: Decades ago I had a Koetsu Black phono cartridge. I loved that cartridge and I wore it down to a nub. Not willing at the time to spend a lot of money on a new one and I wasn‘t to sure about how to get a retip, I bought a low cost, „giant killer“ cartridge that reviewers and others said sounded great. I listened to it and yes, at first it sounded pretty good. But as I listened I began to notice what was missing and the way some things sounded were off. I ended up returning that cartridge and bought a Benz Wood body. Loved that cartridge too.

And yes when I am spending my own money on a component I want to be sure I am getting the best sound for my money. I‘m not in this league but I had several DACs in my home to audition from a couple grand up to my current DAC and I‘m convinced I got the best sound for my money. If someone else finds a different solution, I‘m good with that too.

My suggestion is this: Play a few tracks of The Blues Company on both DACs. Whichever one makes you tap your toes uncontrollably, buy it.

Elliot G. said:

Just for my information what exactly does this mean?

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When I like a room in the atrium I usually come back for several times and stay in this room much longer.
This was not typically the case in Wadax rooms.

matthias said:

When I like a room in the atrium I usually come back for several times and stay in this room much longer.
This was not typically the case in Wadax rooms.

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so you did not like any of the 3 systems using Wadax last May?
Magico Room
Wadax Room with ARC and Magico
Gobel Room with Wadax and Pilium

FYI for contrast what exactly did you like at MOC this year?

Elliot G. said:

are you going to step up and buy one? I have the Wadax and I ll be happy to compare them if you send me the one I don't have. I ve spent my money how about you?
FYI the Wadax is great, been reviewed if that matters by everyone. The other is it even available? Not trying to start anything but these threads are IMO just looking for drama.
dCS is brand new I believe just coming out and I personally don't know anyone that is familiar with it AND has listened extensively to its competition. Fan boys dont count and neither do reviews by people that went from a entry level dac to a 300k one.
I assume they are all excellent but who Caesar determines what's best?
These discussions seem really silly to me as its one opinion versus another based on what criteria? If I say its the best does that count? I am an evil member of the dealer universe so I must be corrupt and wrong right?
Whats best speaker?
whats best amp?
Whats best TT?
Whats best cartridge?
Whats best cheeseburger?
Whats best Pizza?

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All good questions and input to determine for YOU What's Best on this forum.

andromedaaudio said:

Its all about what you like to listen to ...

UBER .....


All this Uber / whats best BS stems from the US where you re valued according to your bankaccount

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LOL, I think you're watching too much news (and not the remotely decent kind). You really think the US is the only country where Uber systems, watches, cars, designer clothing, etc. i.e.: money matters? ;-)