Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème
- Thread starter CKKeung
- Start date
Might be against forum rules but I just listed my two each M12 switches and one Duo3 LPS along with 3 Signature Gold JCat switches on AG. I am still having a hard time comprehending that the Switch/card did away with the need of the JCAT switches/PS that I have been so fond of for the last few years. Go figure.
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steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
Totally agree. I use the same album to demo . My favorite track of his is Sort of Revolution
Christiaan Punter
Well-Known Member
The planned FLAC "solution" is not yet implemented. So, for now, the difference between FLAC and WAV should be unchanged.
Christiaan Punter
Well-Known Member
Folded outward so that the hole in the plate aligns with the screw hole in the Extreme's chassis. This will prevent the card from tipping up and in part out of the PCI socket.
...just put a little bend or arc on the copper end piece. We had the same process with the USB card. Some had the mis-aligment, some not, as I recall. I did not. You just need to gain the couple of mm or 1/8 to align.
I think that this is only the second time that a server manufacturer has actually built a hi-fi switch from scratch. I could imagine that designing and optimising the firmware/SW/HW ’handshake’ and traffic flow between switch and router could have some great benefits. I would expect the new router to do a lot more along the same lines. I have found that all aspects of the network’s physical layer are what is largely responsible for the eventual music’s presentation. The better the physical layer, the more easily the brain detects subtleties and differences in the amplitude, phase (timing) and frequencies of the 2 sets of soundwaves reaching our ears.
There’s an overriding network hi-fi axiom that I‘ve yet to see contradicted and that is: better in = better out. This behaviour is what allows improvements early in the process to tranverse the whole network and be heard in the music.
I also reckon that the clamshell-like casing of the new Taiko offers quite some benefits in terms of both EMI ingress and resonance control. I can‘t imagine that casing ‘ringing’ when given the knuckle rap test; just a sore knuckle.
The finding that the output from one Taiko switch into an Extreme is better than the output of two 3rd party switches into an Extreme is exactly the sign of a successful design and implementation. It should be so. It should indeed outperform any 3rd party switch arrangement. It’s been designed to do exactly that. The combination of Taiko router, switch and Extreme will re-define just how good networked audio can be. I am on a very different path but I’ve continued to develop my network and I’ve found it to be very rich ground for enhancements, so a Taiko designed complete chain will remove a lot of inherent flaws related to the consumer grade electronics and SW most of us use in parts of our network.
Just to add, the beauty of the switch is a perfect demonstration of ‘form follows function‘. Functional audio jewellery!
BTW, as you can probably tell, I’m really enjoying all the good vibes around this rollout, which got me thinking about just how damned lucky and fortunate we all are. Which then got me thinking about passing on a little bit of this happiness to help the less fortunate, just ya know, to show some gratitude .
Another tid-bit is that I prefer Roon now with the Switch/card vs. XDMS prior sans Switch/card. Although there is pretty significant up-tick in overall SQ with XDMS/Switch/card vs Roon/Switch/card, which is to be expected.
So I‘m going to push the boat out on this one!
Power supplies for the new Taiko switch.
Firstly let me state that I have expectation bias. When I encounter an upgrade that worked in 1 instance, I expect it to do the same in other instances. This of course won’t happen in all cases, for example where the item replaced was in fact superior to the replacement.
OK, with that in mind, my experience with every switch I‘ve owned (4) is that the PS plays a major role in the sonic signature of its output. Change the PS and you change the output’s characteristics.
There’s no doubt that the new switch is performing at new sonic quality levels with its supplied power supply. My question is; does it get even better with more expensive power supplies? If the switch is close to the Extreme then the obvious solution is the forthcoming BPS. But if its remote, what effects do LPS power supplies have?
For me network switches have always been a transparent window into the power supply’s sonic attributes. Is that also true with the new Taiko?
No doubt we’ll be hearing soon…………….
Power supplies for the new Taiko switch.
Firstly let me state that I have expectation bias. When I encounter an upgrade that worked in 1 instance, I expect it to do the same in other instances. This of course won’t happen in all cases, for example where the item replaced was in fact superior to the replacement.
OK, with that in mind, my experience with every switch I‘ve owned (4) is that the PS plays a major role in the sonic signature of its output. Change the PS and you change the output’s characteristics.
There’s no doubt that the new switch is performing at new sonic quality levels with its supplied power supply. My question is; does it get even better with more expensive power supplies? If the switch is close to the Extreme then the obvious solution is the forthcoming BPS. But if its remote, what effects do LPS power supplies have?
For me network switches have always been a transparent window into the power supply’s sonic attributes. Is that also true with the new Taiko?
No doubt we’ll be hearing soon…………….
I have only tried and am using the JCAT DUO3 LPS with the new switch. I will switch to the supplied wall wart ps at some point. At the moment I can't get myself to disconnect what's playing but I will just for the knowledge. Although regardless of the outcome I'm waiting for the BPS as my destination set up.
I actually equate the new Switch/card as if I upgraded my preamp/amp(s) or DAC. Definitely not just an upgrade to the existing sound that XDMS was providing sans Switch/card. I'm sure there will be many opinions of the Switch/card, my opinions are just based on from what I am hearing in my room, with my set up and room. YMMV.
steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
My switch and upcoming router will sit on the shelf immediately under my Extreme with the intent that both will be powered by the BPS
steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
@Taiko Audio @Christiaan Punter .....has there been a determination yet as to best connection between new router and switch. It was Ethernet initially but now I'm seeing possibly DAC. If DAC will that be supplied with the router
Also to a/b with and without the switch can this be done by just powering the switch on and off or can that cause damage to the new card
Also to a/b with and without the switch can this be done by just powering the switch on and off or can that cause damage to the new card
If you power the switch off, it's not going to pass through the signal from the router is it?
steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
Not yet determined, it’s not just a matter of swapping cables, there’s also software/firmware tuning involved.
Powercycling the switch doesn’t damage the card. You can also safely unplug/replug cables or SFP modules while everything is powered on.
