IMHO (and I am biased) when you compare servers on the market, there is the Taiko Extreme on one side and all others on the other side. There is no comparison.
People who have not experienced the Extreme will probably find your comment hyperbolic, as you recognized. However there is something true in the sound reproduction of the Extreme using an adequate DAC that separates it from all my experiences with computer audio. I have carried several modest experiences using a PC server and software such a JRiver and Roon and DCS dedicated players. Every time I added a new feature ( better power supplies, optimization of operating system, JCat cards, better cables) there was an improvement, but always the same type of sound, a kind of artificiality and vestige of glare that was easily noticed when I compared it with the DCS Vivaldi transport remained. I borrowed the Innuous Statement and it was a clear improvement - the sound was more analog-like, more rounded and easier to listen, less defects, but still in a reality different from the physical media. The Extreme played from PCIe managed to close this gap - still different, but not in fundamental aspects- the difference is on level with what we typically get changing digital cables. Basically there is no more the residual smearing during decays and attacks, the fabulous "black" background is even less grainy.
Having owned an Extreme now for a few months I marvel at it daily at what it does, how it does it and how it does it so quickly without even a hiccup.
For some time I have intended to borrow a DCS Network bridge to try the Kondo KSL DAC with the Extreme - an experience try with the Berkeley Alpha USB converter was not successful. Today I suddenly remembered that I could use the SPDIF output of the Vivaldi upsampler to connect it! I have been listening to both DACs with the Etxreme using the GAT2-ART's. My first conclusion is that the Kondo DAC sounds much better than I imagined - and I have used it mainly with the Metronome Kalypso CD player. Used with the Extreme playing HiRez it sounds solid, but neither solid state dry nor with tube warmth. The Kondo is more instrument in room, the Vivaldi more room with an instrument. I will need more time to evaluate it. Curiously there is now a similarity in the solid image, no listening fatigue and freedom from artifacts that I also attribute to the Extreme. On instrumental music if I leave the room and enter a few minutes later I can´t recognize without some effort which DAC is playing, something that was very clear with other feeds until now.
It has been difficult for me to get back to playing vinyl and tape since the Extreme is in my system
You are really brave to admit it. It also happened to me, but I am a mainly a digital listener since long ...
BTW, one nice thing of the Extreme is that it shares what I call the "being right" of the AirForce One - but surely sounds different.
