Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

[Taiko Audio]

Is there a way to use an Extreme to handle the audio stream from an HDMI output in an A/V system? My wife has tasked me with adding a home theater set up into my audio domain, and I would love to enjoy Extreme/Pacific benefits for the sound in a movie, too. So, is this possible, and if so, how? Thanks!

This is currently not possible.

 

[K3RMIT]

Does the taiko have a spidif or optical input ?
if yes you could use a audio extractor I use them in home theatre setups all the time.

 

[jbrrp1]

This is currently not possible.

"Currently", you say? Does that mean there are some hopes for future use in this fashion? To me, that would add a nice additional layer of "awesomeness" to the Extreme, so I'm really hoping this IS in the future plans.

 

[nenon]

Is there a way to use an Extreme to handle the audio stream from an HDMI output in an A/V system? My wife has tasked me with adding a home theater set up into my audio domain, and I would love to enjoy Extreme/Pacific benefits for the sound in a movie, too. So, is this possible, and if so, how? Thanks!

"Currently", you say? Does that mean there are some hopes for future use in this fashion? To me, that would add a nice additional layer of "awesomeness" to the Extreme, so I'm really hoping this IS in the future plans.

If I understand this correctly you want to take audio from the HDMI of your video source and play it through your audio system.
If that's the case, this is not a function of the server (i.e. Taiko Extreme in your case). It's a function of the DAC to convert your digital source signal to analog. Your Pacific does not have a HDMI input. But you can use an HDMI Audio to SPDIF converter. Something like this for example - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FM3HWNW/ (there are probably better quality ones). You plug your video source to the HDMI input and use the SPDIF output to connect to the Pacific.
Many video sources like cable boxes, DVD players, Blu Ray players, etc. have SPDIF output. If they do, you can connect their SPDIF output to your Pacific. The Extreme does not play a role in this scenario.

If I did not understand correctly and you are looking for HDMI output from the Extreme, you can probably find a device that will accept streaming over ethernet such as Apple TV. But that will require to install some software on the Extreme, which should be avoided.

 

[kswanson27]

If I understand this correctly you want to take audio from the HDMI of your video source and play it through your audio system.
If that's the case, this is not a function of the server (i.e. Taiko Extreme in your case). It's a function of the DAC to convert your digital source signal to analog. Your Pacific does not have a HDMI input. But you can use an HDMI Audio to SPDIF converter. Something like this for example - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FM3HWNW/ (there are probably better quality ones). You plug your video source to the HDMI input and use the SPDIF output to connect to the Pacific.
Many video sources like cable boxes, DVD players, Blu Ray players, etc. have SPDIF output. If they do, you can connect their SPDIF output to your Pacific. The Extreme does not play a role in this scenario.

If I did not understand correctly and you are looking for HDMI output from the Extreme, you can probably find a device that will accept streaming over ethernet such as Apple TV. But that will require to install some software on the Extreme, which should be avoided.

If your TV has HDMI ARC you can use something like a McIntosh C53 preamp to get good quality audio from a video source into your system but the Extreme won't be involved, nor should it be.

 

[seeteeyou]

Is there a way to use an Extreme to handle the audio stream from an HDMI output in an A/V system? My wife has tasked me with adding a home theater set up into my audio domain, and I would love to enjoy Extreme/Pacific benefits for the sound in a movie, too. So, is this possible, and if so, how? Thanks!

First of all, we're aware that Extreme should be a server with low latency. However, most likely the biggest hurdle should be getting both video and audio to synchronize (consistently, even if e.g. we're skipping from one chapter of Blu-ray discs to another) if we're actually going through such a long chain of devices

HDMI ? HDMI audio de-embedder ? S/PDIF ? RME ADI-2 DAC ? USB ? HQ Player ? Extreme ? USB DAC

https://community.roonlabs.com/t/hqplayer-desktop-thread/166213/25
https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/19715-hq-player/page/744/#comment-1088824

Similar way as Desktop too. You select the applicable input device as transport instead of CD or playlist and then start playback.

There is some amount of info for Desktop outlined in the quickstart guide.

No matter how low the latency is, IMHO it's just too challenging to keep everything synchronized under most circumstances.

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BTW, dunno how well would this "Video mode" work to begin with?

https://chordelectronics.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/M-Scaler-manual-V1.2.pdf#page=28

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OTOH, not sure if installing JRiver Media Center were actually supported or even recommended in the first place?

It does support ASIO in addition to 4K UHD Blu-ray

https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=115314.0

And then here's their app for remote control

https://jremote.jriver.com

However, Xeon Silver 4114 / 4210 didn't come with any Intel graphics at all and that means a (passively-cooled) GPU should be required.

And then we're actually talking about a stripped-down version of Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2019, therefore not sure if playing movies were feasible or otherwise.

Only Intel graphics (with SGX) could support Advanced PAVP and that's why we'll need either AnyDVD HD or DVDFab Passkey for those 4K UHD Blu-ray discs. Specific BD drives are also required, and then there's also stuff like HDR etc. to deal with.

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The best bet should be a modified 4K UHD Blu-ray player as explained by @romaz below

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/rev...phile-vortex-box.787020/page-78#post-14117821

Then we could connect its S/PDIF output to stuff like Denafrips Gaia etc. for further improvements

https://www.denafrips.com/gaia

Since Oppo UDP-205 was already discontinued, let's wait for someone to provide modifications for Reavon then

https://www.reavon.com/reavon-ubr-x200

 

[jbrrp1]

Does the taiko have a spidif or optical input ?
if yes you could use a audio extractor I use them in home theatre setups all th

Yep, I will travel down the audio extractor route to go HDMI to SPDIF to feed my Pacific. Does get me to wondering about sound quality impact from them, but I think I'll start simple and see how it all sounds. Thanks for the pointers, all!

 

[dminches]

Yep, I will travel down the audio extractor route to go HDMI to SPDIF to feed my Pacific. Does get me to wondering about sound quality impact from them, but I think I'll start simple and see how it all sounds. Thanks for the pointers, all!

Why would you feed the Extreme with the S/PDIF output? Why aren’t you going directly into your DAC? The Extreme doesn’t play a role here.

 

[seeteeyou]

If we're having THAT kinda budget, then (the upcoming) Wadax Atlantis Reference Transport should be able to beat just about any kinda 4K UHD Blu-ray players out there.

FYI - here's what the OP of this thread mentioned last year

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/new-wadax-atlantis-reference-dac.27860/page-9#post-644026

Yes, a Reference Streamer/Server and/or a Reference Transport.

Their flagship Atlantis Reference DAC was fed by Extreme

https://www.facebook.com/TaikoAudio...ulder-vimberg-ultimate-audio-/526128508266069

Ultimate Sessions Porto by Ultimate Audio Elite with Vimberg Tonda D speakers, Boulder 2160 and 2110, Wadax Reference DAC, Taiko Audio Extreme server and Siltech Triple Crown Cables.
https://www.monoandstereo.com/2020/07/blog-post_6.html

Not their best transport by any means but it does play all kinda Blu-ray discs with an optional video module, and most likely it's one of the best SACD rippers on Earth

http://www.wadax.eu/?q=atlantis/transport

SACD RIP for qualified advanced users interested in research and the utmost finetuning, Atlantis system provides a unique SACD RIP feature for all kinds of optical media used.

I don't mean to be disrespectful at all, though I'm just wondering if there were anyone who compared Extreme to their Atlantis Reference Server?

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Other than that, I could only think of something like this but IMHO it's gonna be quite difficult to find something with high "Spousal Acceptance Factor" that's able to handle such *.MKV container

- Rip 4K UHD Blu-ray discs to the *.MKV container
- Demux the audio track and downmix to 2 channels
- Upsample with PGGB Offline (16FS / 32FS)
- Mux the upsampled audio track back to the original *.MKV container

 

[EuroDriver]

If we're having THAT kinda budget, then (the upcoming) Wadax Atlantis Reference Transport should be able to beat just about any kinda 4K UHD Blu-ray players out there.

FYI - here's what the OP of this thread mentioned last year

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/new-wadax-atlantis-reference-dac.27860/page-9#post-644026


Their flagship Atlantis Reference DAC was fed by Extreme

https://www.facebook.com/TaikoAudio...ulder-vimberg-ultimate-audio-/526128508266069

Ultimate Sessions Porto by Ultimate Audio Elite with Vimberg Tonda D speakers, Boulder 2160 and 2110, Wadax Reference DAC, Taiko Audio Extreme server and Siltech Triple Crown Cables.
https://www.monoandstereo.com/2020/07/blog-post_6.html

Not their best transport by any means but it does play all kinda Blu-ray discs with an optional video module, and most likely it's one of the best SACD rippers on Earth

http://www.wadax.eu/?q=atlantis/transport


I don't mean to be disrespectful at all, though I'm just wondering if there were anyone who compared Extreme to their Atlantis Reference Server?

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Other than that, I could only think of something like this but IMHO it's gonna be quite difficult to find something with high "Spousal Acceptance Factor" that's able to handle such *.MKV container

- Rip 4K UHD Blu-ray discs to the *.MKV container
- Demux the audio track and downmix to 2 channels
- Upsample with PGGB Offline (16FS / 32FS)
- Mux the upsampled audio track back to the original *.MKV container

Note this demo video was recorded before the release and installation of the Taiko USB Card

;-)

 

[Kingsrule]

With DST today it occurred to me to check the time setting on my Extreme.
They are set for Taiko's time zone, not set for my zone.
Should they be changed to my zone?

 

[rando]

With DST today it occurred to me to check the time setting on my Extreme.
They are set for Taiko's time zone, not set for my zone.
Should they be changed to my zone?

GMT +1

 

[Taiko Audio]

With DST today it occurred to me to check the time setting on my Extreme.
They are set for Taiko's time zone, not set for my zone.
Should they be changed to my zone?

I don’t think it matters, imagine that influencing SQ, that would be a mind bender

 

[MarkusBarkus]

@Taiko Audio --Emile, speaking of mind-bending: Do you have experience or an opinion on the idea of changing fuses in the Extreme, which has bubbled up the past few months with the QSA products intros? Hope all good on your end, whatever time it is...

 

[Taiko Audio]

@Taiko Audio --Emile, speaking of mind-bending: Do you have experience or an opinion on the idea of changing fuses in the Extreme, which has bubbled up the past few months with the QSA products intros? Hope all good on your end, whatever time it is...

If you search this thread using the keyword “fuse” you get 4 pages of information on different fuses tried, pros and cons, including my reasoning for preferring the stock fuse. There are very expensive fuses available nowadays I have not had any feedback on though, nor do I test them myself.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

If you search this thread using the keyword “fuse” you get 4 pages of information on different fuses tried, pros and cons, including my reasoning for preferring the stock fuse. There are very expensive fuses available nowadays I have not had any feedback on though, nor do I test them myself.

i've messed with boutique fuses in the Extreme, a few spendy ones, a friend sent me a nice one to try. they seemed to make a very marginal performance uptick......'seemed to'.

however; where i live i get power outages from time to time, nothing too bad. but EVERY time i got a power outage each boutique fuse blew......EVERY time!!! $$$'s go poof!

stock fuse has never blew once. lots of stuff going on in the Extreme. no more fuse experimentation for me. i have a few 'special' fuses in my system in few spots, that have been there for almost 10 years with zero issues. so it's not my system/power grid particularly.

 

[Taiko Audio]

i have a few 'special' fuses in my system in few spots, that have been there for almost 10 years with zero issues. so it's not my system/power grid particularly.

Despite the soft start the Extreme is indeed “thirstier” then average on startup.

 

[austinpop]

Yes, I get an inrush of angst every time I power cycle my system! Have blown many SR fuses.

 

[Taiko Audio]

Hello everybody.

Today we have a few more show photos to share.

First at the Capital Audiofest 2021, hosted by Fred of Destination Sound Group, @LampiNA

 

[Taiko Audio]

Second at the Tokyo International Audio Show 2021, hosted by Taiyo International Inc.