Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

[cat6man]

I like the Grateful Dead reference.

Steve Z

one of the main (but not sole) reasons gapless is obligatory is my large collection of live concerts

 

[SaiteiMan]

Are there any SSD alternatives besides Sabrent Q (blue label) and Intel 660P NVMe for SQ equivalent or better?

 

[oldmustang]

one of the main (but not sole) reasons gapless is obligatory is my large collection of live concerts

Me, too. I've got a ton of them.

Steve Z

 

[Taiko Audio]

Is there any SQ reason to put the router near the extreme, or can I put it in the basement with 50' of cat6 cable to the new network card?

It’s not a router and yes it needs to be in a certain range of the Extreme. Why will become clear when we finish the write up.

 

[Taiko Audio]

@Taiko Audio , oh but that's a shame!

The Extreme matches so nicely with my electronics.

Isn't there a way of getting the same enclosure?


View attachment 100198

Yes but in a limited quantity / with longer leadtimes.

 

[Taiko Audio]

Can someone please clarify:

1) I currently use an Extreme w a JL Audio USB Board and an external switch (Nordost). Will the new switch be external? Hard to imagine that an internal switch on a board would weigh 30 lbs so I am assuming the switch will be an external stand alone product. No?

2) What will the new network card replace? Does it replace a network card that is currently in my Extreme, or is it an external device as well?

3) Will my JL Audio USB board require an update or replacement in order to work with the new network card and switch?

Thanks
Marty

The network card replaces the current fiber network card which is inside your Extreme, this connects to the switch which is an external product in a separate (33lbs) chassis. The JL Audio USB board is inside your DAC and unaffected.

 

[Taiko Audio]

Are there any SSD alternatives besides Sabrent Q (blue label) and Intel 660P NVMe for SQ equivalent or better?

Intel 665P, 670P
Western Digital Red

 

[John T]

In the midst of exciting times ahead I'll share some words: These words reimburse our dedication "If you are interested in something, no matter what it is, go at it full speed ahead. Embrace it with both arms, hug it, love it, and above all become passionate about it, lukewarm is no good, hot is no good either, white hot and passionate is the only thing to be" Roald Dahl

 

[Rhapsody]

one of the main (but not sole) reasons gapless is obligatory is my large collection of live concerts

I am getting 5-6 seconds between tracks. Much better than the previous 15 seconds but not gapless(yet).

 

[simorag]

I am getting 5-6 seconds between tracks. Much better than the previous 15 seconds but not gapless(yet).

I assume you are referring to streaming ... if yes, with Qobuz and in Concert mode the gap in between tracks within a queue is <1s with the yesterday's backend update in my system.

Local albums exhibit a near-gapless behavior (again, in Concert mode).

 

[Rhapsody]

I assume you are referring to streaming ... if yes, with Qobuz and in Concert mode the gap in between tracks within a queue is <1s with the yesterday's backend update in my system.

Local albums exhibit a near-gapless behavior (again, in Concert mode).

Thanks I was using discovery mode. I will try it with concert mode.

 

[treitz3]

Hello and good morning to you, gentlemen. My apologies for the interuption. I am trying to clarify something here. I am a little confused and I think it may just be a simple explanation. You speak of, "discovery" and "Concert" mode whilst using Qobuz. I do not see these settings. Is this something that is exclusive to the SGM Extreme?

I have 4 settings - Precise, Dynamic, Balance and smooth....but alas, I am not using an SGM Extreme.

Please advise and thanks.

Tom

 

[dminches]

Hello and good morning to you, gentlemen. My apologies for the interuption. I am trying to clarify something here. I am a little confused and I think it may just be a simple explanation. You speak of, "discovery" and "Concert" mode whilst using Qobuz. I do not see these settings. Is this something that is exclusive to the SGM Extreme?

I have 4 settings - Precise, Dynamic, Balance and smooth....but alas, I am not using an SGM Extreme.

Please advise and thanks.

Tom

These are specific to the Extreme software XDMS.

 

[treitz3]

I figured as much. Thank you sir.

Tom

 

[microstrip]

Hello and good morning to you, gentlemen. My apologies for the interuption. I am trying to clarify something here. I am a little confused and I think it may just be a simple explanation. You speak of, "discovery" and "Concert" mode whilst using Qobuz. I do not see these settings. Is this something that is exclusive to the SGM Extreme?

I have 4 settings - Precise, Dynamic, Balance and smooth....but alas, I am not using an SGM Extreme.

Please advise and thanks.

Tom

Now, I am even more confused than you. What are these "modes"? Just nice musical names for different digital filters?

 

[treitz3]

Now, I am even more confused than you. What are these "modes"? Just nice musical names for different digital filters?

Yes sir. This is one thing I don't like about it, honestly. A "gimmick" to me and not needed IMO. Just give me the pure, unaltered signal (as much as possible) and I'll take it from there. Some folks like it though, as it gives them choices.

Tom

 

[simorag]

Now, I am even more confused than you. What are these "modes"? Just nice musical names for different digital filters?

Yes sir. This is one thing I don't like about it, honestly. A "gimmick" to me and not needed IMO. Just give me the pure, unaltered signal (as much as possible) and I'll take it from there. Some folks like it though, as it gives them choices.

Tom

No filtering involved with either XDMS playback modes.

Discovery caches a track at the time, while Concert caches the next track in the queue thus allowing gapless playback.

Discovery should be the most purist as it minimizes the server load while playing, however Ed says no noticeable sound quality degradation is audible with Concert mode.

 

[cat6man]

I assume you are referring to streaming ... if yes, with Qobuz and in Concert mode the gap in between tracks within a queue is <1s with the yesterday's backend update in my system.

Local albums exhibit a near-gapless behavior (again, in Concert mode).

after the shot of adrenaline from hearing virtually gapless playback, i see that i had only considered my top priority, which is local playback in concert mode. i forgot completely about streaming...........not to mention our pggb brethren with mega-sized files...........duh!

in any case, i think this is still a major step forward in achieving gapless, with further steps to come.

 

[cat6man]

It’s not a router and yes it needs to be in a certain range of the Extreme. Why will become clear when we finish the write up.

SteveW:
so it sounds to me like you'll have
Router-wifi-switch-network card and the wifi won't break the switch-network card mojo/optimization.

Edit:. Corrected incorrect router/switch terminology in original posting

 

[Steve Williams]

SteveW:
so it sounds to me like you'll have
Router-wifi-switch-network card and the wifi won't break the switch-network card mojo/optimization.

Edit:. Corrected incorrect router/switch terminology in original posting

Like I said , Emile knows my system and although he didn’t go into specifics he said all would be well and to wait for the specifics to be announced. I never bet against Team Taiko. Needless to say I am pleased esp since Emile is suggesting that this is their biggest update yet