Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Mitch2,
You are correct. The Antipodes DX rips CDs as uncompressed FLAC files.
For existing files or new files ripped via another device you just copy and paste them to the Antipodes solid state drive via the network. It's all pretty straight forward. I copied over compressed FLAC, wav and DSD files and they all played with no issues.

Thanks Mrpaul, I am glad to hear the DX plays all formats since the dealer loaded some hi-rez music before he shipped the DX unit to me, and the music in the outboard drive attached to my mini is stored in AIFF format.

I am really looking forward to hearing the "USB Audio 5V Off" output from the DX to my Metrum Hex, which uses its own internal PS for USB. I currently run the USB cable from my mini into an ifi Power but only come out with the signal side of the cable thus removing computer power from the USB cable. After the ifi Power, I run the signal only USB cable into the ifi filter, which I attach to the Hex.

Audioengr, short of switching from the Hex to the ODSE (which I am still considering), do any of your products enhance the connection between an Antipodes device and a DAC like the Hex, which has internal USB power?

matt, it does seem like I opened a can of technology we all can learn from, just saying, being able to use state of the art balanced analog interconnect's that I already own is a must!, forget the usb cable method, I do not plan to sale a revolutionary cable that I own, that my friend is very funny!

Mitch2 - the only thing I can recommend in your situation is the Off-Ramp 5 USB converter/Dynamo power supply and my BNC-BNC cable driving the Hex S/PDIF input. These together cost $2318.00. Just the OR5 would probably improve things though at $1299.00. Money back guarantee on all, less shipping.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio

Thanks Steve, I appreciate the information. It seems your experience is that the Hex can be improved on by using the S/PDIF input through the Off-Ramp vs. the Hex's onboard USB. It would be an easier decision if the USB on the Hex was crappy, or even mediocre but most say it is one of the better implementations on a DAC so I have to think hard about whether to try to improve it with a different input, or to simply upgrade the DAC. I suspect part of the improvement through the Off-Ramp is the additional clocks before the DAC?

I am interested to see if the DX straight into the Hex is an improvement over the mini, and then I will give the DAC issue some more thought. For the money, I may be just as well off to upgrade the DAC but I have some stuff I should sell first. I understand the front end of your ODSE is pretty much equivalent to running a USB through the Off-Ramp and then into a really good DAC. I will consider that, but one step at a time, for now.