Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

[Christiaan Punter]

Hi Chriistian.

Thanks for your valuable opinion on SGM Exterme.



I am following your HFA blogs.

Just one question.

Although Magico S1 is a nice speaker, it does not go very deep, Thus it could be mismatch with rest of your system.

Have you considered going up to Magico A5 which is not very imposing but with more bass and dynamics.

Thomas

Hi Thomas, I have tried many speakers but my room is very difficult. Even after the recent acoustics improvements, most ported speakers don't work very well and only few speakers work synergistically. Panel speakers, in particular, work very well but after my decade-long adventure with Logans, Magnepans, and Apogees, I was ready for something very different and that became Magico. I feel that the A-series doesn't offer the precision and transparency that I crave. In that comparison, the S1 MkII was significantly more precise and articulate, as well as less colored. I had high hopes for the S3 MkII and got a second-hand pair, I guess almost a year ago, and while it provided better bass and introduced no room issues, I found it to sound darker and less pure than the S1 MkII. The S1 is by no means a perfect speaker but it works very well for me and in my room. 42Hz is the limit indeed but everything above that is of very good quality so for the moment, I am quite happy with the system.

 

[Blackmorec]

Hi Thomas, I have tried many speakers but my room is very difficult. Even after the recent acoustics improvements, most ported speakers don't work very well and only few speakers work synergistically. Panel speakers, in particular, work very well but after my decade-long adventure with Logans, Magnepans, and Apogees, I was ready for something very different and that became Magico. I feel that the A-series doesn't offer the precision and transparency that I crave. In that comparison, the S1 MkII was significantly more precise and articulate, as well as less colored. I had high hopes for the S3 MkII and got a second-hand pair, I guess almost a year ago, and while it provided better bass and introduced no room issues, I found it to sound darker and less pure than the S1 MkII. The S1 is by no means a perfect speaker but it works very well for me and in my room. 42Hz is the limit indeed but everything above that is of very good quality. But of course, if something better comes along, I will have no problem switching.

Hi Christian,
as a fellow user of S1MkIIs I found that adding SPODS made a substantial difference both to overall bass weight and extension. They take about a week to settle in….before that their bass is a little overwhelming and unbalanced but once they settle in they really add more substance, definition and finesse from the upper bass on down. Worth trying IMO.

 

[Christiaan Punter]

Hi Christian,
as a fellow user of S1MkIIs I found that adding SPODS made a substantial difference both to overall bass weight and extension. They take about a week to settle in….before that their bass is a little overwhelming and unbalanced but once they settle in they really add more substance, definition and finesse from the upper bass on down. Worth trying IMO.

Thanks for the tip, Blackmorec. The SPODS are something that I considered but I suspect that they will do the opposite of what I want. Surprisingly enough, given the S1's small woofers, it's not more substance than I need. The bass is full enough as it is. Some more extension toward 30Hz would be great but that will require larger woofers and/or a larger cabinet and I don't think that any coupling device will change this in a meaningful manner. That said, if the opportunity arises, I will definitely try the SPODS. Incidentally, I did experiment with the spikes coupled straight to the concrete floor via holes in the vinyl planking (laminate) floor. I've made fun YouTube vid about it. That led to impressive bass (not lower, but more solid), but ultimately, I felt that the balance had shifted too much toward a dark and full sound so I filled the holes again and am back at using Artesania coasters.

 

[Ackcheng]

Can always consider getting a magico sub to fill up the gap!

 

[DW101]

Mine arrived in Geneva this morning.

It will be delivered on Tuesday


View attachment 94167

Exciting! Mine was pushed back until later this month by material supply shortages / delays, so I have to be patient a bit longer…

 

[cat6man]

His customer base spans the gamut from the turnkey user — "I just want it to work like a $30k CD player" — to reformed DIY hobbyists like me who are happy to tinker.

"Reformed"? I doubt that's possible. With the clear superiority and matchless SQ of the extreme software, the urge to play/tweak just moves to other areas of life (e.g. 10gb home networking, SageTV server for home video and ATSC3, robotic lawnmower), which can be done while listening to (not evaluating) the music.

 

[RobertL]

Which model T+A is that ?

After I have read the manual, lets schedule a TeamViewer session into your Laptop PC or Mac

T+A SD3100HV. Only DSF512 and DSF1024 encounter this issue. DSF64 Okay. Many thanks for the coming TeamViewer section to my Mac.

 

[EuroDriver]

T+A SD3100HV. Only DSF512 and DSF1024 encounter this issue. DSF64 Okay. Many thanks for the coming TeamViewer section to my Mac.

I have a confession to make, I actually very much enjoy these customer service sessions

 

[Christiaan Punter]

Can always consider getting a magico sub to fill up the gap!

I have indeed considered that

 

[SwissTom]

I just unpacked my Taiko Extreme!

I unpacked it and placed it on my rack.

The thing is heavy!
Not easy to do that alone...

The packaging was a bit battered. Fortunately everything was done to protect the server.

I'll switch it on tonight.

 

[EuroDriver]

View attachment 94280
I just unpacked my Taiko Extreme!

I unpacked it and placed it on my rack.

The thing is heavy!
Not easy to do that alone...

The packaging was a bit battered. Fortunately everything was done to protect the server.

I'll switch it on tonight.

Send an email to support@taikoaudio.com ad we can set up a time to TeamViewer in to a laotop/desktop and then take a look and check your settings in Roon

 

[aLLeARS]

Just replaced the IEC cable connector that plugs into the Extreme. I had been using a Furutech FI-C15 NCF since I got the Extreme around two years ago. Changed to an Oyiade C-004 IEC which was designed to match the IEC inlet that is on the Extreme (same manufacturer, same plating).

The Extreme is on its own dedicated circuit using a Gigawatt circuit breaker and twelve feet of Gigawatt wire terminated with the IEC connector plugged directly into the Extreme (no outlet or separate power cable).

The Extreme was powered down for a little over half an hour while I replaced the connector. I powered it back on and continued playing the same track that I was playing before the swap.

I expected to have to struggle to hear if there was any difference at all in sound. Instead, I was totally blown away by how much better the Extreme sounds with the Oyaide IEC. Not subtle at all. Better, more articulate bass, better dynamics, more details and totally natural sounding. This is even before the Extreme has restabilized after being turned off. Just amazing what I have been missing for the past two years!

The Oyaide C-004 IEC connector works wonders here! It seems to follow the voicing that Taiko did when they picked that Oyiade IEC inlet for the Extreme. Very synergistic.

 

[EuroDriver]

Just replaced the IEC cable connector that plugs into the Extreme. I had been using a Furutech FI-C15 NCF since I got the Extreme around two years ago. Changed to an Oyiade C-004 IEC which was designed to match the IEC inlet that is on the Extreme (same manufacturer, same plating).

The Extreme is on its own dedicated circuit using a Gigawatt circuit breaker and twelve feet of Gigawatt wire terminated with the IEC connector plugged directly into the Extreme (no outlet or separate power cable).

The Extreme was powered down for a little over half an hour while I replaced the connector. I powered it back on and continued playing the same track that I was playing before the swap.

I expected to have to struggle to hear if there was any difference at all in sound. Instead, I was totally blown away by how much better the Extreme sounds with the Oyaide IEC. Not subtle at all. Better, more articulate bass, better dynamics, more details and totally natural sounding. This is even before the Extreme has restabilized after being turned off. Just amazing what I have been missing for the past two years!

The Oyaide C-004 IEC connector works wonders here! It seems to follow the voicing that Taiko did when they picked that Oyiade IEC inlet for the Extreme. Very synergistic.

There is certainly a case to be made for sticking with the same supplier along the power delivery chain.

Refering back to Quantum Wave's post a few months ago, similar metalurgy can be likened to similar metronomes.

One also wonders what piezo electric materials bring to the table in terms of clarifying the electo-vibrational environment

 

[SwissTom]

Send an email to support@taikoaudio.com ad we can set up a time to TeamViewer in to a laotop/desktop and then take a look and check your settings in Roon

Hi ED,

Thanks for your message.

I will send an email to the support as soon as I manage to free up some time.

The server is gorgeous with a beautiful finish that perfectly matches with the Soulution electronics.

 

[howiebrou]

Just replaced the IEC cable connector that plugs into the Extreme. I had been using a Furutech FI-C15 NCF since I got the Extreme around two years ago. Changed to an Oyiade C-004 IEC which was designed to match the IEC inlet that is on the Extreme (same manufacturer, same plating).

The Extreme is on its own dedicated circuit using a Gigawatt circuit breaker and twelve feet of Gigawatt wire terminated with the IEC connector plugged directly into the Extreme (no outlet or separate power cable).

The Extreme was powered down for a little over half an hour while I replaced the connector. I powered it back on and continued playing the same track that I was playing before the swap.

I expected to have to struggle to hear if there was any difference at all in sound. Instead, I was totally blown away by how much better the Extreme sounds with the Oyaide IEC. Not subtle at all. Better, more articulate bass, better dynamics, more details and totally natural sounding. This is even before the Extreme has restabilized after being turned off. Just amazing what I have been missing for the past two years!

The Oyaide C-004 IEC connector works wonders here! It seems to follow the voicing that Taiko did when they picked that Oyiade IEC inlet for the Extreme. Very synergistic.

Could some of the improvement be due to rebooting the extreme? I think it has been mentioned somewhere on this thread that rebooting regularly is best for sq?

 

[dminches]

Could some of the improvement be due to rebooting the extreme? I think it has been mentioned somewhere on this thread that rebooting regularly is best for sq?

The sound is likely not going to be ideal right after the reboot but it could have some advantages after the system has settled down. Not sure how long that takes but it is hours and not minutes.

 

[Zeotrope]

I think I solved the issue whereby Roon was skipping through tracks and not playing anything. Rather than rebooting, press the gear icon and then Device Setup for the Extreme and Roon will connect to the DAC. I can hear a relay clicking in the Nagra Tube DAC. That’s all. Not sure what the root cause is, but this is a satisfactory work around until XDMS arrives.

 

[Kris]

The sound is likely not going to be ideal right after the reboot but it could have some advantages after the system has settled down. Not sure how long that takes but it is hours and not minutes.

I am sure it is.
I do reboot every week.
This is specifically important after the roon update happens.
Please try to listen just after the roon update for a few hours and than reboot and listen again .
It is night and day difference.

I know this effect will dissappear with XdMS.
I can't wait for that so I can stop rebooting.

 

[RUIN*ish]

I have found that even before I had my Extreme, rebooting the Innuos Statement and router once a week did make a difference for the better..
Marc

 

[Nils]

Regarding restarting of Extreme - same as several others have stated, due to perceived degradation of SQ over time I do I also do periodical restarts of Extreme.

With restart I mean:
- Turn off Extreme by double-click on power button on front
- Turn off mains switch on back of Extreme
- Wait a couple of minutes
- Turn on mains switch on back of Extreme
- Turn on Extreme using power button on front

Resetting the Extreme by the cold-start procedure eliminates the negative effects -> back to normal.

I suspect the degradation is caused by some form of 'static buildup' within Extreme.

I do the above reset when I sense a degradation in SQ, usually about two weeks apart - timing is a consequence of actual usage/mileage. Most likely the timing also varies with your actual system and its constituent parts.

I do not beleive this has to do with Roon upgrades - that is another, orthogonal issue which will be resolved by XDMS.