Article: Reality Quest: Going to Extremes with the Taiko Audio SGM Extreme (Part 2 of 5)

[The Computer Audiophile]

What a cool component. Love the images and commentary Ray. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 minute ago, matthias said:

 

Thanks,

I asked Roy on WBF about and he replied:

 

"Unfortunately, because the Extreme's browser is semi-locked down for obvious safety reasons, I am unable to install Audirvana and so I will need assistance from Emile with this." 

 

So it seems not to be so easy.

 

Matt

 

I forgot about this. Audirvana installs in a vastly different way than all other apps I use and all other audio apps I've seen. It requires the Microsoft Store and special browser link to install. Then, it isn't installed like a normal program either. 

 

I'm not a fan of this installation method, but I could be persuaded if Damien has some info that us non-developers might not know, that supports this type of install. 

[The Computer Audiophile]

5 minutes ago, bbosler said:

 

So then we see a retraction from Taiko that the Roon update did not affect sound quality

 

did I miss something? If the reviewer heard "significant adverse impact" after this Roon update while no other changes were made, and then discovers there was no adverse impact, doesn't that cast some doubt about the whole review?

 

Yes, I am extremely skeptical that the "extreme" measures taken by this device are beneficial.  I think it is "extremely" likely that when someone spends $30K they expect to hear significant improvements and it is well proven we often hear what we want to or expect to hear.  I will wait for further explanation, but it does raise the  the "extremely" logical question about expectation bias.

 

 

 

 

 

I believe there were Taiko changes made that had an impact.

 

I'll be happily corrected if wrong though.

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 minute ago, Audiophile Neuroscience said:

Okay thanks for that.

 

Some maintain optical isolation is superior so it I am wondering why this was not included as a digital interface option. It almost certainly (?) would have been considered in the design stages and rejected.

 

The matrix DDC appears only to have Toslink out, not SFP or ST glass. I am not sure Toslink is the best optical choice?

 

I guess they are going for the best USB audio implementation in their products.

 

Audiophiles pretty much got rid of Toslink years ago. Plus, it has very limited bandwidth.