...here's the back of my Extreme. It has the upgraded USB and Network cards. Sorry, it's a bit challenging to open her up at the moment. I hope it helps.
Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème
- Thread starter CKKeung
- Start date
Thank you. That's the same as mine. The only curveball is I thought I swapped them when I used Ethernet to connect to the DAC. Perhaps I didn't. So, I think it's safe to say your configuration is the correct one.
Yes, I am sure you are right, one goes in 5 and the other goes in 2
The attached installation instructions have the net card in slot 2 and the USB card in slot 5.
(this is my current configuration.)
I also saw a document that had the USB card in slot 2.
My friend who had it extreme and now has an Olympus, said that the cards moved around.
This is why I submitted a ticket and asked Taiko directly.
Thank you for your kind assistance
The attached installation instructions have the net card in slot 2 and the USB card in slot 5.
(this is my current configuration.)
I also saw a document that had the USB card in slot 2.
My friend who had it extreme and now has an Olympus, said that the cards moved around.
This is why I submitted a ticket and asked Taiko directly.
Thank you for your kind assistance
Big sonic, and for me functional, improvement. A drop in the noise floor contributes to amazing sq and phenomenal bass. Anyone with an Extreme should really try XDMS beta. Great work by the team!
Good morning, do have experience with a JMF PCD vs. SIN Audio (Ghost)?Noch 1 Stimme für die JMF. Ich habe den größeren Bruder, den PCD302. Ich habe viele Stromaufbereiter gehört, darunter auch den P20. Nichts kam JMF auch nur nahe. Ziemlich schockierend
Hi @drjimwillie ,
The standard Extreme setup has the Network card in slot 2 and the USB card in slot 5, as others have already kindly pointed out.
That said, since you’ve built your own Extreme, the “best” configuration can depend a little on your exact use case. Here’s the logic behind how we place them:
- Slots 3–5 connect directly to CPU0.
- Slots 1, 2, 6, and 7 connect to CPU1.
- In the Extreme, CPU0 is dedicated to audio playback, while CPU1 handles system tasks like networking.
So in the default build, USB sits on CPU0 (where playback happens) and Networking on CPU1 (where system traffic belongs). That’s why we normally recommend those positions.
In some situations, though, we’ve suggested other placements, for example, when @joet was running a network-connected DAC, we had him put the network card in slot 5 to link it directly to CPU0 instead.
Hope that clears it up a bit!
Admittedly, @EuroDriver caught me by surprise with the NAS detection feature, super handy! And somehow he’s managed to pull another rabbit out of his hat on the SQ front, adding a sweet bonus in a hobby where "maxed out" only lasts until the next surprise drop.
New Extreme owner here. First, I was a big server skeptic. Thanks to Taiko dealer, Chris Hesse, Dallas, TX for bringing me an Extreme Server and Taiko Switch to demo. It took just a few songs for me to tell him, "It's not leaving!" Been running ROON happily on my Extreme for two months. No problems and sounds great. I was speaking with Vassil, Taiko Audio, the other day and he offered to have Edward contact me so that he could log in to my Extreme Server remotely and setup XDMS 4.0.17 Beta. That completed today (thanks Edward) so I got a chance to get XDMS 4.0.17 running tonight for a listen. Shocking! I'm probably late to the party here with praise but this Beta software easily outperforms ROON on Extreme Server. The upper frequencies are much more open and it seems as if "grain and grit" have been removed. Try Radiohead, Reckoner, from In Rainbows. All of those percussion instruments in the opening have more detail definition and space. Bass is better defined. Play the 2025 remastered version of Bill Evans, Stairway to the Stars, from Moon Beams. How about that upright bass in the right channel! Tight and well defined. This sounded a bit "mushy" on ROON. Piano is beautiful and bright. Brushes and cymbals on drums on my left have more resolution and detail. Not subtle differences at all. It's just more "live" sounding. Very exciting. Great job! Now we shall see about overall stability.
Congrats, you won't regret the purchase. Taiko still plans to develop some hardware upgrades for the Extreme as well so hopefully even more to look forward to.
I thought XDMS alpha was good but beta is in a different league. Mine is quite stable but there are a few issues. Some of us have been posting these in Discord so Ed and the dev team can address. Please post your findings, both positive and negative.
Arun
I thought XDMS alpha was good but beta is in a different league. Mine is quite stable but there are a few issues. Some of us have been posting these in Discord so Ed and the dev team can address. Please post your findings, both positive and negative.
Arun
Just started XDMS Beta ( installed yesterday ) from 3.01...more natural "there " and smoother, also more dynamic, vocals more alive .
Thank you Ed, yummy
Cheers M
Thank you Ed, yummy
Cheers M
Just got an Extreme Switch. I'm going to spend the next few days testing with and W/O my Ansuz D2 Powerswitch in the chain.
Way back, when the switch was first released, I seem to recall Emile recommending against daisy chaining switches. But, there's no hurt in experimenting! Im interested to hear what you find, as well as the comparison to the Ansuz. Are you using the network card?
...I continued to run a modded Buffalo switch in my system for 6-8 months after adding the Taiko Switch, which was contrary to general guidance. I like to learn directly, where practical.
Eventually, I decided to try things without the second switch and I felt no need to keep the second switch in the chain. IIRC I had the second switch in place with the Extreme and the Olympus.
N.B. I use the Taiko Router now, so please factor that in your thinking.
Eventually, I decided to try things without the second switch and I felt no need to keep the second switch in the chain. IIRC I had the second switch in place with the Extreme and the Olympus.
N.B. I use the Taiko Router now, so please factor that in your thinking.
I am using the network card. It will interesting comparing the two.
Edward the magician just installed XDMS Beta for me - on a Sunday afternoon/evening! So first of all my gratitude, a big THANK YOU and pull of my hat to this gentleman!
Background: My Alpha just has lapsed and all I hoped for was to play music again with maybe a little bug here and there removed, didn't think about an upgrade sound-wise.
We had a little hiccup because the control App didn't find my Extreme; so while texting with Edward suddenly some violin started playing out of the blue - and though still focused on Edward and connecting the App to the Extreme - I thought this is sounding not "bad at aaaall". It was a Paganini Caprices album I didn't play for a long time and then only in bits. So we then fixed the "issue" by simple reinstalling the app, I said thank you to Edward and queued some familiar music.
Well... what can I say: This Beta Version sound FANTASTIC!!! I remember the upgrade to "NSM" and it was really good compared to the prior XDMS. But for me this upgrade is more significant.
This is what I wrote to Edward:
I often complain and roll my eyes about such overly hyped reports (like what I write above), so take it with a grain of salt and of course YMMV. Buuuut let me put it this way: If you own an Extreme, you owe it to yourself to give it a try! And for all the Olympus users: If XDMS (Beta) will be anything remotely to this compared to the prior XDMS (and Roon of course) your Olympus will get you even more to music wonderland.
Now enough hyperbole, I'll be listening to some more music. Happy Sunday to all out there! ... and please give Edward a breather until tomorrow.
Background: My Alpha just has lapsed and all I hoped for was to play music again with maybe a little bug here and there removed, didn't think about an upgrade sound-wise.
We had a little hiccup because the control App didn't find my Extreme; so while texting with Edward suddenly some violin started playing out of the blue - and though still focused on Edward and connecting the App to the Extreme - I thought this is sounding not "bad at aaaall". It was a Paganini Caprices album I didn't play for a long time and then only in bits. So we then fixed the "issue" by simple reinstalling the app, I said thank you to Edward and queued some familiar music.
Well... what can I say: This Beta Version sound FANTASTIC!!! I remember the upgrade to "NSM" and it was really good compared to the prior XDMS. But for me this upgrade is more significant.
This is what I wrote to Edward:
- Edward, regarding the sonics of the Beta Version: Haha, if someone would have said this is what an out of the box new Olympus sounds vs. the Extreme, I'd probably have taken it.
- So natural with beautiful air, tonal colors and lushness!
- I thought to myself: If I'd bought a new 5k power cord and someone said it sound like this, I thought it well worth the price.
I often complain and roll my eyes about such overly hyped reports (like what I write above), so take it with a grain of salt and of course YMMV. Buuuut let me put it this way: If you own an Extreme, you owe it to yourself to give it a try! And for all the Olympus users: If XDMS (Beta) will be anything remotely to this compared to the prior XDMS (and Roon of course) your Olympus will get you even more to music wonderland.
Now enough hyperbole, I'll be listening to some more music. Happy Sunday to all out there! ... and please give Edward a breather until tomorrow.
Hi all, thanks to Ed for updating my XDMS from alpha to beta. Can’t wait to listen to it tonight.
In reviewing the control app settings, thought it would be worthwhile to review the DAC Settings, since it’s been years since I have looked at it. Perhaps @Taiko Audio can comment if these are still the best to use for my setup:
• Nagra HD DAC X
• Taiko Network Card
• Extreme purchased in Dec. 2021 with updated USB
• Taiko Switch and Router
• Taiko DCD (incoming)
Here’s the settings page from the app:
Sound Profile: Alternative
USB Driver Profile: I think I am using USB 4, but don’t recall.
Thanks!
In reviewing the control app settings, thought it would be worthwhile to review the DAC Settings, since it’s been years since I have looked at it. Perhaps @Taiko Audio can comment if these are still the best to use for my setup:
• Nagra HD DAC X
• Taiko Network Card
• Extreme purchased in Dec. 2021 with updated USB
• Taiko Switch and Router
• Taiko DCD (incoming)
Here’s the settings page from the app:
Sound Profile: Alternative
USB Driver Profile: I think I am using USB 4, but don’t recall.
Thanks!
Steve Williams
Site Founder, Site Co-Owner, Administrator
I really miss XDMS even as good as Roon is sounding. And to see it now in beta is really good news. Im hoping somewhere down the road it will surface for use in O/IO
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