Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

[pleroma]

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.

If we take the lazy approach and call it a "synergy", then we can skip all the analysis and get back to listening It's almost as if the MSB et al were being held back by a DIY server that gave hints of what was possible, but couldn't sustain it in an enjoyable way.

I'm looking seriosly at those footers for sure.

 

[oldmustang]

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.

Consider him thanked. He's grinning right along with you!

You describe the Extreme experience perfectly. If you do experience any fatigue it will be from listening until the wee early hours of the morning.

Seriously, I found that using Planet Tech SFPs and an Optical Module for my fiber optic feed directly into the Extreme alleviated any hint of fatigue my digital feed might have been responsible for.

Have fun and enjoy!

Steve Z

 

[kswanson27]

Consider him thanked. He's grinning right along with you!

You describe the Extreme experience perfectly. If you do experience any fatigue it will be from listening until the wee early hours of the morning.

Seriously, I found that using Planet Tech SFPs and an Optical Module for my fiber optic feed directly into the Extreme alleviated any hint of fatigue my digital feed might have been responsible for.

Have fun and enjoy!

Steve Z

Steve,

I read your earlier posts but just to make sure you are running copper from your router to an OM, then Planet Tech SFP from OM to fiber to another Planet Tech SFP into the Extreme. Or have I misunderstood?

 

[oldmustang]

No, you got it right. I have a all-in-one DSL modem/router. I go from one of the modem/router's RJ-45 ports via a copper ethernet jumper (Sablon Audio ethernet cable) > Optical Module/Planet Tech SFP > fiber cable > Planet Tech SFP/Extreme fiber input.

All the rest of my local area network is downstream of the feed to the Extreme. I use the WAN port of the modem/router to go copper jumper > Startech FMC/Startech SFP > fiber optic > Startech SFP/Startech FMC > copper jumper > Synology RT2600ac wifi router > everything else.

The Startech FMCs and SFPs were left over from previous experiments with fiber, so I decided to put them to use.

Hope this helps,

Steve Z

 

[Kris]

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

Steve . I am happy to notice we all got to the samme conclusion.
last week I tested extensively the Sonore OM . I use 2 of them both with Planet SFP.
one is used as an isolation point for my wifi access point
second sends the optical sream direct to the extreme.

They got not only much less warm with 5v DC insted of 7v or 9v
but also the saturation of the SFPs is much less and with that my Extreme sounds glorious .
I am amazed how good it is now.

 

[Kris]

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?

Yes. No B side at all.
copper to A , copper out of A to Sonore OM that sends the stream to extreme .
all is 1Gbps

 

[Kris]

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

Matt

I think everyone tried to make the B work as it has a lot of very good things .
at the end we all ended to prefer the A side only.

as a side note there are now chips that can provide flip/flop at 1G speeds
so it might be possible for the Uptone to create the 1G B port with their next generation ER.
That would be an ultimate solution to benefit from both,

 

[Kris]

Consider him thanked. He's grinning right along with you!

You describe the Extreme experience perfectly. If you do experience any fatigue it will be from listening until the wee early hours of the morning.

Seriously, I found that using Planet Tech SFPs and an Optical Module for my fiber optic feed directly into the Extreme alleviated any hint of fatigue my digital feed might have been responsible for.

Have fun and enjoy!

Steve Z

This is absolutely true in my setup as well.
We both also use 5v DC to power the Sonore OM .

I think using 7v DC was the last thing that introduced a little harshness, that went away with 5v .

 

[pleroma]

This is absolutely true in my setup as well.
We both also use 5v DC to power the Sonore OM .

I think using 7v DC was the last thing that introduced a little harshness, that went away with 5v .

Kris, Steve V,

Can either or both of you comment on the quality of Ethernet cable going into the Sonore OM?

 

[Taiko Audio]

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

Very happy you like it, you sure had it hooked up and running quick!

 

[oldmustang]

Kris, Steve V,

Can either or both of you comment on the quality of Ethernet cable going into the Sonore OM?

I think the quality of the ethernet cable in use from my DSL modem/router to the OM is audible. I'm currently using the latest Sablon ethernet cable in that location. It replaced a good quality consumer-grade ethernet cable verified not to have continuity through the shield. It was an incremental improvement, but a good one nonethless. In my opinion, of course.

Steve Z

 

[Kris]

Kris, Steve V,

Can either or both of you comment on the quality of Ethernet cable going into the Sonore OM?

I use few ethernet cables.
I still own Jcat older cables that are very good.
I had them for last few years, but thinking of an ultimate upgrade
to Jcat Telegartner M12 switch that comes with Two 2m ethernet cables .
This is very expensive option but many say here that it adds something no other switch can do.

If I will be able to get it in this difficult times I will keep the ER and edgerouter and ADD the M12 as it is considered to give the best results when chained with other switches.

 

[ctydwn]

Just a quick update to share on Extreme sound improvement via network upgrade. Sitting here not quite believing the difference in sound I am hearing. My network connection has been a 50 ft generic copper ethernet (cat6) connection direct from my ISP modem/router to the Extreme. It runs through the walls and ceiling so I don't have a realistic option to replace at the moment.

But as several have suggested, I purchased the Edge Router X-SFP to try between the modem/router and the Extreme. I failed to get the tricky little box to work over the first few days and gave up. After another a week, and with the tireless help of @Rhapsody and a few suggestions from @Kris, I gave it another shot. The handshake was made yesterday (thank you both!) and now as I listen I can't believe the improvement in overall immersiveness, dimensionality, and coherence (individual instruments/vocals a bit less smeared). Increase in naturalness overall. The noise floor has dropped a noticeable amount. Listening louder somehow more pleasurable. Now this is not a massive/revolutionary improvement, but for $99 it is up there for improvement/$ spent in my system. I just cannot stop drinking in the sounds and this relatively minor change is well worth the incremental improvement, in my system at least.

I need to read the whitepapers out there but I am baffled how the Edge in 'switch' mode can improve the sound that much and versus, say a normal switch. Or maybe the improvement is simply now that I have a higher end 2m ethernet cable between the Edge and the Extreme. Perhaps that is 'all' it is or the combination. Either way, thanks to all for the suggestions on the networking side and for giving me an initial glimpse of what may be possible on the network front end. Obviously, it now makes me intrigued to try an LPS on the Edge and consider the M12....
Take good care everyone

 

[Taiko Audio]

Is there anybody who doesn't like the latest Roon update (build 537)?

 

[Kingsrule]

Is there anybody who doesn't like the latest Roon update (build 537)?

537 is much faster in operation which is a huge uptick. Now if the next update can duplicate this speed increase that would be great. Waiting for screens to fill and clients to start working is Roon's biggest drawback IMO.

 

[Steve williams]

537 is much faster in operation which is a huge uptick. Now if the next update can duplicate this speed increase that would be great. Waiting for screens to fill and clients to start working is Roon's biggest drawback IMO.

I don't ever have a wait for screens to fill

 

[Kingsrule]

So when u open your iPAD and select Roon the screen is already populated?

 

[Steve williams]

So when u open your iPAD and select Roon the screen is already populated?[/QUOT

it populates instantly. If there is a wait it is in a blink of the eye

My iPad is only used in my music room. I use it for nothing else

 

[joaovieira]

The same here, Steve! Petty fast and no waiting time for the albuns to show up.

 

[Steve williams]

The same here, Steve! Petty fast and no waiting time for the albuns to show up.

To me this is the beauty of the Extreme as it is so fast and quick to respond. Simply put I have NEVER had a wait for the screen to populate.if I blink I would miss it as it is that fast