Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème
- Thread starter CKKeung
- Start date
But Steve, you can't connect an AES/EBU digital output to a preamp. The preamplifier needs an analog signal, it cannot accept digital signals.I just had a worrisome thought and thus a question to Emile and those in the know...In order to run the analog card to the preamp am I correct in assuming that the card only has AES/EBU output which, if correct, requires an XLR cable from the card to the preamp.......if that is the case my great idea just collapsed as Lamm does not use XLR in to the preamp...only SE. The preamp does use XLR out from the preamp to the amp but it is pseudo balanced (one pin is shorted making it effectively a SE cable)
He can't connect it to HIS preamp. Some preamps do have a DAC and digital input.
When I had the Vivaldi stack, the preamp was horrible. Actually the whole dCS implementation was pretty bad. Mappers, upsampling, filters, cables, beta after beta software, just a mess. This was before APEX but still seems to be the case. The virtues you speak of are the poor dCS preamp, not related to just a stand alone preamp which I think u are referring to.
As always YMMV.....
Steve Williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
Well, not my experience with dCS at all, but everyone's tolerance for multiple boxes, cables and software is different.
At this point I'd say the dCS ecosystem, including software has been stable for several years at least since their v2.0 operating system update. As far as Mosaic for streaming, I only used it long enough to determine it was not nearly as good as Taiko.
Steve Z
You preamp has a digital input? That's what we are talking about, not the analog output from the Olympus DAC card.
Nobody was talking about digital until post 20.982 which reads like a misunderstanding to me
Nobody was talking about digital until post 20.982 which reads like a misunderstanding to me
I think when Steve wrote "In order to run the analog card to the preamp am I correct in assuming that the card only has AES/EBU output which, if correct, requires an XLR cable from the card to the preamp" things get a bit off track. It is clear that the AES/EBU card has a digital output and the DAC card has an analog out.
All good.
Ah yes forgot I cleared that with Steve in PM rather then here.
Well, I was referring to Steve's preamplifier, but still, in general, you cannot connect a digital signal to a preamplifier. Devices that combine a pramplifier and a DAC are a type of hybrid device, but not what has always been understood by a preamplifier.
Ironically, Fedex rang on my door while I was reading these messages today and brought this:
TBC...
Nice! I'm very interested in your thoughts after you've had a chance to listen to it for awhie.
Steve Z
Post 20,982 comes as a response to post 20,976. I think it is appropriate.Nobody was talking about digital until post 20.982 which reads like a misunderstanding to me
Steve Williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
Nah. There are just a ton of moving parts and new things.
Incredibly exciting Emile (glad you have a surplus of vitamin D stored up for these next few months). I cannot wait to hear your impressions of the retrofitted Horizon - can I offer covering expedited shipping?). I am smitten with the Horizon (after going deep into multiple tube rabbit holes)/Extreme combo (direct to Audionet Heisenbergs) and for sure will pursue the retrofit for XDMI when Lampizator is ready (or maybe a swap out offering - new XDMI Horizon for current Horizon - for a premium $ versus a retrofit? - the thought of paying >$5k euros for retrofit + plus premium cable + plus shipping both ways? + wear and tear on existing DAC due to shipping, etc etc does weigh a bit. wishing i could go steveW route and just buy a second horizon, but totally digressing) and my number comes up for the Olympus.
That said, I am also really curious if there will be a preamp out there (and w it the cost of additional cabling) that complements this combination even more in the chain than say, for example, adding the Olympus I/O (which my current rack jusst may be able to fit) - which had uplifted that initial sound quality boost estimate from 300 to 330%. (From what I have gleened from folks, the Audionet Stern pre adds to the performance vs Horizon direct to Heisenbergs but not enough to justify imho the $50k price plus xlrs and pc (currently run Odin2), additional rack space, etc. - thus the dilemma).
These past 4+ years have been so exciting on this Taiko train ride, but it does seem like the next 3 to 4 months might really catapult the combination of Taiko's innovations onto a different plane altogether w/ all the sweat/tears/R&D/unparalleled customer service/round the clock days paying off in spades. Amazing to witness/hear. Thanks to the whole team and your partners.
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Thank you for your kind words @ctydwn , I never had much luck in combining different brands pre / power amps for reasons beyond technical specifications. Possibly there’s some voicing synergy involved.
Besides cost another issue in your case might be the size of the Stern, it’s huge.. There’s the vertical oriented version in the same size chassis as the Heisenbergs as you probably know, but that doesn’t help much.
Something we’ve started exploring ourselves is a volume control option for XDMI, considering a lot of people (myself included) prefer using the Horizon at the maximum volume setting, this could be something which could work very well.
The Horizon has a very high output voltage, with the tubes I currently use it’s around 14dB higher then XDMI direct analogue out. The Poseidon is about 2 dB higher, so it requires much less attenuation then the Horizon when used as a preamp, maybe (without actually knowing) this is why it’s considered a “better preamp”.
If we manage to implement a good volume control option you could possibly use that and bypass your Horizon volume control. Perhaps this would indeed negate the “need” for a preamplifier.
Unfortunately there’s no timescale on this, it is however one of the items higher up on our priority list.
Besides cost another issue in your case might be the size of the Stern, it’s huge.. There’s the vertical oriented version in the same size chassis as the Heisenbergs as you probably know, but that doesn’t help much.
Something we’ve started exploring ourselves is a volume control option for XDMI, considering a lot of people (myself included) prefer using the Horizon at the maximum volume setting, this could be something which could work very well.
The Horizon has a very high output voltage, with the tubes I currently use it’s around 14dB higher then XDMI direct analogue out. The Poseidon is about 2 dB higher, so it requires much less attenuation then the Horizon when used as a preamp, maybe (without actually knowing) this is why it’s considered a “better preamp”.
If we manage to implement a good volume control option you could possibly use that and bypass your Horizon volume control. Perhaps this would indeed negate the “need” for a preamplifier.
Unfortunately there’s no timescale on this, it is however one of the items higher up on our priority list.
Emile is there a rough time estimate for when the XDMI balanced XLR analogue output might be released?
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