Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

[Kris]

In how many systems have you heard the ER? I think this is a really broad statement.

4 different servers, the rest of the system is the same.
Extreme works much better when A side ports are used in my experience.
Emile and few others with Extreme in the system confirmed they also prefer the A side only.

But if you have different experience I always like to listen.
I love to learn what am I doing wrong .
Once I know I have a priceless chance to do it better

 

[Taiko Audio]

@Mobiusman and @Leif S , the combination of a boat trip and hearing the VR9's in a home environment sounds very enticing. Maybe I could join in when we are all allowed to travel again

@musicfirst100 and @heebrog , will make that a priority after I've managed to get through my daily e-mails

 

[darkfrank]

4 different servers, the rest of the system is the same.
Extreme works much better when A side ports are used in my experience.
Emile and few others with Extreme in the system confirmed they also prefer the A side only.

But if you have different experience I always like to listen.
I love to learn what am I doing wrong .
Once I know I have a priceless chance to do it better

I use DIY server and copper connection only, I found ER A to A is better then A to B in my system.

B side is kinda lack of dynamic which has a softer sound and the frequency extension is also smaller (nice mid).

 

[oldmustang]

My Extreme is in the mail and as I was trying to get caught up on this thread, I was wondering if anyone had tried the Sonore FMC into the SFP port, as compared to the ER A-side only. I plan to use the internal storage, and don't use any streaming services, so my only network input would be Roon control (and server maintenance via VNC Viewer).

Thanks.

Congratulations on the Extreme -- I predict you are going to love it.

If by the Sonore FMC you mean the Optical Module, yes, there has been a comparison made with the EtherRegen by a "well-known member". Posts #3137 and #3138 in this thread.

Steve Z

 

[oldmustang]

Thanks Kris, much appreciated. My Sonore OM runs quite warm as well.

Talking with the power supply designer for Sonore (can't remember his name right now -- it will probably come to me right after I hit "Post Reply") he said that while the range of input voltages to the OM is 5-9VDC he personally prefers 5VDC to minimize heating. I run my OM at 5VDC and while the case is warm, it is not what I would consider hot.

FWIW,

Steve Z

 

[oldmustang]

Talking with the power supply designer for Sonore (can't remember his name right now -- it will probably come to me right after I hit "Post Reply") he said that while the range of input voltages to the OM is 5-9VDC he personally prefers 5VDC to minimize heating. I run my OM at 5VDC and while the case is warm, it is not what I would consider hot.

FWIW,

Steve Z

Yup, it was @barrows who recommended 5VDC to power the Optical Module. All I had to do was hit "Post Reply" to remember!

Steve Z

 

[wil]

4 different servers, the rest of the system is the same.
Extreme works much better when A side ports are used in my experience.
Emile and few others with Extreme in the system confirmed they also prefer the A side only.

But if you have different experience I always like to listen.
I love to learn what am I doing wrong .
Once I know I have a priceless chance to do it better

I'm a little confused about these recommendations. Are you saying you're using: Copper in to eR A and then Copper eR A out to Extreme? So, not using "B" side at all?

 

[musicfirst1]

Pant, pant, huff, huff....
Well I'm halfway through this monster thread (88 pages down, 88 to go), and a question occurred to me Emile, hopefully it hasn't already been asked. Can you provide some digital reference recordings that you use? Especially those that test the limits of the Extremes' and your reference digital's capabilities?

Other Extreme owners feel free to add to this list as well!!

Mike L and Steve W especially..

 

[matthias]

I'm a little confused about these recommendations. Are you saying you're using: Copper in to eR A and then Copper eR A out to Extreme? So, not using "B" side at all?

AFAIK, no one with an Extreme uses the B-side of ER, all found the A-side superior.

Matt

 

[musicfirst1]

AFAIK, no one with an Extreme uses the B-side of ER, all found the A-side superior.

Matt

I'm confused and a search of these acronyms yields little.
Please define or link to definitions of A-side, B-side and ER.

 

[oldmustang]

ER = EtherRegen, an audiophile switch designed from the ground up by John Swenson for Uptone Audio.

It has an A side comprised of four isolated RJ-45 ports for wired ethernet and one “cage” in which an optical transceiver (SFP) can be inserted. The A side ports are further isolated internally by means of optical isolators from a single 100 mbps RJ-45 port on the B side.

https://uptoneaudio.com/products/etherregen

Hope this helps,

Steve Z

 

[wil]

AFAIK, no one with an Extreme uses the B-side of ER, all found the A-side superior.

Matt

I guess I mistakenly thought the eR would only function if the signal went across the "moat". That is A to B, or B to A

 

[nonesup]

ER = EtherRegen, an audiophile switch designed from the ground up by John Swenson for Uptone Audio.

It has an A side comprised of four isolated RJ-45 ports for wired ethernet and one “cage” in which an optical transceiver (SFP) can be inserted. The A side ports are further isolated internally by means of optical isolators from a single 100 mbps RJ-45 port on the B side.

https://uptoneaudio.com/products/etherregen

Hope this helps,

Steve Z

Steve, If you allow me, I would add a section to your great definition of EtherREGEN:
And that all users (except those with Extreme) find that A-B is much superior to A-A and without loss of dynamics.

 

[Taiko Audio]

Steve, If you allow me, I would add a section to your great definition of EtherREGEN:
And that all users (except those with Extreme) find that A-B is much superior to A-A and without loss of dynamics.

That is correct. This is however not just concerning the Ether Regen. Many years ago when I was using a dual (lower power) PC setup I used to use 100Mbit fiber networking which sounded better then gigabit at that time in that setup.

 

[matthias]

Steve, If you allow me, I would add a section to your great definition of EtherREGEN:
And that all users (except those with Extreme) find that A-B is much superior to A-A and without loss of dynamics.

Please have a look at post #3523 from @darkfrank .

Matt

 

[Taiko Audio]

Please have a look at post #3523.

Matt

Gigabit ethernet can easily consume 2-3 times more power then 100Mb, this can increase several types of noise in your power supply which needs to be laid out to deal with that. A 10Gb ethernet network card can even consume up to 10 watts! To indicate the significance of this, that alone exceeds the power consumption of low power motherboards+CPU's used in several populair commercial streamers.

 

[pleroma]

I'm so glad I got this server ...

 

[oldmustang]

I'm so glad I got this server ...

Beautiful setup! I'll bet it sounds great.

Congratulations!

Steve Z

 

[pleroma]

Congratulations on the Extreme -- I predict you are going to love it.

If by the Sonore FMC you mean the Optical Module, yes, there has been a comparison made with the EtherRegen by a "well-known member". Posts #3137 and #3138 in this thread.

Steve Z

Your prediction was spot on! Please thank that "well-known member" for me

It's doing way more than I thought (you guys said it, but I didn't really believe it). All the detail is there, plus more, but now in perfect balance, with more depth and tonal richness to instruments, more realistic attack, decay in percussion, breath in vocals, and greatest of all, I don't think the listening fatigue will be there (at least not to the extent before). The server component is huge.

 

[Mobiusman]

I'm so glad I got this server ...

View attachment 64373

Your prediction was spot on! Please thank that "well-known member" for me

It's doing way more than I thought (you guys said it, but I didn't really believe it). All the detail is there, plus more, but now in perfect balance, with more depth and tonal richness to instruments, more realistic attack, decay in percussion, breath in vocals, and greatest of all, I don't think the listening fatigue will be there (at least not to the extent before). The server component is huge.

I totally agree, although it is hard to tell what piece is doing what. I cannot emphasize enough the role the Center Stage 1.5 footers made to the Extreme. To me they are essential pieces to the Extreme Puzzle.