Taiko Audio XDMS - Extreme Direct Music Server Software

[Malcng]

Hi everyone, I have to say that the latest version installed by the good Ed sounds quite better, the sound is more relaxed and detailed.

Yes, I think so too. ‘The good Ed’ texted me at 10:30pm on Thursday evening to ask if he could install XDMS Setup 19 on my Extreme. I watched progress until we both checked out once he had set it to read my files. I had a quick look out of curiosity early next morning whilst still in bed and in he bounced at 5:30 am to continue the process.

I should be shocked, but I was actually only mildly surprised - though I mustn’t take such commitment to service for granted.

 

[simorag]

I installed Setup 19 a few days ago, and immediately found that it was another step towards a transparent, lifelike and three-dimensional sound.

But it was only today, when I went back to Roon for some discovery-mode Qobuz listening (Roon UX is unbeatable at that IMHO), that I realized once again how XDMS-NSM sounds better in my system.

Roon makes everything smoother and potentially friendlier, but also more veiled and flat.

For example, this recording of the poignant 8th Quartet via XDMS took life. Palpability and localization of the musicians are entirely on another level, transients are starker.

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Being one of those who ordered the Olympus (XDMI), I fear that if the Olympus with Roon will be an upgrade over the Extreme with XDMS even vaguely correlated to the price difference between the two, I am going to explode when I receive it. Or is it a hope?

 

[RUIN*ish]

I installed Setup 19 a few days ago, and immediately found that it was another step towards a transparent, lifelike and three-dimensional sound.

But it was only today, when I went back to Roon for some discovery-mode Qobuz listening (Roon UX is unbeatable at that IMHO), that I realized once again how XDMS-NSM sounds better in my system.

Roon makes everything smoother and potentially friendlier, but also more veiled and flat.

For example, this recording of the poignant 8th Quartet via XDMS took life. Palpability and localization of the musicians are entirely on another level, transients are starker.

View attachment 132701​

Being one of those who ordered the Olympus (XDMI), I fear that if the Olympus with Roon will be an upgrade over the Extreme with XDMS even vaguely correlated to the price difference between the two, I am going to explode when I receive it. Or is it a hope?

Word on the street is you're going to explode.

 

[Nils]

Saturday 6 28pm - @Taiko XDMS can I get SetUp17 installed, here is my Extreme's TV details...
Saturday 7 57pm - SetUp 19 installed

This is my first XDMS update since I got the NSM.

I am blown away by the SQ improvement from Setup19 - I can only guess what has changed, assuming major refactoring of Server & Player yielding yet again reduced system noise floor?

In my system I perceive:

• More details and improved separation
• Soundstage even wider and deeper
• Improved rendering of low-bass yielding better body for all wood instruments

I highly recommend listening to this...https://open.qobuz.com/track/207401100

3 years after purchasing the Extreme - it's sound quality is still improving - bravo Team Taiko!

 

[marty]

I installed Test Flight 2.4.7.1 2 days go and it has been very problematic. At first, nothing worked but apparently it does not work unless you have XDMS 19 installed. Ed did that and almost everything works (I lost my XDMS playback files but Ed thinks that's recoverable). The major issue now is that the TaikoAudio network keeps shutting down spontaneously every few hours. I upgraded the firmware on my Orbi router but that does not seem to help. Does anyone else have Taiko network shut down issues?
Does the router software need to be re-installed? Other?

 

[dminches]

I installed Test Flight 2.4.7.1 2 days go and it has been very problematic. At first, nothing worked but apparently it does not work unless you have XDMS 19 installed. Ed did that and almost everything works (I lost my XDMS playback files but Ed thinks that's recoverable). The major issue now is that the TaikoAudio networks keeps shutting down spontaneously every few hours. I upgraded the firmware on my Orbi router but that does not seem to help. Does anyone else have Taiko network shut down issues?
Does the router software need to be re-installed? Other?

What is shutting down, WiFi? Now sure what you mean by Taiko Audio networks.

 

[TWJeff]

TAIKO AUDIO WiFi never turns off itself in my house. Maybe you can try factory reset Extreme Router?

 

[steve williams]

You will lose Taikoaudio WiFi if you are out of range. It has nothing to do with Orbi

 

[jnovak]

Hello folks! I seem not to be able to toggle switch from XDMS to Roon, nor to have Roon as default software. Can anyone provide advice on how to make it happen?
Many thanks, JN

 

[jaxdr]

Hello folks! I seem not to be able to toggle switch from XDMS to Roon, nor to have Roon as default software. Can anyone provide advice on how to make it happen?
Many thanks, JN

I have a similar issue. Do you have Setup 19 installed? I suspect it may be related to that if I understand Ed's explanation properly. I am in the process of getting Setup 19 installed.

 

[rocco1113]

I have a similar issue. Do you have Setup 19 installed? I suspect it may be related to that if I understand Ed's explanation properly. I am in the process of getting Setup 19 installed.

I have the same issue that Roon can't be set as startup default.. I'm running server 19 already...

Taiko support pls help

 

[EuroDriver]

I have the same issue that Roon can't be set as startup default.. I'm running server 19 already...

Taiko support pls help

The Default start up software selection is still under construction

The software team is All Hands on Deck to recode the Scanner App to make it run many times faster and aslo use AI to improve metadata in the library database

 

[Blue58]

Latest backend 2.5.0 with its matching app 3.0.2 is significantly superior to all previous versions.

More presence, more 3D, it’s on steroids!

Well done Ed and the team.

and we’re still in Alpha mode, Wow!

 

[seatrope]

Agreed! 2.5.0 markedly/obviously superior from first note.

 

[Zeotrope]

Amazing! Can’t wait to try it. Have been in a R2R world lately; but looking forward to this.

 

[Nils]

Latest backend 2.5.0 with its matching app 3.0.2 is significantly superior to all previous versions.

More presence, more 3D, it’s on steroids!

Well done Ed and the team.

and we’re still in Alpha mode, Wow!

I installed v2.5.0 late last night - now I have 4-5h listening experience and can summarize...

It is very hard to compare SQ improvements over time - each time SQ is improved the goalposts obviously move...

But - I am prepared to say that to me, in my system and to my ears - from "Setup19" to v2.5.0 is the biggest SQ improvement related to Taiko (so far) .

My first and immediate impression was that timing has improved leading to increased presence - it is "at 11" - amazing!

After some additional hours listening - my second impression is that system noise floor has been reduced (again!) leading to more micro-details being present.

How Team @Taiko Audio pulled this off - I do not know (obviously) and I can only guess the extent of work (man hours!) that has been invested to make it happen!

It is amazing to see such large SQ improvements being unlocked from my three year old HW (the Extreme) and I applaud @Taiko Audio for this!

My only concern is the longer term future for XDMS as new HW (Olympus) appear to skip XDMS and instead rely on Roon - I am not sure if this is true or if I misunderstood, please jump in and correct me!

 

[Blue58]

3hours in today and I too am intoxicated. Agree with Nils it’s the biggest jump in SQ since I don’t know when. System noise is reduced to nothing. Dynamics and timing improved, I thought 19 a little ponderous imo.

This is like listening to R2R rather than analogue. I can’t praise the team enough.

Just played Rodrigo Guitar Con. Narcisco Yepes and the air around the strings is amazing whilst his guitar has so much resolution and tonality and breath of life.

Picture Dr. Frankenstein shouting “It’s Alive!!”

 

[John T]

I installed v2.5.0 late last night - now I have 4-5h listening experience and can summarize...

It is very hard to compare SQ improvements over time - each time SQ is improved the goalposts obviously move...

But - I am prepared to say that to me, in my system and to my ears - from "Setup19" to v2.5.0 is the biggest SQ improvement related to Taiko (so far) .

My first and immediate impression was that timing has improved leading to increased presence - it is "at 11" - amazing!

After some additional hours listening - my second impression is that system noise floor has been reduced (again!) leading to more micro-details being present.

How Team @Taiko Audio pulled this off - I do not know (obviously) and I can only guess the extent of work (man hours!) that has been invested to make it happen!

It is amazing to see such large SQ improvements being unlocked from my three year old HW (the Extreme) and I applaud @Taiko Audio for this!

My only concern is the longer term future for XDMS as new HW (Olympus) appear to skip XDMS and instead rely on Roon - I am not sure if this is true or if I misunderstood, please jump in and correct me!

Rightly so: Your concern with long term future for XDMS. To roll out the new Olympus Taiko needs a more polished platform. I also enjoy the nuanced difference between Roon/XDMS. Ed is brilliant, however IMHO, Taiko would need a bus load of Ed's to get this to the promised land...

 

[simorag]

Rightly so: Your concern with long term future for XDMS. To roll out the new Olympus Taiko needs a more polished platform. I also enjoy the nuanced difference between Roon/XDMS. Ed is brilliant, however IMHO, Taiko would need a bus load of Ed's to get this to the promised land...

My opinion, also based on some posts from Emile and a private discussion with him is that Taiko believes that by optimizing the software side of their servers (OS tweaks, drivers, BMS management, etc. etc.) they have significant improvement margins ahead of themselves, even more so with the Olympus / XDMI platform.

This applies to the playback software as well, so I don't think that the XDMS development will slow down after the Olympus release, possibly the opposite will be true! What I expect is that XDMS for Olympus will become more and more specific for that hardware platform hence the fall-out benefits for the Extreme could become less and less as time goes by.

Another very wise point Emile made is that having a proprietary playback software keeps Taiko safe in case something bad happens to / with Roon in the future.

The downside of all this for us alpha testers is that Taiko seems decided to release XDMS for Olympus only when fully stable and objectively superior to Roon, that could take a SIGNIFICANT time to happen (1+ years).

 

[John T]

My opinion, also based on some posts from Emile and a private discussion with him is that Taiko believes that by optimizing the software side of their servers (OS tweaks, drivers, BMS management, etc. etc.) they have significant improvement margins ahead of themselves, even more so with the Olympus / XDMI platform.

This applies to the playback software as well, so I don't think that the XDMS development will slow down after the Olympus release, possibly the opposite will be true! What I expect is that XDMS for Olympus will become more and more specific for that hardware platform hence the fall-out benefits for the Extreme could become less and less as time goes by.

Another very wise point Emile made is that having a proprietary playback software keeps Taiko safe in case something bad happens to / with Roon in the future.

The downside of all this for us alpha testers is that Taiko seems decided to release XDMS for Olympus only when fully stable and objectively superior to Roon, that could take a SIGNIFICANT time to happen (1+ years).

Ciao Simone, interessante! I hope your right, 1 year 2 years, 3 years? Chi lo sa? With all that is going on, along with things that need to take place with the router (firmware update) etc. I suspect it will be sometime, I hope I'm wrong!