I recently purchased an Antipodes DXe, which they have renamed the DV. I got a good price on a demo. Previous to this I was streaming from a Mac running A+ mostly via USB. I also streamed TIDAL and sometimes hard drive based files via AIR. I mainly used the USB input because 1) It sounded nearly as good and 2) The white noise problems are horrible. With the upgrade of my USB cable recently to a TotalDac it actually sounds better than AIR. My system which I will post shortly, is extremely simple. I have a streaming source, a Devialet with a Foundation Research 2 power cable, German Physiks bespoke speaker cables and German Physiks Unlimited II speakers. Previous to these I owned Harbeths. I have owned many different speakers and different amps -- my all time favorite probably being my Pass Alephs.
It's a nice looking unit, simple and black with a blue glowing button on the front. But it definitely does not have the bling factor of the Aurilac or the cool looks of the TotalDac and the Aurender. It has a USB port on the back for backup (and for an external USB drive although I haven't done this yet). It has two USB outs, one powered on one not. I've mainly used the unpowered but I recently tried the powered and I don't hear much of a difference. That's pretty much it.
First the cons. I've had a few problems with the Squeezelight server. I previously ran Squeezelite on a Transporter and some Red Wine battery modded Squeezeboxes. I really like the interface, very simple and I understand it well. It's great for integrating apps like TIDAL. But it's wonky when controlled by a Mac. It much prefers Android. So I've experienced some problems with it and had to restart a bunch of times. Also the ripper is SLOW. Be prepared to take a long time uploading CDs. It rips in paranoid mode, so I suppose that's the cost.
Now the pros. The difference between the DXe and A+ either USB or Air is astounding. Like a different system. Really. Here are a few examples.
I recently bought the 96/24 file of Bjork's Vulnicura. I had assumed that it was a harsh recording and her voice was produced to sound somewhat unnatural. Now her voice sounds completely natural as does the rest of the recording (or as natural as an electronics-heavy record can).
Opera recordings, like the wonderful new recording of Currentzis' Nozze sound totally different. I can hear all sorts of instruments I was unable to, piano and lute lines. Instrumental lines are much clearer, but at the same time the acoustic sounds much more natural and integrated.
I have a few very complicated recordings -- like Grenier meets Archipelago -- that sound so different because of all the internal detail that I sometimes don't recognize the tracks!
As I mentioned on another thread the dynamics, and particularly the micro dynamics are noticeably different. I can hear all sorts of microdynamic shifts I was unable to before.
But above all the music just sounds much more present. Blue Trane sounds like Coltrane is here. Midnight Blue sounds like Kenny Burrell and Major Holley are right over there. The GP speakers excel in ambience and present realism. But this took it up many notches.
One area which I initially thought had been weakened was bass slam. I now realize that A) I am listening to music at lower volumes because the micro dynamics and detail is easier to access and B) the bass is tighter and better defined. I think the older setup had a similar effect to an old-style tube amp, what sounded like a bit more slam and lushness in the bass was actually a kind of smearing and lack of information.
I am going to upgrade the unit to what is the equivalent of the DV Zero by replacing the internal HD with an SSD for running the system and streaming via a NAS. Mark Jenkins says it is a major upgrade. I can't quite imagine how it could be, but after this experience I will definitely try it! BTW he is terrific. Responds immediately and is extremely helpful.
The Aurender and the TotalDac may do as much, I haven't heard them so I don't know. But wow is this unit impressive.
It's a nice looking unit, simple and black with a blue glowing button on the front. But it definitely does not have the bling factor of the Aurilac or the cool looks of the TotalDac and the Aurender. It has a USB port on the back for backup (and for an external USB drive although I haven't done this yet). It has two USB outs, one powered on one not. I've mainly used the unpowered but I recently tried the powered and I don't hear much of a difference. That's pretty much it.
First the cons. I've had a few problems with the Squeezelight server. I previously ran Squeezelite on a Transporter and some Red Wine battery modded Squeezeboxes. I really like the interface, very simple and I understand it well. It's great for integrating apps like TIDAL. But it's wonky when controlled by a Mac. It much prefers Android. So I've experienced some problems with it and had to restart a bunch of times. Also the ripper is SLOW. Be prepared to take a long time uploading CDs. It rips in paranoid mode, so I suppose that's the cost.
Now the pros. The difference between the DXe and A+ either USB or Air is astounding. Like a different system. Really. Here are a few examples.
I recently bought the 96/24 file of Bjork's Vulnicura. I had assumed that it was a harsh recording and her voice was produced to sound somewhat unnatural. Now her voice sounds completely natural as does the rest of the recording (or as natural as an electronics-heavy record can).
Opera recordings, like the wonderful new recording of Currentzis' Nozze sound totally different. I can hear all sorts of instruments I was unable to, piano and lute lines. Instrumental lines are much clearer, but at the same time the acoustic sounds much more natural and integrated.
I have a few very complicated recordings -- like Grenier meets Archipelago -- that sound so different because of all the internal detail that I sometimes don't recognize the tracks!
As I mentioned on another thread the dynamics, and particularly the micro dynamics are noticeably different. I can hear all sorts of microdynamic shifts I was unable to before.
But above all the music just sounds much more present. Blue Trane sounds like Coltrane is here. Midnight Blue sounds like Kenny Burrell and Major Holley are right over there. The GP speakers excel in ambience and present realism. But this took it up many notches.
One area which I initially thought had been weakened was bass slam. I now realize that A) I am listening to music at lower volumes because the micro dynamics and detail is easier to access and B) the bass is tighter and better defined. I think the older setup had a similar effect to an old-style tube amp, what sounded like a bit more slam and lushness in the bass was actually a kind of smearing and lack of information.
I am going to upgrade the unit to what is the equivalent of the DV Zero by replacing the internal HD with an SSD for running the system and streaming via a NAS. Mark Jenkins says it is a major upgrade. I can't quite imagine how it could be, but after this experience I will definitely try it! BTW he is terrific. Responds immediately and is extremely helpful.
The Aurender and the TotalDac may do as much, I haven't heard them so I don't know. But wow is this unit impressive.
SYSTEM 1:Grimm MU-1 running Roon Server & Ready//Grimm TPM//GRIMM LS1be
SYSTEM 2: Antipodes DX Roon Server// MiniDSP// Grimm TPM// Dutch & Dutch 8C
SYSTEM 2: Antipodes DX Roon Server// MiniDSP// Grimm TPM// Dutch & Dutch 8C
