Antipodes CX+EX

IanG-UK

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Apr 11, 2011
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The other aspects which please me about the CX and EX are (1) the assistance you get direct from the designer Mark Jenkins or his technical guru Tony Devitt and (2) the ease of set up and operation with Roon. And I like the idea of an optional separate but dedicated P1 ripper which slots inconspicuously under the CX and the equivalent P2 regenerator and digital output adder under the EX. Great quality and understated form.
 
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Audioking87

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Dec 13, 2019
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The other aspects which please me about the CX and EX are (1) the assistance you get direct from the designer Mark Jenkins or his technical guru Tony Devitt and (2) the ease of set up and operation with Roon. And I like the idea of an optional separate but dedicated P1 ripper which slots inconspicuously under the CX and the equivalent P2 regenerator and digital output adder under the EX. Great quality and understated form.


Agreed on the point of the quality of support from the team at Antipodes. These guys are always there to answer questions and help and super professional. Great experience dealing with them from the beginning.

I'm hanging on to the CX for another 2 weeks or so and then going to give it back to my dealer. Willing to answer any other questions about the combo while I still have it with me.
 

Tuckia

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Jun 3, 2019
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Audioking87,

Earlier you stated that the P2 improves the performance of the EX. Please explain the connections and the dac in this scenario.

Have you tried the CX stand alone to the EX stand alone? Which one is the best place to start, or is it system dependent?

Thanks
 

Audioking87

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Dec 13, 2019
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Audioking87,

Earlier you stated that the P2 improves the performance of the EX. Please explain the connections and the dac in this scenario.

Have you tried the CX stand alone to the EX stand alone? Which one is the best place to start, or is it system dependent?

Thanks

Hi Tuckia,

The EX is connected via USB to the P2 reclocker and then from the P2 i have a COAX SPDIF cable going to the input of my Kinki Studio Vision1 DAC (I also have a word clock cable sync'd to the clock of the P2 from the word clock BNC input of the Kinki.

I tried lots of combinations - EX + P2, CX + P2, CX + EX and the CX and EX on their own. In my experience, you get the most bang for the buck with the EX - I prefer the sound of the EX on its own to the CX on its own. I think the CX may be marketed towards more of the crowd who are doing a lot of processing with HiRes files - like multi rate DSD with resampling, DSP etc. The EX on its own sounds musical and flows smoothly. The CX sounds a bit more mechanical with maybe a bit more transparency. Together they sound closer to the EX but maybe just a bit more organic and I can hear a little bit more detail. I'm also listening to files off an SSD on the servers to do comparisons as for streaming not really any points to have a two box solution. Everything I'm listening to is standard 16bit or 24/44.1Khz lossless. Tried with TIDAL also and similar findings to local playback. Hope that answers your question.
 
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Tuckia

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Thanks for the explanation. I see the Kinki can take advantage of the word clock out. Obviously this can be a plus for an spdif connection. So the deciding issue for the P2 is whether the usb or spdif type connection out is preferred.

With my previous Aurender, choosing between the usb and spdif output into either my Bricasti M1 SE or Lampizator GG2 inputs left me alternating trying to determine which was better. I attribute this issue to the Aurender's OCXO clock which at times presented superior smoothness and dimensionality through spdif. Ultimately I ditched the Aurender because I couldn't rid my system of perceived brightness. Here is where the Antipodes CX+EX is a better match for me.

Now that I've narrowed my options to either usb or Ethernet inputs with my forthcoming Pacific, the P2 offers no advantage, except for possibly it's isolation capabilities. I'm already running isolation on the EX and dac. Each made a noticeable difference. Curiously adding isolation under the CX did not yield improvement, probably because I'm only using it as a file server from the onboard SSD. I don't do any upsampling or conversion, so the CX isn't doing a whole lot other than acting as Roon core. It's currently rather bored, but that may change.

So a re-clocker such as the P2 and Innuos Phoenix aren't competing entities. One is for spdif, the other usb.

If starting with one or the other, and not both CX + EX, the best choice then depends on one's mission and system voicing.
 

IanG-UK

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2011
245
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Audioking87,

Earlier you stated that the P2 improves the performance of the EX. Please explain the connections and the dac in this scenario.

Have you tried the CX stand alone to the EX stand alone? Which one is the best place to start, or is it system dependent?

Thanks

Antipodes state that the single chassis entry level unit is the EX, followed by the CX alone and then by the CX&EX with the CX run as server and the EX as renderer. I have only used them this way and not tried the other way round. The EX has a modest DAC whereas the CX has no DAC. Of course, there is no need to use the Antipodes DAC at all.
 
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Tuckia

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Jun 3, 2019
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Hmmm. EX into CX. I hadn't thought of that option.

Good thing there aren't three boxes. I'd be up all night! o_O
 

Audioking87

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Dec 13, 2019
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Hmmm. EX into CX. I hadn't thought of that option.

Good thing there aren't three boxes. I'd be up all night! o_O


Technically with the P2 it's an extra box haha. You just gave me some more ideas - shouldn't have came back here!!! :)))
 

IanG-UK

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Apr 11, 2011
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Model service from Antipodes. There is new firmware for the CX and EX to enable, amongst other things, users to upscale storage using insertable SSD devices.

Auckland is 13 hours ahead of the UK. Emailed them today (Sunday); Tony Devitt replied 9am Monday NZ time (8pm Sunday here); by 8.20pm we had set up TeamViewer and all done by Tony within 40 minutes. What service!

Great company!
 
Last edited:
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Darmstadtium

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Dec 18, 2019
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Model service from Antipodes. There is new firmware for the CX and EX to enable, amongst other things, users to upscale storage using insertable SSD devices.

Auckland is 13 hours ahead of the UK. Emailed them today (Sunday); Tony Devitt replied 9am Monday NZ time (8pm Sunday here); by 8.20pm we had set up TeamViewer and all done by Tony within 40 minutes. What service!

Great company!
Hi
I am an antipodes user too. I use the EX/CX combo with great pleasure in my setup. what's the software version you got updated if I may ask ? Mine is showing 2.7 as latest
 

IanG-UK

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2011
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You are ok. I think 2.7 is the latest.

Did you get this notification?

"Antipodes has begun a progressive roll-out of changes to the user interface that customers use to manage their Antipodes Music Server. This currently includes an improved network discovery tool, significant enhancements to the free playback solution (LMS), and a simple process by which customers can setup and manage their storage disks without any assistance from Antipodes Support.

Recently shipped Antipodes Music Servers have the new base software installed. Once the base software is installed then all feature updates will be pushed to Antipodes Music Servers automatically.
Servers that do not have the new base software installed will have to be updated by Antipodes Support in a remote session in order to receive the enhancements. This means a customer emailing support@antipodes.audio to book a session. The update process will only take 5 minutes. Once the base software is installed then all updates will be automatic. Note that this is separate from the update process for the operating system and playback applications, which are triggered by customers at a time that suits them.

Until recently, customers discovered the network address of their Antipodes Music Servers by browsing to myantipodes.com, and this will continue to be available. However, recent customers have been directed to browse to antipodes.online. If a server is listed at antipodes.online then it already has the new base software installed. If a server shows at myantipodes.com but not at antipodes.online, then it needs to be updated to receive the new features. Email Antipodes Support (support@antipodes.audio) to get the updated software."
 
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Darmstadtium

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Dec 18, 2019
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Strange, I am in indeed on 2.7 but my servers dont show up on antipodes.online. I have emailed the support . many thanks :)
btw, has anyone done mods on their EX/CX to further refine the sound ?
Example
Fuse upgrades
internal SATA cables upgrades
Footers
 

Audioking87

Well-Known Member
Dec 13, 2019
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Latest is 2.7 for the software. I tried a SATA cable but ended up taking it out as there is such limited space inside it makes putting things back together too complicated. I had a pachanko pure reference SATA. I suppose it was a bit better (not worth wasting time breaking in 300hrs) and had to sell it as it doesn't really fit in there very well. I put upgraded fuses in my EX from AHP the german Gold ones but again they were not too expensive and haven't really noticed anything major. CX/EX in their stock form are good enough.
 

Darmstadtium

Well-Known Member
Dec 18, 2019
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Ok. I was indeed considering the idea about SATA cable upgrade. I did notice a small clean up in sound while using after market footers. But it’s probably too small of an improvement
 

IanG-UK

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2011
245
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123
Strange, I am in indeed on 2.7 but my servers dont show up on antipodes.online. I have emailed the support . many thanks :)
btw, has anyone done mods on their EX/CX to further refine the sound ?
Example
Fuse upgrades
internal SATA cables upgrades
Footers

There is a suggestion that Samsung EVO SSD storage units, together with re-ripped CDs using the P1, results in something better - according to Mark Jenkins. The thought of reripping 600+ CDs is unattractive!
 

IanG-UK

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2011
245
42
123
The Antipodes now has user-enabled storage. No need to contact Antipodes - just power everything down, extract and/or insert SSD as required, then power everything up. Not tried it yet!
 
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Darmstadtium

Well-Known Member
Dec 18, 2019
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I finally managed to update my based firmware through the antipodes tech support.
No change in sound quality or Roon speed. No complaints though.
Just a suggestion to owners and potential owners. The switch before the CX made a huge effect on the sound quality. I currently use a combination of double sotm switches connected to the epithet via fibre. I use DCBL sotm cable between the CX/EX
 
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Audioking87

Well-Known Member
Dec 13, 2019
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Returning my CX back to the dealer. I'm happy with the EX+P2 and the addition of the CX did not really add a noticeable improvement in SQ for me to justify adding it to the system. Streaming was identical and local playback improved slightly with the way the music flowed but had to listen so attentively to notice it. Looks like I'm at the stage where I'm using 99% of what my system is capable of and the last 1% like most audio enthusiasts chase seems to be just throwing money until it's fully squeezed out. If i had a $50k + system with money to burn I'd by the CX but that would only be just to say that its the best that's out right now. Also another thing is given how fast digital moves, probably in the next 2-3 years there will be a new server that will be better than both CX+EX and would rather not have spent large amounts on more than one box.
 

Parsons

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Mar 31, 2018
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I'm only 2 weeks in on my CX/EX/P2 combo, and after having taken several weeks to burn in the standalone CX demo unit, I know I still have a couple weeks to go minimally to hear it closer to it's best...from post above, perhaps longer.

I can say that dropping a brand new EX as a renderer onto a burned in CX as the server only was an immediate improvement. The P2 can help on top of that, although it wasn't as big of an improvement (yet)--using it to convert USB to i2s for my PS Audio Directstream DAC.

I can also say that replacing a burned-in CX with a brand new one was an immediate step backwards as well. The burn in is very, very real.

I have the 3 units stacked P2 then EX then CX, and I'm thinking I will get the P1 at some point and stack them side by side, although that is more for the like Hot Wheels effect--"Gotta collect 'em all!" I don't expect a noticeable impact, but could explore re-burning some CDs that are favorites.
 
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Audioking87

Well-Known Member
Dec 13, 2019
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I'm only 2 weeks in on my CX/EX/P2 combo, and after having taken several weeks to burn in the standalone CX demo unit, I know I still have a couple weeks to go minimally to hear it closer to it's best...from post above, perhaps longer.

I can say that dropping a brand new EX as a renderer onto a burned in CX as the server only was an immediate improvement. The P2 can help on top of that, although it wasn't as big of an improvement (yet)--using it to convert USB to i2s for my PS Audio Directstream DAC.

I can also say that replacing a burned-in CX with a brand new one was an immediate step backwards as well. The burn in is very, very real.

I have the 3 units stacked P2 then EX then CX, and I'm thinking I will get the P1 at some point and stack them side by side, although that is more for the like Hot Wheels effect--"Gotta collect 'em all!" I don't expect a noticeable impact, but could explore re-burning some CDs that are favorites.

Can you try the EX+P2 and compare it to the CX+EX+P2? Also, what kind of music are you mostly listening to. Streamed from TIDAL via roon or local files (44.1/16) played back from Roon? Let us know what your impressions are with that comparison and also the rest of your system setup so we can have a reference. Thanks!
 

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