Howie, earlier i tried to access my history on Roon to come up with those Emile tracks but was not successful. i will continue to see if i can figure it out.
Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème
- Thread starter CKKeung
- Start date
Howie, earlier i tried to access my history on Roon to come up with those Emile tracks but was not successful. i will continue to see if i can figure it out.
Hello Bob and Ed,
Would you please talk a bit on the Pilum amps?
They look awesome!
I heard that they are as good as other top amps in the market but with a more "reasonable" pricing.
Possible to open a new Pilum thread on the Amp Forum?
Would you please talk a bit on the Pilum amps?
They look awesome!
I heard that they are as good as other top amps in the market but with a more "reasonable" pricing.
Possible to open a new Pilum thread on the Amp Forum?
I will post a track list, and share my experiences from this trip when I return home. It’s been amazing so far
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Arrgh, the Extreme caught up with a lame horse !!
However it was a useful exercise, and your data point about the SQ of this vinyl does explain quite a bit. Many Thanks Mike for this info !
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Hi CK,
They are indeed awesome. The Preamp with its separate power supply, and the matching stereo power amp did steal our hearts and ears.
The finish looks like some kind of textured powder coat and can be custom ordered in different colors
There is a lot of good audio being built in Bulgaria !!
We are still "playing today and tmrw", besides the RR recording that "sucks"
(although you should hear this lousy recording on the VYGER in this particular set up/room.....ain't too bad sounding!!!) we did play MANY other LP's and the overall consensus was pretty much the same, but did not go back and forth as we did with the mentioned recording.Today we will use Arnold's Overture on vinyl and then streaming.
So although not meaningful if you compare original analog recorded vinyl or master tape vs the Extreme again, in the Rhapsody environment, when several people each day from around the globe visit and want to just pick up any album and play it and then listen to streaming it is very meaningful to know that with whatever album you might play vs any track you might stream, the streaming will stack up pretty good against the vinyl.....again, "in general" and I know it doesn't pertain to the absolutes.
Understood in this conversation we are comparing specifically the Extreme and vinyl so it's good to have all the details of the recordings in order.
The fun continues....
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https://www.piliumaudio.com
The Pilium do look awesome
but they sound a LOT better than they look. I would suggest sonic comparisons against ANY electronics (tube or SS) available at any price, the Pilium will hold its own and also excel. No big deal as there are lot's of GREAT amps out there, but the Pilium amps at $40K for the stereo amp (Achilles/in the pic on the right/ 275lbs) and the Hercules mono amps at $70K are a bargain price-wise compared to other amps at ANY cost.
The dual chassis Alexander preamp at $40K is also a bargain and I believe is a large contributor to the Pilium sound. The sound is high resolution, transparent with wonderful tonality. There are no sonic weaknesses.
The 200 Watt Leonidas integrated (200lbs) that is on the left in the pic is $39K and is very good as well and will compete again with ANY integrated out there.
Lot's of great electronics on the planet for sure, but Pilium is right there sonically and build quality, but with what I feel is almost bargain pricing compared to some of the competition.
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We are still "playing today and tmrw", besides the RR recording that "sucks"
Today we will use Arnold's Overture on vinyl and then streaming.
So although not meaningful if you compare original analog recorded vinyl or master tape vs the Extreme again, in the Rhapsody environment, when several people each day from around the globe visit and want to just pick up any album and play it and then listen to streaming it is very meaningful to know that with whatever album you might play vs any track you might stream, the streaming will stack up pretty good against the vinyl.....again, "in general" and I know it doesn't pertain to the absolutes.
Understood in this conversation we are comparing specifically the Extreme and vinyl so it's good to have all the details of the recordings in order.
The fun continues....
thanks Bob. look forward to the feedback on the Arnold Overture. i assume you have an original 33rpm RR-48 Arnold Overture Lp (i think there was never more than one version of this Lp).
btw; i have 10 Reference Recordings 45rpm Lp's from digital masters. they all sound 'good'. until you hear the source 176/24 file for those Lp's, which happen to sound even a little better. i can see the logic of why RR offered those to the market. and the Copeland 45 does not sound 'bad', just below the digital. the music is so good and the 45 rpm format so robust that it has good sound......just way below were it analog sourced.
so if you don't happen to have higher level digital then those Lp's are good choices and the music and recording quality is very good, typical for RR. and using the 45 rpm format has it's advantages.
ok, now i will move on from this issue and sorry to be a buzz killer.
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Hi Mike,
GREAT to have the accurate information! We were all delusional with the "Extreme cool-aid"
....boy, does it taste good!I do have the 176/24 file. This is the only vinyl copy that I have-
that's it!Hi Mike,
GREAT to have the accurate information! We were all delusional with the "Extreme cool-aid"
I do have the 176/24 file. This is the only vinyl copy that I have-
View attachment 57992
Wish you were here with us! We will report back later today.
And just for fun play Japanese Roots from Také Daké & Neptune (Asian Roots) LOUD!!
This is not a lame horse, it’s gorgeous
The SQ delta between the 24/176 streaming and the 24/176 download from the Reference Recordings website was bigger than the delta between the Vyger and the download
My take aways
The presentation is of the vinyl and 24/176 is different
For me when I am listening to the vinyl, I am sitting in the in row 15
When I am listening to the 24/176 download, I think I am standing next to the conductor.
Which is more pleasurable and which is more fun IMO is personal taste and the mood you are in
The higher back ground noise of vinyl at this level of SQ does not bother me at all nor detract from the enjoyment
Both are gorgeous !
Younger ears will have a different take for sure
To add some system context, the phono signal chain is single ended, and has a Zesto tube phono stage, the digital signal chain is all balanced.
The SQ delta between the 24/176 streaming and the 24/176 download from the Reference Recordings website was bigger than the delta between the Vyger and the download
My take aways
The presentation is of the vinyl and 24/176 is different
For me when I am listening to the vinyl, I am sitting in the in row 15
When I am listening to the 24/176 download, I think I am standing next to the conductor.
Which is more pleasurable and which is more fun IMO is personal taste and the mood you are in
The higher back ground noise of vinyl at this level of SQ does not bother me at all nor detract from the enjoyment
Both are gorgeous !
Younger ears will have a different take for sure
To add some system context, the phono signal chain is single ended, and has a Zesto tube phono stage, the digital signal chain is all balanced.
steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
I’m sitting at the airport in orange County on my way to meet up with Marty in NYC. I’m hoping we can get in to Rhapsody on Thursday.
i agree with Ed With the Extreme I feel much closer to the music. I have to turn the gain way down
i agree with Ed With the Extreme I feel much closer to the music. I have to turn the gain way down
Never, Mike ... But IMHO it is pointless in this thread, although it could be an interesting subject in a separate one.
What Emile and I have found, chasing sonic horse winners, is both challenge and a great deal lot of fun. It's been making us jump out of bed in the mornings after our visit to Mike's 4 days ago.
Lots of data data points and food for thought
I am looking for mechanisms or attenuated distortion sources to explain why 1/2 inch 15 ips tape is so so good.
Guess who said "how can we ever get digital to sound like 1/2" tape?" ;-)
Perhaps the ratio of correlated to uncorrelated distortion as well as total distortion plays a role in the superiority of tape ?
The software / firmware programability and hardware tuning flexibility of the Extreme platform does allow Emile to try a lot of stuff
Kurt Elling; Flirting With Twilight.
The Tape Project, TP-021, 1/2", 15ips. smooth as butter. in a way reproduced music can normally only dream about.
https://www.discogs.com/Kurt-Elling-Flirting-With-Twilight/release/4406102
i think getting digital to sound like 'good' 1/2" tape will require a JFK sort of commitment to get man to the moon and bring them back in this decade. it's possible, but lots of crazy stuff would need to happen. somebody with a large checkbook will need to be all in for a long period of time.
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