antigrunge

I run an Antelope Audiophile 10m into both the Etherregen and my Zodiac Platinum Dac at 75Ohms on SommerCable HDTV BNC cables. The filters recommended by John Swenson make a noticeable difference. Vibration isolation for the clock and Etherregen is paramount: I use a Black Ravioli power supply supports (see at mcru.co.uk) under both with out the clock’s body touching the feet. I have experimented with numerous clock cables incl. Shunyata Omega BNc and view the Sommer cables true sleepers. Looking forward to Etherregen2!

Rather than coming out with an OS they come out with a new product which requires you to buy yet anther clock around your server rather than adding the functionality for ethernet to the existing Phoenix. Not very custoer friendly, that, assuming that most streaming via USB comes from Ethernet connectionto the Internet

Interesting that Srajan doesn't comment on the sound of a Platinum/10m combo nor compare to Calyx Femto or DCS, which I guess would be the more relevant competition. Didn't sound like he thought the Platinum was a keeper.

Since I own a Gold + Voltikus and was promised a DSD update later at the time I bought it, your answer seems alas but to confirm my previous posting.

....On my reconing the Platinum is about six months late and still not fully functional with Mac ....any notion of upgrade path for Gold customers has gone by the wayside: coming up with a new (incompatible) power supply is the oldest way of milking your customer base ....not providing 10m access directly on the Gold was surely a way to sell more clocks ....is anybody still working on Gold firmware updates? Whoever is in charge of marketing at Antelope seems more in box shifting than customer care mode

...and connecting the airport extreme via ethernet to the mini resolves the widi aerial issues ...

......reduces CPU load. Actually on a good system using a monitor reduces sound quality audibly. Use Apple Remote or a good VNC app.

Seems that Antelope is applying two standards: 'value for money' gear for professionals and 'bleed 'em dry' trinkets for audiophiles. The Rubicon looks like a mix of their rubidium clock with an Eclipse for a nice packaging premium and now we got the 'value priced' Zodiac platinum. They will eventually add DSD capability to their professional kit and maybe one should give the Zodiac Platinum a pass until such time... The Gold is a great DAC but the zynicism of their marketing approach will let me think more than twice about the Platinum.

Puremusic does indeed give you quite a bit of flexibility: in my experience memoryplay, hog mode and less is more should all be used. There is some debate about whether integer mode or upsampling are preferable, I have preferred upsampling because it allows for inverting polarity which integer mode doesn't. In terms of filters I prefer Classic NOS to highest fidelity but some experimentation is required.

rather than go through all the reformatting may I suggest you try a free copy of puremusic on the MAC first and save yourself a lot ofaggravation. The Mac works beautifully as a server

In my experience the Zodiac Gold+Voltikus combo can be significantly tuned to produce truly good results: first: replace stock fuses with Furutech or Hifi-tuning; second: use a high quality mains cord (I use Nordost Valhalla); third: assure proper ground ( I use Acoustic Revive RGC-24); fourth: move the Voltikus sufficiently away from the Gold (I use an Acoustic Revive REM-8 for RFI/EMI suppression). With all of the above feeding directly into a WAVAC EC300b the Zodiac is towering above the Weiss 202 by a country mile

Good points, Souptin. The wifi interference happens when I get the Airport Express within a foot from the Mac. The upsampling is on the fly, I have not tried to play a saved upsampled file, yet. Compared to bit perfect redbook, there is reduced graininess in the treble as well as a more specific location of players in the soundstage. The effects though are gradual rather than earth shattering.

I respectfully disagree: it's quite simple to switch wifi on and off in the new setup and there is a loss of clarity or increased fuzziness because of the wifi. Sorry to hear it didn't make a difference for you.

After lots of experimentation finally optimised the setup: Mac is controlled via Ipad using VNC. To be able to switch off both bluetooth and wifi, I use an Airport Express via Ethernet to connect the Mac to the main network. Switching off wifi makes a noticable difference in sound quality. Pure Music is set up to upsample to 352.8MHz, hog mode, preallocated memory and using 'less-is-more'. Mac Mini, Snow Leopard, Pure Vinyl 3.0.1 ->Zodiac Antelope Gold + Voltikus->Wavac EC300B->Duevel Bella Luna

I run both a Mini and a 170i into a Zdiac Gold dac and it is no contest: much better resolution and impulse fidelity for the Mac