Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

[oldmustang]

So I tried using my new StarLink ISP in place of my slow-speed CenturyLink DSL tonight with my Extreme. Simple set up: StarLink mesh access point > UTP copper ethernet cable > Extreme.

Still early days but I have to say streamed music sounded as good as it ever has. I haven't done the A/B/A/B with my DSL so maybe it was just me tonight. But one thing for sure, streamed content loads much, much, much faster.

Steve Z

 

[matthias]

So I tried using my new StarLink ISP in place of my slow-speed CenturyLink DSL tonight with my Extreme. Simple set up: StarLink mesh access point > UTP copper ethernet cable > Extreme.

Still early days but I have to say streamed music sounded as good as it ever has. I haven't done the A/B/A/B with my DSL so maybe it was just me tonight. But one thing for sure, streamed content loads much, much, much faster.

Steve Z

Congrats Steve,
what is the internet speed you get with Starlink?

Matt

 

[nonesup]

I don't own a Denali but I do own the Shunyata Everest so here is an additional data point for your consideration. As detailed in my post #9840 in this thread, I experimented with the Extreme going direct to the wall (dedicated 10 AWG circuit) vs. into the Extreme. The power cord was a Sablon Prince. I did this experiment twice, before and after the Extreme's OS update earlier this year. Both times I preferred the Extreme into the Everest. Not a huge difference, but enough to be noticeable. I also prefer my amp into the Everest.

Exactly my case.

 

[Zeotrope]

Ah, too far away on the P20. I found the P20 better than directly into the wall when I first got my Extreme, and have been riding with that since. Now, with the updates since November 2020, I probably should revisit it....

I know Emile has a P20, and yes, unfortunately in my case, it’s just too far away to connect the Extreme to it.
I’ll go ahead and order a better 20A cord for the Denali and connect the Extreme to it. Thanks for the input!

 

[VPN]

Has anybody tried the Taiko Extreme with the Stromtank S1000? Better with the stromtank or directly? Thanks

 

[matthias]

Has anybody tried the Taiko Extreme with the Stromtank S1000? Better with the stromtank or directly? Thanks

@romaz tried Extreme with Stromtank, the results are very interesting

Matt

 

[oldmustang]

Congrats Steve,
what is the internet speed you get with Starlink?

Matt

Thank you, Matt. Starlink speeds vary somewhat but I'm seeing anywhere from a high of 200 mbps down/40 mbps up to a low of 80 mbps down/12 up. It generally stays somewhere between 120-150 down/15-25 up. A huge improvement over my DSL which is 12 mbps down/1.2 mbps up.

After I posted last night I did do a little A/B comparison trying to listen for any SQ differences. I *think* I hear a subtly improved sense of ease and relaxed energy (if that makes sense) with StarLink. Perhaps indicative of less noise.

The StarLink router and mesh access points have a built-in AC power supply so no easy way to experiment with another power supply, not that I want to. Whatever they put in it certainly doesn't seem to have an adverse impact on SQ, so that's a relief.

Steve Z

 

[Zeotrope]

To combat noisy power supplies I added a Shunyata Defender in an adjacent outlet. Made a noticeable difference to background noise.

For even better noise reduction, a Shunyata conditioner like the Denali will filter noise among components plugged into it.

Recently embarked on a goal of ensuring all components are filtered from switch mode power supplies.

 

[rando]

Starlink speeds vary somewhat but I'm seeing anywhere from a high of 200 mbps down/40 mbps up to a low of 80 mbps down/12 up. It generally stays somewhere between 120-150 down/15-25 up. A huge improvement over my DSL which is 12 mbps down/1.2 mbps up.

12Mbps is wholly sufficient for streaming up to VBR Extreme encoded mp3.
Not quite the product tie-in you probably found rewarding.

Congrats are in order.
The real test is high rate DSD downloads
High speed server should easily better your Starlink™ connection speed
I imagine filling your disc cache will be a new experience as well

 

[microstrip]

Just want to point that I got an excellent result with the Nordost Heimdall II power cable in the Extreme. Although my whole dCS stack is powered with Transparent Audio Reference power cables, that sound great with it in my system, for the server I preferred the Heimdall II - more transparency and dynamics. And no, I did not try Odin Gold in the Extreme!

 

[oldmustang]

To combat noisy power supplies I added a Shunyata Defender in an adjacent outlet. Made a noticeable difference to background noise.

For even better noise reduction, a Shunyata conditioner like the Denali will filter noise among components plugged into it.

Recently embarked on a goal of ensuring all components are filtered from switch mode power supplies.

Certainly worth a try. I have several Shunyata Venom Defenders here and I could repurpose one long enough to do the experiment. Like you, I've long made it goal to replace SMPS wall warts with better regulated linear supplies, some of them quite expensive.

Which makes the Starlink mesh access point's performance quite gratifying -- the CenturyLink DSL modem/router is currently powered from an expensive Uptone Audio JS-2 linear power supply that I used to use several servers ago to power a modified Mac Mini. The Starlink is just plugged into a normal household duplex outlet on another circuit across the room from my system.

Steve Z

 

[Taiko Audio]

Has anybody tried the Taiko Extreme with the Stromtank S1000? Better with the stromtank or directly? Thanks

Next to @romaz I believe @Ultrafast69 has experience with powering the Extreme from a Stromtank.

 

[Zeotrope]

Certainly worth a try. I have several Shunyata Venom Defenders here and I could repurpose one long enough to do the experiment. Like you, I've long made it goal to replace SMPS wall warts with better regulated linear supplies, some of them quite expensive.

Which makes the Starlink mesh access point's performance quite gratifying -- the CenturyLink DSL modem/router is currently powered from an expensive Uptone Audio JS-2 linear power supply that I used to use several servers ago to power a modified Mac Mini. The Starlink is just plugged into a normal household duplex outlet on another circuit across the room from my system.

Steve Z

I actually connected the Venom Defender into the P20, with no apparent ill effects (although I have not done a thorough comparison). I have 3 AC Infinity fans plugged into a PS Audio Duet (their 4 outlet “power bar”), which is plugged into 1 outlet of the P20. The fans are powered by USB power supplies, which add noticeable line noise through the speakers when on. Plugging a Venom into the spare 4th outlet in the Duet dramatically reduced the background noise.

I also measured it with a Monster Entech Power Line Noise Analyzer (NH-161) (which is only $40 on eBay) and it showed about 50X less noise with the Venom.

Something to keep in mind if you have any components with less than stellar power supplies on the same circuit as your A/V components.

 

[VPN]

Next to @romaz I believe @Ultrafast69 has experience with powering the Extreme from a Stromtank.

@romaz and @Ultrafast69, could you share your experience in terms of using the Extreme with the Stromtank (please specifiy model) vs directly? Thanks

 

[Nils]

Team,
I'd like to share some findings from recent upgrade that I made to my system which I think may be of interest to quite a few amongst you.


So, this was not a bad setup...

But I thought that it was quite some time since I updated the power supplies of my Netgear Orbi MESH-system from stock to a little better IFi low-noise switching supplies so - time to explore.


This is a HUGE improvement, each step made it better, feeding the Hypsos from Everest was the biggest step-up, but the very first step of removing the Wall-wart from the Fiber converter was also major.

Lessons learned:
1) Optimize the whole
2) Include equipment from your service provider (fiber converter in this case) - most have wall-wart -> easy upgrade and no violation of policy (keep the wall wart around in case they need to come and service their equipment)
3) Router is as much part of your system as anything else - it deserves proper clean current via decent power cable

I tried out Keeces p3 LPS before moving to Ferrum (I have used them before) - they offer great sonic quality along with fantastic build quality and great versatility - recommended.

 

[Zeotrope]

Interesting @Nils !

Connecting the power supply to your Shunyata Everest will allow noise from the power supply to not affect other components on the same circuit. I have achieved similar results with the Shunyata Defender Venom and Denali.

Note that for Eero satellites/routers, it‘s different to find a replacement linear supply because of it’s non-standard power consumption. But connecting it to a Shunyata product will at least isolate the noise.
I have been using Teddy Pardo linear supplies for over a decade with no issue, and they are about half the cost, and smaller, than the Ferrum.

 

[matthias]

@Nils

I am curious, did you compare your 30m CAT6 between Orbi Router and Orbi Satellite to a wireless connection or is the distance too big for wireless?
Thanks

Matt

 

[Nils]

@Nils

I am curious, did you compare your 30m CAT6 between Orbi Router and Orbi Satellite to a wireless connection or is the distance too big for wireless?
Thanks

Matt

Hi!

The distance is too big (including two house walls) for a 5GHz signal to work.

Also - with a Mesh-system you want to minimize network signal loss between Router and Satellite(s) -> wired backhaul is best as this effective reduces signal loss to 0. (Having said that - I also have a 2nd home, there I use a Orbi Router on entrance-floor and an Orbi Satellite on 2nd floor, the backhaul there is 5GHz wireless which works fine in that context.)

I do have a two wireless networks in the main-house - one for Sonos (used for background music and talk-radio) and one general purpose used for work, surfing and streaming video.

Only wireless use in HIFI is my iPad which is used to control Roon - until XDMS arrives ;-)

So - short answer, no I have not done A|B-testing between wireless|wired wrt SQ in HIFI setup.

 

[Kris]

Next to @romaz I believe @Ultrafast69 has experience with powering the Extreme from a Stromtank.

I used stromtank S5000 for 6 months.
Extreme was actually the only grear that benefited from powering from it.
Amps DAC power supplys to switches router modem WORSENED with S5000 .

So my prediction was that SQ of the system benefited because of isolating the extreme from other very sensitive devices.
powering extreme from different socket / exclusive line to extreme also improves SQ in a simmilar way.

But I was checking also at the same time BALANCED trafos for each of the devices and this is the best solution .
every gear is isolated form the others having its own 2.5 kva trafo
So I sold Stromtank and keep balanced trafos. Its much Better solution and so much cheaper !

 

[jbrrp1]

I used stromtank S5000 for 6 months.
Extreme was actually the only grear that benefited from powering from it.
Amps DAC power supplys to switches router modem WORSENED with S5000 .

So my prediction was that SQ of the system benefited because of isolating the extreme from other very sensitive devices.
powering extreme from different socket / exclusive line to extreme also improves SQ in a simmilar way.

But I was checking also at the same time BALANCED trafos for each of the devices and this is the best solution .
every gear is isolated form the others having its own 2.5 kva trafo
So I sold Stromtank and keep balanced trafos. Its much Better solution and so much cheaper !

Kris, what balanced transformers are you using that bring this excellent result?