TAIKO Audio Extreme User manual

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Taiko Audio Extreme Router
Manual
Table of Contents
02.Safety
03. The dierence between a Router and a Switch
04. The Concept
07. Features
08. Ports and Connecons
10.Connecon
12. First Use
12. Connect to Roon
13. Connect to XDMS
14. Ideal Start Up Roune
15. Step by Step Connecon Methods
17. Solving Connecvity Issues
Advanced Use
18. First authencaon
20.Network setup
21. USB drive sharing
22. Change Wi-Fi Channel
26. Firmware update
28. Specicaons

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Safety
The Taiko Audio Extreme Router is the perfect soluon for networks requiring
more than the standard router. This high-performing router is based on the
NXP Layerscape® chipset technology and specically selected router rmware
to provide the utmost security. With the Taiko Audio Extreme Router, you can
have full access to your network while keeping malicious actors out.
This router was carefully designed with the help of specialized cyber-security
engineers to ensure that all possible scenarios to reduce the risk of a data
breach and migate their impact were taken into consideraon.
It is protected against unauthorized access and malicious acvity, including
disabling services, segmentaon of the hardware to restrict access, conguring
rewalls, and performing regular updates. As we develop and host these
updates ourselves we’ll nofy you if it there’s something you need to apply.
Unlike other routers on the market, the Taiko Audio Extreme Router is designed
for long-term availability and use, with a physical TPM that provides secure and
tamper-proof hardware-based storage for encrypon keys and other sensive
data. This ensures that malicious actors can’t access the audio router and its
audio network and that any rmware or soware updates are veried and
secure. With a TPM, the risk of unauthorized access, hacking, and data
breaches are greatly reduced, providing users with peace of mind when it
comes to the security of their audio network.

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The dierence between a Router and a Switch
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 soware level based on IP addresses while a switch works
on a hardware level based on MAC addresses.
A Switch can reduce trac to a device by learning and storing which MAC
address is connected to which port so it can send data to that device
specically addressed to it, while sending data for other devices over its other
ports, reducing the amount of trac on the port your device uses. This does
not do anything to reduce broadcast trac which is sent to all devices on the
network.
A Router can control the trac which is sent and broadcast on your network.
Talking in reducon terms, a router can reduce the amount of trac on the
enre network while a Switch can reduce the amount of trac on a segment of
that network. The combinaon of a Router and a Switch allows the control of
trac on a hardware and soware level which can lower trac to a larger
degree than a single Switch, or even mulple daisy-chained Switches, can do.

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The Concept
Housed in a beauful 22 x 22 x 5 cm / 9 x 9 x 2 inch solid copper chassis, the
Taiko Audio Extreme Router yields a signicant lowering of noise using two
mechanisms. First, it controls the amount and ow of data by creang a
dedicated audio-only network for the Extreme Music Server. Secondarily, it
allows the user’s Control Point (usually a tablet) to connect to its built-in Wi-Fi
funconality for controlling the Extreme Music Server.
The Wi-Fi funconality has been very carefully implemented and opmized for
the best Sound Quality. With these combined techniques, the Extreme Music
Server is isolated from the trac generated by the home network. The Wi-Fi
Access Point is intended exclusively for controlling the Extreme Music Server.
You can simply connect to it by selecng the network in your control device
(usually an iPad) Wi-Fi sengs, just like you do with your exisng regular Wi-Fi
Access Point.
The Extreme Router is prepared for Port-Forwarding to allow the use of tablets
via your regular exisng Access Point if desired. Among others, this allows
controlling Roon and XDMS on the Extreme Music Server, as well as enabling
VNC, TeamViewer, and le sharing. In addion, it also allows streaming to an
external Roon Endpoint.
The Extreme Router is designed to work in tandem with the Extreme Switch to
yield a stunning combined increase in sound quality. The sound quality can be
even further elevated by adding the Extreme DC Power Distributor or one of
our upcoming BPS soluons.
The Extreme Router (and Extreme Switch) are most eecve when used with
our Extreme Music Server, but the combo can also be used with other
manufacturer’s servers or streamers.

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When adding the Extreme Router to an exisng setup that already has a Router
with Wi-Fi or a separate Wi-Fi Access Point, you'll then have two Wi-Fi access
points:
•Your standard home network, with your computers, TV, video streamer,
etcetera. (Zone A in the below Diagram)
•The Taiko Audio Extreme Router network that allows you to control the
Extreme Music Server. (Zone B in the below Diagram)
In addion, the Extreme Router will be prepared for Port-Forwarding to allow
using tablets via your regular exisng Access Point if so desired. Among others,
this allows controlling Roon and XDMS on the Extreme Server, as well as
enabling VNC, TeamViewer, and le sharing and it also allows streaming to an
external Roon Endpoint. However, the best performance is obtained by
connecng the control device to the Extreme Router’s built-in Wi-Fi.

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A basic setup would be for the user to connect the Extreme Music Server to a
generic router directly or via a generic network switch.
This setup can be upgraded by adding the Extreme Network Switch to achieve a
signicant improvement in Sound Quality. For older Extreme Music Servers, the
Extreme Network Card can be retroed. To raise the bar even further, the
user can add the Extreme Router to create an audio exclusive (isolated)
network unimpaired by typical home network processes and trac.
The Router has a single WAN (‘input’) network port which connects to your
home network to provide internet access for the audio network. It has 3
separately congurable outputs, one of which connects to your music server or,
preferably, the Extreme Switch. the 2 other outputs can be used for addional
desired connecvity, such as for example a dedicated Wi-Fi Access Point and/or
a wired control computer.

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Features
•The Router creates a separate clean Audio-only network in series with
(connected downstream of) your Internet Service Provider-supplied
modem/router or any other router.
•By connecting an external USB drive, the Router can serve as a NAS for
music storage.

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Ports and connecons
•1 SFP port that can accept a DAC cable. Note that this SFP port only
works with 1Gb connecons. It will not work with 100mbit connecons.
•4 RJ45 ports of which 3 can be used when the DAC port is enabled. Note
that the 4th RJ45 port on the far right cannot be used simultaneously
with the SFP port.
•The top USB port can be used to connect SSD- or HDD drives to enable
using the Router as a NAS for music storage.
•The boom USB port is not connected and cannot be used.
•Factory Reset:
1. Hold down the ‘Factory Reset’ button and keep it down.
Simultaneously press the ‘Reset’ button for 2 seconds. Keep the
‘Factory Reset’button down.
2. The orange ‘ON’LED will come on, but keep pressing the Factory
Reset button.
3. Next, the orange ‘ON’LED will start flashing. When it finished
flashing, let go of the ‘Factory Reset’.

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The Green ‘POWER’ LED indicates that power is on and the Router is starng.
The Orange ‘ON’ LED indicates that the Router is ready for use.

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Important Noce
Do not use a Stac IP Address
Extreme Music Servers are supplied as standard with DHCP enabled which
means that a router is free to supply it an available IP Address. However, if you
have deliberately congured a stac IP address on your Extreme Music Server,
it is recommended to remove this and congure the Server to auto-assign an IP
address before installing the Taiko router.
Connecon
For installaon, you need to connect your regular Router or Switch’s output to
the Taiko Extreme Router using an Ethernet cable with RJ45 connector. The rst
RJ45 port on the le, next to the USB ports, labeled INPUT/WAN is port which
should be used as the main input.
The 2 RJ45 ports next to the WAN RJ45 port are general purpose ports. The SFP
connector on the far right is used as a LAN port and is the preferred method of
connecon to the Extreme Network Switch.
Power
The Router is powered by any normal 12-19V DC power supply. A standard
wall-wart power supply is included. Please see the following image for
reference.