very strong correlation between 24-bit and usb3 (small buffer), 32-bit and larger buffers
totaldac here, so i'm on the 24-bit/small buffer first class car of this train
Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème
- Thread starter CKKeung
- Start date
very strong correlation between 24-bit and usb3 (small buffer), 32-bit and larger buffers
totaldac here, so i'm on the 24-bit/small buffer first class car of this train
Update from part two of my tests - the various USB Driver configurations.
As has already been pointed out earlier in thread - the biggest part of SQ improvement comes via a general OS configuration update.
Then there is a USB Driver config change that will yield an incremental improvement on top of the OS configuration change.
Based on my experience - both OS configuration change and the USB Driver config change impact all bit-depths and sample rates and also both streamed and locally stored music.
For the second part of my test, I used test tracks ranging from 16/44, 24/96, 24/192 and DSD256 - the latter was stored on Extreme the previous all streamed via Qobuz. The buffer sizes and the max # bits/sample affect timing and hence relevant to test with different bitstreams.
In my system (results will be DAC-dependent) these are the results.
View attachment 89200
SQ 1 was a clear best in my system to my ears.
SQ2 and SQ3 are much closer (SQ3 is == to the general OS Configuration mentioned at start of post).
After having spent a 'a few hours' doing these (rather simple) configuration tests I realize the incredible effort that Taiko Team must have spent exploring a gazillion number of test configurations in order to help all of us get best possible SQ. Big KUDOS!
I had some initial problems switching between the different USB Configs but after @Taiko Audio fixed the error it was easy to conduct the test - it took about 3m to switch between the USB configs and only 10s to switch the Roon setting.
I remain amazed at the SQ improvement from OS config change + USB config change - it is like a new system!
I look forward to the continued collaboration with @Taiko Audio on the journey toward SQ nirvana...
Good job Nils!
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This evening I've been listening in enjoyment mode rather than the analysis mode of the last couple of days. All I can say is my appreciation of the magic Emile has worked is even more profound. Every familiar and unfamiliar track, regardless of source, resolution or genre has been so emotionally involving and moving that I had to stop for a minute to come up for air.
As Steve W and Bob have both alluded this may be the biggest step-change improvement I've ever heard in my system. If not strictly in sound quality terms most certainly in emotional terms.
One example -- the background harmonizing on Chance The Rapper's "Summer Friends" is so rich, so deep, so nuanced and textured you could spread it on bread, while Chance and his guests are literally in the room when they take turns rapping on the idea of summer friends. I was so enthralled I had to go back and play it through again just to let the music wash over and through me.
Thanks so very very much!
Steve Z
As Steve W and Bob have both alluded this may be the biggest step-change improvement I've ever heard in my system. If not strictly in sound quality terms most certainly in emotional terms.
One example -- the background harmonizing on Chance The Rapper's "Summer Friends" is so rich, so deep, so nuanced and textured you could spread it on bread, while Chance and his guests are literally in the room when they take turns rapping on the idea of summer friends. I was so enthralled I had to go back and play it through again just to let the music wash over and through me.
Thanks so very very much!
Steve Z
In a few weeks, I will receive my Taiko Extreme.
Taiko recommends using a dedicated mains line for its server.
I have two dedicated mains lines.
For each line, I have two wall sockets, star wired.
My system is :
- Soulution 760 DAC
- Soulution 711 amplifier
So I have three connection options :
- Taiko alone
- 760 and 711 together
- Taiko and 760
- 711 alone
- Taiko and 711
- 760 alone
The logic would be to have the 711 amplifier alone as it requires the most current.
What do you recommend?
By the way, the quality of Taiko Audio's service is outstanding.
Moreover, Emile seems to be a very nice person.
I am looking forward to receiving the server!
Taiko recommends using a dedicated mains line for its server.
I have two dedicated mains lines.
For each line, I have two wall sockets, star wired.
My system is :
- Soulution 760 DAC
- Soulution 711 amplifier
So I have three connection options :
- Taiko alone
- 760 and 711 together
- Taiko and 760
- 711 alone
- Taiko and 711
- 760 alone
The logic would be to have the 711 amplifier alone as it requires the most current.
What do you recommend?
By the way, the quality of Taiko Audio's service is outstanding.
Moreover, Emile seems to be a very nice person.
I am looking forward to receiving the server!
Christiaan Punter
Well-Known Member
Current is one factor, another is that source/DAC/Amp products can sound more coherent when plugged into the same outlet. From my own experience with CH products, assuming you use the 760's digital volume control, I would suggest this option:In a few weeks, I will receive my Taiko Extreme.
Taiko recommends using a dedicated mains line for its server.
I have two dedicated mains lines.
For each line, I have two wall sockets, star wired.
My system is :
- Soulution 760 DAC
- Soulution 711 amplifier
So I have three connection options :
- Taiko alone
- 760 and 711 together
- Taiko and 760
- 711 alone
- Taiko and 711
- 760 alone
The logic would be to have the 711 amplifier alone as it requires the most current.
What do you recommend?
By the way, the quality of Taiko Audio's service is outstanding.
Moreover, Emile seems to be a very nice person.
I am looking forward to receiving the server!
- Taiko alone
- 760 and 711 together
But ultimately, my advice is always to simply try all the options and let your ears decide
In a few weeks, I will receive my Taiko Extreme.
Taiko recommends using a dedicated mains line for its server.
I have two dedicated mains lines.
For each line, I have two wall sockets, star wired.
My system is :
- Soulution 760 DAC
- Soulution 711 amplifier
So I have three connection options :
- Taiko alone
- 760 and 711 together
- Taiko and 760
- 711 alone
- Taiko and 711
- 760 alone
The logic would be to have the 711 amplifier alone as it requires the most current.
What do you recommend?
By the way, the quality of Taiko Audio's service is outstanding.
Moreover, Emile seems to be a very nice person.
I am looking forward to receiving the server!
I also use 2 dedicated main lines for my system.
I tried everything and prefer to have the Extreme on a seperate line.
My vote:
- Taiko alone
- 760 and 711 together
And no ethernet-switch to the mainsystem powerline. And the switch not grounded. Most are not.
I spend all morning answering e-mails, if you are waiting for a reply to an e-mail from before about 4 hours ago I have missed it.
For entertainment value I'll share my unread e-mail counts from this morning and now:
The update will start as planned tomorrow morning 8:00 CEST (Amsterdam time). You can e-mail your teamviewer details and Extreme serial number and/or ip address to contact@taikoaudio.com and I will personally perform all updates in a serial fashion
The following things will significantly speed up the update process:
1) VNC into the Extreme, start teamviewer by clicking the icon located on it's desktop and send me a screenshot.
2) Unplug your DAC USB cable (that saves one reboot).
I do reserve the right to postpone updates where I end up spending too much time on setting up a teamviewer connection, for example teamviewing into an Apple system where security&access rights have not been set, where I end up staring at a black screen, that will cost about as much time as updating 10 extremes with a direct desktop connection, so I will probably move those to late Tuesday or Wednesday. Potentially we can have all Extremes updated by Wednesday.
I will from now on also no longer reply to premature installation requests
For entertainment value I'll share my unread e-mail counts from this morning and now:
The update will start as planned tomorrow morning 8:00 CEST (Amsterdam time). You can e-mail your teamviewer details and Extreme serial number and/or ip address to contact@taikoaudio.com and I will personally perform all updates in a serial fashion
The following things will significantly speed up the update process:
1) VNC into the Extreme, start teamviewer by clicking the icon located on it's desktop and send me a screenshot.
2) Unplug your DAC USB cable (that saves one reboot).
I do reserve the right to postpone updates where I end up spending too much time on setting up a teamviewer connection, for example teamviewing into an Apple system where security&access rights have not been set, where I end up staring at a black screen, that will cost about as much time as updating 10 extremes with a direct desktop connection, so I will probably move those to late Tuesday or Wednesday. Potentially we can have all Extremes updated by Wednesday.
I will from now on also no longer reply to premature installation requests
Was your problem getting Roon to find the Extreme Core after the USB switch? I found that after switching the USB config and the Server restart that I have to:
-Close Roon
-Go to the Taiko Control Panel (where I see Extreme is back on TAS)
- Switch back to Roon
I'm assuming this is normal? And the USB config has changed as wanted?
Hi EmileI spend all morning answering e-mails, if you are waiting for a reply to an e-mail from before about 4 hours ago I have missed it.
For entertainment value I'll share my unread e-mail counts from this morning and now:
View attachment 89222
View attachment 89223
The update will start as planned tomorrow morning 8:00 CEST (Amsterdam time). You can e-mail your teamviewer details and Extreme serial number and/or ip address to contact@taikoaudio.com and I will personally perform all updates in a serial fashion
The following things will significantly speed up the update process:
1) VNC into the Extreme, start teamviewer by clicking the icon located on it's desktop and send me a screenshot.
2) Unplug your DAC USB cable (that saves one reboot).
I do reserve the right to postpone updates where I end up spending too much time on setting up a teamviewer connection, for example teamviewing into an Apple system where security&access rights have not been set, where I end up staring at a black screen, that will cost about as much time as updating 10 extremes with a direct desktop connection, so I will probably move those to late Tuesday or Wednesday. Potentially we can have all Extremes updated by Wednesday.
I will from now on also no longer reply to premature installation requests
Can u remove TAS as well during the update?
Also aren't u on CET now, not CEST?
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Yes, however we can also make Roon launch at boot by default, you can then still switch to TAS as a backup.
I spend all morning answering e-mails, if you are waiting for a reply to an e-mail from before about 4 hours ago I have missed it.
For entertainment value I'll share my unread e-mail counts from this morning and now:
View attachment 89222
View attachment 89223
The update will start as planned tomorrow morning 8:00 CEST (Amsterdam time). You can e-mail your teamviewer details and Extreme serial number and/or ip address to contact@taikoaudio.com and I will personally perform all updates in a serial fashion
The following things will significantly speed up the update process:
1) VNC into the Extreme, start teamviewer by clicking the icon located on it's desktop and send me a screenshot.
2) Unplug your DAC USB cable (that saves one reboot).
I do reserve the right to postpone updates where I end up spending too much time on setting up a teamviewer connection, for example teamviewing into an Apple system where security&access rights have not been set, where I end up staring at a black screen, that will cost about as much time as updating 10 extremes with a direct desktop connection, so I will probably move those to late Tuesday or Wednesday. Potentially we can have all Extremes updated by Wednesday.
I will from now on also no longer reply to premature installation requests
Emile,
Couple of extra clarifications to get ready.
1) For those of us currently using fiber into the Extreme, do you want us to switch to copper (Ethernet) beforehand, or is it ok to do it after the update?
2) Will the use case Roon > HQPlayer > NAA > DAC still be supported in an optimal way? This is to support Qobuz streaming on DAVE and other DACs that benefit from PCM upsampling.
I use fiber into the Extreme (and copper from Ext to DAC).
Did I miss a post somewhere that advises not to use fiber with the update?
1) Does not matter, you can make up your own mind on which you prefer, my preference may not equal yours, I don't think any of the beta testers have preferred fiber, but YMMV.
2) Edit: rephrase, HQPlayer falls outside of the scope of this upgrade, you will still have an increase in sound quality when using it, but I would strongly suggest comparing it to Roon direct, with or without Roon upsampling, make sure you close it when not using it.
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Literally 791 emails in one morning!
Fortunately, Emile is a nice and patient guy.
Just remember, he could have been this guy!
Attachments
I got a kick out of the 797 emails that Emile showed. I knew he must have had a gazillion emails and pulled the 791 our of the air the other day. Too bad I wasn't playing "The Price is Right"
All beta testers wanting to evaluate the last and likely final iteration, please contact me.
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Just wow. Got newest usb6 version with some Emile magic.
What can I say? All other versions sound like kindergeburtstag vs this.
Such a step forward in musicality!
What can I say? All other versions sound like kindergeburtstag vs this.
Such a step forward in musicality!
