that's what i do, after powering the OS off with the front button, then waiting until the green led on the motherboard goes off.
i usually give it 10 minutes before restarting. later this week, i'll be able to go back to always on performance/SQ.
Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème
- Thread starter CKKeung
- Start date
that's what i do, after powering the OS off with the front button, then waiting until the green led on the motherboard goes off.
i usually give it 10 minutes before restarting. later this week, i'll be able to go back to always on performance/SQ.
The Extreme isn’t just running Windows. It is running a slimmed down version which utilizes Project Lasso which further controls how the OS runs. You are severely generalizing what is going on under the hood.
I doubt the Roon issue has anything to do with the server OS.
Both LDMS and Taiko use Windows because they believe it sounds better than Linux - after it has been highly optimized, pared down - despite the additional licensing cost and effort to modify. Linux is known for a softer sound. Windows is more direct with better bottom. I’m quoting others I’ve talked to about this. Not my own research. But it seems to correlate with what I’ve owned/heard.
A lot of LD‘s claimed SQ gains have been made by relentlessly tweaking the Windows OS, getting the distortion spectra minimized/optimized. His server spec is minimal compared to the Extreme. Point is, the OS and how it is utilized isn’t an afterthought. It is central.
Both LDMS and Taiko use Windows because they believe it sounds better than Linux - after it has been highly optimized, pared down - despite the additional licensing cost and effort to modify. Linux is known for a softer sound. Windows is more direct with better bottom. I’m quoting others I’ve talked to about this. Not my own research. But it seems to correlate with what I’ve owned/heard.
A lot of LD‘s claimed SQ gains have been made by relentlessly tweaking the Windows OS, getting the distortion spectra minimized/optimized. His server spec is minimal compared to the Extreme. Point is, the OS and how it is utilized isn’t an afterthought. It is central.
You're correct that it takes awhile for the Extreme to get completely on song after a full power down, but, yes, the SQ uplift cannot be missed, even 10 minutes into power up - - it's that good! I'm now ~50 hours in from installing things, and I'm hearing piano sound from recordings very well known to me that is just more convincing overall than I have experienced before. Meaty, and differentiated in the left hand, in particular. There is something very special about how the switch and card are helping unravel the bass - lower-midrange.
You’re talking to a high end computer geek who does this stuff for a living and gets paid a lot for it, I might add (enough to buy a 3500 sq ft in the Bay Area!). . Project Lasso is a Windows process automation and optimization software. It doesn’t change the fact that it’s Windows under the hood. You can download the package here.
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Taiko is of course free to choose any OS and tweak it the way they see fit. For me, if I’m running Roon, I’d rather go to the source and see what they use, which is Roon Rock. XDMS is of course proprietary, like Aurender has its own proprietary database (many of these are running Linux under the hood). If you want to run XDMS, you have no choice.
Since a lot of you seem to be having software stability issues, I’d hazard a guess that it’s a memory leak somewhere corrupting the OS (Windows is known for these). Could be a Roon update that’s causing the glitch. When I ran Roon on my Mac Pro, I’d have these occasionally as well. All disappeared after I switched to the Rock server. Running now for 2+ years without a single glitch of any kind. It’s a Rock, that’s for sure. Which is why Linux powers the computing world “big iron“ (like the Google search engine).
Steve Williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
To be fair the members who have been having issues are we who are alpha testers of XDMS and there are always bugs to squash and stability issues.You’re talking to a high end computer geek who does this stuff for a living and gets paid a lot for it, I might add (enough to buy a 3500 sq ft in the Bay Area!). . Project Lasso is a Windows process automation and optimization software. It doesn’t change the fact that it’s Windows under the hood. You can download the package here.
Bitsum. Real-time CPU Optimization and Automation
Real-Time CPU Optimization and Automation. Keep your PC responsive during high CPU loads and automate process settings with rules. Apps run YOUR WAY!
Taiko is of course free to choose any OS and tweak it the way they see fit. For me, if I’m running Roon, I’d rather go to the source and see what they use, which is Roon Rock. XDMS is of course proprietary, like Aurender has its own proprietary database (many of these are running Linux under the hood). If you want to run XDMS, you have no choice.
Since a lot of you seem to be having software stability issues, I’d hazard a guess that it’s a memory leak somewhere corrupting the OS (Windows is known for these). Could be a Roon update that’s causing the glitch. When I ran Roon on my Mac Pro, I’d have these occasionally as well. All disappeared after I switched to the Rock server. Running now for 2+ years without a single glitch of any kind. It’s a Rock, that’s for sure. Which is why Linux powers the computing world “big iron“ (like the Google search engine).
Given Roon's repeatedly demonstrated indifference to issues of sound quality, running Roon on a Roon-merchandised platform utilizing the Linux operating system is hardly the recommendation for true high-end sound you may think it is.You’re talking to a high end computer geek who does this stuff for a living and gets paid a lot for it, I might add (enough to buy a 3500 sq ft in the Bay Area!). . Project Lasso is a Windows process automation and optimization software. It doesn’t change the fact that it’s Windows under the hood. You can download the package here.
Bitsum. Real-time CPU Optimization and Automation
Real-Time CPU Optimization and Automation. Keep your PC responsive during high CPU loads and automate process settings with rules. Apps run YOUR WAY!
Taiko is of course free to choose any OS and tweak it the way they see fit. For me, if I’m running Roon, I’d rather go to the source and see what they use, which is Roon Rock. XDMS is of course proprietary, like Aurender has its own proprietary database (many of these are running Linux under the hood). If you want to run XDMS, you have no choice.
Since a lot of you seem to be having software stability issues, I’d hazard a guess that it’s a memory leak somewhere corrupting the OS (Windows is known for these). Could be a Roon update that’s causing the glitch. When I ran Roon on my Mac Pro, I’d have these occasionally as well. All disappeared after I switched to the Rock server. Running now for 2+ years without a single glitch of any kind. It’s a Rock, that’s for sure. Which is why Linux powers the computing world “big iron“ (like the Google search engine).
Steve Z
It was the removal of the Nordost switch which solved your issue. Somehow it caused Roon being unable to keep it’s buffers full, some kind of network performance issue. This is not unique, a lot of Roon problems are caused by network performance issues.
The OS is rock solid. There have been a few Roon releases with memory leaks and/or other bugs for which you may need to restart Roon services, a reboot will do that for you.
Christiaan Punter
Well-Known Member
That was indeed done as soon as I realized the error
Christiaan Punter
Well-Known Member
Correct. The PCI slot locking clip only applies to full-size PCI cards.
Windows clearly sounds better than Linux and always has. It also sounds better than Mac.You’re talking to a high end computer geek who does this stuff for a living and gets paid a lot for it, I might add (enough to buy a 3500 sq ft in the Bay Area!). . Project Lasso is a Windows process automation and optimization software. It doesn’t change the fact that it’s Windows under the hood. You can download the package here.
Bitsum. Real-time CPU Optimization and Automation
Real-Time CPU Optimization and Automation. Keep your PC responsive during high CPU loads and automate process settings with rules. Apps run YOUR WAY!
Taiko is of course free to choose any OS and tweak it the way they see fit. For me, if I’m running Roon, I’d rather go to the source and see what they use, which is Roon Rock. XDMS is of course proprietary, like Aurender has its own proprietary database (many of these are running Linux under the hood). If you want to run XDMS, you have no choice.
Since a lot of you seem to be having software stability issues, I’d hazard a guess that it’s a memory leak somewhere corrupting the OS (Windows is known for these). Could be a Roon update that’s causing the glitch. When I ran Roon on my Mac Pro, I’d have these occasionally as well. All disappeared after I switched to the Rock server. Running now for 2+ years without a single glitch of any kind. It’s a Rock, that’s for sure. Which is why Linux powers the computing world “big iron“ (like the Google search engine).
As an audiophile what I care about is sq. I really couldn’t care less if the server is able to stay up running for 10 years without restart instead of say 2 months (for that matter I have never had a stability issue with Extreme having let it run for several months at a time). The obsession about “stability” seems quite unreasonable to me. Why would I want to have something that sounds worse but is theoretically more “stable”?
Installing Linux on Extreme would kill most of its value as I think most of the sq improvement compared to alternatives come from the software side, especially with XDMS, but even without. The hardware is just an enabler.
Is that the same Bay Area where the mayor is London Breed? Hallelujah! (not Leonard Cohen) She was feeling the spirit with Tony Toni Tone, I hope you didn't pay too much for that 3500 sq. feet. You could have gotten yourself an Extreme...Then again the Bay Area has its own Extremes...
The airport extreme running off a SMPS will pollute your entire stereo system when plugged into the Nordost switch (is my experience).
Anything using an SMPS (fans, lights etc) will corrupt the stereo system if on the same circuit. I got rid of the Apple Extreme by taking @dminches suggestion to use wireless for my smart TV. Worked beautifully.
I could buy many many Extremes for the price of my house. Bay Area real estate is not for the faint hearted. $1 million will get you a really nice house in most parts of the US. Here it won’t even get you a garage! It’s a bidding war for every house that’s on the market. Houses routinely sell for 50% over the listing price. On the bright side, if you do manage to find a nice house in a good neighborhood, it’s a far better investment than the stock market right now.
As of today
Good news for the Buffalo / Melco owners.
Tested Buffalo with PinkFaun clock before Taiko switch With OLDER sfp card And DAC cable.
In my system the improvement that Buffalo brings is big.
Buffalo with Pinkfaun + Taiko switch is an excellent combo.
It is definitely not as good when the Buffalo is taken out of system.
Edit ,. This might change when my Taiko netcard will work long so I can test it .
Also this might be totally different with Taiko router.
Good news for the Buffalo / Melco owners.
Tested Buffalo with PinkFaun clock before Taiko switch With OLDER sfp card And DAC cable.
In my system the improvement that Buffalo brings is big.
Buffalo with Pinkfaun + Taiko switch is an excellent combo.
It is definitely not as good when the Buffalo is taken out of system.
Edit ,. This might change when my Taiko netcard will work long so I can test it .
Also this might be totally different with Taiko router.
As the latest Taiko XDMS, NIC and switch upgrades run in, do those of you who’ve tried it find that the upgrade is quite difficult to describe in hi-fi terms due to the fact that simply everything about the music’s presentation got a lot better I.e its not easy to pick out individual elements in terms of the usual adjectives and a lot of improvements defy description, they just make the music more ‘magical’ and more like musicians actually creating the music in a real venue with the excitement and atmosphere of a live event?
Do you also find that each track has more of the elements of a ‘performance’ than has been the norm for a track played on a hi-fi? For example, you feel like clapping or cheering at the end of a great track?
Would you also agree that the most marked shift in performance is to your own reaction to the music, which is profoundly more involving and enjoyable and that it has become more difficult to listen analytically as you’re just swept up in the music’s rhythms and emotions?
Would you also agree that this level of upgrade defies the law of diminishing returns I.e. as the system gets better, the upgrades actually become more profound?
What I’m getting at; do you find these upgrades to the network somewhat different in nature to say an amplifier, tt or speaker upgrade?
Do you also find that each track has more of the elements of a ‘performance’ than has been the norm for a track played on a hi-fi? For example, you feel like clapping or cheering at the end of a great track?
Would you also agree that the most marked shift in performance is to your own reaction to the music, which is profoundly more involving and enjoyable and that it has become more difficult to listen analytically as you’re just swept up in the music’s rhythms and emotions?
Would you also agree that this level of upgrade defies the law of diminishing returns I.e. as the system gets better, the upgrades actually become more profound?
What I’m getting at; do you find these upgrades to the network somewhat different in nature to say an amplifier, tt or speaker upgrade?
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