Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

[paul79]

Emile,

I admire your achievements and I like your "dreams". I too would love to only stream music and have the best sound. For me and my system, file based is superior by a good margin.
I have tried everything on the hardware side to make streaming as good as possible, and have brick-walled with regards to what I know and info I have gathered. I welcome more info regarding. I hope you conquer this.

Do you have a good idea as to what the root network problems are with regards to streaming only?

Another question, a bit sidestepped... Do you think an endpoint setup with network storage can be as good as an all in one solution, such as your Extreme?

Thank you
Paul

 

[Legolas]

I am very interested in this subject at the moment. And especially the upstream gear. So audiophile switch, OCXO clocks and LPS. If everything from the entry to your house to feeding your DAC is fully optimised, I am convinced streaming can equal local playback on a server.

 

[Esotar]

In Korean HI FI market, there was new record~!

TWENTY FIVE SGM Extremes were sold in Korea.

[25] is the amount of Korean distributors' final sales about over $ 25,000 US.

But SGM Extreme achieved only for 110 days.

I'm borrowing SGM Extreme to Korean audiophiles.

All applicants said SGM Extreme changes their systems entirely,

Extreme is expensive but the price is reasonable.

They will save the money for ordering Extreme.

This record will be hard to break in Korea.

 

[nonesup]

Great record for a country "so poor"

 

[Esotar]

Great record for a country "so poor"

Yes, we are not rich.

Almost Korean audiophiles don't have enough money to order SGM Extreme.

But SGM Extreme's value is the highest among all components.

Because we realized this and we bought SGM Extreme.

 

[Sablon Audio]

In Korean HI FI market, there was new record~!

TWENTY FIVE SGM Extremes were sold in Korea.

[25] is the amount of Korean distributors' final sales about over $ 25,000 US.

But SGM Extreme achieved only for 110 days.

I'm borrowing SGM Extreme to Korean audiophiles.

All applicants said SGM Extreme changes their systems entirely,

Extreme is expensive but the price is reasonable.

They will save the money for ordering Extreme.

This record will be hard to break in Korea.

Esotar, perhaps you can tell us a bit about the various dacs used by the owners? My Extreme should arrive next month and I will need a new dac.

 

[Legolas]

Esotar, perhaps you can tell us a bit about the various dacs used by the owners? My Extreme should arrive next month and I will need a new dac.

Kassandra, job done....

 

[Esotar]

Esotar, perhaps you can tell us a bit about the various dacs used by the owners? My Extreme should arrive next month and I will need a new dac.

Well...

I tested total 70 DACs, but almost DACs I tested is cheap models.

You ordered Extreme, right?

The best DAC with SGM Extreme is not confirmed.

Emile seems to think the best DAC is TotalDAC d1-Twelve MK II.

Korean Extreme users almost use TotalDAC and very satisfied with it.

But I think MSB, LampizatOr, Aries Cerat's DACs are also fantastic with Extreme.

I use Trinity.

Because I don't like DSDs or high spec music files, I'm using Trinity.

Trinity with Extreme is very awesome combination.

But I don't recommend Trinity DAC.

From now, TotalDAC users are highly satisfied with SGM Extreme in Korea.

This is all I can advice.

 

[CKKeung]

Emile seems to think the best DAC is TotalDAC d1-Twelve MK II.
Korean Extreme users almost use TotalDAC and very satisfied with it.
But I think MSB, LampizatOr, Aries Cerat's DACs are also fantastic with Extreme.

Agree with Esotar mostly.

I think Totaldac, MSB, Lampizator, CH Precision C1, Aqua Formula & Aries Cerat can work very well with Extreme.

 

[Sablon Audio]

Thanks for the fb guys. My preference leans towards a solid state single box implementation, so maybe TotalDac and Aqua would best suit given their reasonable price points.

 

[Esotar]

Thanks for the fb guys. My preference leans towards a solid state single box implementation, so maybe TotalDac and Aqua would best suit given their reasonable price points.

I like Formula xHD very much.

But Formula xHD has one weak point.

Formula xHD's USB interface module is XMOS, but it doesn't has setting.

For using Extreme perfectly, JPLAY must be worked with DAC Link 1,000Hz.

To keep 1,000Hz, USB Streaming Mode must be [[Minimum Latency]] in XMOS setting.

Formula xHD doesn't have setting is not worked perfectly with SGM Extreme.

I think this is not serious problem, because Aqua make Formula xHD's XMOS setting menu through update.

But now Formula xHD is not the best DAC with SGM Extreme.

 

[Sablon Audio]

It’d be nice if Aqua could share their i2s protocol with Emile for direct connection

 

[Esotar]

Agree with Esotar mostly.

I think Totaldac, MSB, Lampizator, CH Precision C1, Aqua Formula & Aries Cerat can work very well with Extreme.

In Korea, CH C1 is very popular.

I like C1.

But all Korean C1 has only Lan Input Card.

CH Korean distributor doesn't import USB Input Card.

One C1 user ordered Extreme and I tried to connect them, but I couldn't do that.

To use SGM Extreme for C1 user, there is only way to use or buy USB Input Card.

C1 is fantastic DAC, but Korean C1 users can't use SGM Extreme.

The C1 user who ordered SGM Extreme sold C1 and ordered d1-Twelve MK II for SGM Extreme.

 

[CKKeung]

I like Formula xHD very much.

But Formula xHD has one weak point.

Formula xHD's USB interface module is XMOS, but it doesn't has setting.

For using Extreme perfectly, JPLAY must be worked with DAC Link 1,000Hz.

To keep 1,000Hz, USB Streaming Mode must be [[Minimum Latency]] in XMOS setting.

Formula xHD doesn't have setting is not worked perfectly with SGM Extreme.

I think this is not serious problem, because Aqua make Formula xHD's XMOS setting menu through update.

But now Formula xHD is not the best DAC with SGM Extreme.

Thanks Esotar for sharing the experience/difficulty of using Extreme with Aqua Formula.
No wonder the HK SGM dealer rarely pairs Extreme with Aqua Formula together in his showroom, although he carries also Aqua in HK.

 

[CKKeung]

In Korea, CH C1 is very popular.

I like C1.

But all Korean C1 has only Lan Input Card.

CH Korean distributor doesn't import USB Input Card.

One C1 user ordered Extreme and I tried to connect them, but I couldn't do that.

To use SGM Extreme for C1 user, there is only way to use or buy USB Input Card.

C1 is fantastic DAC, but Korean C1 users can't use SGM Extreme.

The C1 user who ordered SGM Extreme sold C1 and ordered d1-Twelve MK II for SGM Extreme.

Why the Korean CH Precision dealer doesn't import the USB card?
It's freely available at the CH Precision HK dealer.

 

[Esotar]

Why the Korean CH Precision dealer doesn't import the USB card?
It's freely available at the CH Precision HK dealer.[/QUOT

Why the Korean CH Precision dealer doesn't import the USB card?
It's freely available at the CH Precision HK dealer.

I don't know the reason.

In Korea, all C1 is used as network renderer.

C1's ethernet card quality is awesome.

I want to know the result of matching C1 with SGM Extreme.

In Korea, it is impossible.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

I don't know the reason.

In Korea, all C1 is used as network renderer.

C1's ethernet card quality is awesome.

I want to know the result of matching C1 with SGM Extreme.

In Korea, it is impossible.

do any Korean C1 owners use the Mono D/A controller version?

https://www.ch-precision.com/en/products/source/c1-mono

any feedback on that one?

i heard it at RMAF last year (the room and set-up marginal) and in Elliot's room (really good sound) in South Florida in December. i was very impressed.

 

[Esotar]

do any Korean C1 owners use the Mono D/A controller version?

https://www.ch-precision.com/en/products/source/c1-mono

any feedback on that one?

i heard it at RMAF last year (the room and set-up marginal) and in Elliot's room (really good sound) in South Florida in December. i was very impressed.

C1 Mono DAC users are in korea I think.

But I didn't find them.

C1 Mono DAC, X1 and T1 price is same to MSB Reference DAC full option.

C1 is awesome, but Mono version is too expensive and many power cables.

That is not economic I think.

To choice MSB Reference DAC full option is more reasonable.

Maybe all Korean audiophiles agree with my opinion.

 

[microstrip]

I don't know the reason.

In Korea, all C1 is used as network renderer.

C1's ethernet card quality is awesome.

I want to know the result of matching C1 with SGM Extreme.

In Korea, it is impossible.

I am sure Taiko Audio will manage to connect it - if the C1 works with common networks I can't see why it should not work with the SGM Extreme.

 

[Esotar]

I am sure Taiko Audio will manage to connect it - if the C1 works with common networks I can't see why it should not work with the SGM Extreme.

I agree.

The reason of connection failed is that I don't know about network mechanism.

I couldn't spend enough time to set C1 user's Extreme.