Absolute top tier DAC for standard res Redbook CD

Hi gang. The ODSX is back from its spa week with the Dueland caps out and my precious offramp USB input back in. Even with no time on the new caps it's an improvement. I've been cooking th ODSX and it still needs about 400 more hours to hit my perfunctory 750 hours minimum before I make any true judgement calls. I'm also cooking the Antipodes DX Gen 2 in. On first test, with the DX Gen 2 still fresh,  the Aurender beat it squarely and without much effort. The Gen 2 DX is leagues better then the old DX Gen 1. But I need to try a few different software server options and I need to give the DX another 400 hours as well.... then I can make judgement t calls. 

I'm  STILL very interested in trying a CAD CAT as well, and I was told about the SGM (Sound Galleries, Monaco) server and I will be trying that in the room after the LH2 arrives. Speaking of the LH2, looks like next week or the week after will be arrival time. 

I also want to try out the Baetis server again once I finish my Antipodes/Aurender shootout.

Curious to hear how much closer the ODSX gets to the LH2 with the usb input back in and the better caps. 

Sorry for the long breaks. I just don't have much to report DAC wise. 

I will sneak peak that I have been bitten by the headphone bug and have been trying out and taking notes on pretty much every pair I have tried. I'll post my findings on this thread (just to keep things fresh) but suggest anyone who wants to truly discuss my findings or has questions to find the identical Head-Fi thread I will post. 

Take care!

Hi Matt,

I am very curious about an outcome of your Aurender vs Antipodes battle.
Just recently I've had a chance to compare Lampizator Superkomputer to DX Gen 2.  In the end, Antipodes won, but not by a large margin, mainly due its lower noise floor and ease of use.
I had been listening to the Superkomputer for several weeks before my Antipodes arrived.  When I first switched it on after the Lampizator, it sounded really awful.  On the third day it became listenable and after 5 days it's sound was comparable to the Lampizator.  And only after 7 days of almost uninterrupted playback it surpassed the Superkomputer.
Also, make sure, that you use Roon as apparently it sounds better than any other playback engine.  
And, for critical listening in Roon it is important to disable all the background tasks it performs or wait for them to finish. Below is an extract from the Roon knowledge base on how to do it.

"Here's a bunch of ideas. Some are things to control for. Some are other troubleshooting techniques.

(1) In settings -> services, look "Syncing library now" + wait for it to finish:

(2) In settings -> storage, look for "Scanning now..." + wait for it to finish:

(3) In settings -> setup, disable both analysis settings.

(4) The spinner in the upper right covers importing and metadata lookups. Wait for that to finish, too."

And one last thing, when you switch between Aurender and Antipodes, you need to keep the Antipodes powered on at all times.  Otherwise, the capacitors inside it are discharged and it affects the sound.  What I did, I had another plugged in power cord near my rack and used it to keep the Antipodes powered on even when I was listening to the Lampizator. 

Good luck and happy listening!

Aziz

Not sure if they will.  Haven't heard that that's in the works.  I know someone who would know and report back after we get back from Mexico.  Matt, I can talk for free if you are around.  I was told to put the new Melco into that mix.  Was told this new upgrade or new unit (whatever it's called) is a leap from what the old one was.  I knew this was going to happen with all the servers you and we listen to.  I think in three years we will go back to these pages and shake our heads in amazement as to how far we have come!  I'm so bummed that the Melco can't use Room, although they said there is a work around if set up on the network to rip etc..if you use one of the NUC's out there.  Personally I was waiting on the Room one that was just released as a friend got to hear it before release and raved about it.  

The Melco easily hooks up to a ripping device (bulk or one at a time) and has bit perfect software like all the other rippers.  

I know someone who has heard the SG top of the line (is that the unit Matt?) at various shows he's had his own gear at and loved it.  The problem then becomes cost and is now the right time to drop the dough on servers?  I think with DAC's we are getting better and better also, but servers are still way behind the curve and we need to let companies shake things out to see who will be left standing and able to support the products for the future.  Those are just my own thoughts.

I have Steve Nugent old server as many in this thread know and still feel it's as good or better than anything I've heard to date.  Matt, I swear I will get down  and bring it with me and we'll even get Johnny to bring over the Ayre QX5/20 to play with.  I will need to do an overnight to do this semi properly.  I need to call Steve and find out if it will hurt the sound if I put it on the net so that I can use Roon with it and also be able to rip using the XLD software he has loaded on it.  It's a Mac Mini so maybe some of you guys know.  If I set it up on my ethernet router, can I use an iPad or phone to control it somehow?  He has me running everything through Amara and all the high res/well recorded music is in iTunes, so I don't see how, but I am clueless at times about these things.  I'm sure there are others in this thread who may have a similar question.  


Can't wait for you to get your DAC Matt. ;)

AbeDirov - I already set all Roon to minimalist settings. Thanks. According to the forums, Roon and HQPlayer seam to be the two most respected players Antipodes sound wise. But HQ still requires a computer (still not sure I understand that). I have found that the Antipodes is VERY stable with power outages and brownouts compared to the Aurender, which is huper sensative to deep power fluctuations.

July 19th burn in ends. So that's when the sound-off will occur....

Guido - according to the guy's at the shows and their reps, Aurender's product line-up is stable for quite some time and they have no intention of adding an internal CD spinner considering how easy it is to connect through the internet to a computer where you can do your ripping. I have to admit it's a nice feature and I would welcome a dedicated USB port on the back able to recognize an external CD spinner for rips.

Peter - happy to hear the Melco. Maybe you know someone to make that happen.

Reports are that my Davinci will be shipping next week.