Taiko TAP0016 Audio Extreme Router User Manual

Taiko Audio Extreme Router – FAQ

TAP0016 Audio Extreme Router

For the Product Manual, please see the “Taiko Audio Extreme Router Guide” that can be downloaded from the Downloads page on the Taiko Audio website: https://taikoaudio.com/taiko2020/taiko-audio-downloads

Extreme Router PCB top side:

Extreme Router PCB bottom side:

Battling Networking Noise
(Simplified explanation)
We are taking a 180-degree angle approach to networking noise relative to the more common methods that are currently used.
Think of the following analogy:

1. Being stuck in a silent room with a leaking water tap into a bucket of water.
2. Those same drops of water falling into an ocean with you on the beach enjoying the sound of waves.
   Our approach is to not drown out irregular noise by hiding it in a wideband high noise floor but rather to make the offending noise itself inaudible allowing you to relax in that silent room and enjoy the sound of silence.
   In a normal home setup with an X number of devices, smart TVs, streaming devices, desktop computers, notebooks, smartphones, tablets, smart lighting, smart household appliances, etc., adding more devices with a relatively small increase in total network activity is not very noticeable.
   However, when you create a new network for audio, using a dedicated router, with a bare minimum of devices, with overall very low activity, and the activity is controlled on the router and connected devices, any additional device creating additional and uncontrolled network activity suddenly does become noticeable.

Q&A ­ Legacy Version

Topics in Blue are also included in the interactive Richpanel FAQ Section on Taikoaudio.com

Can we keep the existing house router/wifi access point?
Yes, you can indeed keep the existing house router/wifi access point and use the Taiko router in series and create an audio-exclusive connection to the hifi system for best sound.
So, you can just use your house wifi?
Indeed.
Should the Taiko Switch and Router be used in series? Or just one vs the other?
They should indeed be used in series, the Router feeding the Switch.
Is the Router made from a solid copper billet?
Indeed, it is. We are slowly but surely moving towards 100% in-house manufacturing to remove external supplier dependencies as those have become increasingly “troublesome”. We don’t want our own anodizing facility either, hence the choice to move away from Aluminum as a base material. Copper is a material that we can finish ourselves (over time), we have years of experience working with it by now, and as a bonus, the material has an arguably “higher- end” look and feel.

Do these cases provide full Faraday shield insulation?
They come as close as you can get for an electronic appliance.
I have the service provider fiber going into the Fiber modem, then a RJ45 cable to the router/switch. Does the new router accept the service provider fiber directly? Or will I still need a fiber modem before the Taiko router?
The Taiko Router could accept the service provider fiber directly. Subsequently, you could create a separated audio and rest-of-home network. Alternatively, it could also be placed behind the fiber modem. However, we recommend using copper.

Will the Taiko router replace an Edge Router in an AT &T setup?
Initially, the Taiko Router will be an addition.

Does the router have to be near the Switch?
While the Switch should be located relatively close to the Extreme (ideally no more than 7 meters), the Router can be placed anywhere.

Should we power the Switch or the Router from the upcoming BPS?
It would be much more beneficial to power the switch from the BPS than the router. We’re assuming the switch is placed close to the Extreme and the router at a distance, likely where your internet enters your home. But this is not the only possible scenario.
Does the Taiko router also work as a modem?
For now, it does not. But it has the potential to possible be deployed that way at a later stage. Depending on your definition of modem, yes, but your service provider needs to permit and support using your own router.

Does the Taiko router also work without wifi?
We will prep the Router for Port Forwarding to allow using tablets via your regular Access Point but that does perform less well than the built-in wifi.
Can we use the router instead of the switch? Does the router do everything the switch does, and more?
No, they serve different purposes. In essence, a switch is used to connect devices to each other within a network while a router allows networks to communicate with each other.
Are you going to do some testing with the major ISPs in each region to see which work with your router? (in case one wants to replace the existing AP with the Taiko Router)
Unfortunately, this is not realistically executable. Also, this is premature and for potential future purpose. Our current configuration is to use the Taiko Router in series, after the main router/wifi access point.
Since my ISP’s Router also works for TV services, I need to place the Taiko Router after my ISP’s Router. In this case, would we make a LAN-to-LAN connection with the Taiko Router’s DHCP services disabled, or a LAN-to-WAN connection creating a second network for audio only?
Creating a second network for audio only would give you the maximum uplift in Sound Quality. This yields much quieter backgrounds, undisturbed by network traffic generated by other persons in the household.

Why not combine Switch and Router in a single chassis?
Unfortunately, there is an advantage to having separate boxes. The thing is EMI/RFI is airborne inside the chassis and can couple back into the circuit, of course, you could create 2 internal chambers, but this would both be about the same size/weight and actually a bit more expensive, especially for post- treatment/finishing and a higher chance of transport damage. If you want just one box, we recommend picking the switch.

Although we can have separate networks assigned within the Taiko router, will it still be better to have a separate ISP Fiber and modem to fully isolate traffic?
This can actually turn out negative. To obtain a degree of separation, you could place the modem, router, and switches on a separate mains system. But if you’re splitting a single phase with a common neutral it’s not going to matter that much.

Use RJ45 or Fiber with the Taiko router?
RJ45 is preferred but both work well.

What are the rated speeds of the Router’s RJ45 ports?
1Gbps (but the RJ45 ports also work with 100Mb connections)

What is the rated speed of the Router’s SFP ports?
1Gb (and it is incompatible with 100Mb connections)

Why do the SFP ports only work with 1Gb?
SFP modules and -ports are designed for a single speed and they do not exist in a dual-speed configuration. The SFP modules and ports that we use in our Taiko Audio products are specified to work only at 1Gb.
As a result, the following Taiko Audio products will not work with 100mb connections, only with 1Gb connections:

• Extreme Switch

• Extreme Network Card
  Conversely, RJ45 ports can work in 100Mb and 1Gb mode. As a result, the Taiko Audio Extreme Router will be partially compatible with 100Mb and 1Gb connections:

• Extreme Router RJ45 ports: 100Mb and 1Gb

• Extreme Router SFP/DAC port: 1Gb only

What this means is that any network interfaces upstream of the Taiko Audio Extreme Switch or Network Card, such as generic routers or switches, must be 1 Gb. For the Taiko Audio Extreme Router, the same holds true when it concerns devices connected to its SFP/DAC port.
Please note that some Ethernet cables are restricted to 100Mbit (as opposed to Gigabit) which will also be incompatible.
Will the Router work with a MESH satellite router such as the Asus zenwifi? Will it meet the 1GB requirement?
The Extreme Router accepts either 100Mb or 1Gb on its RJ45 ports, so as long as the Extreme Router is used upstream of the Switch and NIC, the setup will work.
Is there a possibility to add second SFP port in router?
No, that is not necessary. The benefit OF SFP is a reduction of the switch power consumption by switching out a RJ45 port for SFP DAC which is the dominant form of noise generation in this switch design. What happens before is much less relevant in this area. The Router is designed to work optimally as it is with the partial isolation a rj45 input provides from a “noisier” upstream environment being beneficial in this case.
Will the Taiko Router support creating a V-LAN upon installation?
Yes, this is indeed supported.

Within a voltage range, what is the best voltage?
The largest variation in that would be caused by a linear Power Supply. For a LPS, a higher voltage might be better as most are noisier at higher currents (and lower voltages).
What is the ideal input voltage for the Extreme Router?
The Router can take 12-19V, just like the Switch. In an earlier design, it was 7-12V, but the router was recently updated with our latest-generation Gallium Nitrate FET rectifiers while undergoing revision for the Wi-Fi functionality.
12V is ideal for the router, but it really doesn’t matter much for the router/switch as the conversion efficiency is over 95%. It will consume about the same power if you run it at 12 or 15V. Your power supply will have to supply less current at a higher voltage which can be a benefit or not, but that all depends on the power supply design.
When assessing the ideal voltage, the big variable is the LPS. The Switch and Router are very efficient power conversion (~99%). That means if the power consumption would be 12 watts (just as an easy example), the current draw would be 1A as voltage*current=power. If you use a 7V supply, the current will go up to 1.7A (12W divided by 7V = 1.7A). Typically, higher current = higher noise in a linear regulator, but there’s more to it than that. An LPS is not a very power-efficient supply. As a commercial manufacturer, you would not typically use a different transformer for each different output voltage. Perhaps you’d use a 15V AC secondary transformer which supplies about 21V DC after rectification (+/- 10% to account for wall voltage variations) for 15V and 12V out after regulation, in an LPS, the excess voltage is discarded, transformed into heat, increasing the current draw from your power grid, and the current spikes for recharging the capacitor bank which is also a type of noise, the more inefficient it is (the more power is transformed to heat) the worse this gets. So, it depends on the LPS design which voltage will perform best. As 12V is a very common voltage, you could assume those to be relatively efficient designs, but in the above example with a 15V AC transformer secondary the 15V LPS could perform “better”. Now if a manufacturer uses the same transformer for a 5V, 7V, and 9V supply, the 9V would be most efficient. Therefore, it’s impossible to give you an exact recommendation without knowing the design specifics of the LPS as the Switch and Router really don’t care much which voltage is supplied as long as it’s in range.
The switch and router will actually still function down to about 8V, but performance will be compromised then as that will render the first regulation stage inoperable. The first regulator stage “needs” 11.5V minimum to function optimally. Higher voltages don’t affect things significantly; it will be slightly less efficient, but we’re talking about 0.5 watts of power “wasted” when you power them at 19V for the router and switch combined. Hence, this will be dominated by how efficient and or noisy your power supply is at what supply voltage.RJ45 or DAC?
We prefer DAC for ultimate neutrality, transparency, and imaging precision. RJ45 is a close second above Glass. Some people prefer a degree of “smoothing” which makes a case for using RJ45 that can sound more pleasurable and reduce harder edges caused elsewhere in the system compared to DAC.

Is the customized QoS rule of the router important?
Yes, virtually all settings matter. We advise against enabling QoS.

I will replace my current switch (before the Extreme) with the Taiko switch. Should I also remove the subnet (Edge Router x) before that?
Yes, the Taiko router should be able to do everything the Edge Router x does. However, there are some ISP devices that will prohibit direct one-on-one replacement. In that case, you can add the Taiko Router after the ISP Router.

Will the router and switch also be made available for non-Extreme users?
? Yes
With the Extreme Router in place, is there still a benefit to isolating the audio Wi-Fi AP with fiber optic?
Not in the cases that we have tried it.
Copper or Fiber Networks? I have two separate internet services in my home, one is fiber, going to the Audio Network, and one is copper, going the home network, so they are completely isolated. In this case, which option should be better:
a) Program (if possible) the Taiko router in order to use it directly with the fiber input
b) Keep the current fiber modem and router, and place the Taiko router in series
In this case, it doesn’t matter much. Although we do significantly prefer rj45 into the router though so we would probably end up recommending b) for that reason.

Will it be possible add two sets of rules to the Router?
The first set of rules : complete isolation. The second set of rules : allows access to the HiFi network from the Home network. The goal being to backup the music files and the Roon library from the Extreme to a NAS located in the home network and to access the Extreme’s Roon server from a machine on the home network to allow managing Roon settings and library from a desktop machine.
We can add VNC and filesharing port forwarding rules, but keep in mind less is more for SQ. We are contemplating implementing VNC and file share access port forwarding, preconfigured by default. The Extreme could be assigned a permanent IP address, always the same, on all routers. That adds the benefit of decreasing support load for us. Your VNC / file share access IP address from your home network would then become the IP address assigned to the Taiko router by your home network router.

Will playing local files from a NAS connected to the Extreme Router compromise sound quality?
Yes, a better solution would be to connect a USB drive to one of the Router’s two USB A ports which can then serve as a NAS.

Can the Taiko Router server as a NAS?
It has built-in NAS functionality by means of an external USB drive. Generally, it is best to use fewer power supplies, so bus-powered would potentially be ideal, although we have not run extensive comparisons yet. The best solution would theoretically be powering it from the DC distributor but that would typically run at 12V and most external USB drives run at 5V.
Currently, I have dedicated for audio ISP service (fiber) with modem and Router. Home is on totally separate Service with its own modem and router. Could I use just one ISP service, one modem and one router when using Taiko router and the SQ will be same as on totally separated chains?
The Sound Quality should be roughly the same indeed.

Do additional devices on the network affect the sound quality?
I use a separate computer (MacBook Pro) to copy CDs to the Extreme SSD and then copy to an NAS for backup. I do not use the NAS for playback. Is SQ still affected by having the MacBook Pro and NAS connected to the Taiko router?
Yes, for instance, a Laptop, or a NAS will affect the SQ as they will then increase network activity on the “audio” network. Every powered-on device connected to a network creates network activity. Most mobile devices, like iPhones, iPads or Android devices even create network activity in “standby / screen switched off” mode. If you power off your MacBook Pro during music playback it should not generate network activity, but your NAS will for sure.

At what minimum distance should the wifi Access Point be placed?
We don’t think the “airborne” part of Wi-Fi impacts anything. It’s more the power side of it which can cause some “discomfort”. So, the placement is arbitrary.

Is wifi noise a potential issue?
There is most definitely a very significant impact of “wifi pollution”. But the consensus here currently is that the negative effect is likely not caused by a router’s 2.4/5/6Ghz radio function. In our experiments, anything below 2-3MHz affects sound by not yet fully understood mechanisms. Above that, it does nothing audible. A wifi access point does use a variety of high efficiency switchers emitting pollution in this range, 500-700KHz is a very common range for example.

Will the router provide WAP?
The router will not provide WAP
How would you compare the impact of adding the router (along with isolating the Extreme on its own network) on top of the switch to the effect we experienced with just adding the switch and network card?
Although they impact sound quality in different ways, we feel the distribution is as follows.
Setting 100% improvement as a baseline (actual improvement subject to your perception), Network card and Switch combined 60%, Router 40%, drilling down further, Network card 20%, Switch 40%, Router 40%.
This however does not include the new Extreme DC power distributor, which allows you to power both Switch and Router from one single power supply with significant improved performance over using 2 power supplies with the additional option to tailor the sound to your personal preference.
It was mentioned previously that ports would be forwarded eg. for VNC to copy files. Will there also be port forwarding for XDMS, so I can control my music from my Macbook while still being connected to the main (non-audio) router, which I need for accessing the internet?
With our recent breakthrough in finding a solution to add wifi to the router without sonic sacrifices (rather the inverse), port forwarding is no longer needed, as the control point/tablet simply connects to the Extreme server directly. However, we will prep the Router for Port Forwarding so that you can still use the Extreme as you’re used to, using your home wifi, using Roon, XDMS, VNC, Teamviewer and file sharing.
Would network noise be more prevalent in congested areas such as apartment complexes, cities, and developed areas?

Or is network noise inherent no matter what?
We don’t think the “airborne” part of Wi-Fi impacts much if anything. We believe we’ve all been conditioned into believing in something that does in fact not exist. There’s no such thing as “internet noise” traveling through your home router. There’s noise caused BY activity due to the need to process more network packets, more processing means more noise in the device performing the processing. Naturally, there’s download speed, where it takes a longer or shorter time to receive the requested data, which translates into longer lower-intensity processing, or shorter higher-intensity processing, creating a different noise spectrum.

How do the Router and Switch reduce Noise?
Adding the switch reduces processing in the Extreme, adding the router reduces processing in both the switch and the extreme.

Is the supplied wall-wart power supply good enough for the Extreme Router?
It is only good enough to get you started. We strongly recommend using a LPS. One LPS powering switch and router, when using a DAC cable as the interconnect, “sounds” better than two, and even more so when using the DC Power distributor.

Will a second Extreme Router obviate the need for a good quality LPS?
Unfortunately, no.
Is port forwarding (on the Taiko Router) the preferred method to enable the iPad to control the Extreme wirelessly?
Previously yes, but currently no longer. Onboard wifi is now preferred.

Will port forwarding cause lag with XDMS?
Functionally, you won’t notice a difference.

What needs to be configured to make Port Forwarding function?
The Router will be pre-configured for port forwarding. But you may need to change a setting, then move the ethernet cable from switch to router and insert the DAC cable between router and switch, and that’s it.
Is the general recommendation to connect the router to the switch via a DAC cable?
For ultimate “neutrality” and in the large majority of use cases, yes, but it works great with RJ45 as well.
Is there a clear preference between RJ45 or DAC cable to connect the Router to the Switch, when the they are on their own individually-isolated Shunyata Denali receptacle, and all grounds are connected to the ALTAIRA, and not using the DC Power Distributor?
In this particular use case, you may prefer RJ45. In that particular setup you may want to avoid directly connecting the switch and router grounds with a DAC cable, even though it’s the superior method of connection. If you use 2 power supplies there will be a noise voltage “riding” on the ground connections between the connected devices. You can then try to reduce that by different “grounding” schemes to try to get closer to single point grounding, but as these devices are both externally powered you can simply achieve superior single point grounding by using 1 shared power supply.
Is there any advantage for the dirty side router to have a VLAN for the Taiko router to connect and run from?
No, there is not.
Is it advisable to also connect product X to the Taiko Router, in addition to the Extreme?
it is advised not to connect anything else to the Taiko router. Not because the device may not benefit itself, but because it may (and likely will) cause a degradation in the SQ of the Extreme. If you leave the extra component connected and on standby, then it depends on what the ATVX generates on standby and how much it, including its power supply “dumps” onto the network cabling.
With Roon’s broadcast and multicast for discovery, Can Roon on an Extreme Server stream to the other devices for non-critical listening, on the separate subnet?
Is there any provision to maintain Roon distribution for non-critical listening? With Roon’s broadcast and multicast for discovery, Can Roon on an Extreme Server stream to the other devices on the separate subnet?
This could be possible “with a pass-through” but this would need to be tested in several configurations for SQ. However, the purpose of the Router is to decrease network traffic on an “audio only” / “isolated” subnet. The more traffic you pass through, the less “useful” it becomes.
Can I use one of the router’s USB ports to connect a USB/Ethernet converter if an additional port is required?
That will have an impact on sound quality, plus you’ll need to have driver support in the router for that particular device.
It has been stated that the length of DAC cable from switch to Extreme should not be too long. Does the same apply for a DAC cable from router to switch?
It’s not the biggest part of the equation. Shorter sounds a bit tighter, longer a bit fuller. We recommend picking what’s convenient to use.
Would PoE (Power Over Ethernet) provide a cleaner solution?
soundwise and aesthetically?
Unfortunately, no, most likely due to the “buck” boost converters they use. Perhaps if we’d specifically design a PoE injector or a 54V power supply but we don’t think that’s the best way to go.
Why not include the AP directly inside the router, with an external antenna?
If we can get good performance from that then we most certainly will do that as a dedicated “audio” AP is absolutely better than routing your home hifi through the router.
Would adding an antenna require making a new version of the router?
No, the Router has 2 m.2 PCIe slots on board. Adding a cutout for an antenna is no problem.
There seems to be a SIM card slot on the left side of the board?
That slot is indeed for a SIM card, good to have options.
A 4G SIM in the Router’s SIM slot could allow for 100% isolation from the home network. Is this an option?
Today, you could use any “low-powered” LTE/4G router (with modem build in) and connect to the Extreme router to obtain the same advantage of isolation from the home network. LTE/4G router – Extreme router – – switch – – server. This has been tested some time ago but the router already provides ample isolation from your home network.
Has a decision been made regarding the integration of an AP into the router in order to have an all-in-one solution?
This is in the works.
Wifi to be added to the Router (updated implementation 25-05-2023)
We have integrated Wi-Fi working on the routers! This does require a PCB change to work well which we are now considering to do for 2 reasons. The first one being guaranteed SQ performance, and yes this is the solution which produces superior results, the second reason is reduced complexity of setup, in fact it can be virtually as easy to install as the switch, and easier than the switch/network card bundle.
The downside is the increased BOM (Bill Of Materials), and we already forgot to include a few items in that meaning we will have to increase the Router price, likely to at least EURO 6600 and possibly a bit more. But of course, we will honor the EURO 6000 presale price and those who placed presale orders will get the wi-fi update for free.
Does this separate wifi network sound better than if I used port forwarding and stayed connected to my main network?
Yes, it does.

Can the wi-fi feature in the Router be disabled?
Yes, it can be removed entirely.

Will you also issue a Router without wifi?
No. The Extreme Router will only be issued in its definitive form, which is with wifi access point included. Alas, we will not make the earlier incarnation available to the public.
Does the Router have subscription or maintenance cost?
We switched to openwrt, which has no maintenance cost.
In case of Extreme server + Merging NADAC with an Extreme Network Card, where should the new Extreme Router be inserted?
The Router should be “ahead of” the Extreme, like so: Router -> Extreme Server -> Switch -> NADAC.

Will the router Access Point be Cat6 or Cat6e?
As things are looking now, neither. We have the following setup running which adds Wi-Fi over USB at a very low power consumption.

We could integrate this inside the Router chassis, ideally adding an exclusive power rail/filter/regulator. This is by far the best solution we’ve tested. We’re currently looking at what that would entail and if we can make this work for the presale batch since it requires ordering new PCBs (although we can recycle most of the expensive parts).
It looks like we can ship end of July with new PCBs. Wi-Fi would then be integrated into the Router chassis and management interface. The SQ impact of this Wi-Fi solution is virtually undetectable.

Will the router Wi-Fi work with Android?
Yes
Will there be a sonic benefit to unplugging the Extreme Router from the Main Router when only listening local storage music?
If I don’t listen to streaming, I can leave the taiko router unplugged from the main router, right? Will there be any benefit (sonically) to that?
You could do that, but we feel it’s not worth the hassle.

What makes the Extreme Router Special? Why does it use ARM 16 cores?
CPU performance matters but there’s more to it than just that. Somewhat obvious is you want low utilization so performance is minimally impacted by WAN side traffic and traffic rules processing like port forwarding. We use a military-grade security processor. The reason for this is this type of processor is security hardened to an excessive degree. DATA can be stolen or reconstructed by measuring fluctuations in processor/data line emissions and power draw. The processor & subsystem we use has constant emissions and power draw, so no fluctuations. This is the highest obtainable security standard, which we arguably do not need, but the constant power draw and emissions are excellent for audio. This means that data transmission does not translate into altering EMI and/or powerline disturbances. This very likely changes the expected outcome of parameter influences on sound quality relative to network gear which lacks this type of extreme security hardening. There’s more that went into the design of the router which we cannot disclose to avoid being prematurely copied.
Prematurely being before we hit break-even on our R&D costs which might be like a year away. Disclosing this aspect of the design would take away most of the mystery surrounding the effects of ethernet networking so I’d really like to share, but in the end, we do have a business to run and have to keep netting positive. I hope you understand.

What is the optimal configuration when adding the Switch and the Router?
An RJ45 ethernet cable from the home router to the Extreme router and a DAC cable from the Extreme router to the Extreme switch is optimal. Further improved performance can be obtained by powering both the Extreme router and switch from a single DC power supply using the Taiko DC POower distributor. Then there’s even more to be gained by using the upcoming battery supply (BPS).

Is there any benefit in using SFP+ over SFP cable?
SFP = 1G
SFP+ = 10G
We supply SFP+. We did not compare the two but the expectation is that they will perform the same.
What is the master clock frequency of the Taiko router and switch?
25MHz.
Since routers and Access Points generate noise, polluting our home electrical grid network no matter how many audiophile routers/switches we use for our hi- fi system, I wonder if you could share some configurations or experience that can reduce this type of interference.
Unfortunately, we cannot provide fixed recommendations as this highly varies between routers, environment, and connected devices. In general, modern routers automatically adjust parameters while they attempt to provide good quality connections to all devices. They can for example automatically increase transmission power to increase the connection quality to a distant device which can in turn can generate more noise. So, the situation could occur where 2 APs with good combined coverage sum to less noise than a single one struggling to maintain good quality connections.

Why is there no power indicator LED on the Router?
Alas, we cannot add a power LED or a network status LED to the Router because they negatively affect the noise spectrum and the shielding.

Can you recommend a router for the general home network?
It is my understanding you still need a main network router from which the Taiko router will get its data.
Fritzbox has great routers but there are more good routers. At Taiko HQ, we use a Unifi Dream machine pro and are satisfied with that, but this has no integrated wifi. Unifi also has cheaper models with integrated wifi.
Have you found that running Qobuz was better on a different DNS than comcast (75.75.75.75)? Some members on WBF are also mentioning improved sound with certain modems. The intent is to maximize the sound quality through streaming.
The router really creates an isolated secondary network where all parameters are controlled by it. We have not managed to find any meaningful differences with preceding equipment, modems, routers etc. However, they can still “pollute” your mains over their power supplies which is not something we can solve.
Wifi Antenna Experiments
We’re currently experimenting with different antennas with some interesting results. Where conventional audiophile “wisdom” would have you think a smaller antenna is better, that is in fact not necessarily true, as what happens is that a smaller antenna may need more transmitter power which in turn increases noise. The same really goes for 2.4G vs 5G Wi-Fi, 5G needs more transmitter power due to its shorter range which is most likely the actual cause of the notion that 5G is bad for SQ. Evidence currently points towards SQ being mainly impacted by a combination of antenna to device connection quality and the transmitter power this requires. We’re going to optimize this for optimal in room performance.

What about antenna size and signal strength?
I don’t know much about the subject, but shouldn’t the antenna be a fraction of the wavelength (1/2, 1/4, etc.)? The wavelength corresponding to 2.4 Ghz is roughly 12 cm, which would give antennas of 6, 3, 2 cm. And so on. There also seems to be a relation between antenna length and directivity, not to mention impedance. In short, I can imagine that it won’t be easy to choose, as all this will ultimately have an impact on sound. It’ll be interesting to hear how you arrived at your final choice. Purely by listening or/and on more practical criteria?
The antenna will be very low power as it now consumes less power than a single RJ45 network port. We expect minimal differences as the radio transmitter power is set to manual and there will be only one Wi-Fi device. But we’ll see!

Did you try a non-omni directional antenna, like a beam antenna?
We have a few tests left to perform, but yes clearly there is some directivity involved.

Have you evaluated any sound quality difference between the F connector and a BNC connector?
We did not try BNC and should add that due to this particular Wi-Fi solution being virtually inaudible already, especially when able to stick to the lowest possible transmission power, might make discerning differences in connectors used near impossible.
Wifi versus Wired or Cable versus Wireless
We have come to believe that there will not be a general consensus because of differing sensitivities to different types of noise and/or noise bands an individual may have, and to complicate this further, the sensitivity of their system setup and components to this. Another aspect related to Wi-Fi is we don’t allow the transmitter to automatically increase transmission power.

Are jitter and latency a result of, or related to, power consumption?
Although lower latency equipment can use more power, we believe there is no real correlation.
Is Airplay functionality support via the Extreme Router still in the cards?
Yes, but further down the road.

What does the Router do that the Switch does not?
Our Switch and Router perform different functions and they are not interchangeable. One thing that a Switch cannot do is isolate your “audio-only network”. A Router can create an isolated audio network. Also, the Router provides an isolated wireless connection for control.
In general, Routers operate on a software level based on IP addresses while a switch works on a hardware level based on MAC addresses. A Switch can reduce traffic to a device by learning and storing which MAC address is connected to which port so it can send data to that device specifically addressed to it, while sending data for other devices over its other ports, reducing the amount of traffic on the port your device uses. This does not do anything to reduce broadcast traffic which is sent to all devices on the network. Perhaps a superfluous addition but there’s no such thing as a switch for Wi-Fi so using Wi-Fi means the more devices, the more traffic is “seen” by all devices automatically.
A Router can control the traffic which is sent and broadcast on your network.
Talking in reduction terms, a router can reduce the amount of traffic on the entire network while a Switch can reduce the amount of traffic on a segment of that network.

What is the difference between connecting a Router and Switch and daisy Chaining two Switches?
A router and a switch are two different devices that have different tasks. In essence, a switch is used to connect devices to each other within a network while a router allows networks to communicate with each other.
In general, Routers operate on a software level based on IP addresses while a switch works on a hardware level based on MAC addresses.
A Switch can reduce traffic to a device by learning and storing which MAC address is connected to which port so it can send data to that device specifically addressed to it, while sending data for other devices over its other ports, reducing the amount of traffic on the port your device uses. This does not do anything to reduce broadcast traffic which is sent to all devices on the network. Perhaps a superfluous addition but there’s no such thing as a switch for Wi-Fi so using Wi-Fi means the more devices, the more traffic is “seen” by all devices automatically.
A Router can control the traffic which is sent and broadcast on your network.
Talking in reduction terms, a router can reduce the amount of traffic on the entire network while a Switch can reduce the amount of traffic on a segment of that network.
From a data processing amount view, the Music Server does not benefit from daisy-chaining 2 Switches, as it will “see” the same network traffic. The Switch closest to the server will, however, see less network traffic and will have less data processing as that will all be performed by the switch preceding it.
Daisy chaining a Router and a Switch is similar in a way, as the network ports on a router are typically switched as well. So you basically have daisy- chained Switches, with the additional reduction of (broadcast) data and control over network parameters on a software level.
In short:
– 2 Switches only control traffic on a hardware level. – A Router and a Switch control traffic on a hardware and software level and can lower traffic
to a larger degree than 2 switches can.
How is the channel selected by the router and how to avoid interference with other wifi devices?
You can just select a channel manually; we don’t expect this to cause issues due to being both relatively close and in the same room.
Can the Router be configured in a personalized (non-standard) manner?
While the Router hardware allows customization, for instance, you could configure one of the router ports as a separate network with its own DHCP, NAT, Firewall, etc., we cannot support non-standard scenarios like this. We have kept the price of the Router low by supporting only standard settings. However, there’s a reset to factory defaults button, so feel free to experiment.
Can we boost the power of the Router’s Wi-Fi?
You can boost transmission power and/or mount a larger antenna or even switch to 5G but we find the factory settings work well for us, even in a very busy network.
The Antenna is a screw on device:

The Wi-Fi operating mode, band and maximum transmitter power can be set in the interface:

Please note that the Extreme Router is designed to be used only with the Taiko Server. The idea is to only have 1 device connected to this network, your Roon or XDMS remote control device which is exclusively used for that purpose. If you start adding more devices all bets are off and you will absolutely need a larger antenna, more transmission power and probably switch to 5G.

How can I increase the Router Wi-Fi speed?
You can change the wireless mode / transmission power, it does change the sound a bit. I get 15Mbps up/down from it here with the default settings and my Roon remote is fast. You could change the channel, perhaps you have some interference from other Wi-Fi networks. A Wi-Fi analyzer would tell you, usually included with windows.

How does the Taiko Extreme Router affect the existing Wi-Fi functionality?
In a practical sense, the Router allows you to have a second separate audio- only network. This way, the Extreme Server is isolated from the traffic generated by the home network.
When adding the Extreme Router to your existing setup that already has a router or Wi-Fi Access Point, you’ll then have two Wi-Fi access points:

• Your standard home network, with your computers, TV, video streamer, etc.
• The Taiko Router network that allows you to control the Taiko Extreme Server.

Will I need two iPads with the Extreme Router’s Audio-only network?
It is recommended to switch an iPad from one Wi-Fi. network to another just as needed. Tap the “Settings” icon, tap ” Wi-Fi.”, and select the Wi-Fi network you require at that time.
That said, you can still use your iPad for everything (music control as well as browsing, etc.) when connected to the audio-only network as it has internet access like you’re used to. However, due to decisions made in combining an as low as possible transmission power with a specific antenna size while still providing reasonable remote control performance, this internet functionality is not blazingly fast, limited to about 15Mbps up/down, and this deteriorates if you move out of the room in which the router is located. You could boost the signal by mounting a larger antenna and/or boosting transmission power but that has an impact on the sound. As it is currently configured, the router’s Wi-Fi functionality draws less power than a single active RJ45 network port, and that makes it more than competitive to a wired connection where you’d have 2 active ports. If one of those 2 is battery-powered (iPad), we still prefer Wi-Fi.

Does it matter how many devices are connected to the Router?
Reducing the number of devices and ports is definitely beneficial to the LAN side of the router, so inside your new “isolated” audio network. On the WAN side, traffic has almost no influence. For example, heavily loading our network at Taiko HQ, running a number of 4K video streams over both Wi-Fi and wired ethernet to the point where they start stuttering while maxing out our 1Gb/1Gb ISP link, does not affect SQ at all.

How can I find the Extreme or Network Card’s IP Address?
You can use iPad/iPhone app FING (works via WIFI). If you do not use WIFI for your control point, you can also use LanScan that works with macOS and iOS. There is a free version and a pro version but all you need is the free version. For Windows, you can use Advanced IP Scanner.
For the OCD audiophile a quick “tweak” is enabling “low data mode” on your iPad.
What to expect in Low Data Mode
Different apps use different ways of reducing data usage in Low Data Mode. In general, here’s what you can expect:

• Apps might stop using network data when you’re not actively using them.
• Background App Refresh is turned off.
• The quality of streaming content might be reduced.
• Automatic downloads and backups are turned off.
• Services such as iCloud Photos pause updates.

Built-in iOS apps and services adapt to Low Data Mode in the following ways:

• App Store: Video autoplay, automatic updates, and automatic downloads are turned off.
• Music: Automatic downloads and high-quality streaming are turned off.
• Podcasts: The frequency of feed updates is limited, and episodes are downloaded only on Wi-Fi.
• News: Article prefetching is turned off.
• iCloud: Updates are paused, and automatic backups and iCloud Photos updates are turned off.
• FaceTime: Video bitrate is optimized for lower bandwidth.

https://support.apple.com/en-vn/HT210596

Is the following a concern? “Music: Automatic downloads and high-quality streaming are turned off”
Not unless you download music to your iPad and/or use the iPad as the endpoint for streaming “high quality” music. It will not affect the iPad’s ability to run the XDMS or Roon control app.

Does Roon have memory leaks?
Alas. Roon does seem to suffer from Memory leaks. In Windows Task Manager you can check the RAM usage of Roon Appliance. If it is more than 1 GB, then it would be good to reboot the Extreme Server. Clearing the Cache can also help with certain issues.

Will the router broadcast an SSID?
Yes, it’s completely preconfigured. Unfortunately for security reasons passwords need to be unique for each router but those are attached to the bottom. Otherwise, it’s a matter of inserting it in between your switch and your home network, connect your remote to the “TaikoAudio” Wi-Fi network and enter the unique password. Additions to the manual will be published soon.
Wi-Fi Diagram
In the diagram below, Zone A and Zone B are isolated from each other.
Each zone has its own WiFi.
If you’re connected to Zone A (WiFi or cable) you can’t see the devices in Zone B.
If you’re connected to Zone B (WiFi or cable), you can’t see the devices in Zone A.
This is the purpose of the Taiko Router: to create a network that will isolate the Taiko Server.
Traffic from Zone A does not reach Zone B, and therefore the Taiko Server.

If the iPad is connected to the Taiko Router, does that mean I cannot browse the album internet information via Roon?
You can still browse all your Roon information with your iPad connected (physically or via wifi) to the Taiko router because your copy of Roon Core is on your Taiko Extreme (or should be). So, you are communicating with your Extreme/Roon, which then sends the information request back “up” from the protected TaikoAudio network via the Taiko router to your main unprotected network router and internet connection. The requested information comes back and since it is “addressed” to the Extreme, it can make it through the Taiko router.
It is the same way if you stream music from Qobuz, Tidal or Idagio that you communicate with the music services. You send a request via the Extreme (using XDMS or Roon) on the protected side of the network, the music server software addresses the request to the provider music service, the request travels “upstream” through the Taiko router, to your unprotected main router, to the internet, the music stream comes back addressed to the Extreme.
Wi-Fi functionality
Wi-Fi functionality is always included in the Router. It is included for free to those who ordered the first batch. For successive batches, the router price increased with 600 euros to 6600 euros.

Why do we need to switch from XDMS to Roon for Router install?
It is not mandatory but we recommend switching to Roon before inserting the Router. Roon discovery works through the router using your home Wi-Fi. This also allows you to do a comparison using your home Wi-Fi versus the Router’s build in Wi-Fi. Perhaps superfluous, but XDMS will need a reboot after Router insertion to register it’s new IP-address as it will be assigned a new address by the Router’s DHCP server.
Alternatively, you can use FING to find the network addresses and connect a desktop or laptop to the Taiko Extreme Router via wired Ethernet or connect to the Taiko Wi-Fi, whilst making sure to be disconnected from the home network. This desktop or laptop will get a DHCP address from the Taiko router. Then in an internet browser, log in to the Taiko Extreme Router’s admin web UI and reconfigure it appropriately, per the recommendations in the Router manual.

What to do if I have connectivity Issues?
If you run into connectivity issues then the most likely cause is that SFP network ports don’t auto negotiate / automatically refresh like RJ45 ports do. SFP ports also do not automatically re-establish a network connection after it went down.
What this means is that when you connect the Extreme Network Switch to the Extreme Network Router, the Extreme Network Card inside the Extreme Music Server cannot see that something has changed and it will not refresh its IP address. In other words, the Router needs to be up and running before the Switch. This can be fixed using either of the following 3 methods.
Option 1: Re-plugging the DAC cable between Server and Switch
Option 2: Power cycling the Switch
Option 3: Restarting the Music Server.
This is also automatically accomplished if you follow the following “startup” procedure:

1. power on the Router, wait until the “on” LED is on and/or the network ports are blinking (which indicates that it is on).
2. power on the Switch.

Everything connected properly but still Connectivity Issues?
The below order works universally:

1. Power OFF the router and the switch by unplugging their DC cables. Turn OFF the Extreme Server from the button on the front. Leave the DC Distributor (if you have one) powered ON.
2.  Power ON the router first. Wait 2 minutes.
3.  Power ON the switch. Wait 1 minute.
4. Power ON the Taiko Extreme.
5. Connect to the Taiko WiFI.

Technically, Fetch IP in XDMS should work at this point (from the device connected to the Taiko WiFi network). If it does not, you can run an IP scanner to discover the Extreme’s IP address.
Roon should also work automatically from the device connected to the Taiko WiFi. If it does not, try restarting the Roon app on your tablet/computer. In any case, make you sure you are connected to the Taiko WiFi network.
Roon remotes should also work from the upstream network. The router is setup to allow Roon discovery from the “WAN” side, and in this case your “WAN” is your current home network.
In other words, Roon remote should also work when you are connected to your home Wi-Fi network and not to the “taiko audio” Wi-Fi.

If the Extreme needs to be rebooted, will we have to also power cycle the switch?
No that will have the same net effect.
No that will have the same net effect.

What if you never intend to use Roon and only XDMS, do you still need to set up Roon prior to installing the Router?
Your IP will change. Using Roon to discover the new IP address makes things a lot easier. You can then connect to the Taiko Wifi and switch back to XDMS.

Fing won’t work with the Extreme Router in the chain?
Fing will work from the Taiko Wi-Fi. But it won’t be able to find your Extreme from you home Wi-Fi.

Does the Taiko Wi-Wi Access Point only work within close proximity of the router?
It should easily pass a few walls but it depends a bit on the type of walls / flooring / windows, etc. In The Netherlands we have a lot of “HR” / “HR+” or even “HR++” glass windows with double brick or concrete walls, Wi-Fi struggles passing through that.

Do we need to worry about updates?
As we develop and host Router updates ourselves, we’ll notify you if it there’s something you need to apply.

Is there a burn in difference between installing the router/distributor vs. powering the combo separately for a few days, then installing?
One might suspect not but we did not actually test this.
Has anyone had any issues with the router wifi not staying on? I was in the process of copying some files from my laptop to the Extreme via wifi and after about 6 minutes the wifi completely dropped. I am sitting 6 feet from the router so it isn’t an interference issue.
It is best to use a Wi-Fi analyzer, windows has one installed by default. On significant activity most modern Access Points can automatically change channels / adjust their own transmission power and perhaps interfere with the weaker (low power) taiko wi-fi transmitter.
Examine how your home and neighborhood occupy channels, if you connect a windows laptop to the taiko wi-fi you can see how the signal strength changes when you switch channels.
Choosing the right channel
You can use the Intel® KillerTM Control Center (If you are using an Intel Killer Wireless adapter) or any third-party Wi-Fi Analyzer to determine which channels are least used on each band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) and change your Wi-Fi router’s settings accordingly. Here are some tips on which settings to choose:
On the 2.4 GHz band, which is usually Wireless-N, always choose Channels 1, 11, or 6. Try to pick the emptiest of the three, using the Wi-Fi Analyzer as your guide. Channels other than 1, 11, or 6 will receive more interference. European users can also use Channels 12 and 13 on the 2.4 GHz band. You should treat these the same as Channel 11, as they will interfere with, and receive interference from, Channel 11. Keep in mind that:
Channel 1 will interfere with and receive interference from 2.4 GHz channels 1-5.
Channel 6 will interfere with and receive interference from 2.4 GHz channels 2-10.
Channel 11 will interfere with and receive interference from 2.4 GHz channels 7-11.
Using the information above, you can see why you should always choose channels 1, 11 (or 12/13), or 6. Doing otherwise invites interference from more than one other primary 2.4 GHz wireless channel.
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000058989/wireless /intel-killer-wi-fi- products.html#:~:text=Choosing%20the%20right%20channel&text=Here%20are%20some%20tips%2 0on,6%20will%20receive%20more%20interference
What can complicate things is that most modern access points automatically change channels when they detect interference. So, it can also be an idea to fix the channel on your other Access points. Or disable 2.4G on those as most modern devices would prefer connecting to 5G Wi-Fi as that’s faster.
If none of this works there’s always the option to increase the transmission power on the Taiko router Wi-Fi which is set to the lowest possible setting by default and/or switch it to use 5G Wi-Fi.
The defaults, 2.4G and the lowest transmission power are completely inaudible, but you can play with this and increasing transmission power may not even be audible for you as it will still be low, even at its highest setting.
Just changing the channel should be enough though, try channel 6 or 11, the default is 1. As a very last resort a larger antenna is also an option, but we’ve tested it here with about 2 dozen nearby WiFi networks and have rock solid stability.

Should I try channel 6 or 11 even though the WiFi Analyzer suggests to use Channel 1?
Yes!

Can you summarize your thoughts on 2GHz versus 5GHz bands impact on SQ?
5GHz should be fine if you have line of sight or in the same room. 2GHz has a longer range, passes easier through walls etc. You can just try 5GHz, who knows, maybe you prefer it. The thing is there are so many variables it’s impossible to predict how it will play out in your unique environment.

How can you control Roon via your main wifi? Do you need to set up port forwarding?
This is configured by default. You should be able to control Roon from your home network. The router should retain the same DHCP address for the Extreme. You may need to tell Roon to select another core and it will find the Extreme Music Server.
If you are using the home WiFi rather than the Taiko WiFi, does that not negate the purpose of having isolated audio only network?
That will not actually increase traffic on the audio only network. Only Roon related “traffic” is forwarded through the router.
Does XDMS require one to be on the router subnet?
Yes. Although automatic discovery for connecting to XDMS is on the to-do list it does not have top priority, so for now it’s IP only in the same subnet.

What to do if the Router time is incorrect?
You can sync with your web browser or use a NTP server (default configuration). Will look into the 2 hour offset.
What are people’s strategy for copying music files to their Extreme with the new router? With the wifi being pretty slow, just copying one hires album took almost 15 minutes. Are people going to temporarily connect a laptop to the router via a wired connection for file transfer?
You could indeed connect a machine to one of the router’s LAN ports for the full 1Gb transfer speed. Or temporary connect the Extreme directly to your home network. Or configure port forwarding in the router, which is a bit more elaborate. We’ll put writing a manual for that on the to-do list. The Taiko Router does not work differently then any other router in that regard. I understand introducing a router in your network may take some getting used to, it’s up to you if you find the SQ improvement worth it 🙂

How to set up Port Forwarding via VNC and how to configure File Sharing
Please note that we cannot provide support for non-standard procedures such as this one. The below information is provided as is. In case of arising issues, please be aware there’s always the option to return the Router to factory settings.
VNC
1 – On the Taiko Router to go Network-> Traffic Rules -> click on Add at the bottom

Click save; then click Save and Apply
2 – Go to Network-> Firewall -> Port Forwards-> click add
click save; click Save & Apply
3 – Go to your computer on your main router (wifi or wired) and open VNC.

Create a new connection or edit an existing one.
The IP address is the Taiko Router’s IP address on your main router. In my case it was 192.168.1.180. This is not the Taiko Router IP default gateway of 192.168.100.1. You should now be able to VNC to the Extreme using your main network.

File Sharing
1 – On the Taiko Router to go Network-> Traffic Rules -> click on Add at the bottom
Click save; then click Save and Apply
2 – Go to Network-> Firewall -> Port Forwards-> click add
Click save; then click Save and Apply
On a windows computer you should now to be able to into file explorer and Map A Network Drive.
In “Folder” type in \192.168.1.180music where “192.168.1.180” is your Taiko Router IP address (same as with VNC)
The username and password are the same credentials as VNC as well.

Should I get a dedicated iPad/Tablet for using XDMS? Nothing else will be used with this? What is the recommendation? iPad or an Android tablet?
That’s really up to yourself. What you could try first is switching your tablet to “low data mode”, that disables app background activity, stops data syncing etc, see if you hear a noticeable difference from that before deciding if it’s worth it to purchase a dedicated tablet.

Enabling Low Data Mode on iPad
For the OCD Audiophile, here is a “tweak” to enable “Low Data Mode” on your iPad.
Please note that we cannot provide support for non-standard procedures such as this one.
What can you expect in Low Data Mode? Different apps use different ways of reducing data usage in Low Data Mode. But, in general, here’s what you can expect:

• Apps might stop using network data when you’re not actively using them.
• Background App Refresh is turned off.
• The quality of streaming content might be reduced.
• Automatic downloads and backups are turned off.
• Services such as iCloud Photos pause updates.
• Built-in iOS apps and services adapt to Low Data Mode in the following ways:
• App Store: Video autoplay, automatic updates, and automatic downloads are turned off.
• Music: Automatic downloads and high-quality streaming are turned off.
• Podcasts: The frequency of feed updates is limited, and episodes are downloaded only on Wi-Fi.
• News: Article prefetching is turned off.
• iCloud: Updates are paused, and automatic backups and iCloud Photos updates are turned off.
• FaceTime: Video bitrate is optimized for lower bandwidth.
  https://support.apple.com/en-vn/HT210596

It was mentioned that Windows will keep looking for a network and that is one of the factors that makes having no network inferior to having a router and switch connected. What if there’s no internet to that network? Will Windows also keep looking for a network that has internet?
Alas, that will not have the desired effect. It remains best to connect a Router and Switch.

What’s better? iPad Control Point via wired Ethernet or via Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi will improve SQ over using RJ45 to an iPad. Running the RJ45 cable will use more power than Wi-Fi, and so, create more noise.

How to find the Extreme Router’s IP Address, other than via FING?
If you log into the Extreme router and look at the Status screen you will see under “Network ipv4 upstream” an address which is its IP address on your main router.

Is there a way to only let one IP address on the home network (e.g. my main PC where I manage my music) access the Extreme Server?
Please note that we cannot provide support for non-standard procedures such as this one. In case of arising issues, please be aware there’s always the option to return the Router to factory settings.
Please note that while the Router hardware allows customization, for instance, you could configure one of the router ports as a separate network with its own DHCP, NAT, Firewall, etc., we cannot support non-standard scenarios like this. We have kept the price of the Router low by supporting only standard settings. However, there’s a reset to factory defaults button, so feel free to experiment.
That said, you can indeed restrict access. Use the below instructions at your own peril. If you get stuck, you can always reset back to factory settings.
You will have to change the Firewall Traffic Rule. For VNC, you will have to change it from this:

…to this:

The two things that changed were “Source zone” and “Source address”. Under Source address you have to put the IP address of your “main PC”. That is “192.168.1.125” in the case above. So just replace “192.168.1.125” with the IP address of your main PC.
Also, make sure the IP address of your main PC does not change. It will stop working if the IP addresses changes.
This will restrict VNC, so only your main PC can connect. We highly recommend that first you get it working without that restriction, and then apply the restriction.
If you want to do the same for file transfer / SMB, modify the second firewall traffic rule the exact same away – change the “Source zone” and “Source address” to the same values as explained above.

2,4gHz versus 5gHz
If Wi-Fi channel selection does not obtain a stable connection, one thing you can also try to obtain the most stable connection with the Extreme Router’s Wi-Fi is disabling 2,4 gHz WiFi on your home router and use 5 gHz only, if all your devices are capable of this, of course. Modern iPhones and tablets, as well as most laptops are.

How to turn on or off Wireless Broadcast
The antenna, connector and internal wiring are fully shielded from the copper chassis and PCB, the SFP cables are fully shielded as well, combined with the obviously very heavy shielding of the solid copper chassis means there’s no reception without an Antenna.
For those experimenting with disabling Wi-Fi in software, that’s actually unnecessary, as simply removing the Antenna accomplishes the same thing, and is a much quicker/easier way to perform A/B comparisons.
The remaining SSID broadcast itself has no impact on the Sound Quality. Activity from connected devices could have an impact, but without an Antenna, there are no connected devices.
“Traffic processing” on the Wi-Fi receiver creates less noise than on a RJ45 (wired) connection due the lower power consumption. However, the audibility of this can be debated.
A full function operating system’s connectivity polls can indeed cause harm but it doesn’t apply to the router’s Wi-Fi which will only broadcast its SSID, which is a continuous process, which is key to low audibility. Thus, there are no “spread spectrum” “benefits” from for example stacking switches.
In order of “traffic-caused” noise the ranking from lowest to highest is:

1. DAC
2. Wi-Fi
3. RJ45
4. Fiber
   Please note that we cannot provide further support for non-standard procedures such as this one. The below information is provided as is. In case of arising issues, please be aware there’s always the option to return the Router to factory settings.
   Log into the Taiko router admin control panel.

Across the top of most pages are pull-down tabs, “Status”, “System”, “Services”, etc. Click on the pull-down tab “Network”

Click on “Wireless” on the pull-down menu. On the window that opens, Click on “Edit” (circled in red):

The button to toggle the wireless broadcast on and off is in red:

Following this, you may want to allow access to the router as well: to do this set a firewall rule to allow port 80.

if using a fiber modem, should I plug the 12V cable to a spare output of the Taiko DCD or would this degrade the sound?
You could indeed plug it into a filtered output of the DCD or you could connect it to a completely separate linear power supply. We expect the DCD output to lead to the best sound quality.
What makes a bigger sonic difference, the Switch + NIC, or the Router?
This remains a personal matter and also one that ties in with the audio system. Although we have felt that the Switch and NIC provided the biggest leap, but we are finding that the Router also has an important impact on some important fundamental aspects of music reproduction. Especially the sound staging, airiness and fully stable 3D imaging, are aspects that are greatly improved by the Router. It creates an even more believable “you are there” experience.
Should I turn the firewall off in Taiko router since I have it already on my home router?
No, turning off the firewall should have a negative effect.
Is it normal that from the Taiko Wi-Fi network I can access the internet? I thought that was blocked.
Yes, that’s normal. It’s a router, functionally the same as your home/isp/internet router. It “shields” you from “the internet”, aka people on the internet cannot just access your devices, but it allows you to browse the internet. You can connect outward from the Taiko network, but you cannot connect into it from another network. So, you cannot control the Extreme using a Remote that is connected to a different Wi-Fi network.
Will it be best if you browsed the internet from the home Wi-Fi or can you use the Taiko Wi-Fi?
The impact is so small that you won’t notice when browsing the internet while listening. In other words, it is nothing to worry about.
Taiko doesn’t see fiber as the optimal connection but other manufacturers do view fiber as the best network cabling. I wonder what accounts for the difference of opinion?
It’s not as much as a difference of opinion but a different situation, caused by the power consumption of the fiber SFP modules which is typically around 1.5 watts each. Normally this is not very relevant as a typical wi-fi router will consume between 12 and 24 watts. So not that big a deal to add 3 watts for 2 fiber modules.
However, the Taiko switch consumes between 1.1 – and 1.3 watts, in other words, less than a single SFP fiber module. The Router consumes between 5 and 6 watts. Now all of a sudden, the SFP fiber module’s power consumption is very significant. Add to this that the dominant type of noise in the router and switch is power supply noise, which is a type of noise which increases with higher power consumption, and all of a sudden it seems like a less good idea to use fiber.
But as always, it’s highly recommended to form your own opinion by listening yourself.

Is the Taiko Router Plug & Play?
Once installed, Taiko Router works and will work without any required user intervention even if you switch it off and on again several times. If there’s a problem, it’s usually on the Home Router side.
This is how IP Addresses are assigned:
– The Home Router will assign an IP address to Taiko Router.
– The Taiko Router will assign an IP address to your Exteme Music Server.
When you switch all your devices off and on again, it is possible that the Taiko Router will be assigned a different IP address by the home Router from the one it had before. This should not be a problem. But it may happen that you can no longer “see” your Taiko Router from your home network which impacts processes such as Remote Connecting via VNC from you home subnet or file sharing via Samba. If this is the case it is not a problem caused by the Taiko Router but a problem that must be fixed on the home network side of things. The Taiko Router will continue to work as intended, assigning an IP address to the Extreme Server and providing Wi-Fi access. When your iPad is connected to your Taiko WiFi you will still be able to control your Taiko Server. If you stay within the audio network, then nothing changes at all.

Would port forwarding (if set up in the Taiko Audio router) still function after a restart or power outage and the home router reacquires the Taiko router via DHCP?
Indeed. The IP address assigned to the Taiko Router by your main router does not affect the port forwarding rules set up on the Taiko Router.

If Wi-Fi disappears after a reset with no input connected
Wi-Fi does not start if there is no active internet on the ethernet WAN input. Are there any specific settings that you recommend to users of others routers besides the Taiko router? Are there any network parameters that should be fine-tuned for best performance? Thanks. We have no specific recommendations as the sonic results of modifying user configurable settings vary from router to router.

Find answers to your questions quicker via the Interactive FAQ section
For an easier and quicker way to find answers to your questions, please see the interactive Richpanel FAQ Section on Taikoaudio.com

References

• Taiko Audio – High End Music Servers: Taiko Extreme. Vibration Control Platforms.
• Use Low Data Mode on your iPhone and iPad - Apple Support (VN)
• taiko – Taiko Audio

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