Comments on the Antelope Zodiac Headphone amp/DAC at CanJam?

I don't think they've shipped yet. I've seen some vendors listing them for a long time now, but I've never seen them in stock. Some vendors who had listed them have taken them down, presumably until they actually start shipping. On Sweetwater's website, it says the regular Zodiac is delayed now until late 2010 and that the Zodiac+ will be the first released.

They look like they will be great, but for products that were supposed to be released in early 2010, I wonder what the delay is.

The Zodiac+ was there and because of my own time limitations, I wasn't able to try it with my headphones, BUT I had the chance for a brief in-home audition of the Zodiac+, and WOW. Never had a better DAC in my system. Difference and improvement over the Bel Canto DAC2 was immediately obvious. Acoustic instruments sounded effortless. Detail retrieval was fabulous. And it handled both small scale and complex recordings with ease. Damn good DAC. The non-+ version it seems will not be out until late this year or so. Sprang to the top of my DAC wanted list. 

Also worth pointing out DAC-wise from CanJam was the CENtrance DACport. Fabulous sound, and drove the difficult (current-demanding) HE-5LEs surpisingly well considering this was a USB powered device.

Bmac, they ARE indeed shipping now and in stock, in fact, at Vintage King and audioMIDI.com

I got mine sometime in late May from Sweetwater.

How about some reviews?

It seems we are doomed to wander forever the Earth's surface, without any reviews on the Zodiac.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icenine2 

Anyone have listening impressions?

I saw it and wondered if anyone has any 384khz music to play on it...

Nope, I don't.

I haven't been able to A/B with any other common DACs, like the DAC1, Lavry DA10 or DA11, Wyred4Sound DAC2, etc.

Primarily I am using DX1000 for phones, and Omega full range drivers on it, and it sounds incredible. While the Matrix DAC (run off the same Lynx card) is a nice DAC, as unexpected the Zodiac+ provided an obvious improvement to the sound. My system is a bit in flux, with the addition of a word clock imminent (still waiting on a replacement clock), and a balanced tube preamp. 

I'll bring my AKG 601 home tonight and see how it drives them; shouldn't be a problem.

The unit can be put into one of two USB modes, and there is a firmware update out already. I mainly use WASAPI via AES cable from the Lynx AES16, but also need ASIO sometimes for my digital vinyl setup (thread at Head-Fi). It has a soft and hard mute, and a small switching external power supply; the plug of which has a cap which is threaded to screw it to the DAC. A linear power supply is on the horizon from a builder in the UK. In standby mode the unit has a dimmed red LED and a BRIGHT white flashing light. 

I'd invite anyone in Tampa to come by next Sat. night.

Quote:

Originally Posted by doctorcilantro 

Nope, I don't.

 

I haven't been able to A/B with any other common DACs, like the DAC1, Lavry DA10 or DA11, Wyred4Sound DAC2, etc.

 

Primarily I am using DX1000 for phones, and Omega full range drivers on it, and it sounds incredible. While the Matrix DAC (run off the same Lynx card) is a nice DAC, as unexpected the Zodiac+ provided an obvious improvement to the sound. My system is a bit in flux, with the addition of a word clock imminent (still waiting on a replacement clock), and a balanced tube preamp. 

 

I'll bring my AKG 601 home tonight and see how it drives them; shouldn't be a problem.

 

The unit can be put into one of two USB modes, and there is a firmware update out already. I mainly use WASAPI via AES cable from the Lynx AES16, but also need ASIO sometimes for my digital vinyl setup (thread at Head-Fi). It has a soft and hard mute, and a small switching external power supply; the plug of which has a cap which is threaded to screw it to the DAC. A linear power supply is on the horizon from a builder in the UK. In standby mode the unit has a dimmed red LED and a BRIGHT white flashing light. 

 

I'd invite anyone in Tampa to come by next Sat. night.

Are you saying that you did not expect the Zodiac to sound better than the MatrixMini DAC?  ie you say "unexpected"

I just recently sold a MatrixMini DAC, I found while it did sound good and had a pretty good soundstage it lacked depth, clarity, and realism.  Everything was there "seemingly" but there was a noticeable absence in separation and low frequency true life definition.

Sorry, I thought I was clear that it was unexpected in terms of how readily apparent the difference was. Of course I expected it to be "better"; it was just incredibly easy to perceive the difference. I didn't expect it to be that immediately obvious.