The Antelope Zodiac / Zodiac + / Zodiac Gold DAC Thread - Page 23

?, Looking on Teddy Pardo site. I only see the black. How did you get it silver. It might not make a differnece for me thou, thinking of getting the + or Gold. But finding it hard to bite the bullet for the gold.

But just wanted to know. Also thank you for all the updates on here.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by sphinxvc 

Finally got my Teddy Pardo Zodiac PS today.  It managed to get to my local PO after a month without a "to" address on the box.  

 

Anyway, the difference it makes is noticeable.  Backgrounds are blacker, and therefore dynamics are improved and microdetails are better resolved.  Imaging too it seems.  It really renders instrument solos beautifully.  Exceedingly happy with both purchases!!  

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by pigmode 

Ahh, and here I thought the Gold could be scratched off the list. You seem to be well informed. Do you have any comments on the nuts & bolts of how the Gold is improved over the Plus? 

Unfortunately no, I didn't do much digging on the Gold.  All I know is that it has a better attentuator (more fine), two different HP-out impedances (selectable), and a remote control.  I believe the 6moons guy did do some digging, and found out that the digital and analog stages are identical to the lower-end models except where the circuit was changed to accomodate the improved volume pot.  Still, it ends up better sounding than the +/Silver to the 6moons guy's ears.  And mine too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cpluse 

?, Looking on Teddy Pardo site. I only see the black. How did you get it silver. It might not make a differnece for me thou, thinking of getting the + or Gold. But finding it hard to bite the bullet for the gold.

 

But just wanted to know. Also thank you for all the updates on here.

No problem.  Re: the silver, you just ask for it.

I'm having two problems with my Zodiac.  

One, the USB simply stops functioning after 4-5+ hours of the DAC being on.  I have tested this on two different computers now.  The second, Antelope has a "Zodiac app" which lets you update firmware, control the DAC from your computer, and see a peak meter.

Now this peak meter has finally resolved an unsolved mystery for me.  Sometimes during loud, busy passages I would hear a faint crackling.  I thought this might be clipping, but I didn't believe it till I saw the peak meter today, the meter confirms it.  Everytime it peaked I started hearing the crackling.  

I have no idea if this is in the recording or a problem with the DAC.  Still trying to figure things out.

That's odd. I regularly leave my antelope on, playing in background, throughout day and it has never shut off for me. I haven't been counting hours, but I'm sure I've had listening sessions go past five hours. As for cracking, have you determined that it is not recording?

Antelope's tech support is great. I've had to register and ask a question once, and they were quick to respond. Marcel, the antelope rep here on headfi, has also been responsive to my pm's.

It's not the device that's shutting off, it's the USB connection.  It simply stops being recognized.  I tried turning the device off/on but that didn't work.  Something similar is mentioned in the FAQ: http://antelopeaudio.com/en/support/faq/zodiac-f-a-q

I haven't tried removing/re-connecting the power cable yet.  Will have to wait till the next time it happens.  Waiting to hear back from Antelope about this too.

As far as the crackling, it might just be the recording.  It could be loudness wars.  Bad mastering being exposed.  Don't know

Edit: As a test, I just left it on overnight, and it's still working.

Edit 2: On a related note, the Zodiac sounds sick once nicely warmed up.

The problem seems to have disappeared.

Sphinxvc, glad to hear that the issue has resolved. Did you compare PS's before deciding on the Teddy Prado? I have the Welborne and its less than half the size of the Teddy.

You mean with the stock?  The difference is significant to my ears.  I wish I had a Welbourne, Voltikus or Black Lightning to compare.

It would be great to see a shootout with the power supplies. The welborne also made a significant improvement, most noticeably adding more weight or heft to sound without compromising the resolution and the holographic effect. I had found the zodiac plus with stock to be a bit thin sounding.

It appears that antelope just released an app to connect ipad with the zodiac using the camera connection kit, without any in-between streamer. Pretty cool - here is the article: http://www.avguide.com/article/antelope-audios-zodiac-dacs-now-compatible-the-ipad. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by sphinxvc 

The problem seems to have disappeared.

Don't count on it.

I am auditioning the Gold & Voltikus, and also running an IMac but using Channel-D's Pure Music.  I've also had the Zodiac USB freeze for a few days.  You need to completely unplug the power supply, wait a moment and then plug it back in.  After I figured that out, I read a few days later about John Marks Zodiac Gold review in Stereophile from Oct 2011, and he also had the same problem with the USB (IMac => Amarra), so there's something hinky about the ability of the IMac USB to stay locked with the some of the Antelope models (or vice versa) for long term use.

Other than that, it's been an interesting listen, considering the Antelope is taking the place of an Aesthetix Romulus CD/DAC which may have been my favorite DAC I've auditioned. The Gold-ikus definitely has many merits, and its roots in pro-audio are very obvious, especially in a 2 channel setting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smeckles 

Don't count on it.

 

I am auditioning the Gold & Voltikus, and also running an IMac but using Channel-D's Pure Music.  I've also had the Zodiac USB freeze for a few days.  You need to completely unplug the power supply, wait a moment and then plug it back in.  After I figured that out, I read a few days later about John Marks Zodiac Gold review in Stereophile from Oct 2011, and he also had the same problem with the USB (IMac => Amarra), so there's something hinky about the ability of the IMac USB to stay locked with the some of the Antelope models (or vice versa) for long term use.

 

Other than that, it's been an interesting listen, considering the Antelope is taking the place of an Aesthetix Romulus CD/DAC which may have been my favorite DAC I've auditioned. The Gold-ikus definitely has many merits, and its roots in pro-audio are very obvious, especially in a 2 channel setting.

Good to know.  

Have you caught any differences between coax, USB and optical?  
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoyNamedSue 

It would be great to see a shootout with the power supplies. The welborne also made a significant improvement, most noticeably adding more weight or heft to sound without compromising the resolution and the holographic effect. I had found the zodiac plus with stock to be a bit thin sounding.

 

It appears that antelope just released an app to connect ipad with the zodiac using the camera connection kit, without any in-between streamer. Pretty cool - here is the article: http://www.avguide.com/article/antelope-audios-zodiac-dacs-now-compatible-the-ipad. 

That matches my impression, overall the PS just adds to the sense of realism.  Before the PS my impressions matched sixmoons review of the + word for word, after the PS it couldn't be further.
 

how about you on coax, USB, opt?

I listened to a few tracks this morning with my entry level psb speakers to compare the inputs on the zodiac+ fed by squeezbox touch. To my ears, the differences between coaxial and optical were very slight to the point that they were hardly noticeable, or may be due to placebo.

The coaxial input with WW silver starlight cable sounded a bit more clear and crisp with greater bass impact, compared to optical with WW supernova 6 which was a bit more smoother and natural (less digital) sounding. Also, the volume of center of the stage for coaxial seemed a bit louder, while the volume across the stage, left to right, for optical seemed more balanced and I could here the ambient sounds a bit more clearly on opitcal. The observed differences were very slight and they may be due more to the difference in cable (sliver starlight versus super nova) than the difference between inputs, or due to placebo.

One difference that was clear for me was when I compared USB directly input from computer versus coaxial input via Audio-gd digital interface, which was connected to computer by USB. The sound stage was noticeably taller and wider with DI in the chain, and I preferred it over using USB directly. 

Same issues with + on Windows last year. They did do a firmware update but I assume yours must have the newest.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smeckles 

Don't count on it.

 

I am auditioning the Gold & Voltikus, and also running an IMac but using Channel-D's Pure Music.  I've also had the Zodiac USB freeze for a few days.  You need to completely unplug the power supply, wait a moment and then plug it back in.  After I figured that out, I read a few days later about John Marks Zodiac Gold review in Stereophile from Oct 2011, and he also had the same problem with the USB (IMac => Amarra), so there's something hinky about the ability of the IMac USB to stay locked with the some of the Antelope models (or vice versa) for long term use.

 

Other than that, it's been an interesting listen, considering the Antelope is taking the place of an Aesthetix Romulus CD/DAC which may have been my favorite DAC I've auditioned. The Gold-ikus definitely has many merits, and its roots in pro-audio are very obvious, especially in a 2 channel setting.

What's the best way to demo a Zodiac Gold w/ Voltikus? I'm located in NYC.