Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

SwissTom · Aug 5, 2022

I do not doubt that XDMS will sound good, very good!!!

It is, after all, in-house code optimized for the Extreme Server and with sound quality in mind.

I thought that with the new USB drivers Roon could compete with TAS in terms of sound quality.

I mainly listen to classical music. And like all classical music amateurs, I like to hear different interpretations of the same composition.

That's where Roon comes in. Not only does it recognize and tags albums, but it also connects them.

For instance, I have 13 albums containing the Sonata for Cello & Piano N°1 in E min, Op.38.

Roon recognizes that this sonata is in these 13 albums, and therefore connects them.

So I can choose the interpretation that appeals to me at the time, or compare them, or listen to them all.

It is for this very tool that I bought Roon's lifetime license.

It would take me aeons, literally aeons, to get this by tagging myself.

I have ~6000 albums, of which 5000 are classical music.

And the slightest mistake in the tags and the whole thing would stop working.

For a classical music lover, Roon is simply irreplaceable.

On the other hand, XDMS will offer a sound quality that is/will better than Roon....

It's a Cornelian dilema

ticktock · Aug 5, 2022

Nils said:
All, I feel a need to share my most recent upgrade...

Since the release of Taiko USB Driver (back in 2022-02) I have rather happily been using Roon together with Taiko's USB Driver - patiently waiting for XDMS like everyone else.

However, like most of you, I felt a need to scratch the upgrade itch. I decided it was time to re-explore TAS. Before 2022-02 I did try TAS and did not appreciate the UX much - after the release of the Taiko USB Driver and the subsequent SQ improvement it brought to Roon I was patiently waiting for the final SW solution, as explained in this great architectural diagram https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/taiko-audio-sgm-extreme-the-crème-de-la-crème.27433/post-707368 posted by @Taiko Audio

So, I bugged Taiko Support to help me get starting with TAS again - this was two days ago.

After some great assistance from @EuroDriver I was ready to try out TAS.

Since then I have been stuck in a listening loop...

The difference between latest Roon and TAS - both using Taiko's USB Driver is stupendous!

All my complaints on TAS UX are overshadowed by the sound!

Maybe I am the last user on the forum to switch to TAS - but in case I am not, do yourself a favor and switch to TAS and let your Extreme run free!

You're definitely not the last! With Ed's invaluable help, I got TAS up and running finally last night, and it immediately became apparent I should have done this long ago. When I first received my Extreme in November 2021, XDMS was said to arrive the following month so I opted to wait for that instead. I got perhaps a bit stubborn about not choosing the interim or temporary solution as the months passed by. Now I'm delighted to kick Roon to the curb. Not only for sound quality reasons (although that alone would have been sufficient for me), but I also grew weary of Roon's habit of resetting the Qobuz interface after a period of inactivity and not remembering where I left off, and Roon's slow, very slow scrolling through long lists. Really whets my appetite for what's about to come with XDMS, whenever we're lucky enough to see it become reality for us.

pleroma · Aug 5, 2022

dminches said:
If TAS had gapless play I wouldn’t be anxiously awaiting XDMS. I am fine with the sound quality and I can live with the rudimentary interface but the gaps between songs for those that shouldn’t have them is a buzz kill.

To each his own. I could live without gapless for the SQ, as I only have a few albums with pieces having tracks that segue/attacca.

dminches · Aug 5, 2022

pleroma said:
To each his own. I could live without gapless for the SQ, as I only have a few albums with pieces having tracks that segue/attacca.

obviously this is only my own opinion.

Gapless doesn’t mean lower quality. XDMS will have it without sound quality degregation. A large portion of my library requires it.

pleroma · Aug 5, 2022

dminches said:
obviously this is only my own opinion.

Gapless doesn’t mean lower quality. XDMS will have it without sound quality degregation. A large portion of my library requires it.

My post was slightly elliptical as I was excited about the prospect of not using Roon FOR the SQ improvement in TAS, not implying any relationship between gapless and SQ. My Extreme is being built now, and we have been back and forth about the software.

John T · Aug 5, 2022

Any Suggestions? I realize with the recently setup of TAS (Which I can't stop listening to) I cannot play DSD/DSF???

dminches · Aug 5, 2022

John T said:
Any Suggestions? I realize with the recently setup of TAS (Which I can't stop listening to) I cannot play DSD/DSF???

I listen to DSD in TAS all the time.

John T · Aug 5, 2022

@dminches:I'm certain you do, that was why I was asking for HELP.. Perhaps a setting?

Steve Williams · Aug 5, 2022

John T said:
Any Suggestions? I realize with the recently setup of TAS (Which I can't stop listening to) I cannot play DSD/DSF???

Not sure I have the answer but I had a similar problem with my Pacific a few years ago. I could only play up to DSD 256. Turns out it was the Amanero board on the pacific. I switched the usb Board on the Pacific to JL Sounds and have never had an issue since. Something to do with XMOS IIRC

John T · Aug 5, 2022

@Steve Williams: Thanks Steve, I can play DSD in ROON, so I'm assuming it's a setting somewhere in TAS? My DAC the EMM LABS DV2, will only do DSD128. I was attempting to play DSD64 and it still doesn't want to play nice. I'll see what Edward says. Could be a compatibility issue with the DV2?

Steve Williams · Aug 5, 2022

John T said:
@Steve Williams: Thanks Steve, I can play DSD in ROON, so I'm assuming it's a setting somewhere in TAS? My DAC the EMM LABS DV2, will only do DSD128. I was attempting to play DSD64 and it still doesn't want to play nice. I'll see what Edward says. Could be a compatibility issue with the DV2?

Do you have the correct USB setting for your DAC and filters set at auto

wil · Aug 5, 2022

Steve Williams said:
Do you have the correct USB setting for your DAC and filters set at auto

Are there specific USB/DAC settings for TAS? I thought that was only for Roon?

Steve Williams · Aug 5, 2022

wil said:
Are there specific USB/DAC settings for TAS? I thought that was only for Roon?

You got me as I only use TAS. Mine is set at USB4 and filters at auto

John T · Aug 5, 2022

@Steve Williams: Edward did have me shift both Bars to Auto. With EMM its USB3...

Steve Williams · Aug 5, 2022

John T said:
@Steve Williams: Edward did have me shift both Bars to Auto. With EMM its USB3...

Like I said….it’s above my pay grade. The only problem I have ever had with my Extreme was an auto reassigned IP address. IIRC I was one of the first to report this and that is why when starting TAS Taiko added the top line with your Extreme s/n and an arrow at the far right. If you click the arrow rather than the blue bar it detects the IP address of your Extreme. I’d ask for a Team Viewer

John T · Aug 5, 2022

@Steve Williams: Appreciate it anyway, the only issue is DSD and I believe its a Setting that Edward will know or its a compatibility issue. I'm about (hopefully) 2 months away on the Horizon.

MarkusBarkus · Aug 5, 2022

Spoiler Alert: Hey Emile, congrats on TAS Golden Ear Award 2022! Postie just dropped the September issue here. Nice!

cat6man · Aug 5, 2022

MarkusBarkus said:
Spoiler Alert: Hey Emile, congrats on TAS Golden Ear Award 2022! Postie just dropped the September issue here. Nice!

"Not reviewed" but obviously enjoyed by whom?
I didn't receive anything in the mail today

MarkusBarkus · Aug 5, 2022

...Matt Clott

Taiko Audio · Aug 5, 2022

John T said:
@Steve Williams: Appreciate it anyway, the only issue is DSD and I believe its a Setting that Edward will know or its a compatibility issue. I'm about (hopefully) 2 months away on the Horizon.

For your DAC you will probably have to enable DoP on the settings page. TAS does not support DSD to PCM conversion.

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