Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

[Zeotrope]

Somewhat off topic (but not really!) related to the upcoming Router:
I am very impressed by the completely unexpected ancillary benefit from the Network Card + Switch’s reduction in network noise, which has lead to a significant improvement in audio quality from my Apple TV X. (I just wrote to Chris about this, who invented the ATVX and is an Extreme owner).

Will the Router improve matters further for anything connected to it via Ethernet? Or will it perhaps degrade matters, since its objective is to optimize SQ for the Extreme, after all? Perhaps the Router will isolate each connected device from the other, therefore “wasting” the reduced network noise from the Switch+Network card?

Connection is as follows:
Eero 6E satellite [connected to base station wirelessly]
-> Ethernet 1 to ATVX
-> Ethernet 2 to Taiko Switch

I didn’t hear an improvement (when streaming through the ATVX) with the Switch alone, it was when the new Network card was also installed when my jaw dropped!

 

[Taiko Audio]

I didn’t hear an improvement (when streaming through the ATVX) with the Switch alone, it was when the new Network card was also installed when my jaw dropped!

An interesting observation for which I cannot offer an explanation right now, but will surely try to recreate and investigate. The router should definitely improve things further but more by means of traffic segmentation and control.

 

[steve williams]

The router should definitely improve things further but more by means of traffic segmentation and control.

Pearl of the day..part of my morning ritual

 

[Zeotrope]

An interesting observation for which I cannot offer an explanation right now, but will surely try to recreate and investigate. The router should definitely improve things further but more by means of traffic segmentation and control.

Hi Emile, thanks. Earlier you mentioned that there likely could be an improvement to other devices on the network -- you mean from the Switch mainly rather than the Network card + Switch?

 

[Taiko Audio]

Hi Emile, thanks. Earlier you mentioned that there likely could be an improvement to other devices on the network -- you mean from the Switch mainly rather than the Network card + Switch?

Yes, the part where connecting the network card to the switch makes it happen is a bit puzzling.

 

[Zeotrope]

Yes, the part where connecting the network card to the switch makes it happen is a bit puzzling.

Yeah, that's what I thought too... maybe I was just not paying attention when I ran the Switch with the old Network card; but when I connected the new Network card I thought the sound quality from the ATVX was immediately noticeably improved.

 

[Christiaan Punter]

I don’t understand (1) because it seems to contradict what the rest of the document says, specifically the quotes I provided. Throughout the document it seems clear that if you want both the BPS and the Extreme in one chassis it’s going to be larger than the current chassis and about 2x the weight. Otherwise, the option is an external BPS chassis; or potentially just getting the AC to DC power supply from the BPS in the current Extreme chassis, which will provide some sonic benefit (but this is not a battery powered supply).

Some confusion may stem from this project's ongoing development. At some point in time, we were not confident that the BPS could fit inside the Extreme, until we cracked that nut. This is how it often is with announced developments: as we proceed, we may find better ways of doing things, and these can invalidate earlier pieces of information.

As a result of this process, and as I gather information for the Summary Docs linearly, my documents may sometimes start to contain outdated info. When I receive updated info, I edit the docs and post an update.

Please note that I have created a new Downloads page on the Taiko website where all our documentation and other downloads can be found. This page also includes the product summaries for upcoming products and I make sure to always have the latest versions posted there.

https://taikoaudio.com/taiko-2020/taiko-audio-downloads

With all that said, I have just re-edited the BPS doc to make it as clear as I can. This version is hopefully no longer open to interpretation. But if there are any remaining uncertainties, do not hesitate to let me know!

 

[CKKeung]

Please note that I have created a new Downloads page on the Taiko website where all our documentation and other downloads can be found. This page also includes the product summaries for upcoming products and I make sure to always have the latest versions posted there.

https://taikoaudio.com/taiko-2020/taiko-audio-downloads
!

Some documents there seem not to be the most up-to-date version.

The NIC & Switch summary there is V16 only?
The newest one is V19 or V21?

 

[Christiaan Punter]

Some documents there seem not to be the most up-to-date version.

The NIC & Switch summary there is V16 only?
The newest one is V19 or V21?

Indeed, that one had escaped my attention. Today, I have created updated versions of all documents with the latest info from Emile and WBF and just uploaded all of them.

https://taikoaudio.com/taiko-2020/taiko-audio-downloads

Current latest versions:
Router: v10
Network Card: v22
BPS: v8
TACD: v20

 

[Christiaan Punter]

I enlarged the pictures from Emile and the middle picture of the first set of heatsink photos shows that the bracket is independent of the new heatsink:

View attachment 106778

The bracket is independent of the heatsink, but in its final incarnation, it will be firmly attached to it.

 

[Rhapsody]

The bracket is independent of the heatsink, but in its final incarnation, it will be firmly attached to it.

Christian, Totally understand everything is moving as fast as possible. Is there any guesstimate and when the new cards will start shipping? 2-3 weeks?....thx

 

[Christiaan Punter]

Christian, Totally understand everything is moving as fast as possible. Is there any guesstimate and when the new cards will start shipping? 2-3 weeks?....thx

While I have currently no behind-the-curtain info on this, Emile did say "It will take us a few days to CNC machine these and then we will ship out replacements to everyone including the new firmware". So, I'm guessing this will be "pretty soon"

 

[steve williams]

Christian, Totally understand everything is moving as fast as possible. Is there any guesstimate and when the new cards will start shipping? 2-3 weeks?....thx

we seem to be all waiting for the same thing. My bet is they will come sooner than later based on how quickly Taiko was able to CNC new brackets a few weeks ago. That fix from start to finish (receiving new brackets) was one week total

 

[Rhapsody]

we seem to be all waiting for the same thing. My bet is they will come sooner than later based on how quickly Taiko was able to CNC new brackets a few weeks ago. That fix from start to finish (receiving new brackets) was one week total

Are we there yet Dad? Are we there yet Dad?

 

[MarkusBarkus]

...the board/heat-sink project is much more involved than cutting the brackets from flat-stock and shipping with a couple of wooden bits. There is CNC milling *and* assembly, as well as whatever QA/testing is involved. Let's not *pressure* them to ship ASAP, rather, when it's tested, ready and GTG!

 

[Rhapsody]

...the board/heat-sink project is much more involved than cutting the brackets from flat-stock and shipping with a couple of wooden bits. There is CNC milling *and* assembly, as well as whatever QA/testing is involved. Let's not *pressure* them to ship ASAP, rather, when it's tested, ready and GTG!

They will not succumb to any pressure to ship quickly. They will ship when everything is fine and dandy.

 

[steve williams]

...the board/heat-sink project is much more involved than cutting the brackets from flat-stock and shipping with a couple of wooden bits. There is CNC milling *and* assembly, as well as whatever QA/testing is involved. Let's not *pressure* them to ship ASAP, rather, when it's tested, ready and GTG!

I'm still betting it won't be that long. In the meanwhile I continue to enjoy snippets of great music on a daily basis albeit somewhat abbreviated

 

[John T]

Word of warning: (I have decent mechanical skills)Oyaide DC connectors, this isn't exactly rocket science. One end of my DC cables are Speakon. I solder the 2 wires, they have 2 strain relief tabs that you crimp. You do that with the first wire to give yourself some room. When you heat things up (your not talking heavy metal here) apparently that metal swells a bit and things move. It took me forever to get that threaded housing to screw back in. I came so close to taking a hatchet to that damn cable! 15 minute job turned into over an hour...Thanks for letting me blow off some steam...

 

[MarkusBarkus]

...time for a celebratory cocktail now @John T

 

[John T]

...time for a celebratory cocktail now @John T

MIND READER!!! I called my neighbor up he's an electrician, he gave up after 15 minutes...