The Antelope Zodiac / Zodiac + / Zodiac Gold DAC Thread - Page 25

Can I (should I) feed the Zodiac's analog (XLR) output into a good headphone amp (tubed)? Is this using 2 attenuators that will muddy up the sound?

I would like to set the "trimmable" analog output to a low voltage level (like 2 to 3 volts).

Thanks.

(I will  feed the Zodiac at first with the AES/EBU digital output from a CD transport.)

How is the output level of the XLR analog outputs adjusted? It looks like there is some control on the rear panel from reading the online manual, but it's not entirely clear.

how much is teddy pardo power supply.

 

I see two little holes on the bottom left of each XLR output.  Could be those.  Tough to say without looking at the unit--my Zodiac Silver does not have this feature--but it's worthwhile to note that unless you keep track of the revolutions you adjust the trimmable volume "pots", and then maybe even if, you will likely need measuring equipment to bring it back to stock +4dbu.  That, or a dealer, or the factory must do it for you.  I'm also not sure if the volume pots will adjust the voltage either, you might have to dig around about that.

 

 

Why not just check the website.  If I recall correctly, it's something like $380 shipped to US.

Thanks sphinx!

Strongly considering the Zodiac Gold right now, it's just so d@mned sexy. Anything in the $4k range that compares (features, performance, etc..)?

FWIW, Steve Guttenberg mentioned in a review that the Schiit Bifrost sounds better than the Zodiac...

Well, I owned the Bifrost at one time and really didn't care for it, it was much too spartan for me and I thought it sounded a little artificial. I really like Steve, but I can almost guarantee anything he likes, I'm usually not too crazy about. He'd probably feel the same about my tastes.
Edited by Magick Man - 8/6/12 at 4:52pm

If you're strictly interested in performance, you could find a used Metric Halo unit on Gearslutz for about $2800.  Only thing I preferred about the Gold* to it was that the Antelope unit was more forgiving on certain source material.

 

*only auditioned the Gold for a couple weeks, and owned the Zodiac+voltikus for 2-3 months.  The Zodiac was nicer aesthetically (less of a rack component, more at home in a listening room) but it has some stiff competition in it's price range on looks.

 

Not much.

 

So what gets more playing time?  Invicta or the Cantata?  How do you like 'em now that you've had them for a few months?

 

Magick man...I think the Invicta is $4K too.

Cantata, but that's partially because of the wireless setup and it's ability to play CD's.  Invicta is no slouch and when they add a few key features that are slated over the next year or so it will get much more play time.  

I'd likely be all over the Cantata if it had a HP amp, though I don't need the CD transport as I have a pretty good Linn. Right now it's down to the Zodiac Gold + Voltikus and the Invicta. The Zodiac has one solid advantage, however. I've found one used for around $3k.
Edited by Magick Man - 8/7/12 at 8:37am

At 3K it's much more competitive, though the HP amp is weak sauce, especially for the planars.  I have not seen an Invicta come up yet on the used market.

I've got a SS amp with big steel cojones (>15wpc into 50ohms) that I use for planars. This is largely for easier to drive and/or low resistance cans (TH900, HE-300, HD650, etc.) and as a DAC/preamp for my stats.