Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

[oldmustang]

somehow I do not think that using a DAC is proprietary to Taiko

SOtM sNH-10G Network Switches x2 : The NEW KING of USB/Network Gadget Setup

I view the network setup as a whole system on its own and the permutations are just as endless as the main systems setup choices. It can easily cost a rather substantial sum invested to a top class network system that one has to decide when it is enough and be very satisfied. Very true. The...

www.whatsbestforum.com

No of course not. But I haven’t been aware of another manufacturer promoting Direct Attach Copper cable until now.

Steve Z

 

[SwissTom]

I guess it was inevitable:

Melco C1-D20 SFP+ Direct Attach Network Cable | Hifi Pig

www.hifipig.com

In a way, this could be seen as advertising for Taiko Audio.

Generally speaking, being copied, or being an insparation, is a form of recognition.

But, of course, the Taiko name has to be mentioned along with it, in one way or another.

For that there are the forums.

But I'm not worried about the competition. After all, it's only a cable.

What makes Taiko so special is not so much the hardware as the software. Or I should say the interweaving of software and hardware.

In order to reproduce this, or simply to draw inspiration from it, one needs both resources and skills.

Cheers,

Thomas

 

[matthias]

I guess it was inevitable:

Melco C1-D20 SFP+ Direct Attach Network Cable | Hifi Pig

www.hifipig.com

Steve Z

Emile recommended reasonable priced DAC cables, but this is an "audiophile" one for 889 Euros

 

[kswanson27]

Emile recommended reasonable priced DAC cables, but this is an "audiophile" one for 889 Euros

Have you seen the price of the Wadax DC cables? $20k each. Yes, you read that right.

 

[John T]

Total insanity! Dipped in virgin urine from a Yak. Then Cryogenic Freezing for 6 months while the urine is still moist. Then throw in all the research and development...

 

[Taiko Audio]

What makes Taiko so special is not so much the hardware as the software. Or I should say the interweaving of software and hardware.

Interesting you should mention that, I was just contemplating on how things have changed over the past 5 years during a quick holiday break. While the design efforts used to be around 75/25% on hardware vs the software side, nowadays that is likely more like 25/75%. A complete reversal of effort spend.

It’s obvious a lot of time and effort is spend on XDMS. However what you would designate as hardware developments, like XDMI, the Olympus server and even the BPS/BMS, are in fact dominated by software/firmware aswell.

Nowadays I consider hardware to allow a potential which needs software to be realised.

 

[Steve williams]

welcome back Emile. We hope you had a wonderful vacation. Looking forward to reading about further updates on updates and shipping etc. The fun times of Olympus, I,O and XDMI are soon to become reality for so many of us here

 

[SwissTom]

Interesting you should mention that, I was just contemplating on how things have changed over the past 5 years during a quick holiday break. While the design efforts used to be around 75/25% on hardware vs the software side, nowadays that is likely more like 25/75%. A complete reversal of effort spend.

It’s obvious a lot of time and effort is spend on XDMS. However what you would designate as hardware developments, like XDMI, the Olympus server and even the BPS/BMS, are in fact dominated by software/firmware aswell.

Nowadays I consider hardware to allow a potential which needs software to be realised.

It's really interesting.

In the end, it's quite understandable, even for the philistine.

It's one of the paradigms of our technology, whatever it may be.

As soon as things start to get a bit cutting edge, it's the software that dominates.

This is the case in the automotive and aerospace industries, and even in power stations, food processing and pharmaceuticals.

It's only natural that this should also be the case in audio.

The difference is that high-end audio is a niche market. It's harder to find the resources and skills for such a small market.

But, from time to time, brilliant ideas and companies with a fresh approach emerge.

I came to Taiko Audio essentially for that very reason.

To be quite honest, at first, and from a distance, I saw the Taiko Extreme Server as a PC somewhat optimised for audio, a nice spicy thing.

Back then I was looking for a solution to use Roon.

It was when I read the forum and in particular your software approach to the problem that I was won over.

I decided then to order the Extreme Server, then the Switch, then the Router and finally the Olympus/IO XDMI

I'm really curious to see what comes next!

I hope that the XDMI interface will be adopted by the industry.

But high-end audio is a very small market.

Couldn't this type of interface/technology be exploited for mass-market audio? Or, why not, something else altogether?

Cheers,

Thomas

 

[Taiko Audio]

Couldn't this type of interface/technology be exploited for mass-market audio? Or, why not, something else altogether?

Thank you for your trust, and your useful contributions thus far

I reckon it doesn’t qualify, functionally it does but it fails the low cost and (board)space requirements for mass market audio adoption.

 

[Taiko Audio]

welcome back Emile. We hope you had a wonderful vacation. Looking forward to reading about further updates on updates and shipping etc. The fun times of Olympus, I,O and XDMI are soon to become reality for so many of us here

Not back yet but thank you! Interesting times ahead for sure, I cannot wait for everyone to hear what we’ve come up with this time

 

[dminches]

Not back yet but thank you! Interesting times ahead for sure, I cannot wait for everyone to hear what we’ve come up with this time

If you can't wait can you imagine how we feel?

 

[Steve williams]

Not back yet but thank you! Interesting times ahead for sure, I cannot wait for everyone to hear what we’ve come up with this time

and as a corollary, everyone as well cannot wait to see what you've come up with. My first listen after everything is installed is your XDMI analogue board as I am betting that this internal DAC is going to be an eye opener for all we DAC owners

 

[oldmustang]

and as a corollary, everyone as well cannot wait to see what you've come up with. My first listen after everything is installed is your XDMI analogue board as I am betting that this internal DAC is going to be an eye opener for all we DAC owners

I'll settle for it being an ear-opener. . .

Steve Z

 

[2ndLiner]

Not back yet but thank you! Interesting times ahead for sure, I cannot wait for everyone to hear what we’ve come up with this time

Is there an emoji for Like+++?! May the rest of your well deserved vacation seem like an eternity

 

[Taiko Audio]

and as a corollary, everyone as well cannot wait to see what you've come up with. My first listen after everything is installed is your XDMI analogue board as I am betting that this internal DAC is going to be an eye opener for all we DAC owners

As things have progressed meanwhile I now feel more comfortable to share my personal SQ ranking:


Olympus XDMI - Lampizator Poseidon -120%
Olympus XDMI - direct analogue out - 100%
Olympus USB - Lampizator Horizon - 65% (we did actually manage to improve the Olympus USB performance a bit more, it was much further behind priorly)

The Poseidon I have here has no USB input, only XDMI native, hence I cannot do a direct comparison to USB, it also has “cheap” made in china tubes fitted as I don’t have upgraded tubes for it with the exception of the rectifier which I exchanged for a Telefunken RGN2004 which I prefer with it. My Horizon has Telefunken RGN2504, Chalmers RS1003, and ITT Lorenz C3g fitted. Another interesting observation is the interface cable conductor quality matters a lot in this particular application.. Hence the Lampizator interface will use a 5 pin XLR cable in stead of FSP/QFSP allowing for more exotic cables to be used.

Photos of the tube complements used for this particular comparison:

 

[dminches]

Based on your previous experience with the Horizon would it be wrong to assume that the Olympus XDMI - Lampizator Horizon would exceed 100%?

 

[Taiko Audio]

Is there an emoji for Like+++?! May the rest of your well deserved vacation seem like an eternity

Thank you! I still have 3 days of vitamin D boosting left which I suspect may serve me well over the next few months

 

[Taiko Audio]

Based on your previous experience with the Horizon would it be wrong to assume that the Olympus XDMI - Lampizator Horizon would exceed 100%?

I would expect it to exceed the 120% I get with the Poseidon! I’m shipping my Horizon to Lukasz for a retrofit when I return, will share my impressions.

 

[Steve williams]

so using the analog card as the standard of 100% where does XDMI native to Horizon stand

 

[Steve williams]

so using the analog card as the standard of 100% where does XDMI native to Horizon stand

ohh I see answered