tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post8308801520229291329..comments2024-03-28T00:31:13.472-07:00Comments on <em>Archimago's Musings</em>: MUSINGS: Myths, clichés and Hi-Fi+'s Taiko Audio SGM Extreme computer review. A hypothetical fast, fanless audio computer build. And "channels/bit-depth/samplerate" labeling convention - a suggestion.Archimagohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08642574001287787545noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-31307213801040414512022-05-31T08:01:19.069-07:002022-05-31T08:01:19.069-07:00Thanks for the comment Phoenix,
Great that you tri...Thanks for the comment <em>Phoenix</em>,<br />Great that you tried the MeLE out for HTPC purposes with 4K Netflix and such. Unfortunate to hear it stopped working for you. I still have my AppleTV which I use for videos and streaming; the role the MeLE plays is still just multichannel playback as a Roon endpoint and occasional web surfing and 4K YouTube on the screen.<br /><br />Yeah, the Mac M1 Archimagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642574001287787545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-38560984025461755022022-05-31T07:54:47.617-07:002022-05-31T07:54:47.617-07:00Thanks for mentioning the Turing FX case Willem,
L...Thanks for mentioning the Turing FX case <em>Willem</em>,<br />Looks like a very nice little replacement fanless case for the i7 NUC! I'll have to look into that at some point when replacing the desktop at work. Glad the computer DAC also serves your purposes without the ODAC.<br /><br />That's certainly realistic... While internal DACs typically don't measure well compared to good Archimagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642574001287787545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-7953405955814011872022-05-28T15:21:18.134-07:002022-05-28T15:21:18.134-07:00Hi Arch:
I tried the Mele Quieter 2 and it died af...Hi Arch:<br />I tried the Mele Quieter 2 and it died after around 5 weeks. In any case, it didn't work well for me because I use a PC as a home theater server to stream both Qobuz and Netflix in 5.1, and use Dirac Live to serve as DSP for the Netflix soundtrack. Unfortunately, the Mele didn't support HDR 10 or DolbyVision Video, and would not support 4k playback for Netflix, so it was Phoenix Dogfanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06036804649117653909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-82517793398202240862022-05-16T07:44:15.848-07:002022-05-16T07:44:15.848-07:00Fanless computers have come of age. Last year I re...Fanless computers have come of age. Last year I replaced the desktop computer in my home office by an energy saving Intel NUC I7 10th generation, with a lof of memory and a SSD. I decided to add the Akasa Turing FX fanless case because I hate noise when I am working, and also when the computer serves as a music streamer. It works fine, is all I can say. It is fast enough for my desktop Willemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01421405679737892329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-81544667116175569722022-05-09T14:41:18.707-07:002022-05-09T14:41:18.707-07:00Yeah, no worries Rob,
I do not expect an article l...Yeah, no worries <em>Rob</em>,<br />I do not expect an article like this or my opinions would necessarily change his waitlist or how much money he might be able to make on the Taiko box.<br /><br />What's more important IMO is to just be open as audiophiles to talk about this stuff. My hope is that "audiophiles" at large are aware that they're not alone if they come across Archimagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642574001287787545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-88828802264592181712022-05-07T11:25:00.836-07:002022-05-07T11:25:00.836-07:00He is selling more than he can make, there is appa...He is selling more than he can make, there is apparently a 3-6 month waiting list. We may be skeptics but he has little incentive to indulge our skepticism.Rob Bertrandohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07647029873015815696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-16592643257916935812022-05-07T09:29:11.418-07:002022-05-07T09:29:11.418-07:00Thanks for the tip Miska,
Hmmm, maybe I'll hav...Thanks for the tip <em>Miska</em>,<br />Hmmm, maybe I'll have a peek at the SMSL M500 Mk II. Looks like a very high performance device and would certainly be curious to see how they handle the DSD noise floor on that model!<br />Archimagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642574001287787545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-63522494426496906092022-05-07T09:03:19.703-07:002022-05-07T09:03:19.703-07:00Hi Rob,
Thanks for the note! I disagree with this ...Hi <em>Rob</em>,<br />Thanks for the note! I disagree with this comment though:<br /><em>"I do think it is somewhat inappropriate to so severely criticize a product that you have never used or tested."</em><br /><br />There are many things in this world we should not have to personally test out in order to "call a spade a spade". Some of these things might even be dangerous toArchimagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642574001287787545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-56095765928122890862022-05-07T07:12:23.596-07:002022-05-07T07:12:23.596-07:00While I agree with much of what you say here (I co...While I agree with much of what you say here (I complained loudly and frequently about the Zeilig/Clawson series at the time, I have a fanless i7 server similar to the one you describe, although I use a less expensive HDPlex LPS, and both TAS and HiFi+ drive me to distraction with some of their reviews and columns) I do think it is somewhat inappropriate to so severely criticize a product that Rob Bertrandohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07647029873015815696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-19753327380011610682022-05-05T16:53:10.336-07:002022-05-05T16:53:10.336-07:00You will still need a high quality delta-sigma mod...You will still need a high quality delta-sigma modulator for a modern converter. And that needs a good quality input at the modulator rate. I know some implementations of ES9038PRO are broken (Topping) with DSD, using bad analog hardware design. But for example SMSL M500 mkII (with ES9038PRO) can provide lower noise floors with DSD inputs than with PCM inputs and beats D90SE at half the price. InMiskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943166800124292464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-7723164464821151262022-05-02T21:11:21.489-07:002022-05-02T21:11:21.489-07:00Yeah, I know what you mean Stax,
Sometimes when I ...Yeah, I know what you mean <em>Stax</em>,<br />Sometimes when I read these audiophile reviews and product descriptions, especially of something like fancy computers, I feel like I'm listening to an <strong>astrologer trying to sell high quality telescopes</strong> claiming that this will improve the accuracy of astrological predictions!<br /><br />A nasty, dissonant mess of science and Archimagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642574001287787545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-43927850574206985212022-05-02T08:05:55.366-07:002022-05-02T08:05:55.366-07:00I once sold a pair of KEF T27 tweeters to a guy wh...I once sold a pair of KEF T27 tweeters to a guy whose wife had intervened in his 'hobby' after he sold his Mercedes to buy some hyper-priced piece of equipment. He found that he could have as much fun (I think probably more) refurbishing used, modestly priced equipment, so he was working on a pair of vintage KEF 102aBs.<br />This kind of thinking, and publishing of illusory upgrades (PhilFromTOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063597190515177345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-91209690997931579462022-05-02T06:55:50.756-07:002022-05-02T06:55:50.756-07:00As the Simpsons once said, "It's funny, b...As the Simpsons once said, "It's funny, but not ha-ha funny." The argument that you need expensive components to really let your other expensive components shine can get you to the poor house quickly. I believe it's called the Law of Accelerating Bankruptcy. I always love when they review lower priced speakers because they always say that the speaker "punches above it&#Hogueshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17430616292602760341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-16319906237612449572022-05-01T23:51:38.387-07:002022-05-01T23:51:38.387-07:00Hey Arch,
As a guy with professional background in...Hey Arch,<br />As a guy with professional background in computers, this kind of stuff just makes me sick when I see it. Some folks might call it 'triggering' I guess, lol.<br /><br />Clearly the claims are fake from this Emile guy. I love audio and to see companies and people like this mindlessly glorifying the machine and selling it as some kind of spiritual antidote at insane prices is BigPhatStaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05049088165428075817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-60467923253012140812022-05-01T19:11:33.256-07:002022-05-01T19:11:33.256-07:00Yowzas Stax, you're on fire today. ;-)
Sucker...Yowzas <em>Stax</em>, you're on fire today. ;-)<br /><br /><strong>Suckerphiles</strong> - haven't heard of that one before! Many ways we can interpret the meaning of that word - "<em>sucker</em>" + "<em>lover of</em>".<br /><br />I guess scam manufacturers must love the suckerphile ;-). Or perhaps since the word "audio" is taken away and replaced by "Archimagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642574001287787545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-21514263402029761022022-05-01T16:24:15.406-07:002022-05-01T16:24:15.406-07:00Hi Arch,
Thanks for the great article as usual.
E...Hi Arch,<br />Thanks for the great article as usual.<br /><br />Even if I don't have the experience to put a fancy computer and case together, I'm sure I can give $500 to my techie nephew for him to do a great job with the high quality parts.<br /><br />I think you're being *too diplomatic* with these Taiko people. Look at their marketing material and these low-ball reviewers, clearlyBigPhatStaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05049088165428075817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-1547056405821162892022-05-01T11:47:50.912-07:002022-05-01T11:47:50.912-07:00Wow. Nice Tacet!
Just to double check - that'...Wow. Nice <em>Tacet</em>!<br /><br />Just to double check - that's a <strong>Ryzen 7 5700G</strong>, right? 8 cores / 16 threads, great graphics performance, excellent single-threaded performance that also trounces the Taiko's Xeon processors (>70% better)! TDP 65W very impressive. Best of all less than US$300.<br /><br />Excellent how you can then underclock/volt and save even more Archimagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642574001287787545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-85849151275131557602022-05-01T11:35:39.803-07:002022-05-01T11:35:39.803-07:00Hilarious Hogues!
Wow recycling a 2014 article as...Hilarious <em>Hogues</em>!<br /><br />Wow recycling a 2014 article as if April 2022. Looks like the well's running dry...<br /><br />Needless to say, usually when we discuss the <em>"law of diminishing returns"</em>, we're talking about the relative performance of similar items and making that comparison.<br /><br />$50 --> $100 DAC could be a big difference. $500 --> $600Archimagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642574001287787545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-11997044369117543142022-04-30T09:42:03.223-07:002022-04-30T09:42:03.223-07:00Just so happens I recently built my new HTPC in th...Just so happens I recently built my new HTPC in the HDPlex, the newest revision with 1kg copper block, they claim that now the case supports up to 125W TDP. Let me explain my hardware choices.<br /><br />Ryzen 5 5700G<br />- 65W TDP, ~25000 Passmark, integrated graphics much more powerful than any intel (usefull for video performance, like a low end dedicated graphics card)<br />Gigabyte B550I Tacethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10303630156098573199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-87115367334588912622022-04-28T10:55:07.610-07:002022-04-28T10:55:07.610-07:00As always, great article. I've wanted to post...As always, great article. I've wanted to post a ridiculous article from TAS but it didn't seem to be on point for the last several posts. But now, since they have been brought up, I think that it's appropriate. <br /><br />Here the "TAS Staff" discuss the Law of Accelerating Returns:<br /><br />https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-law-of-accelerating-returns<br /Hogueshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17430616292602760341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-26241127579330802672022-04-27T06:01:37.409-07:002022-04-27T06:01:37.409-07:00Lots of options out there. I would not argue that...Lots of options out there. I would not argue that one needs a lot of processing power for excellent audio, but would add the following rationale for my compromise solution:<br />A low-power CPU may run hotter than a higher-power low wattage CPU that's just coasting.<br />I don't want to run a high-consumption server all the time, so wanted a single box that would meet both audio and PhilFromTOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15063597190515177345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-77910077899751382072022-04-26T22:52:06.459-07:002022-04-26T22:52:06.459-07:00Thanks for the description Doug,
The good 'ol ...Thanks for the description <em>Doug</em>,<br />The good 'ol Celeron G1840! Very decent CPU for the day with low cost and relatively low power demands at around 50W.<br /><br />Indeed, since processing speed isn't generally a big factor for audio streamers/servers, the benefits of a modern build is mainly factors like size, power efficiency, 4K integrated video, and speed will typically Archimagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642574001287787545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-47185431845649839132022-04-26T22:31:27.243-07:002022-04-26T22:31:27.243-07:00I just remembered one more thing. Even to this day...I just remembered one more thing. Even to this day, I hear on forums how some people believe that making bit-perfect copies will "degrade" or "change" sound quality. And that there are somehow generational effects/losses!<br /><br />A classic example of applying analog transmission ideas to the digital world.Archimagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642574001287787545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-58084648850705396772022-04-26T22:29:29.850-07:002022-04-26T22:29:29.850-07:00Nice Art,
A good example of how fast computers hav...Nice <em>Art</em>,<br />A good example of how fast computers have become for audio purposes, even machines from a decade back!<br /><br />I'm sure some of the extreme subjective audiophiles will complain about the fact you're streaming by WiFi. That must be so "noisy". ;-)Archimagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642574001287787545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4781727111866727703.post-26917784349801177842022-04-26T22:23:25.561-07:002022-04-26T22:23:25.561-07:00Nice DColby,
Looks like a good range of fanless &q...Nice <em>DColby</em>,<br />Looks like a good range of fanless "industrial" machines out there by Kingdel. <br /><br />Good discussion on the way digital transmission works. As a flashback from 2014, here's an article on errors in digital transmission using a crappy USB cable I had that dropped bits connected to USB2 devices:<br />http://archimago.blogspot.com/2014/01/Archimagohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642574001287787545noreply@blogger.com