Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème
- Thread starter CKKeung
- Start date
Installed over the weekend, and now waiting for your sonic observations
I haven’t been on here for months now and have completely lost touch with what’s been going on. I stopped listening to my main system and tbh completely lost interest months back due to developing tinnitus which, thankfully, did subside after a prolonged abstinence, so I’ve been happily using my main system again. I suspect a combination of headphones and too loud listening as the culprits so lesson learned there.
Anyway, after a side by side demo at home comparing my H1 with H360 - helpfully arranged by Greg at G-Point - moving to 360 was an obvious conclusion for me and I have been greatly enjoying it in my system in recent times. Then, a couple of days ago, I received a flag stating that my version of XDMS had expired, so I emailed support at Taiko and, sure enough, Ed popped up and got me installed with the latest version. It makes me laugh watching him as he speedily zips around my Extreme like Roadrunner on steroids.
So last night I gave it a good listen and was quite surprised at the sound. I’m a lifetime Roon user and have used it for years but comparing XDMS with Roon SQ, I found the differences quite similar to comparing H360 with H1 in that the sound initially seems darker and less detailed until your ears adjust and you realise that, actually, there is more - of everything. It seems to me to combine the best elements of digital and analogue providing a new kind of presentation that is far more revealing and dimensional and yet natural and free flowing. I’ve been very happy with H360 and so discovering the new XDMS is a real bonus, especially since the two together seem so complementary, like they were designed to go together. I had no idea what to expect since I hadn’t read any of the feedback from users on here - still haven’t yet - but XDMS, to me, has been equivalent to a component level kind of improvement in my system. It seems that no matter what point you have reached, there is always more to be had, one of the joys and frustrations of audio systems.
I am largely avoiding headphones still and have been using my speakers at lower volumes than before in order to protect my ears so I am happy to note that the combination of H360 and XDMS allow greater enjoyment at lower volume levels than previously was the case. So thanks to Ed and Taiko for a complementary and very welcome upgrade in sound quality here. I keep an SPL measuring device by my side since, with the new arrangement, it is all too easy for sound levels to creep back up without being aware of how far and, in measuring, I am finding that I am often running louder than I think.
Anyway, after a side by side demo at home comparing my H1 with H360 - helpfully arranged by Greg at G-Point - moving to 360 was an obvious conclusion for me and I have been greatly enjoying it in my system in recent times. Then, a couple of days ago, I received a flag stating that my version of XDMS had expired, so I emailed support at Taiko and, sure enough, Ed popped up and got me installed with the latest version. It makes me laugh watching him as he speedily zips around my Extreme like Roadrunner on steroids.
So last night I gave it a good listen and was quite surprised at the sound. I’m a lifetime Roon user and have used it for years but comparing XDMS with Roon SQ, I found the differences quite similar to comparing H360 with H1 in that the sound initially seems darker and less detailed until your ears adjust and you realise that, actually, there is more - of everything. It seems to me to combine the best elements of digital and analogue providing a new kind of presentation that is far more revealing and dimensional and yet natural and free flowing. I’ve been very happy with H360 and so discovering the new XDMS is a real bonus, especially since the two together seem so complementary, like they were designed to go together. I had no idea what to expect since I hadn’t read any of the feedback from users on here - still haven’t yet - but XDMS, to me, has been equivalent to a component level kind of improvement in my system. It seems that no matter what point you have reached, there is always more to be had, one of the joys and frustrations of audio systems.
I am largely avoiding headphones still and have been using my speakers at lower volumes than before in order to protect my ears so I am happy to note that the combination of H360 and XDMS allow greater enjoyment at lower volume levels than previously was the case. So thanks to Ed and Taiko for a complementary and very welcome upgrade in sound quality here. I keep an SPL measuring device by my side since, with the new arrangement, it is all too easy for sound levels to creep back up without being aware of how far and, in measuring, I am finding that I am often running louder than I think.
A couple of weeks ago I got a Taiko Extreme Switch and as promised I wanted to post some impressions. First, my signal path: cable modem - TP Link router - 6' fiber optic bridge - Ansuz D2 Powerswitch - Taiko Extreme SGM. For the past two weeks I have had the Extreme switch inserted between the Ansuz Powerswitch and the Extreme SGM. I can say there is a definite increase in SQ, not earthshaking, but a definite increase. I have posted in other threads that the Ansuz was the best switch I have ever tested in my system. In the next couple of days I will remove the Ansuz and see what difference that makes. Stay tuned......
I finally got to the point of submitting my ticket to Taiko for getting upgraded to XDMS.......
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