Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

There was new update in Roon .
I updated it and surprise was it lifted up not only Roon but also
the TAS performance .
First. How this is possible ?

Second. Roon is a little bit better now than TAS

Is my Roon not totally off ?

I remember that roon when active in the backround will degrade the SQ when playing with TAS.
 
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Back to Taiko - What I find myself saying over and over is the Taiko Extreme as a source plays a bigger role in digital playback between sound quality and equally important IMO, system interaction, especially with concern of adding a larger powered digital component into the system.

Both Taiko Extremes arrived with the new USB card installed in each and taken further with Taiko remotely installing TAS, Taikos playback application. Installing TAS was after I got a feel for the Extreme and Roon despite not running it as Asaio. TAS really drove significant change in overall digital playback performance allowing the MSB Reference DAC to process and emit a more detailed natural signal from prior configurations I have ran, including the Roon application.

The Taiko Extreme really presents the pinnacle of a digital source component from my experience. I will admit, there was some initial doubt about investment in the line especially knowing prior I have built a very good digital playback source in my reference system, and thinking back to diminishing returns over emotions. The prior configuration included the Aurender N10 connected via AES to a Brinkmann Nyquist MK II DAC. Playback from this configuration was acknowledged by audiophiles, including vinyl heads that have sat in and listened as being extremely detailed, warm and non-fatiguing reveling top-tier performance.

When building a system, you go through changes, a learning process of each leading to improvements in sound quality and system interaction. After adding the MSB Reference and a Discrete DAC replacing the Brinkmann, I decided to connect to the Aurender N10 via the MSB ProUSB (MSB’s USB/Fiber converter) and using the top of the line USB cable from Intona, The Ultimate. This connection contributed to a lower noise floor and better dynamics for many reasons related to the signal and noise carrying properties.

Then comes replacing the Aurender N10 with the Taiko Extreme and out the gate it was apparent the servers were leagues apart, and this was with initially running Roon before TAS. There is no doubt Taiko together with MSB really make a great match for each other. The difference with streaming and file playback were close with old setups, now it’s virtually negligible and you have to be at such a critical level to note the finest of details that it just takes the fun out of it IMO. I really haven’t compared this to the MSB Reference Transport and it’s new power base that showed up the same day as Taiko. It’s been settling in and wants to be played but I just can’t get past playing the Taiko, it’s even interfering with me playing records, my overall preference!

While I wanted the Taiko in the Audio Room, I was having trouble fitting it in and kinda glad I didn’t. A Taiko Extreme rests on the Taiko Panzerholz Daiza on the other side of the wall in the A/V area of the exercise room where the sub panel and digital platform all reside in a straight line 10' from the preamp. Fiber bridges this distance between the server and DAC with ease. I found it best to get as much out of the audio room as you can, as I have experienced component to component negative reactions to sound quality when powered together, though not sure about Taiko. The other benefit from having this on the other side is it does emit heat from its massive power supply. Note: Taiko has its own circuit (number 4/4) from the dedicated audio sub-panel, that is terminated with a Furutech 15 amp connection, bypassing the receptacle, the same configuration like the D’Agostino Momentum Mono amps and StromTank I run. (a Bocchino Santa Maria 15 amp IEC like I use on the Momentums will replace the Furutech at some point, StromTank doesn’t care). All other digital related pieces like the modem, switch and assorted come off a second sub-panel and this turned out to be a smart move for others to take note of and try, if they are not already, simply get as much of the digital noise makers out of your circuit no matter the setup, there’s more to it, but wanted to get you thinking)

In short, consideration towards a Taiko is a must if one wants to improve their digital playback but for the right reasons, and happy to help with that. Sure it’s not the cheapest tool in the shed, but it’s built for long lasting performance and while hard to predict the future I just can’t see this coming out of the system unless not supported which I highly doubt knowing Emile, Ed and team or until it goes to server heaven and by then I may be up there or more likely down in the heat.

Note: My comments are based from my experience, I am not one to say this is better than that, or this wipes the floor over this, or the mine is better camp, I just simply share my experience and if it helps someone great, I like helping others and leaving things better than I have found them.
 
There was new update in Roon .
I updated it and surprise was it lifted up not only Roon but also
the TAS performance .
First. How this is possible ?

Second. TAS is a little bit better now than TAS

Is my Roon not totally off ?

I remember that roon when active in the backround will degrade the SQ.
Taiko Team, any benefits to TAS if we remove Roon completely from the Extreme?
 
Finally upgraded my Taiko Extreme this weekend and must state the TAS Beta Software and USB card installations contributed to the biggest increase in sound quality my system has ever experienced. My Tidal Audio Agorias are singing like they never sang before. Thanks to the Taiko team for the forethought to get the most out of the hardware and software to bring music to its most purest forms in our homes. The App still needs work to make it more user friendly but I know the Taiko team will get it right. Thanks Ed for your great support installing TAS and walking me through the app. Thanks Emile and the Taiko team for such a revolutionary product. It is going to be hard turning off the system with these changes - definitely a game changer.
 
Taiko Team, any benefits to TAS if we remove Roon completely from the Extreme?
I remember getting out of Jplay . It was a quite improvement when totally removed from the system.
Thanks to Edward from Taiko Team.
Also deleted all jplay settings in system registry.

I am quite sure that after beta 1 and beta2 once we have final TAS in extreme there should be
A good time to uninstall roon.
But lets wait for the Taiko Team to confirm .
They know what they are doing!
 
There was new update in Roon .
I updated it and surprise was it lifted up not only Roon but also
the TAS performance .
First. How this is possible ?

Second. Roon is a little bit better now than TAS

Is my Roon not totally off ?

I remember that roon when active in the backround will degrade the SQ when playing with TAS.
Kris

This is a pretty bold statement. In what way(s) does Roon now sound better than TAS. Personally I have not found that to be the case in my system
 
What platform is TAS on? I assume IOS?
 
What platform is TAS on? I assume IOS?
I works with iOS and directly from a laptop with the server IP address eg. 192.168.1.42:9000
 
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What platform is TAS on? I assume IOS?

I think the answer to your question is Windows since the Extreme boots into Windows LTSC and Roon and TAS run on that.

You can assess TAS from a web browser or from iOS and Android (I believe) apps.
 
I works with iOS and directly from a laptop with the server IP address eg. 192.168.1.42:9000
That's a great tip. One question: after loading TAS that way from my desktop, I happened to have no player assigned at the time and couldn't figure out if there was a way to initiate a player from the desktop interface. Any suggestions?
Thanks.
 
That's a great tip. One question: after loading TAS that way from my desktop, I happened to have no player assigned at the time and couldn't figure out if there was a way to initiate a player from the desktop interface. Any suggestions?
Thanks.
I'm betting you didn't initialize one of the players. IOW TAS is on but you didn't go into the submenu and turn on one of the 3 players
 
I'm betting you didn't initialize one of the players. IOW TAS is on but you didn't go into the submenu and turn on one of the 3 players
Steve, you're right, I didn't initialize one of the players from TAS (via my iPad) first--and this was after a reboot (for unrelated reasons). It just appears that one cannot select a player via the desktop app, and wondered if there was a way to do it I was missing.
After selecting a player via TAS on my iPad, the IP app works fine with the preselected Player.
Thanks.
 
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Steve, you're right, I didn't initialize one of the players from TAS (via my iPad) first--and this was after a reboot (for unrelated reasons). It just appears that one cannot select a player via the desktop app, and wondered if there was a way to do it I was missing.
After selecting a player via TAS on my iPad, the IP app works fine with the preselected Player.
Thanks.
No problem. It was a simple fix TBH as the same thing happened to me when TAS was first introduceduntil I realized I hadn't selected a player
 
Hi! I just have a couple of questions to current Extreme owners. I am about to order an Extreme from a dealer. Is it true that the new USB sound card is the best output? Because from my own experience with other server/streamers, aes/ebu has always been my preferred choice. I have had positive results with aes/ebu and a few re-clocker such as Mutec, Grimm, and Denafrips in between source and dac. Since I am getting the Extreme, I just want to know how best to integrate it in to my system. What USB, ethernet, power cables people are using, or are most popular with the Extreme? Will I still benefit from using an external reclocker/DDC? My current dac is Brinkmann Nyquist II. I found using either Grimm or Denafrips Gaia as re-clocker via aes/ebu gave me 25-30% improvement in SQ. I am considering upgrading my dac as well. Any recommendations is welcome.
 
Simple answer “yes”

Enile wouldn’t have designed it if he felt other inputs were better. That Taiko USB card was the single best audio purchase I made last year
 
Hi! I just have a couple of questions to current Extreme owners. I am about to order an Extreme from a dealer. Is it true that the new USB sound card is the best output? Because from my own experience with other server/streamers, aes/ebu has always been my preferred choice. I have had positive results with aes/ebu and a few re-clocker such as Mutec, Grimm, and Denafrips in between source and dac. Since I am getting the Extreme, I just want to know how best to integrate it in to my system. What USB, ethernet, power cables people are using, or are most popular with the Extreme? Will I still benefit from using an external reclocker/DDC? My current dac is Brinkmann Nyquist II. I found using either Grimm or Denafrips Gaia as re-clocker via aes/ebu gave me 25-30% improvement in SQ. I am considering upgrading my dac as well. Any recommendations is welcome.
I tried the ethernet output to my dCS Upsampler several times, using a Shunyata Sigma USB cable and a Sigma ethernet cable for the last trial. I preferred USB and never looked back. This was before the advent of the Taiko USB driver and then the Taiko USB card, both of which provided large sound quality improvements to already excellent performance. So I can’t imagine the ethernet output is any where near the SQ of the current USB output.

I can’t speak to AES/EBU out from the Extreme since mine is not equipped with that option.

I suppose it is possible some kind of reclocker between Extreme and DAC might provide a different sound, but whether it would be “better” is another story. The USB output sound quality is at a very high level already. I’m now using a Shunyata Omega USB cable between Extreme and Upsampler and it is an astonishingly good cable.

Steve
 
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PS: If you look at the top of each page you’ll see the results of the user poll showing the numbers and percentage of respondents in each catagory. USB is far and away the number 1 choice. Presumably a fair number of folks have compared USB to other outputs and decided like I did that USB sounded best.

Steve Z
 
There was new update in Roon .
I updated it and surprise was it lifted up not only Roon but also
the TAS performance .
First. How this is possible ?

Second. Roon is a little bit better now than TAS

Is my Roon not totally off ?

I remember that roon when active in the backround will degrade the SQ when playing with TAS.

I don't see how that would be possible unless you have Roon and TAS running simultaneously. I have not noticed a different in Roon playback performance since the initial 1.8 release.
 

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