Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

[Taiko Audio]

Thank you everybody. Going on all the feedback it looks like we've managed to turn this initial disappointing Roon release into something positive.

I'd like to extend my gratitude to @audioquattr who has been tirelessly evaluating dozens of iterations of this update over a ~2 day time period on his big Cessaro / Lampizator Pacific / Alieno system.

 

[Kingsrule]

Roon is getting to be VERY frustrating
Early today I figured out how to set DSD Playback Strategy back to to Native....went for a walk and now that option is gone
Now I can't play my 512 files natively

We shouldn't have to get our Extremes tweaked to fix Roon screw-ups....

 

[Taiko Audio]

Roon is getting to be VERY frustrating
Early today I figured out how to set DSD Playback Strategy back to to Native....went for a walk and now that option is gone
Now I can't play my 512 files natively

We shouldn't have to get our Extremes tweaked to fix Roon screw-ups....

On a positive note, we do now seem to have better sound then before the update, I have emailed you.

 

[Kingsrule]

Well another Extreme reboot brought the Native selection back....

 

[Taiko Audio]

Well another Extreme reboot brought the Native selection back....

I expect to be able to fix that too.

 

[Steve williams]

I've been listening to Emile's update for the past few hours and I have to say the magic is back.Last week I made a change to my system by putting some Herbie's tube damping rings and found that the deep bass in my system was better than I've ever herd it.Suddenly along comes Build 537 and I lost all of that. Last night I just turned off my system and couldn't't figure what was going on until I read the past posts on the subject.

Along comes Emile with a change in the workings of the Extreme to make this a truly great audible experience. For me the most important thing is that it must sound natural. I found last night that I had lost a lot of what I had strived to achieve but along comes Emile with changes to the Extreme that suddenly not only have I regained what lost but there is such a feeling of presence as well as ambient sound that it transports me to the recording venue where I am sitting up close and personal.To my ears this is the best sound I have heard yet coming from the Extreme

Overall the changes to my ears have been so positive that I have disabled all future automatic Roon updates.

I find myself very involved with the music. The ambience which was gone is now present such that you get that "I am there moment"

Kudos as always Emile. Your caring and customer support is so good t that I wonder how you can keep up with us in every time zone. You are always ready, willing and able.For that we are all so very thankful.

 

[austinpop]

"I think it would behoove me to at some point switch to a different server that aims to make Roon a priority."

I will begin saving for the upcoming Extreme mini starting today.

Indeed. In addition to his HW talents, Emile appears to be a Roon-whisperer extraordinaire.

Seeing how comprehensively Roon is outclassed by better players like Stylus on Euphony OS, it is mind-boggling how Emile is able to extract a silk purse (amazing SQ) out of a sow's ear (Roon Core) on the Extreme.

 

[Rhapsody]

Here is my experience today with Emile/Extreme/Roon.

I had made such major improvements in my network over the last month. It did not make my system better. Working on my network, and I don't think I'm close to being "there" yet, with respect to an optimized network, elevated my system(s) performance, for streaming, to an almost incomprehensible level for me. I have been stunned by the difference by working on my network. That went on for a month. Very rewarding.

Today in 5 minutes with Emile on my computer, with his Midas touch, optimizing the Extreme and Roon settings, made as much of a difference as all of my network glory and enhancements. It's hard to comprehend. And it's plug/play AND FOR FREE!!!!!

The system that I am listening to did not get better, it WENT CRAZY.

BIG, 3D/HOLOGRPAPHIC, BOLD, RELAXED, DYNAMIC, FULL BODIED!!!,

I had been at the best performance level until this latest Roon update that I had ever heard digital and the icing on that cake had been the network optimization. Emile blew that out of the park today......in literally 5 minutes, FROM Holland!!!

Emile is such a genius. I feel very fortunate to be following him on his journey. I believe he's a true trailblazer.

 

[pleroma]

Indeed. In addition to his HW talents, Emile appears to be a Roon-whisperer extraordinaire.

Seeing how comprehensively Roon is outclassed by better players like Stylus on Euphony OS, it is mind-boggling how Emile is able to extract a silk purse (amazing SQ) out of a sow's ear (Roon Core) on the Extreme.

My big problem with Euphony was much of it was poorly written software, and their support denied valid points of criticism. Simple things like consistently connecting to the web interface and doing basic server maintenance tasks were not possible, at least with my last DIY server. Just my two-cents. While some others had similar issues, I know many on AS prefer it.

 

[oldmustang]

Well, this is astonishing — after logging back in to my Extreme Emile tweaked the operating system a bit more and voila! Even better than yesterday, and no JPlay.

If Roon were smart they’d hire you as a consultant, Emile. Hold out for a hefty fee if they come knocking.

Simply superb, highly involving music.

Steve

 

[Steve williams]

It's 815 PM where I am. I have been listening for the past 8 hours. This is a winner Emile

I don't know how you do it but I am certainly happy that you do

 

[matthias]

.......and no JPlay.

Steve, please can you shed some light on this.

Thanks

Matt

 

[Taiko Audio]

Steve, please can you shed some light on this.

Thanks

Matt

It does not seem to want to agree with this particular Roon release. Will likely return with some future Roon release

 

[Taiko Audio]

I'd like to introduce @tsaett who just joined our team here at Taiko Audio.

Welcome Christoph!

 

[tsaett]

I'd like to introduce @tsaett who just joined our team here at Taiko Audio.

Welcome Christoph!

Thanks for the introduction @Taiko Audio
I've been closely following Emile and what he's doing for some years now, have been the first private tester of the original SGM2015 (and still own this very machine, which will hopefully turn into an Extreme soon) and subsequently helped him occasionally at shows or doing demos when his schedule was tough.
Fortune had it that when Emile made me a job offer I couldn't refuse, my professional career allowed me to make a sabbatical, which I gladly took.
I am very happy to join the great Taiko team and look forward to my upcoming tasks as well as chiming in in this interesting discussion.

Christoph

 

[matthias]

Today in 5 minutes with Emile on my computer, with his Midas touch, optimizing the Extreme and Roon settings, made as much of a difference as all of my network glory and enhancements. It's hard to comprehend. And it's plug/play AND FOR FREE!!!!!
The system that I am listening to did not get better, it WENT CRAZY.
BIG, 3D/HOLOGRPAPHIC, BOLD, RELAXED, DYNAMIC, FULL BODIED!!!,

Thanks Bob,
this puts network tweaks into the right perspective

Matt

 

[Rhapsody]

Thanks Bob,
this puts network tweaks into the right perspective

Matt

Hi Matt,

Both the network and this update were significant in my system. Both didn't just make things better, they elevated the system to a different level. Probably akin to going from a good inexpensive dac to a much more expensive and noticeably better dac. Very significant, not subtle.

 

[Blackmorec]

Hi Matt,

Both the network and this update were significant in my system. Both didn't just make things better, they elevated the system to a different level. Probably akin to going from a good inexpensive dac to a much more expensive and noticeably better dac. Very significant, not subtle.

What’s even better about these improvements is that as far as I’ve been able to ascertain, the law of diminishing returns does not seem to apply, at least not in the same way as the past. The better, more revealing, accurate and natural you make your system, the more impact future enhancements seem to have.
For some time now I’ve been at the point where I’ve thought ‘this is probably as good as it gets’ only to make a seemIngly minor change and be rewarded with jaw dropping differences... differences that draw expletives and that in the past were reserved for really major and expensive upgrades. My recent upgrade to Nenon’s Mundorf Silver/Gold DC cables being one such example

 

[Rhapsody]

What’s even better about these improvements is that as far as I’ve been able to ascertain, the law of diminishing returns does not seem to apply, at least not in the same way as the past. The better, more revealing, accurate and natural you make your system, the more impact future enhancements seem to have.
For some time now I’ve been at the point where I’ve thought ‘this is probably as good as it gets’ only to make a seemIngly minor change and be rewarded with jaw dropping differences... differences that draw expletives and that in the past were reserved for really major and expensive upgrades. My recent upgrade to Nenon’s Mundorf Silver/Gold DC cables being one such example

I agree 1000%. I was thinking about that last night actually. I was thinking that in the past I was at 100% saturation of all of the information on the soundstage. Now I'm thinking that we might only be hearing maybe 50% or some much lower number than 100% and still a ways to go.

It's a strange concept because with analog it feels like you are pretty much maxed out or close to it regarding resolution and information on the soundstage. But with the digital, especially with the network/players/servers the resolution/amount of information continues to increase, ESPECIALLY LATELY.

Personally this all started to unfold just over the last few months. Prior I was pretty much at the same amount of information on the soundstage, but improvements with dacs/amps/pres/tweaks added dynamics, wider/deeper soundstage, lower/stronger bass etc, BUT the network and streamer/server have seemed to unlock a new door.

AND IT"S NOT EXPENSIVE.....other than the server But compared to a top tier analog rig, even the server is a bargain, relatively speaking.

My systems at the moment sound totally unconstrained with a tremendous amount of information on the soundstage....AND VERY MUSICAL.

 

[dminches]

Emile, are you making changes to the Extreme in reaction to the new Roon release or are you making changes to Roon itself?