Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

[Taiko Audio]

Hi Emile,
would your PCIe DAC card work with this and an Apple computer?

Echo Express SEL (Thunderbolt to PCIe Card Expansion System) - SONNETTECH

Compact, desktop 40Gbps Thunderbolt adapter box with 1 slot. Supports low-profile PCIe cards. For Thunderbolt 4 and 3 computers.

www.sonnettech.com

Thank you again, btw great achievement, congrats!

Matt

Windows only and thank you!

 

[MusicFellow]

Emile, I‘m not all that tech / DIY savvy, so apologies of thats already clear to others: Is there a reason, why the new DAC PCl card has all those outputs but no XLR? Space on the PCB, sonics, …?
I ask because when buying new interconnects the RCA vs XLR future usage Is of course something that needs to be considered.

 

[Tubeman66]

a) yes
b) yes
c) yes
d) yes it does, SPDIF RCA, SPDIF BNC and Toslink, more options can be developed / added but that would require a different card.

The LPS1.2 would be excellent.

"yes it does, SPDIF RCA, SPDIF BNC and Toslink, more options can be developed / added but that would require a different card."
What about AES/EBU ?

 

[matthias]

What about AES/EBU ?

I can imagine that the space is limited, so no balanced outputs.

Matt

 

[Taiko Audio]

I can imagine that the space is limited, so no balanced outputs.

Matt

Indeed, plus double heat dissipation from an actual class A Jfet output stage.

 

[M27HF]

a) yes
b) yes
c) yes
d) yes it does, SPDIF RCA, SPDIF BNC and Toslink, more options can be developed / added but that would require a different card.

The LPS1.2 would be excellent.

Emile...much appreciation to know if your new dac card has two functional options of either 1) processing the d/a info and outputting to preamp OR 2) sending the digital info to our dacs for d/a conversion ?

 

[Rhapsody]

Emile,

Will the BPS power this? Maybe Medicare will pay for the BPS?

 

[microstrip]

We're not DAC designers, the innovation is in the superior interface, we've incorporated a Rohm BD34301EKV DAC chip because we thought it sounded best of the available "off the shelf" DAC chips and added a JFET class A output stage, but that's about all we could fit on a PCIe card sized PCB. Sure it may outperform 10-20K DACs but to directly compete with a top level DAC like a Lampizator Horizon, MSB Select 2, or Totaldac D1-12 is a bit much to ask for

Emile,

The BD34301EKV DAC is an excellent chip and probably a great choice, but it is a tuneable chip - manufacturers can easily model the sound to their particular preference tuning the filter coefficients. I always admired the Taiko system for their their theoretical and technical pursuit of digital neutrality - aren´t you affraid that committing the brand to a preferred sound quality affects your image?

 

[Billgates307]

We're not DAC designers, the innovation is in the superior interface, we've incorporated a Rohm BD34301EKV DAC chip because we thought it sounded best of the available "off the shelf" DAC chips and added a JFET class A output stage, but that's about all we could fit on a PCIe card sized PCB. Sure it may outperform 10-20K DACs but to directly compete with a top level DAC like a Lampizator Horizon, MSB Select 2, or Totaldac D1-12 is a bit much to ask for

Why not designing an interface like pci-e directly into a dac with minimal/no conversion/noise.
this sounds simple, and i am aware this would be a huge project, but probably the only way foreward to where you are now.
huge respect nevertheless to what you already have achieved

 

[Zeotrope]

You didn’t miss it, undisclosed.

Well, he is ”Cat6” man!

 

[Zeotrope]

Emile, I‘m not all that tech / DIY savvy, so apologies of thats already clear to others: Is there a reason, why the new DAC PCl card has all those outputs but no XLR? Space on the PCB, sonics, …?
I ask because when buying new interconnects the RCA vs XLR future usage Is of course something that needs to be considered.

I *think* it’s because it’s not a DAC, so a DAC will still be required, which would have a selection of analog outputs.; But then I’m confused as to why it will have RCA analog outputs…?

 

[matthias]

I *think* it’s because it’s not a DAC, so a DAC will still be required, which would have a selection of analog outputs.; But then I’m confused as to why it will have RCA analog outputs…?

It is a DAC with RCA analog outputs and a selection of digital outputs.

Matt

 

[kswanson27]

It is a DAC with RCA analog outputs and a selection of digital outputs.

Matt

The TACDA has both analog and digital outputs?

 

[matthias]

The TACDA has both analog and digital outputs?

I am referring to the PCIe card which Emile announced.

Matt

 

[Zeotrope]

It is a DAC with RCA analog outputs and a selection of digital outputs.

Matt

EDIT: sorry, you’re right. I misunderstood. It IS a DAC, that can compete with DACs in the $10-20k range; but for more expensive DACs, it will output digitally.

 

[kswanson27]

I am referring to the PCIe card which Emile announced.

Matt

So am I. I didn't understand it to have digital outputs.

 

[cat6man]

So am I. I didn't understand it to have digital outputs.

So the digital outputs are standard interface, e.g. USB, spdif.

I'm assuming that tacda, which will already be on the board for the DAC/analog output, will be optionally available (configurable) on these same digital outputs once we have availability of DAC that can take tacda input.

So this new card would replace the current USB, presumably be at least as good sounding as the current USB card, and be configurable for future tacda use.

 

[matthias]

Except Emile said it’s not a DAC

Please provide a link and read post #13771.

Matt

 

[Zeotrope]

Please provide a link and read post #13771.

Matt

Yes, you’re right… sorry. I was confused because Emile said they are not DAC designers and it has digital outputs and will have custom interfaces with some high end DACs.

 

[matthias]

As I understand the PCIe card allows analog outputs in high quality but the owner has the option to connect via the digital outputs external DACs.

Matt