Taiko Audio XDMS - Extreme Direct Music Server Software

[John T]

Or perhaps switching between Roon/NSM will accomplish the same thing?

 

[Taiko Audio]

When you toggle the switch it’s effective from the next track you play. Stop track, toggle, play again accomplishes the same thing.

 

[2ndLiner]

When you toggle the switch it’s effective from the next track you play. Stop track, toggle, play again accomplishes the same thing.

I love when Emile drops in to restore order among us!

 

[Steve Williams]

Commonly known as” His master’s voice”

 

[Bobvin]

I think there’s confusion between “restart in xdms on remote”, “reboot Extreme,” simply stop and restart the stream and “stop and start xdms in Task Manager.

Indeed. Rebooting/restarting a server is generally a rare occurrence reserved for substantial changes to an application or operating system. Stopping/starting services is usually the way applications make changes to core functions/patches/updates without the need to reboot/restart the entire server. Stopping & starting services is generally programmatically achieved so an end user is oblivious.

so the question becomes what is necessary to affect the toggle for default/alternative sound profile? I expect all that is needed (considering it is a toggle) is to stop playing, make the change, and restart playing. [edit: as confirmed by Emile@Taiko, above, post #202]

That said, it is alpha level software so backend functions may not be coded yet and require some additional manual efforts.

 

[Steve Williams]

Indeed. Rebooting/restarting a server is generally a rare occurrence reserved for substantial changes to an application or operating system. Stopping/starting services is usually the way applications make changes to core functions/patches/updates without the need to reboot/restart the entire server. Stopping & starting services is generally programmatically achieved so an end user is oblivious.

so the question becomes what is necessary to affect the toggle for default/alternative sound profile? I expect all that is needed (considering it is a toggle) is to stop playing, make the change, and restart playing. [edit: as confirmed by Emile@Taiko, above, post #202]

That said, it is alpha level software so backend functions may not be coded yet and require some additional manual efforts.

When you toggle the switch it’s effective from the next track you play. Stop track, toggle, play again accomplishes the same thing.

 

[oldmustang]

XDMS Control App version 2.3.10 DAC settings has X0,1,2 and 3 selection working correctly, so no need to edit by hand anymore

How do each of those adaptive setting differ from each other? What are they actually? Are these the "USB1, USB 2, USB 3, USB 4" profiles with individual icons on the Extreme desktop, or are these X0, 1, 2, 3 settings something different?

Steve Z

 

[oldmustang]

When you toggle the switch it’s effective from the next track you play. Stop track, toggle, play again accomplishes the same thing.

Thank you, Emile. I'm glad to have the definitive answer.

With 18 speculative posts appearing on three pages of this thread it's obvious that audiophiles have no patience whatsoever.

Steve Z

 

[EuroDriver]

Maybe that was in a previous version of XDMS server/control app?? Now it clearly works by just stopping the music, toggling and replaying. The difference is quite audible between default and alternaopa

When you toggle the switch it’s effective from the next track you play. Stop track, toggle, play again accomplishes the same thing.

This is the way it is supposed to work, but being a bit of a Belt, Braces and Suspenders kind of person, I suggested to Steve to restart XDMS to be absolutely sure

 

[cat6man]

Thank you, Emile. I'm glad to have the definitive answer.

With 18 speculative posts appearing on three pages of this thread it's obvious that audiophiles have no patience whatsoever.

Steve Z

Or we think we know it all?

 

[Moladiego]

I have tried alternative and I clearly prefer default. More 3d and layered.

I second your opinion. Default is more natural, layered and airier. Alternative is more in-your-face and two-dimensional, reminding me somewhat of the difference between the latest Roon upgrade (a kind of "whitish" or "blanched" feel to the sound) and classic XDMS (more natural and airier; even before NSM). The difference is subtle though.

 

[an.vamv]

I am reading that many members are raving about the recent backend update for Qobuz SQ. I did get an uptick but not to the same degree as others. I felt there was more clarity and better defined deep bass but I am in "alternative". I was just curious if those finding a bigger improvement inSQ are in "default"or in "alternative"

I also had the latest server update related to Qobuz SQ installed recently and i can also confirm that Qobuz now sounds to my ears smoother and more analogue than before . The streaming sound quality is on par with SSD playback in my system. My preference even before doing the upgrade has been Alternative profile as it sounds more transparent to my ears. As per Ed it does less pre processing than default and as the noise floor in our systems becomes lower, preference of people tends to swing to alternative.

 

[Steve Williams]

Ed explained to me why I noticed a different uptick in SQ than others. When Ed did my Dec 29th backend update, initially I found the sound was not as good as what I was hearing. Ed then did something that I watched as he was in the bowels of my Extreme.....this was when he changed my adaptive format from 3 to a 1 and immediately the uptick SQ was there like I was expecting. I could not understand what he did that changed the sound so much. He told me ( and I hope I quote him correctly) that Taiko has found the best bit depth sampling rate to be 16 and apparently using adaptive format at '1" essentially makes a 24/192 file a 16/192 file and it sounded amazing. So my big uptick was when he changed my adaptive format to 1. Apparently all others who received the Jan 10 Qobuz update also received adaptive format 1....this is my understanding. So in essence had I received that on Jan 10 and not Dec 29 I would ave experienced the same uptick in SQ.....bottom line is "it's all good"

 

[Tesuka]

Ed, magic fingers, solved my reading problems with NSM... and in 1 hour I was able to fully enjoy this amazing sound experience... Sound stage of astonishing breadth and precision, bass and transcended highs, everything is there
Really a big shout out to the magic Taiko Team.

 

[Steve Williams]

I second your opinion. Default is more natural, layered and airier. Alternative is more in-your-face and two-dimensional, reminding me somewhat of the difference between the latest Roon upgrade (a kind of "whitish" or "blanched" feel to the sound) and classic XDMS (more natural and airier; even before NSM). The difference is subtle though.

I have to admit that just like @Rhapsody i’ve spent the past 2 days listening to both default as well as alternative in Sound Profile. I have to agree that there is merit in your post and yes it is a close call. I do agree that with many files and in “ alternative” there is just too much and as a result the sound stage is pushed forward and does indeed sound 2D.This isn’t with all songs but is noticeable when heard. This also seems to vary in degree depending on what is being played. I do find a slightly set back presentation with a bit more air in default but after almost 2 days it is close. However in many of the songs that I use as demo the issue is mote of an in your face presentation. Plus I listen nearfield. The good news is there is no right answer but rather comes down to system dependence and personal preference The interesting caveat is that I have gone back to default as I’m rather enjoying it. I’m saving alternative for several files that do well with it.

 

[Rhapsody]

Totally system dependent. Every time someone comments about the SP setting I go and check it, back and forth, back and forth. In the system that I am checking it on, with the speakers 10' out in the room I get a full 3D holographic soundstage with either setting. If you are not getting a 3D, layered soundstage with one of the settings then there is a strange interaction going on with your system with the setting that is giving you 2D sound, which is very possible.

In this system that I am going back and forth on I get a sense more air and space "feeling" with alternative but when I switch to Defualt I could easily leave it there as I definitely don't have 2D Sound. I don't know how many systems that I have, but I don't have 2D sound on any of them. If I did there is something wrong somewhere other than the Sound Profile setting.

My comments relate to my system/room etc, nothing to do with other people's systems. Also personal preference is involved as well.

I do not think that one can generalize and say that one setting has global sonic results. Again, totally system dependent imho.

 

[Steve Williams]

2D is somewhat harsh. What I detect is much deeper and solid bass and a louder fuller sound . I find the sound stage is 3D but further forward. I can see the singers vocal cords. There is nothing wrong with my system Right now it is so close but I’m back on default for a while

 

[Rhapsody]

Steve, I was not referring to you saying your system sounded 2D, someone else mentioned that on Alternative it was 2D sounding.

I am listening now on Default now and it sounds great. But Alt sounds really good to me as well.

 

[Moladiego]

Totally system dependent. Every time someone comments about the SP setting I go and check it, back and forth, back and forth. In the system that I am checking it on, with the speakers 10' out in the room I get a full 3D holographic soundstage with either setting. If you are not getting a 3D, layered soundstage with one of the settings then there is a strange interaction going on with your system with the setting that is giving you 2D sound, which is very possible.

In this system that I am going back and forth on I get a sense more air and space "feeling" with alternative but when I switch to Defualt I could easily leave it there as I definitely don't have 2D Sound. I don't know how many systems that I have, but I don't have 2D sound on any of them. If I did there is something wrong somewhere other than the Sound Profile setting.

My comments relate to my system/room etc, nothing to do with other people's systems. Also personal preference is involved as well.

I do not think that one can generalize and say that one setting has global sonic results. Again, totally system dependent imho.

Yes, system or personal preference dependent. I did not mean to suggest that Default is 3D and Alternative is 2D. The difference is (very) subtle between the two modes, but a more apt description would be like applying normal lens setting (Default) and applying zoom setting (Alternative) in photography, the latter bringing the sound forward a bit, but at the expense of losing a bit of depth or layering structure.

 

[Steve Williams]

Yes, system or personal preference dependent. I did not mean to suggest that Default is 3D and Alternative is 2D. The difference is (very) subtle between the two modes, but a more apt description would be like applying normal lens setting (Default) and applying zoom setting (Alternative) in photography, the latter bringing the sound forward a bit, but at the expense of losing a bit of depth or layering structure.

That is exactly how I would describe it. Yet like Bob says it is so close that I will likely use both depending on the file I play.