Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

Taiko Audio

Industry Expert
Feb 10, 2017
4,234
13,027
1,925
The Netherlands
taikoaudio.com
Is there a way to use an Extreme to handle the audio stream from an HDMI output in an A/V system? My wife has tasked me with adding a home theater set up into my audio domain, and I would love to enjoy Extreme/Pacific benefits for the sound in a movie, too. So, is this possible, and if so, how? Thanks!

This is currently not possible.
 

K3RMIT

Well-Known Member
Sep 4, 2020
390
139
113
Does the taiko have a spidif or optical input ?
if yes you could use a audio extractor I use them in home theatre setups all the time.
 

jbrrp1

Well-Known Member
Aug 3, 2020
318
485
133
This is currently not possible.
"Currently", you say? Does that mean there are some hopes for future use in this fashion? To me, that would add a nice additional layer of "awesomeness" to the Extreme, so I'm really hoping this IS in the future plans.
 

nenon

Well-Known Member
Jan 29, 2020
203
1,191
210
Chicago
Is there a way to use an Extreme to handle the audio stream from an HDMI output in an A/V system? My wife has tasked me with adding a home theater set up into my audio domain, and I would love to enjoy Extreme/Pacific benefits for the sound in a movie, too. So, is this possible, and if so, how? Thanks!
"Currently", you say? Does that mean there are some hopes for future use in this fashion? To me, that would add a nice additional layer of "awesomeness" to the Extreme, so I'm really hoping this IS in the future plans.

If I understand this correctly you want to take audio from the HDMI of your video source and play it through your audio system.
If that's the case, this is not a function of the server (i.e. Taiko Extreme in your case). It's a function of the DAC to convert your digital source signal to analog. Your Pacific does not have a HDMI input. But you can use an HDMI Audio to SPDIF converter. Something like this for example - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FM3HWNW/ (there are probably better quality ones). You plug your video source to the HDMI input and use the SPDIF output to connect to the Pacific.
Many video sources like cable boxes, DVD players, Blu Ray players, etc. have SPDIF output. If they do, you can connect their SPDIF output to your Pacific. The Extreme does not play a role in this scenario.

If I did not understand correctly and you are looking for HDMI output from the Extreme, you can probably find a device that will accept streaming over ethernet such as Apple TV. But that will require to install some software on the Extreme, which should be avoided.
 
Last edited:

kswanson27

Well-Known Member
Nov 21, 2018
368
179
128
79
If I understand this correctly you want to take audio from the HDMI of your video source and play it through your audio system.
If that's the case, this is not a function of the server (i.e. Taiko Extreme in your case). It's a function of the DAC to convert your digital source signal to analog. Your Pacific does not have a HDMI input. But you can use an HDMI Audio to SPDIF converter. Something like this for example - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FM3HWNW/ (there are probably better quality ones). You plug your video source to the HDMI input and use the SPDIF output to connect to the Pacific.
Many video sources like cable boxes, DVD players, Blu Ray players, etc. have SPDIF output. If they do, you can connect their SPDIF output to your Pacific. The Extreme does not play a role in this scenario.

If I did not understand correctly and you are looking for HDMI output from the Extreme, you can probably find a device that will accept streaming over ethernet such as Apple TV. But that will require to install some software on the Extreme, which should be avoided.
If your TV has HDMI ARC you can use something like a McIntosh C53 preamp to get good quality audio from a video source into your system but the Extreme won't be involved, nor should it be.
 

seeteeyou

Well-Known Member
Apr 6, 2015
67
43
248
Is there a way to use an Extreme to handle the audio stream from an HDMI output in an A/V system? My wife has tasked me with adding a home theater set up into my audio domain, and I would love to enjoy Extreme/Pacific benefits for the sound in a movie, too. So, is this possible, and if so, how? Thanks!

First of all, we're aware that Extreme should be a server with low latency. However, most likely the biggest hurdle should be getting both video and audio to synchronize (consistently, even if e.g. we're skipping from one chapter of Blu-ray discs to another) if we're actually going through such a long chain of devices

HDMI ? HDMI audio de-embedder ? S/PDIF ? RME ADI-2 DAC ? USB ? HQ Player ? Extreme ? USB DAC

https://community.roonlabs.com/t/hqplayer-desktop-thread/166213/25
https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/19715-hq-player/page/744/#comment-1088824
Similar way as Desktop too. You select the applicable input device as transport instead of CD or playlist and then start playback.

There is some amount of info for Desktop outlined in the quickstart guide.

No matter how low the latency is, IMHO it's just too challenging to keep everything synchronized under most circumstances.



BTW, dunno how well would this "Video mode" work to begin with?

https://chordelectronics.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/M-Scaler-manual-V1.2.pdf#page=28



OTOH, not sure if installing JRiver Media Center were actually supported or even recommended in the first place?

It does support ASIO in addition to 4K UHD Blu-ray

https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php?topic=115314.0

And then here's their app for remote control

https://jremote.jriver.com

However, Xeon Silver 4114 / 4210 didn't come with any Intel graphics at all and that means a (passively-cooled) GPU should be required.

And then we're actually talking about a stripped-down version of Windows 10 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2019, therefore not sure if playing movies were feasible or otherwise.

Only Intel graphics (with SGX) could support Advanced PAVP and that's why we'll need either AnyDVD HD or DVDFab Passkey for those 4K UHD Blu-ray discs. Specific BD drives are also required, and then there's also stuff like HDR etc. to deal with.



The best bet should be a modified 4K UHD Blu-ray player as explained by @romaz below

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/rev...phile-vortex-box.787020/page-78#post-14117821

Then we could connect its S/PDIF output to stuff like Denafrips Gaia etc. for further improvements

https://www.denafrips.com/gaia

Since Oppo UDP-205 was already discontinued, let's wait for someone to provide modifications for Reavon then

https://www.reavon.com/reavon-ubr-x200
 

jbrrp1

Well-Known Member
Aug 3, 2020
318
485
133
Does the taiko have a spidif or optical input ?
if yes you could use a audio extractor I use them in home theatre setups all th
Yep, I will travel down the audio extractor route to go HDMI to SPDIF to feed my Pacific. Does get me to wondering about sound quality impact from them, but I think I'll start simple and see how it all sounds. Thanks for the pointers, all!
 

dminches

Well-Known Member
Oct 22, 2011
3,409
2,794
1,410
Yep, I will travel down the audio extractor route to go HDMI to SPDIF to feed my Pacific. Does get me to wondering about sound quality impact from them, but I think I'll start simple and see how it all sounds. Thanks for the pointers, all!

Why would you feed the Extreme with the S/PDIF output? Why aren’t you going directly into your DAC? The Extreme doesn’t play a role here.
 
  • Like
Reactions: nonesup

seeteeyou

Well-Known Member
Apr 6, 2015
67
43
248
If we're having THAT kinda budget, then (the upcoming) Wadax Atlantis Reference Transport should be able to beat just about any kinda 4K UHD Blu-ray players out there.

FYI - here's what the OP of this thread mentioned last year

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/new-wadax-atlantis-reference-dac.27860/page-9#post-644026
Yes, a Reference Streamer/Server and/or a Reference Transport.

Their flagship Atlantis Reference DAC was fed by Extreme

https://www.facebook.com/TaikoAudio...ulder-vimberg-ultimate-audio-/526128508266069

Ultimate Sessions Porto by Ultimate Audio Elite with Vimberg Tonda D speakers, Boulder 2160 and 2110, Wadax Reference DAC, Taiko Audio Extreme server and Siltech Triple Crown Cables.
https://www.monoandstereo.com/2020/07/blog-post_6.html

Not their best transport by any means but it does play all kinda Blu-ray discs with an optional video module, and most likely it's one of the best SACD rippers on Earth

http://www.wadax.eu/?q=atlantis/transport
SACD RIP for qualified advanced users interested in research and the utmost finetuning, Atlantis system provides a unique SACD RIP feature for all kinds of optical media used.

I don't mean to be disrespectful at all, though I'm just wondering if there were anyone who compared Extreme to their Atlantis Reference Server?



Other than that, I could only think of something like this but IMHO it's gonna be quite difficult to find something with high "Spousal Acceptance Factor" that's able to handle such *.MKV container

- Rip 4K UHD Blu-ray discs to the *.MKV container
- Demux the audio track and downmix to 2 channels
- Upsample with PGGB Offline (16FS / 32FS)
- Mux the upsampled audio track back to the original *.MKV container
 
  • Like
Reactions: NanoSword

EuroDriver

Well-Known Member
Sep 16, 2015
926
2,479
450
Monaco
If we're having THAT kinda budget, then (the upcoming) Wadax Atlantis Reference Transport should be able to beat just about any kinda 4K UHD Blu-ray players out there.

FYI - here's what the OP of this thread mentioned last year

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/new-wadax-atlantis-reference-dac.27860/page-9#post-644026


Their flagship Atlantis Reference DAC was fed by Extreme

https://www.facebook.com/TaikoAudio...ulder-vimberg-ultimate-audio-/526128508266069

Ultimate Sessions Porto by Ultimate Audio Elite with Vimberg Tonda D speakers, Boulder 2160 and 2110, Wadax Reference DAC, Taiko Audio Extreme server and Siltech Triple Crown Cables.
https://www.monoandstereo.com/2020/07/blog-post_6.html

Not their best transport by any means but it does play all kinda Blu-ray discs with an optional video module, and most likely it's one of the best SACD rippers on Earth

http://www.wadax.eu/?q=atlantis/transport


I don't mean to be disrespectful at all, though I'm just wondering if there were anyone who compared Extreme to their Atlantis Reference Server?



Other than that, I could only think of something like this but IMHO it's gonna be quite difficult to find something with high "Spousal Acceptance Factor" that's able to handle such *.MKV container

- Rip 4K UHD Blu-ray discs to the *.MKV container
- Demux the audio track and downmix to 2 channels
- Upsample with PGGB Offline (16FS / 32FS)
- Mux the upsampled audio track back to the original *.MKV container
Note this demo video was recorded before the release and installation of the Taiko USB Card

;-)
 
  • Wow
Reactions: NanoSword

Kingsrule

VIP/Donor
Feb 3, 2011
1,432
681
1,430
With DST today it occurred to me to check the time setting on my Extreme.
They are set for Taiko's time zone, not set for my zone.
Should they be changed to my zone?
 

Taiko Audio

Industry Expert
Feb 10, 2017
4,234
13,027
1,925
The Netherlands
taikoaudio.com
With DST today it occurred to me to check the time setting on my Extreme.
They are set for Taiko's time zone, not set for my zone.
Should they be changed to my zone?

I don’t think it matters, imagine that influencing SQ, that would be a mind bender :)
 

MarkusBarkus

Well-Known Member
Feb 6, 2021
991
1,632
228
66
@Taiko Audio --Emile, speaking of mind-bending: Do you have experience or an opinion on the idea of changing fuses in the Extreme, which has bubbled up the past few months with the QSA products intros? Hope all good on your end, whatever time it is...
 

Taiko Audio

Industry Expert
Feb 10, 2017
4,234
13,027
1,925
The Netherlands
taikoaudio.com
@Taiko Audio --Emile, speaking of mind-bending: Do you have experience or an opinion on the idea of changing fuses in the Extreme, which has bubbled up the past few months with the QSA products intros? Hope all good on your end, whatever time it is...

If you search this thread using the keyword “fuse” you get 4 pages of information on different fuses tried, pros and cons, including my reasoning for preferring the stock fuse. There are very expensive fuses available nowadays I have not had any feedback on though, nor do I test them myself.
 

Mike Lavigne

Member Sponsor & WBF Founding Member
Apr 25, 2010
12,471
11,368
4,410
If you search this thread using the keyword “fuse” you get 4 pages of information on different fuses tried, pros and cons, including my reasoning for preferring the stock fuse. There are very expensive fuses available nowadays I have not had any feedback on though, nor do I test them myself.
i've messed with boutique fuses in the Extreme, a few spendy ones, a friend sent me a nice one to try. they seemed to make a very marginal performance uptick......'seemed to'.

however; where i live i get power outages from time to time, nothing too bad. but EVERY time i got a power outage each boutique fuse blew......EVERY time!!! $$$'s go poof! :confused:

stock fuse has never blew once. lots of stuff going on in the Extreme. no more fuse experimentation for me. i have a few 'special' fuses in my system in few spots, that have been there for almost 10 years with zero issues. so it's not my system/power grid particularly.
 
Last edited:

austinpop

Well-Known Member
May 23, 2017
200
655
223
Austin, TX
Yes, I get an inrush of angst every time I power cycle my system! Have blown many SR fuses.
 
  • Like
Reactions: oldmustang

About us

  • What’s Best Forum is THE forum for high end audio, product reviews, advice and sharing experiences on the best of everything else. This is THE place where audiophiles and audio companies discuss vintage, contemporary and new audio products, music servers, music streamers, computer audio, digital-to-analog converters, turntables, phono stages, cartridges, reel-to-reel tape machines, speakers, headphones and tube and solid-state amplification. Founded in 2010 What’s Best Forum invites intelligent and courteous people of all interests and backgrounds to describe and discuss the best of everything. From beginners to life-long hobbyists to industry professionals, we enjoy learning about new things and meeting new people, and participating in spirited debates.

Quick Navigation

User Menu

Steve Williams
Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator
Ron Resnick
Site Co-Owner | Administrator
Julian (The Fixer)
Website Build | Marketing Managersing