David you must be psychic! I figured as much. I'll wait until things evolve further...
Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème
- Thread starter CKKeung
- Start date
I just returned from about 4 weeks of travel. I am blown away (sorry cliche) about the sound quality I returned to. Maybe there are other comments about it (I didn’t have the patience to wade through all the pages about switches) or maybe 3 weeks of snorkeling and diving changed my hearing, but wow! I’m on v53. Did something change to reduce noise floor even further or is it my imagination?
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I am hoping that the on-board DAC will better the Dave. A one-box solution would dramatically reduce logistics in this world of high mobility and where living space comes at a premium 
Thanks for your help with this, Armsan! All happy on the queue now.
For me and the rest of the Taiko Team, the way that the Alpha Testers Group has evolved has been exciting and heartwarming. There is no way that XDMS could have evolved to its present functionality and stability without the unflagging efforts of the Alpha Testers. Software is only as good as the testing that's done.
The help that Alpha Users give one another saves us so much time, another big thank you
I am also considering joining the XDMS group, but I am still in doubt. How many hours of work are foreseen to an user to install and start using it fluently? The idea that there is no pdf manual scares me!
Taiko does the set up. It is pretty easy to use. Pick music from your library or streaming service and play. There is obviously a lot of other functionality but not all is necessary.
Assuming they are adding new users (they haven’t been for a while) be prepared for things to break at times. After all, it is an alpha release. If you can’t deal with bumps in the road I wouldn’t recommend it at this point.
A lifetime alpha release?
The point is that, as far as I see, they are not carrying improvements to the standard software - common users of the Extreme are not benefiting from their current expertise.
A lifetime alpha release?
The point is that, as far as I see, they are not carrying improvements to the standard software - common users of the Extreme are not benefiting from their current expertise.
The “standard software” is Roon. They don’t control that.
There have been a ton of improvements in the alpha version since they first released it. I don’t see how one can call it a lifetime alpha release.
Well, I had the idea that even when using Roon there is a lof of software running in the Extreme that is proprietary of Taiko and improves sound quality. Perhaps I am wrong.
We commonly expect that an alpha release will have a short life and is then replaced by a beta release followed by a formal release of the final product.
I think Taiko is getting very significant insight into how software affects SQ by developing XDMS, and that will have already informed the switch/NIC and router hardware designs, which has greatly improved Roon SQ on the Extreme.
The XDMS development is a relatively substantial undertaking and is taking a different path to traditional software development, involving user feedback from a very early stage before all functionality is built. It’s a very sensible approach.
Well said. What other company has opened up their alpha development to users? This is a huge bonus for us.
steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
Have some patience and faith micro. You might even think XDMS is as great as we alpha usersA lifetime alpha release?
The point is that, as far as I see, they are not carrying improvements to the standard software - common users of the Extreme are not benefiting from their current expertise.
steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
Watching XDMS from the inside as it developed to me was utterly remarkable.
I have experienced the benefits of doing this in a videogame developer. It’s a really powerful way of developing code that is aligned with customers, and building community advocates. It’s less ‘efficient’ than the ‘old’ way of going quiet until you’ve built everything, but so much more beneficial IMO.
The beta release is imminent. And before Munich, Emile wrote that he'd like to move beyond beta even this year (the plan seems aggressive to this software developer). We were also recently encouraged to see one of the more challenging technical aspects, gapless playback with XDMS SQ, now receiving top priority. For me, the bumps have been worth it, and Ed's management and support have been fantastic.
steve williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
There just is no finer team or customer device in audio IMHO. Ed is the silent work horse who somehow seems to be available 24 hours per day with help and advice. To everyone who are Extreme users, we are very fortunate to have such great assets. And if you ever doubt Taiko’s audio objectives just have a 5 minute conversation with Emile and you will be a believer. Taiko has literally accomplished everything they have set out to do. The next big thing is gapless without a compromise in SQ which is supposedly no mean feat to pull off.
Micro, FWIW if you are Roon invested take note that Roon sounds best when played through the Extreme
Thanks for the excellent news! Patience and faith are not my strong audiophile attributes ...
As well as testing for sound quality before each alpha release.
And yes, Emile has said more than once that XDMS is as much a research and development vehicle informing the firmware and software going into the Extreme, Taiko switch, router and other Taiko products, as it is a software player.
Steve Z
