Introduction of my new Antipodes K50 Music Server

[Sampajanna]

PS I didn’t' mean points to me for being honest, I was agreeing that Antipodes gets points for that… Sorry if I came off wrong. My experience was 1) getting interested, reading and asking owners for an impression,; 2) couldn’t get home demo, but got to go hear one in another system and decided I would get one as it offers some cool features and only takes up one shelf; 3) contacting my dealer and having him tell me the unit I would get would not be the one i heard and researched and 4) posting my concerns here…

 

[Ikhuong]

PS I didn’t' mean points to me for being honest, I was agreeing that Antipodes gets points for that… Sorry if I came off wrong. My experience was 1) getting interested, reading and asking owners for an impression,; 2) couldn’t get home demo, but got to go hear one in another system and decided I would get one as it offers some cool features and only takes up one shelf; 3) contacting my dealer and having him tell me the unit I would get would not be the one i heard and researched and 4) posting my concerns here…

Have you tried to contact Antipodes directly to understand what is going on with part/design change? Who is the dealer and should you trust everything they said?

manufacturers have the right to change their design and parts as long as that meets their design goal, so I have not understood the point you are trying to make in this thread as you already bought Innuous Statement

 

[Sampajanna]

Well . I hv had statement for a couple yrs. I was interested in getting to one shelf and also to using spdif w Mscaler. My dealer is trustworthy. He didn’t make a judgment or steer me either way, he just let me know I would be getting a different unit.

Anyway, sorry. I’ll shut up. I apologize for derailing the thread.

 

[speakerlust]

@Sampajanna,

I do have a K50 I received in early May of this year. I did read reviews prior to purchasing. I later read Antipodes info on supply chain issues and steps they implemented to mitigate. I compliment Antipodes regarding their transparency on the issue. I do not view my unit as "completely different" than those produced last year, though I would anticipate some parts may be different. Actually, I suspect that is happening with other audio manufacturers as well, and to a certain extent possibly more common than we know prior to the pandemic and supply chain difficulties.

I do not have a professional background in audio sales or audio manufacturing, but in previous work with unrelated field found that repair and replacement parts, including non-audio electronics, often had suitable substitute procurement options based on meeting performance and fit specifications. Even original specified parts can vary between batches/lots but still be within specification tolerance.

I suspect Antipodes is expending even more time and diligence in testing and sound confirmation on units with parts revision before shipping--smart business practice. My listening impressions on my unit align with the characteristics I have read about from professional reviewers and owner enthusiasts. However, my room, my personal hearing, cabling, isolation, network, and other contributing equipment are all different for me and for the various reviewers, yet there is a consistency of the sound profile performance. If using Roon, there has been software changes in it from earlier reviews.

There are many fine music servers and players that one may choose. I am pleased with my K50 and wish you well on your choice.

 

[Sampajanna]

Thanks so much for sharing your experience!

 

[kennyb123]

I think I recall that it was Alex from Uptone who shared not too long ago on AS that a certain part they use had a price increase that added, if I recall correctly, zeros on the end. They were forced to make a change because they didn't want to pass the price increase onto their customers. That's really what's happening out there right now.

Just as an FYI, Alex describes his current part challenges here. Crazy times.

 

[Adimon]

Which digital output of the K50 do users prefer and why?

 

[sbnx]

Which digital input of the K50 do users prefer and why?

Do you mean input or output? For input I have 1000 CD's ripped to the SSD or I have an Ethernet cable for Qobuz. For output I have used SPDIF and AES/EBU to good success. I am gearing up to try USB via the MSB ProUSB input.

 

[Adimon]

Do you mean input or output? For input I have 1000 CD's ripped to the SSD or I have an Ethernet cable for Qobuz. For output I have used SPDIF and AES/EBU to good success. I am gearing up to try USB via the MSB ProUSB input.

Corrected in "output". Thx

 

[ricjor1]

I keep asking myself is it worth going from my Antipodes S30/S40/S60 to the K50 with my Chord Dave DAC?

 

[7ryder]

I keep asking myself is it worth going from my Antipodes S30/S40/S60 to the K50 with my Chord Dave DAC?

Antipodes has a 30 day return policy, grab one and find out!

 

[markramler]

Do you mean input or output? For input I have 1000 CD's ripped to the SSD or I have an Ethernet cable for Qobuz. For output I have used SPDIF and AES/EBU to good success. I am gearing up to try USB via the MSB ProUSB input.

I am using the SPDIF digital output to my Dac. I have a AES/EBU cable on order. Ethernet was not close to the quality of SPDIF. I have not tried the USB output.

 

[7ryder]

sorry. Wasn’t trying to troll. Don’t see how I’m being unfair. I don‘t buy products blind. Was, in part, hoping someone who had ordered new one would chime in and just sharing my decision in case others are in a similar situation. This is an expensive streamer. They say it sounds different on their website. I am not asserting anything, just sharing facts and my decision In relation to those facts.

They say on their website that the K50 sounds different now due to the substituted parts? Do you have a link?

 

[speakerlust]

Which digital output of the K50 do users prefer and why?

I think this can be DAC dependent, and not only by what digital inputs available to the DAC. I also believe that audible preference results can also be influenced by the cabling to the DAC and by the upstream components and network cabling to the K50, including the ethernet cabling used.

 

[Adimon]

I keep asking myself is it worth going from my Antipodes S30/S40/S60 to the K50 with my Chord Dave DAC?

Never heard them side by side.
I made the choice because of the digital outputs and all in one unit means 1 powercord.
My previous player was the CX EX combo.

 

[Adimon]

I think this can be DAC dependent, and not only by what digital inputs available to the DAC. I also believe that audible preference results can also be influenced by the cabling to the DAC and by the upstream components and network cabling to the K50, including the ethernet cabling used.

Absolutely agree.
But I'm curious about experiences from K50 users.
I was surprised that i hear almost no difference between the MIT Oracle MAX XLR (as AES3 Digital connection) and a $30 HDMI (as I2S Digital connection) cable.
My DAC is the PS audio Directstream.

 

[speakerlust]

@Adimon,

Unfortunately, I am somewhat a DAC harlot , having several. One of them is the Directstream, which I just recently put back in rack to check out I2S from the K50. I read on their forum the postings from people buying a number of different I2S cables and picked up a closed out Wireworld Starlight 7 a couple years ago. Not having an I2S source then, I also purchased a Matrix X-SPDIF2 to convert USB coming from a microRendu and a Small Green Computer server. I liked that better than USB with several different USB cables.

I have made a number of equipment changes and additions since then. I recently updated to latest firmware for the Directstream and tried this cable with the K50. Audio memory is so very short, but feel this is probably the best I had heard from the Directstream (DS). I have not tried AES/EBU to the DS. I did try AES/EBU with the Mola Mola Makua DAC (very similar to Tambaqui) from the K50 with an inexpensive cable, Mogami W3080 with Neutrik XLRs made up by Redco Audio years ago. I recall trying this cable years ago to Directstream, but not liking what I heard and putting it in storage. There have been many PS Audio firmware changes since then and many equipment system changes since then. I was happily surprised how good it sounded when I recently put in the Makua, and has me wondering if I should evaluate a better cable. If I do, I hope to retain enough sanity to test from companies with a return policy or very good price on preowned. My cable purchasing has been far more modest than my DAC purchases, sourcing quality from less expensive sources like Triode Wire Labs, Audio Sensibility, and a couple WireWorld items.

The Tambaqui has I2S, but Makua DAC does not, so I cannot test I2S cable with it. Running ethernet from K50 outgoing port to the Makua utilizes the Roon Ready player in the DAC, not the player from the K50, while the other digital outputs reflect the Antipodes player. I have noticed some subtle but noticeable differences in the digital output sound signatures from the K50 to Makua, depending on ethernet cables used into and out of the K50.

For the DirectStream, I would guess the I2S from the K50 would be best, and offers you more bandwidth.

 

[bryans]

Antipodes has a 30 day return policy, grab one and find out!

I looked on their website and don't see anything about the 30 day policy. Can you show me the link for this? I'm interested in trying one.

 

[7ryder]

Just drop a note to mark.cole@antipodes.audio and start the conversation. If you don't have a dealer near you, they will sell direct.

 

[bryans]

Just drop a note to mark.cole@antipodes.audio and start the conversation. If you don't have a dealer near you, they will sell direct.

Thank You