MSB and Taiko, let's go!
- Thread starter Daniel Francis
- Start date
-
- Tags
- msb msb technology taiko
I just programed and tested a large batch of Taiko Pro ISL cards and saw them ship yesterday!
...I heard a near-by friend may be getting his O with card installed shipped very soon. Nice! Can't wait.
Hooray!. I just got my MSB module shipping notice. Just the "Label created" info on tracking, but finally on the way.
...it's real. It's here. Taiko XDMI MSB daughter board. 
...OK MSB honchos: this is trickier than you might think to install. Definitely need some doc support.
Probably obvious, but not in doc: you need to disconnect ground wire from the chassis, and the Molex power cable to remove the analog board.
You can probably make your way to removing the analog board/ground cable from the PCIe slot OK, and disassembling the analog board from the main board.
It is noted, you need different screws (supplied) to affix the MSB board to the main board.
That assembly of daughter board and main board goes into the PCIe slot, BUT it may appear NOT to set in place correctly, and it may be crooked side-to-side.
And it will be waaay proud (sticks up above chassis bottom) and appear NOT to fit. I thought it did not fit/seat correctly. I ping-ed @nenon who told me that was OK.
So, I used the center screw (one of the six you had to remove to remove the analog board itself) and a flashlight to align the holes in the chassis and new board.
Once you get one screw in, you're golden. The other five will seat, perhaps with a little wiggle. That places the new assembled card in place as desired.
Re-connect the Molex power connector. There is no ground wire, as there was on the analog assembly (that's why disconnect it from the chassis, not the board heatsink).
This would benefit from a video. I sincerely hope these few tips will help, and keep you from raising your blood pressure.
Good Luck! Reach out.
Probably obvious, but not in doc: you need to disconnect ground wire from the chassis, and the Molex power cable to remove the analog board.
You can probably make your way to removing the analog board/ground cable from the PCIe slot OK, and disassembling the analog board from the main board.
It is noted, you need different screws (supplied) to affix the MSB board to the main board.
That assembly of daughter board and main board goes into the PCIe slot, BUT it may appear NOT to set in place correctly, and it may be crooked side-to-side.
And it will be waaay proud (sticks up above chassis bottom) and appear NOT to fit. I thought it did not fit/seat correctly. I ping-ed @nenon who told me that was OK.
So, I used the center screw (one of the six you had to remove to remove the analog board itself) and a flashlight to align the holes in the chassis and new board.
Once you get one screw in, you're golden. The other five will seat, perhaps with a little wiggle. That places the new assembled card in place as desired.
Re-connect the Molex power connector. There is no ground wire, as there was on the analog assembly (that's why disconnect it from the chassis, not the board heatsink).
This would benefit from a video. I sincerely hope these few tips will help, and keep you from raising your blood pressure.
Good Luck! Reach out.
That's because it was tilted to the right on the photo. Once you straighten it up and fit one of the 6 screws, it becomes really easy.
The other thing that confused @MarkusBarkus was which audio interface in Roon to select. It's the same interface as XDMI analog. So don't look for an interface named "MSB".
Below, in my case it is named XDMI.
@MarkusBarkus had it renamed to "Taiko Analog", and I can see how that can get confusing...
...confusion and I are old friends.
In my defense, I did expect a more solid-feeling fitment between board and "socket" to indicate "home."
But once the six screws are in place and tightened, there is no question it is seated correctly.
In my defense, I did expect a more solid-feeling fitment between board and "socket" to indicate "home."
But once the six screws are in place and tightened, there is no question it is seated correctly.
Curious to read your thoughts about sonic differences/improvements the new direct connection via Pro ISL module can bring to the table. TIA
Hope other server manufacturers will soon provide their devices with Pro ISL output modules..
Hope other server manufacturers will soon provide their devices with Pro ISL output modules..
...I re-installed the XDMI MSB daughter card yesterday evening, and it's been streaming all night.
I intend to let it play all week, listening in from time to time. I can update WBF folks here as appropriate. This will be the third listening cycle with the MSB board, having been in and out swapping with the Taiko Analog card.
Notes:
--MSB Reference dac and DD.
--Per MSB there will be NO DAC cable into their devices. OEM fiber.
--I am streaming Qobus via Roon.
--Dedicated fiber audio-only service. Nokia modem on sBooster 12v lps.
--Taiko DCD and switch, on Uptone LPS1.2 power, 12v.
Last Friday afternoon, I had a very interesting listening session with the Taiko Olympus, using the XDMI MSB workflow and the Taiko Analog card.
For approximately four hours, Guy of "The Speaker Shop," a Taiko dealer in Buffalo, NY and Vince of MSB, and my local hifi pal Carl listened to the system here to get a sense of the various workflows available to Taiko and MSB customers.
My Olympus has been running since the end of November, first using the Taiko Analog card, as shipped, and later swapping over to the Taiko XDMI MSB daughter board implementation.
I have swapped the daughter boards a few times before for solo listening sessions and comparisons with Carl. It's not difficult to do, but the screws are a bit fiddly to secure the boards to the chassis. You may have seen my pics in the main thread.
It takes 15 to 20 minutes to power down the Olympus (procedure is on the Taiko site), loosen the screws, drop and retrieve them from wherever they bounce, disconnect the power harness connector, pull the board, remove the daughter board on the "parent" card, install the "other" card, slide in the assembled boards, and tighten the retaining screws. And power up.
As the MSB card was already in place from my most recent listening sessions, we started with the easiest, most familiar flow for my guests: Server USB output to ProISL external converter box, to Digital Director and Reference dac.
For me, the USB path is very good. It sounds full and rich. As I have been on an Extreme for about five years, I recognize the general sound profile, although the Olympus bumps it up a notch.
The Olympus USB was the fastest break-in of all the outputs, IMO. Initially sounding very similar to the Extreme flow to my ears, after a few days, maybe a week, it was *noticeably* better. Very enjoyable and lively. A bit more detail and better imaging than its predecessor.
One could probably run Olympus USB output and be happy, but that's kind of like taking the complimentary mint, when there's tiramisu on the menu.
After a short listen via USB, we moved to the Taiko XDMI MSB output via OEM fiber to the Digital Director...normal workflow for MSB owners (with DD).
One thing was clear on my system: the Taiko XDMI MSB board needs a good burn-in. The difference in SQ after another week (from my initial comments in the main thread) of 24/7 streaming is notable. From screaming eagle to soaring eagle.
I was initially worried that I would never truly enjoy the XDMI output via my MSB stack. It was harsh to me. Both the USB workflow with MSB ProISL converter and the Taiko Analog output sounded better in the early sessions.
Even with multi-day DCD Alt2 break-in suggested by Emile, the early sound was harsh to me.
So, I'm relieved that the XDMI MSB workflow finally came alive. I don't think I would have been able to accept that presentation as the final landing spot here.
Fortunately, by the time we did the session Friday, things were running well, and sounding very good. I didn't document time in service, but perhaps 150-200 hours on the MSB board by game time. More on the Analog card (which means a lot more on both the Olympus and the base, "parent board" itself.
The sound was direct, full and detailed. What I know of the MSB Reference stack, but with more air, perhaps.
Finally, it was time for the Taiko Analog workflow.
The Buffaloes discussed cured meat and online options for good salumi and cheeses while I switched things around. About 15 minutes with those mini-screws and my chunky fingers.
I like the sound of the Taiko Analog card, and before things worked-in, it was my favorite way to listen on the Olympus. Full-sounding, good tone. Fast and detailed. Nothing not to like for me. I like it a lot.
Among the output types, some differences or preferences are subtle. A little grain in the presentation. Precision of note "attack." Tone. A personal sense of "rightness" in the presentation. These are details and points of interest to individuals, and although listeners will agree on some points, and comments may cluster around elements they prefer, ultimately, these are very personal observations and preferences.
For me, I would not buy an Olympus for its USB quality, although it is excellent and perhaps as good as it gets. I would understand completely if some folks wanted a state-of-the-art USB feed for their favorite USB dac. It would be terrific.
I am still considering my preferences between the Taiko XDMI MSB daughter board output flow and the Taiko Analog card implementation. I like both and on a given day, could go either way.
My audio pals that have the MSB Cascade with the Olympus XDMI MSB output have told me it's amazing. They love it. I will leave it to those folks to tell their own stories, but it would not surprise me if the Cascade provided an elevated experience over my Reference dac and Digital Director. After all, the Cascade recently dethroned the Select 2 as the MSB flagship offering. Of course it sounds "better" than its siblings. I expect to hear it for myself before too long.
Finally, there is an epilogue to this audio story.
As we were coming to the late afternoon, and I was eyeing the clock to pick up my dog from daycare, the Buffaloes asked if we had a bit more time.
I had no idea they had a hidden tiger and a crouching dragon in tow when they mentioned an MSB S202 stereo amp in the car. We hauled that crate in and let it warn up for 30 minutes.
A little more charcuterie discussion while they hooked up the AQ Dragon pc and the Odin2 ICs.
Finally, we let it go and listened to the MSB set-up, with the Reference dac as pre-amp, via USB output, ProISL to DD. I was glad to accommodate this set-up, because it gives those guys a good baseline on their gear, albeit in a different room, to assess what they heard...new sound vs. familiar sound. I think it was excellent that the MSB honchos asked if they could come by and set up a time to listen in a customer's home system. Kudos to those guys. It ain't a Steve Williams level sound-chamber, but the room is quiet, treated and sounding pretty good (to me!).
And kudos to all the designers and engineers on both teams that continue to push the sonic envelope for home audio.
I plan to spend the next few days listening to that MSB amp and USB set-up, since I have it for a bit. Why not?
After that, I'll switch back to the XDMI MSB workflow and who knows? Fortunately, I don't have to sell the MSB to finance other projects, so I could enjoy both options off-and-on for a while. It's a choice, not a problem!
Notes:
--We did NOT bypass the DD for this demo, although that was mentioned as a possible exploration on WBF, I think.
--Session was done streaming Qobuz via Roon.
--Dedicated fiber ISP for audio-only. --Nokia modem is on a LPS.
--Cat 6a cable to Taiko switch.
--Switch is powered via Taiko DCD (Alt2), fed by Farad3 and Uptone LPS1.2 @ 12v.
--After Dark Amphenol 2m DAC (cable) to Olympus.
--OEM fiber to MSB devices.
--WestminsterLab bridged Rei amps and Quest preamp.
--Magico A5 speakers.
--Masterbuilt Reference 2 cabling (primarily).
--Dedicated power and TT7.
--Another aspect comes to mind: I don't know the precise details re: pre-amp voltages, impedances, etc. so volume matching has an asterisk on it as we switch brands and workflows. But it all sounds good!
For approximately four hours, Guy of "The Speaker Shop," a Taiko dealer in Buffalo, NY and Vince of MSB, and my local hifi pal Carl listened to the system here to get a sense of the various workflows available to Taiko and MSB customers.
My Olympus has been running since the end of November, first using the Taiko Analog card, as shipped, and later swapping over to the Taiko XDMI MSB daughter board implementation.
I have swapped the daughter boards a few times before for solo listening sessions and comparisons with Carl. It's not difficult to do, but the screws are a bit fiddly to secure the boards to the chassis. You may have seen my pics in the main thread.
It takes 15 to 20 minutes to power down the Olympus (procedure is on the Taiko site), loosen the screws, drop and retrieve them from wherever they bounce, disconnect the power harness connector, pull the board, remove the daughter board on the "parent" card, install the "other" card, slide in the assembled boards, and tighten the retaining screws. And power up.
As the MSB card was already in place from my most recent listening sessions, we started with the easiest, most familiar flow for my guests: Server USB output to ProISL external converter box, to Digital Director and Reference dac.
For me, the USB path is very good. It sounds full and rich. As I have been on an Extreme for about five years, I recognize the general sound profile, although the Olympus bumps it up a notch.
The Olympus USB was the fastest break-in of all the outputs, IMO. Initially sounding very similar to the Extreme flow to my ears, after a few days, maybe a week, it was *noticeably* better. Very enjoyable and lively. A bit more detail and better imaging than its predecessor.
One could probably run Olympus USB output and be happy, but that's kind of like taking the complimentary mint, when there's tiramisu on the menu.
After a short listen via USB, we moved to the Taiko XDMI MSB output via OEM fiber to the Digital Director...normal workflow for MSB owners (with DD).
One thing was clear on my system: the Taiko XDMI MSB board needs a good burn-in. The difference in SQ after another week (from my initial comments in the main thread) of 24/7 streaming is notable. From screaming eagle to soaring eagle.
I was initially worried that I would never truly enjoy the XDMI output via my MSB stack. It was harsh to me. Both the USB workflow with MSB ProISL converter and the Taiko Analog output sounded better in the early sessions.
Even with multi-day DCD Alt2 break-in suggested by Emile, the early sound was harsh to me.
So, I'm relieved that the XDMI MSB workflow finally came alive. I don't think I would have been able to accept that presentation as the final landing spot here.
Fortunately, by the time we did the session Friday, things were running well, and sounding very good. I didn't document time in service, but perhaps 150-200 hours on the MSB board by game time. More on the Analog card (which means a lot more on both the Olympus and the base, "parent board" itself.
The sound was direct, full and detailed. What I know of the MSB Reference stack, but with more air, perhaps.
Finally, it was time for the Taiko Analog workflow.
The Buffaloes discussed cured meat and online options for good salumi and cheeses while I switched things around. About 15 minutes with those mini-screws and my chunky fingers.
I like the sound of the Taiko Analog card, and before things worked-in, it was my favorite way to listen on the Olympus. Full-sounding, good tone. Fast and detailed. Nothing not to like for me. I like it a lot.
Among the output types, some differences or preferences are subtle. A little grain in the presentation. Precision of note "attack." Tone. A personal sense of "rightness" in the presentation. These are details and points of interest to individuals, and although listeners will agree on some points, and comments may cluster around elements they prefer, ultimately, these are very personal observations and preferences.
For me, I would not buy an Olympus for its USB quality, although it is excellent and perhaps as good as it gets. I would understand completely if some folks wanted a state-of-the-art USB feed for their favorite USB dac. It would be terrific.
I am still considering my preferences between the Taiko XDMI MSB daughter board output flow and the Taiko Analog card implementation. I like both and on a given day, could go either way.
My audio pals that have the MSB Cascade with the Olympus XDMI MSB output have told me it's amazing. They love it. I will leave it to those folks to tell their own stories, but it would not surprise me if the Cascade provided an elevated experience over my Reference dac and Digital Director. After all, the Cascade recently dethroned the Select 2 as the MSB flagship offering. Of course it sounds "better" than its siblings. I expect to hear it for myself before too long.
Finally, there is an epilogue to this audio story.
As we were coming to the late afternoon, and I was eyeing the clock to pick up my dog from daycare, the Buffaloes asked if we had a bit more time.
I had no idea they had a hidden tiger and a crouching dragon in tow when they mentioned an MSB S202 stereo amp in the car. We hauled that crate in and let it warn up for 30 minutes.
A little more charcuterie discussion while they hooked up the AQ Dragon pc and the Odin2 ICs.
Finally, we let it go and listened to the MSB set-up, with the Reference dac as pre-amp, via USB output, ProISL to DD. I was glad to accommodate this set-up, because it gives those guys a good baseline on their gear, albeit in a different room, to assess what they heard...new sound vs. familiar sound. I think it was excellent that the MSB honchos asked if they could come by and set up a time to listen in a customer's home system. Kudos to those guys. It ain't a Steve Williams level sound-chamber, but the room is quiet, treated and sounding pretty good (to me!).
And kudos to all the designers and engineers on both teams that continue to push the sonic envelope for home audio.
I plan to spend the next few days listening to that MSB amp and USB set-up, since I have it for a bit. Why not?
After that, I'll switch back to the XDMI MSB workflow and who knows? Fortunately, I don't have to sell the MSB to finance other projects, so I could enjoy both options off-and-on for a while. It's a choice, not a problem!
Notes:
--We did NOT bypass the DD for this demo, although that was mentioned as a possible exploration on WBF, I think.
--Session was done streaming Qobuz via Roon.
--Dedicated fiber ISP for audio-only. --Nokia modem is on a LPS.
--Cat 6a cable to Taiko switch.
--Switch is powered via Taiko DCD (Alt2), fed by Farad3 and Uptone LPS1.2 @ 12v.
--After Dark Amphenol 2m DAC (cable) to Olympus.
--OEM fiber to MSB devices.
--WestminsterLab bridged Rei amps and Quest preamp.
--Magico A5 speakers.
--Masterbuilt Reference 2 cabling (primarily).
--Dedicated power and TT7.
--Another aspect comes to mind: I don't know the precise details re: pre-amp voltages, impedances, etc. so volume matching has an asterisk on it as we switch brands and workflows. But it all sounds good!
Last edited:
Similar threads
- Sticky
- Sticky
- Sticky
- Sticky
