Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

[Taiko Audio]

Continue to be amazed at the high level of brand awareness and associations to this server. Seems every other day there are new Taiko affiliates popping up.



Speaking of affiliation.

Is there any publicly available information on XDMS [phrasing is tough here] gargle blasting files?

Hi @rando ,

No other information beyond what has been shared in this thread. We will have a website section and downloadable manual for it at launch time.

 

[AMR / iFi audio]

For that, I would refer you to my respective Artesania reviews on HFA. They are very detailed and will explain it all

Artesania Organic Line Modular Floor Platform | HFA - The Independent Source for Audio Equipment Reviews (hifi-advice.com)
Artesania Aire Floor Platform | HFA - The Independent Source for Audio Equipment Reviews (hifi-advice.com)
Artesania Organic Line Modular Rack | HFA - The Independent Source for Audio Equipment Reviews (hifi-advice.com)

Thanks a lot for your answer. In one of the articles I read you said that the caps can very cleverly be removed by using the supplied suction tool. Do you have a picture of it. I am curious to see how it looks like and how it works.

 

[MarkusBarkus]

Here in the Netherlands the performance is very close.

...I humbly add that here at my place in NE US the performance is also very close. Frankly, I think it's a draw. Differences seem to be between masters/versions, not local streaming.

I think (for me/here) fiber (FTTH) and network optimization is a *big* step forward, as is power optimization.

I stream waaay more than I thought I ever would. Sometimes I even stream a file I have since I'm already in Qobuz, and who can be bothered to move your finger around that much to switch.

I am truly looking forward to the Taiko network suite, but it is hard to believe it could get better. Ha! Not the first time I've thought that!

 

[wil]

I think my network optimization it’s pretty far along the path. The challenge for me right now is to find a way to hack a out of the crappy combined modem/router supplied by ATT so I can use a dedicated router.

 

[Taiko Audio]

...I humbly add that here at my place in NE US the performance is also very close. Frankly, I think it's a draw. Differences seem to be between masters/versions, not local streaming.

I think (for me/here) fiber (FTTH) and network optimization is a *big* step forward, as is power optimization.

I stream waaay more than I thought I ever would. Sometimes I even stream a file I have since I'm already in Qobuz, and who can be bothered to move your finger around that much to switch.

I am truly looking forward to the Taiko network suite, but it is hard to believe it could get better. Ha! Not the first time I've thought that!

If not too much trouble could you post or e-mail me ( contact@taikoaudio.com ) your internet provider/subscription and isp modem/router model?

 

[ctydwn]

I too in US would say streaming qobuz sounds within a few percentage points of local based on a/b/a comparisons this past weekend. Close enough to where I stream 95% of time. I do not use fiber but have worked on my network a bit and am fortunate to have 1gbps speeds.

 

[Taiko Audio]

I too in US would say streaming qobuz sounds within a few percentage points of local based on a/b/a comparisons this past weekend. Close enough to where I stream 95% of time. I do not use fiber but have worked on my network a bit and am fortunate to have 1gbps speeds.

If not too much trouble, could you send me your internet subscription and/or modem/router make/model?

This could really help us pinpointing the cause of the varying experiences.

 

[steve williams]

I have to add mine as well. I find little if any difference between streaming and playing files on the Extreme. I would be hard pressed to tell a difference in a blinded test

 

[aLLeARS]

I have the same experience here in the northeast US. Streamed files sound every bit as good as locally stored files. Several weeks ago, I was streaming a track that sounded so good that I put on my CD rip WAV file of the same album to compare. The locally stored file didn’t sound as good as the streamed version. The streamed version was more involving, had more detail, better soundstage width and depth and more low-level resolution.

Surprised, I looked at the resolution of the streamed version. It was 24/96. The CD rip was 16/44.1. The mastering itself didn’t sound different at all. It sounded like what I was hearing was the difference in resolution between the 24/96 file and 16/44.1 file.

Bodes REALY well for streaming here.

 

[Taiko Audio]

@MarkusBarkus
@ctydwn
@Steve Williams
@aLLeARS

Can you identify differences between Qobuz & Tidal and are you on the East or West side of the US?

This is interesting as the mayority of the reports of streaming being inferior actually come from the US. And often Tidal is being used. I should add that Tidal here most of the time (assuming non mqa files) sounds good aswell. Tidal a bit more incisive (but not due to glare), Qobuz smoother.

 

[microstrip]

@MarkusBarkus
@ctydwn
@Steve Williams
@aLLeARS

Can you identify differences between Qobuz & Tidal and are you on the East or West side of the US?

This is interesting as the mayority of the reports of streaming being inferior actually come from the US. And often Tidal is being used. I should add that Tidal here most of the time (assuming non mqa files) sounds good aswell. Tidal a bit more incisive (but not due to glare), Qobuz smoother.

Emile,

Is there any way to measure or check if streaming is bit exact? Our old CD players could check if the data was bitexact and even ripper software can check the files against a reference.

 

[Taiko Audio]

Emile,

Is there any way to measure or check if streaming is bit exact? Our old CD players could check if the data was bitexact and even ripper software can check the files against a reference.

Well “bit exact”, you can see differences in a spectral analysis..

 

[microstrip]

Well “bit exact”, you can see differences in a spectral analysis..

Sorry, a spectral analysys of what?

 

[Taiko Audio]

Sorry, a spectral analysys of what?

Of the file itself.

 

[ctydwn]

Of the file itself.

whoa

 

[microstrip]

Of the file itself.

But as far as I see it, this will only show gross differences, such as equalization or sampling rates, not that it is bit exact.

 

[Taiko Audio]

But as far as I see it, this will only show gross differences, such as equalization or sampling rates, not that it is bit exact.

Yes, but what is “bit exact” worth nowadays? How much does it tell you if we’re assuming sound quality is what we’re after?

 

[MarkusBarkus]

Can you identify differences between Qobuz & Tidal and are you on the East or West side of the US?

I am in Rochester, NY. I found Tidal and Qobuz similar, but I only had both for a few weeks. I went back and forth, even MQA titles. I think/thought Qobuz sounded great.

My network changed last year from copper to dedicated audio-fiber service. This made it even sweeter.

Emile, I emailed the info below, but perhaps other find it of interest. Cheers...

Network is audio-only. Everything else is on copper from a different ISP.

Short SM fiber patch between OM and PFBuff switch...then off to Extreme.

Network gear is all on dedicated 10ga. line, other phase from audio gear.

Audio ISP: Greenlight (fiber)
https://www.greenlightnetworks.com/

This network is new; approximately one year old (to my location).

ISP Modem: Nokia (Intertek).

WiFi: Netgear Nighthawk 7000.

All network devices are on LPS.
--Netgear on Uptone JS2.
--Modem is Farad3/Uptone 1.2
--Sonore OM on Sonore lps, not Green Computer.
--PinkFaun/Buffalo switch (Nenon) is on Farad3 for main and Uptone JS2 for OCXO.

Single Mode Fiber, about 35'--not that it matters here. Two patch cords of copper, total ~1 meter. Cat6a---floating shield.

Finisar SFP+ OM out. PFBuffalo in.

Finisar FTLX1475D3BTL 10GBASE-LR SFP+ Transceiver​

MGB-TLX SFPs: PFBuffalo out. Extreme in. I planned to use SFP+ here too, but never got around to swapping them. I think Ed had recommended these Planet Tec? long ago.

I should probably turn off one of the bands in the audio Netgear router.

IT closet doubles as whiskey locker! Perhaps the secret to a good network? I recommend you all test this theory thoroughly.

 

[steve williams]

I am on the West coast

To me Qobuz has always sounded better and as a result I don't play Tidal as much as Qobuz

 

[oldmustang]

I am in Rochester, NY. I found Tidal and Qobuz similar, but I only had both for a few weeks. I went back and forth, even MQA titles. I think/thought Qobuz sounded great.

IT closet doubles as whiskey locker! Perhaps the secret to a good network? I recommend you all test this theory thoroughly.

It's definitely the whiskey!

Steve Z