DOES ANYONE REGRET BUYING A TAIKO EXTREME SERVER? ANYTHING BETTER?
- Thread starter DoctorWhy
- Start date
Maybe someone who contributed (amps only?) will be able to pull up this not so distant topic by searching for a product they know was mentioned. It could still be very fun looking at the type of design observations happening here.
Two photographs of the Wadax DAC outer case have yet to sound deeply as the first 1/10 second after seeing an overhead shot of SGM Monaco with cover removed. Which strikes me as comparing an impeccable tasting apple to incongruous appearing vine fruit.
Visually Wadax appear to have dealt with the bulk by going for a tiered design evoking a scene without any skyscrapers interrupting the sight lines of squat monumental buildings. A language echoed in the cues found on Atlantis series. Some of the very creative impressions it evoked here might not set a product manager alight with pride.
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I like this look less. IMO this is straight up gaudy not Gaudi. I am not talking about the sound but looking at this I want to play Saturday Night Fever and unbutton my shirt ad put on some chains!
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Don't judge Wadax when you cannot hear and own them in real life.
Got that .
I must agree with you
it is fantastic kombo.
I was able to upgrate D1 Twelve to D1 Twentyfour (doubled the D1 Twelve)
some time ago and than not long ago to upgrate it to MK2.
Add 2 D1 drivers for your amps and you can stay with that forever.
The design of Soulution products resembles CH Precision's a lot.
I like both.
They use similar design clues yet also have their recognizable identity...IMO, is like seeing two cousins, you know they are reasonably similar yet have their different personalities
IMHO probably they have taste and also a sense of real world economics. We can easily see that Wadax designed it for an asian culture - they know that typically western people do not have the money or intent to buy the best DAC in the world and will spend their time teasing it without ever listening...
IMO that is better but really I don't care if it sounds great I will own it. I have had lots of gear and the looks never was a concern. The quality is always a concern and the sound of course is number one
It is a wonderful product and we have shown with them in Munich and were also supposed to show with them at Axpona in 2020. The gold thing is totally something that we just joke about but if you like then own it. I have said before that they make some great gear and I hope this year to have the big guy in my room to hear.
Mike, I found more info on the Nagra HD Dac X. It is a much better sounding unit. Nagra produced it as a cost no object product with a larger chassis and much more expensive components. Retail on HD Dac X is $65,000, vs. $28,500 for the HD Dac. According to Nagra, the HD Dac was part of their "Classic Line." The HD Dac X is part of their premium "HD Line."
And as for the present discussion regarding visual aesthetics, my vote goes to the Nagra HD Pre Amp and HD Dac X. I love the finish on the vibration damping legs.
I think a lot of the gear we admire would fall under the characterization of Bauhaus design. The term Bauhaus literally means “construction house” and was originally referring to the architecture school of German design that emerged in 1919 and was led by the architect Walter Gropius. The basic principles are:
No distinction between artist and craftsman and the artist is an exalted craftsman. Put another way, the designer is part of the complete design process including concept, design and manufacturing.
Form follows function. Simple but elegant geometric shapes were designed based on the intended function or purpose of a building or an object. In audio, what are these electronic devices if not basically boxes that amplify or transduct electrical signals. It’s easy to make this case that for companies like CH, Soulution and Goldmund. Although their chassis work not quite as monolithic like those above, one could consider DartZeel essentially a Bauhaus design as well as a common Bauhaus color motif was to use a single highlight color, typically red or blue in their architectural design. Others might certainly include Taiko and Robert Koda. Wadax? Uh, hardly! McIntosh? A definitely no but for many of us, it is still some of the most beautiful gear ever made.
Minimalism. Bauhaus artists favoured linear and geometrical forms, avoiding floral or curvilinear shapes. It's hard to improve upon a simple box for a minimalist design!
True materials and new techniques. Materials should reflect the true nature of objects and buildings. The appearance of the “screwless” chassis, such as found on Soulution gear typifies this point.
Emphasis on technology. Well, this is crystal clear in SOA audio design. Need we say more?
Smart use of resources. Bauhaus ideology is characterized by an "economic" way of thinking. Similar analogies can be made for their audio counterparts (i.e. novel power supplies, internal power rails, wiring, heat sinks etc).
Simplicity and Effectiveness. There is no need for additional ornamenting and making things more and more ‘beautiful’. They are just fine as they are.
Constant development. Bauhaus is all about new techniques, new materials, new ways of construction, new attitude – all the time. Our audio counterparts obviously share this attribute.
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Sorry Marty, being an admirer of the Bauhaus school I can't fully agree. Unfortunately modern designers sacrifice function to design. Small, hard to read, displays, inconvenient switches grouped in inappropriate places, no handles in heavy equipment. A Bauhaus design is much more than simple forms. We have a a listening hobby, but most of the time people of our age can't listen without reading glasses!
I ordered the Nagra HD DAC X. Was ready to spring for a Select II. Two people who heard Dac X vs Select II in all Nagra Systems with good Wilson Speakers leaned gently towards the DAC X.
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