Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

I have to tip my cap/or raise my glass to Edward / @EuroDriver. This man has the patience of a saint. With my limited digital navigational skills (I never had the need for facetime) it creates challenges, I try to live a simple uncomplicated existence. He helped me with something on my ipad. Slowly and methodically he walked me through it. I was getting frustrated and calmly he indicated "don't worry we'll get there" and we did. What a lovely demeanor...Thank You Edward...

John, your description of Edward's calm aura on support calls is spot on. His expert confidence inspires faith that any setup glitches will be overcome; there are many similar reports in this thread. He's such an important element in the exciting Taiko story. After reading your post, I’ve begun to think of this 4-year, epic-length thread as The Saga of Saint Edward and The Wizard of OldenZaal. [klink] Cheers!
 
John, your description of Edward's calm aura on support calls is spot on. His expert confidence inspires faith that any setup glitches will be overcome; there are many similar reports in this thread. He's such an important element in the exciting Taiko story. After reading your post, I’ve begun to think of this 4-year, epic-length thread as The Saga of Saint Edward and The Wizard of OldenZaal. [klink] Cheers!
I call him "prince amongst princes"....always a kind word and never gets flustered I truly believe that to do the work Ed, Christiaan, Pavel etc, do for a living takes someone with a very lay back attitude. He too has helped me through the same frustrating issues when all I want is to pull my hair out of my head and he never has a berating comment other than when I say "duh", he replies always with a :DPlus I am 8-9 hours behind him so all too often when I am waking up he is going to bed but has always found the time (sometimes hours) to stay awake until the issue has resolved.. We faithful followers are all very lucky to have him always there as our guide through it all
 
I call him "prince amongst princes"....always a kind word and never gets flustered I truly believe that to do the work Ed, Christiaan, Pavel etc, do for a living takes someone with a very lay back attitude. He too has helped me through the same frustrating issues when all I want is to pull my hair out of my head and he never has a berating comment other than when I say "duh", he replies always with a :DPlus I am 8-9 hours behind him so all too often when I am waking up he is going to bed but has always found the time (sometimes hours) to stay awake until the issue has resolved.. We faithful followers are all very lucky to have him always there as our guide through it all
I think you are correct Steve in regards to having a very laid back attitude. I was getting so frustrated I started yelling at myself. At the amusement of Edward. He always remains cool, calm, and collected. It really does takes a special person to do what they do...
 
The new card arrived and is working.
I have a question for Christian or Emile: when I installed the first NIC , I think it executed the file networkcard.ps1, but I'm not 100% sure. If I run it again, in the event that I had already run it previously, would there be a problem?
 
The new card arrived and is working.
I have a question for Christian or Emile: when I installed the first NIC , I think it executed the file networkcard.ps1, but I'm not 100% sure. If I run it again, in the event that I had already run it previously, would there be a problem?

 
The new card arrived and is working.
I have a question for Christian or Emile: when I installed the first NIC , I think it executed the file networkcard.ps1, but I'm not 100% sure. If I run it again, in the event that I had already run it previously, would there be a problem?

No problem to run it again.
 
I just got the new new NIC up and running...

What a premium feeling it was unboxing it - the sheer weight and appearance of the card just radiates quality (as did the packaging) - the fit/seating is perfect.

And then the sound...

Amazed at how much better the new new NIC (with updated firmware and the hefty copper heat-radiator) sounds, and this is with still cold, not broken in NIC.

VERY impressive work Team Taiko!

P.S.
Will you send out instructions for how to return the new NIC back to factory for re-purposing?
D.S.
 
I just got the new new NIC up and running...

What a premium feeling it was unboxing it - the sheer weight and appearance of the card just radiates quality (as did the packaging) - the fit/seating is perfect.

And then the sound...

Amazed at how much better the new new NIC (with updated firmware and the hefty copper heat-radiator) sounds, and this is with still cold, not broken in NIC.

VERY impressive work Team Taiko!

P.S.
Will you send out instructions for how to return the new NIC back to factory for re-purposing?
D.S.

Happy you like it! Instructions/return label to follow.
 
Talking about the improved sound with the new switch and card is becoming an unnecessary redundancy. It's now widely acknowledged as flat-out transformational (although we are indeed a biased group ;)). Emile suggested a ~30% improvement, but he may have been a bit conservative on that estimate.

Here are two "FWIW" observations that crossed my mind late last night:

1) The switch/card does not change the voicing of the system, only the resolution, To borrow from a previous slogan of Audio Research gear many years ago, it is simply a "higher definition" playback tool. (So happy then that other things such as the selections for tubes on the Lampi do not require change- that stuff gets old quickly).

2) The improvement in the information that now gets passed with the switch/card has made me realize, perhaps for the first time, that there may still be a fair amount of nuggets yet to mine in the digital data stream which I haven't fully appreciated until now. A week ago, I would have said
"BPS? Router? We'll see". But now? Damn it Taiko, I just told my wife a week ago "Don't worry honey, I'm done". Arrrgh! Stupid move. :confused:
 
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I just told my wife a week ago "Don't worry honey, I'm done". Arrrgh! Stupid move. :confused:
I've made that mistake more times than I can remember. Wifey just gives me a look, now, when I say it (again)!

ChrisG
 
This is the way
The Extreme is hidden behind the couch (more because I didn’t have room anywhere else); but the unexpected benefit is that it’s “invisible” ;)

She did recently remark how it sounds like the musicians are in the house, even when listening from another room. And she never comments on sound quality. I concurred, and this is never something that was the case with my system.
When I bought my first system in the mid-1990s, I heard this advice from a retailer in Japan. I’m not sure if it should carry any weight but I has stuck with me.
 
I would like to see more comments which LAN cables work or don’t work well with the new switch.

I remember Sablon’s LAN cable being mentioned in this thread to work well with the new swich.

Same with other switches in front of the Taiko switch.
There is a humble Netgear 108 switch in the house I live, splitting internet for all 4 parties in the house. An ifi power helped here to improve sound.
This feeds a Swisscom internet box, feeding a not bad Ediscreation silent extreme switch, feeding the Taiko extreme.

I will have to try
- adding Taiko switch between Ediscreation switch and Taiko
- Taiko switch replacing Ediscreation switch
- Taiko switch replacing Ediscreation switch and Ediscreation switch replacing the Netgear GS108E-300PES

Any recommendations?
 
Grounding things Taiko:

would you recommend active units like Telos 5.1 or rather passive units like Shunyata?
SGS and CAD ?
Your recommendations?
 
I would like to see more comments which LAN cables work or don’t work well with the new switch.

I remember Sablon’s LAN cable being mentioned in this thread to work well with the new swich.

Same with other switches in front of the Taiko switch.
There is a humble Netgear 108 switch in the house I live, splitting internet for all 4 parties in the house. An ifi power helped here to improve sound.
This feeds a Swisscom internet box, feeding a not bad Ediscreation silent extreme switch, feeding the Taiko extreme.

I will have to try
- adding Taiko switch between Ediscreation switch and Taiko
- Taiko switch replacing Ediscreation switch
- Taiko switch replacing Ediscreation switch and Ediscreation switch replacing the Netgear GS108E-300PES

Any recommendations?
As good as the fabulous Extreme Switch, a dual switch config still gives additional sonic benefit.

I tested NIC+Extreme Switch vs adding a Clones Audio switch prototype between the Extreme Switch and the wall ethernet socket.
The sonic benefit of the latter was audible within seconds!

Also, the Extreme Switch doesn't have the Hub function of ordinary switches.
Therefore I have decided to employ the above dual-switch config for my own Extreme system.
 
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Here is the prototype of the Clones Audio switch.
Excellent sonics and c/p ratio.
It will be formally launched within these several weeks and the front-plate will be made of wood.

IMG_20230418_082804.jpg
 
As good as the fabulous Extreme Switch, a dual switch config still gives additional sonic benefit.

I tested NIC+Extreme Switch vs adding a Clones Audio switch prototype between the Extreme Switch and the wall ethernet socket.
The sonic benefit of the latter was audible within seconds!

Also, the Extreme Switch doesn't have the Hub function of ordinary switches.
Therefore I have decided to employ the above dual-switch config for my own Extreme system.
What do you mean by "Hub" function?
 
What do you mean by "Hub" function?
The Extreme Switch has two SFP sockets only.
Some audiophiles may want to place their other network components such as NAS ...etc close to the Extreme system.
 
@CKKeung, I’m wondering if the taiko router will make dual switches redundant, or possibly the BPS for the switch/router.

Dual switches is something I also want to try at some point, but not till the full Taiko network infrastructure is in place.
 
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