Grimm MU1 vs Aurender N30SA vs Taiko Audio

[kennyb123]

From someone who works in the San Francisco Bay Area, we use the word “ecosystem“ to refer to user bases in the tens of millions to billions of people (e.g., Gmail, Apple iOS, Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom).

The rest of the English speaking world uses the word "ecosystem" to describe "any system or network of interconnecting and interacting parts". The number of parts that comprise it doesn't factor into whether that term applies. It's just that the parts are interconnected and interacting. Certainly Taiko has been releasing a set of products that interconnect and interact so "ecosystem" is an apt description of that. Just my two cents.

 

[Audire]

My dealer just ordered us a Taiko Audio Extreme + Switch - Both in black. It will be app 8 weeks for delivery.

The Switch “may” arrive first. If so I’ll test it’s effects on the N30SA.

The hard part has begun - waiting.

 

[Famester]

Congrats!

 

[7ryder]

My dealer just ordered us a Taiko Audio Extreme + Switch - Both in black. It will be app 8 weeks for delivery.

The Switch “may” arrive first. If so I’ll test it’s effects on the N30SA.

The hard part has begun - waiting.

Good luck - mine took 6 months

 

[Audire]

Good luck - mine took 6 months

Wow, so sorry. You’re a very patient person. I had my dealer check with Taiko before I ordered it. So, hopefully their timing is accurate.

 

[7ryder]

Wow, so sorry. You’re a very patient person. I had my dealer check with Taiko before I ordered it. So, hopefully their timing is accurate.

So did I...

 

[Audire]

Good luck - mine took 6 months

Well here’s hoping for 60 days or less.

 

[Gjo]

If anyone here who has owned or auditioned both the N30SA and Taiko Extreme would please describe the sonic characteristics of each, then I would be very appreciative.

 

[fast.freight]

Hello @Audire, have you received your Taiko stuff yet? I have a Grimm mu1 w my Tambaqui, but am considering either a new N20 or N30SA (when they are Roon certified) vs Taiko w Switch or and Modem. I do have M12 gold switch now. w SJ AR6 powering it...very interested in your findings, or anyone comparing N20 or 30 with or without external clock compared to Taiko. Thanks!

 

[Aufiopassion]

Have you guys further compared the Taiko and the Aurender N30sa + MC10 ? Using the BNC or AES out of the Aurender also I found beats the USB output of any streamer. But I haven't tried the Taiko... Welcome your feedback. Thank you!!

 

[Gjo]

Have you guys further compared the Taiko and the Aurender N30sa + MC10 ? Using the BNC or AES out of the Aurender also I found beats the USB output of any streamer. But I haven't tried the Taiko... Welcome your feedback. Thank you!!

I use AES out of my N30SA, which has been the single most significant change in my system in many years (and I’ve incrementally changed every component including loudspeakers over the past two years).

I have not heard the Taiko Extreme, but for us it’s a non-starter for a couple reasons, primarily chassis dimensions and weight.

 

[fast.freight]

I use AES out of my N30SA, which has been the single most significant change in my system in many years (and I’ve incrementally changed every component including loudspeakers over the past two years).

Hello, I too changed to AES from USB out of my Grimm MU1 and it is better! I am very interested in the N30, waiting on its certification as a Roon endpoint. I want to run Roon Core on my Grimm MU1 in my second system, and then possibly use the N30 as streamer in my best system. I understand Roon may not be best sound quality, but I do enjoy its music selections. I have modded my MU1 with a new ethernet cable inside it, replacing the stock generic 1 foot cable. It makes a big difference. Even so much so, that running roon core on this MU1 and then using the Tambaqui internal streamer (bridge) now sounds much better in the second system, even without a dedicated streamer!

 

[Gjo]

Hello, I too changed to AES from USB out of my Grimm MU1 and it is better! I am very interested in the N30, waiting on its certification as a Roon endpoint. I want to run Roon Core on my Grimm MU1 in my second system, and then possibly use the N30 as streamer in my best system. I understand Roon may not be best sound quality, but I do enjoy its music selections. I have modded my MU1 with a new ethernet cable inside it, replacing the stock generic 1 foot cable. It makes a big difference. Even so much so, that running roon core on this MU1 and then using the Tambaqui internal streamer (bridge) now sounds much better in the second system, even without a dedicated streamer!

Very nice systems, and great options among them.

I agree wholeheartedly about the Roon experience.

When I bought my N30SA it was with the understanding and anticipation that Roon implementation was imminent within a month or two. That was four months ago. Clearly, that’s not the case, and while I love the N30SA’s sound (or lack thereof), I’m looking forward to at least trying Roon with it and listening for differences.

It’s nice to see another Aurender owner with a similarly open mind.

 

[fast.freight]

Very nice systems, and great options among them.

And a very nice system you have!! I would love to share listening...

 

[audio.bill]

I am very interested in the N30, waiting on its certification as a Roon endpoint.

You may find this announcement of interest: Aurender and Roon

 

[fast.freight]

I can not find any info elsewhere on Aurender being certified for Roon. And if so, is it a hardware upgrade?

You may find this announcement of interest: Aurender and Roon

Thanks, Ken

 

[Gjo]

You may find this announcement of interest: Aurender and Roon

That ping file does not open without an account log-in.

I posted a link in the Audiophilestyle Aurender forum to an Aurender/Roon set-up video I came across in a web search in early December (video has since been removed). Meanwhile, I contacted Roon Support asking about that video and the status of Roon Ready and was told it was a prematurely posted instructional video and Roon had not yet certified Aurender devices. This was the first week of December.

As yet, there is no updated Roon Partners list in 2024.

 

[audio.bill]

I can not find any info elsewhere on Aurender being certified for Roon. And if so, is it a hardware upgrade?

Thanks, Ken

I also couldn't verify the source of that announcement, but was previously told by Aurender that when Roon certification was complete it would only require a firmware update on the supported models.

 

[vert]

I have modded my MU1 with a new ethernet cable inside it, replacing the stock generic 1 foot cable. It makes a big difference.

Wow, would have never guessed there was a generic ethernet cable in that box at that price.

 

[godofwealth]

Wow, would have never guessed there was a generic ethernet cable in that box at that price.

It might be apropos to remind everyone that the Internet runs on millions of miles of generic cable. The TCP/IP protocol that transports terabytes of data along the web every second of every day is built to be remarkably fault tolerant, originally designed so that the network would still function even if large parts were taken down by a nuclear strike (the basic architecture of the Internet was designed in the 1960s).