Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

[Nils]

@Taiko Audio can you update/confirm (I have not seen this data earlier here) regarding the upcoming Switch's DC barrel diameter?

See e.g. https://www.cui.com/blog/selecting-appropriate-input-and-output-plugs-for-your-power-adapter

I have come across two different sizes of DC-barrels:
1) 5.5 mm outer sleeve diameter with 2.1 mm inner sleeve diameter
2) 5.5 mm outer sleeve diameter with 2.5 mm inner sleeve diameter

I need to buy an additional cable to power the Taiko Switch -> need to know which DC barrel-type to order for terminating cable...

Please advice!

 

[Zeotrope]

I don’t think that’s realistically executable. We will have to see how to approach that.

It’s not an uncommon practice, see here for example https://www.gadgetreview.com/how-to-replace-isp-router-with-your-own (first hit on googling “how to replace your internet router”)

Why replace the router at all, and just install the Taiko switch in front of the Extreme?

 

[Kris]

Did you use grounding enhancement material? Is that 0.5 ohm consistent? 8' 5/8th thick rods I presume, and how far apart? I installed my grounding system, even with a pneumatic tool, not easy! Sorry for all the questions...John

Hi
The 11 m deep rods ( have 9 of them ) are spaced 10 m apart .
I hired professional contractor to do it so yes they used the pneumatic tool to hammer it
untill it reched the rock 11 m deep For each of the 9 rods .

 

[Kris]

Well I think right now you'd be better off placing your modem , router, switches on a separate mains system, if you're just splitting a single phase with a common neutral it's not going to matter that much though.

I did that a year ago and it was a little worst , but will repeat Testing,
If you recommend it I might miss something. Grounding ?
I also had the same ground for Network devices and a system.
should I put them on a separate phase, neutral and ground ?

 

[CKKeung]

Hi
The 11 m deep rods ( have 9 of them ) are spaced 10 m apart .
I hired professional contractor to do it so yes they used the pneumatic tool to hammer it
untill it reched the rock 11 m deep For each of the 9 rods .

I guess your contractor had placed ground-enhancing compound between the rods and the garden soil?

 

[Kris]

Why replace the router at all, and just install the Taiko switch in front of the Extreme?

When I replaced ISP router of low quality with something much better
I have found that the better the router is I have much better SQ.
powering it with LPS was also very important.
Softwere settings as well have big impact.
Difference was very significant. There is no way back.
In my system router twicks were more important that swich twicks.
I turned all safety to lowest settings as it burned more power and kept processor busy.
Imagine having synergistic work of Taiko Router and Taiko swich!

I tested swich and router impact on SQ myself but I am unable to dig as deep
as our famous Taiko Team will.
I am extreme happy they went this route because they will do it 10 x better than I can.

 

[Kris]

I guess your contractor had placed ground-enhancing compound between the rods and the garden soil?

I gave them a lot of work.
They did just few audio dedicated grounding before with only 2 ohm rating .
Mine was going to be 0,5 ohm or less.
It ened up being 0,48 ohm.
It is Very hard to go below that.
It is important to mesure it at the end and they had the equipement to do it.
Also what helped is I have a good soil that keeps water so that helped reach that low resistance.

 

[Sablon Audio]

I would second Kris’s comments here. Anything network related has the potential for high delta returns. I have upgraded my combined router/modem to one with a higher spec processor - good gain - and then added a Paul Hynes lps with negative shunted to ground. Putting a grounding box onto the router / modem is also helpful. I don’t doubt for a moment that Emile can do much much better with a bespoke implementation.

 

[Taiko Audio]

Why replace the router at all, and just install the Taiko switch in front of the Extreme?

The Switch is all about providing the lowest possible interface noise.

The Router controls the contents and “flow” of the data stream passing through the switch.

@Christiaan Punter can you repost my posts on switch vs router in a spare moment in case @Zeotrope missed those?

 

[Taiko Audio]

I guess your contractor had placed ground-enhancing compound between the rods and the garden soil?

Bentonite clay

 

[Taiko Audio]

I did that a year ago and it was a little worst , but will repeat Testing,
If you recommend it I might miss something. Grounding ?
I also had the same ground for Network devices and a system.
should I put them on a separate phase, neutral and ground ?

The problem is the complexity makes behaviour very unpredictable, and I’m sorry to say unsolvable. Even this dedicated utility transformer home right in front of our building doesn’t solve this, photo taken from my
office just now, there is about 14 meters of power-cabling between the system and the mains utility transformer.

The only real solution for the powergrid “problem” I found was running off batteries.

 

[Taiko Audio]

@Taiko Audio can you update/confirm (I have not seen this data earlier here) regarding the upcoming Switch's DC barrel diameter?

See e.g. https://www.cui.com/blog/selecting-appropriate-input-and-output-plugs-for-your-power-adapter

I have come across two different sizes of DC-barrels:
1) 5.5 mm outer sleeve diameter with 2.1 mm inner sleeve diameter
2) 5.5 mm outer sleeve diameter with 2.5 mm inner sleeve diameter

I need to buy an additional cable to power the Taiko Switch -> need to know which DC barrel-type to order for terminating cable...

Please advice!

Power Barrel Connector Jack 2.50mm ID (0.098"), 5.50mm OD (0.217")

 

[nonesup]

Power Barrel Connector Jack 2.50mm ID (0.098"), 5.50mm OD (0.217")

Since I hate that there are 2.1mm and 2.5mm Jack, such a small difference seems pretty stupid. In my case, the Jack of my Paul Hynes that powers my Melco S-100 switch is 2.1 mm, so I already have a little problem powering the Taiko Switch.

 

[Stereophonic]

Since I hate that there are 2.1mm and 2.5mm Jack, such a small difference seems pretty stupid. In my case, the Jack of my Paul Hynes that powers my Melco S-100 switch is 2.1 mm, so I already have a little problem powering the Taiko Switch.

Time to change to a better DC cable…

 

[cmarin]

Hi
The 11 m deep rods ( have 9 of them ) are spaced 10 m apart .
I hired professional contractor to do it so yes they used the pneumatic tool to hammer it
untill it reched the rock 11 m deep For each of the 9 rods .

FWIW, on the recommendation of Stirling Trayle, we used an enhanced grounding “L Shaped”’ rod about 8’ long and 2’ high buried into a trench covered with an enhanced grounding cement that got the resistance down to 0.2 ohms. It made a dramatic difference in the sound quality.

 

[John T]

I guess your contractor had placed ground-enhancing compound between the rods and the garden soil?

They couldn't have if they were driven into the ground. Even in peat which basically stays moist it would be difficult to achieve consistent 0.5 ohm. Grounding enhancement material is the best option. Erico Gem 25A is one product. The correct application is to auger the holes 6-8" diameter. Once you get the rod tapped into the ground after mixing it is poured around the rods. Don't go above the clamp because proper application requires bare 6awg to make the bridges for multiple rods. The 6awg should also be encased in the grounding material, typically 8-10 " deep and 10' apart. Depending on the substrate 8-10' ground rods. Rule of thumb 10' Ground Rod 10' apart.

 

[John T]

FWIW, on the recommendation of Stirling Trayle, we used an enhanced grounding “L Shaped”’ rod about 8’ long and 2’ high buried into a trench covered with an enhanced grounding cement that got the impedance down to 0.2 ohms. It made a dramatic difference in the sound quality.

Horizontal placement works nicely especially with rocky terrain. A back hoe is easier to arrange than to auger all those holes.

 

[dminches]

Since I hate that there are 2.1mm and 2.5mm Jack, such a small difference seems pretty stupid. In my case, the Jack of my Paul Hynes that powers my Melco S-100 switch is 2.1 mm, so I already have a little problem powering the Taiko Switch.

What measurement is 2.1mm? Is that the output of the Hynes? That doesn't matter for the Taiko switch. You just need a cable which works the Hynes LPs and is terminated with a 2.5mm on the other end.

Ghent Audio makes very nice cables that are not too expensive.

 

[Zeotrope]

Since I hate that there are 2.1mm and 2.5mm Jack, such a small difference seems pretty stupid. In my case, the Jack of my Paul Hynes that powers my Melco S-100 switch is 2.1 mm, so I already have a little problem powering the Taiko Switch.

I would think the Taiko Switch will come with a nice power supply. I doubt Taiko will ship it with a cheap supply, unless it doesn’t matter, which is highly unlikely. So I would not worry about upgrading the power supply

 

[Zeotrope]

They couldn't have if they were driven into the ground. Even in peat which basically stays moist it would be difficult to achieve consistent 0.5 ohm. Grounding enhancement material is the best option. Erico Gem 25A is one product. The correct application is to auger the holes 6-8" diameter. Once you get the rod tapped into the ground after mixing it is poured around the rods. Don't go above the clamp because proper application requires bare 6awg to make the bridges for multiple rods. The 6awg should also be encased in the grounding material, typically 8-10 " deep and 10' apart. Depending on the substrate 8-10' ground rods. Rule of thumb 10' Ground Rod 10' apart.

Wouldn’t a product like the Shunyata Altaira grounding system eliminate the need for a complex in-ground grounding solution?