DSD playback failure for Zodiac Gold

doctorcilantro · « **on:** 2 Mar 2013, 05:52 pm »

Been attempting to get DSD working for a few days with J. River. Something's not right.

Anyone got it working?

Sent this to Support:

Quote

Using Windows 7 x64, J. River Media Center reports the Zodiac ASIO driver does not support 384kHz. Windows Control Panel shows 192kHz max after installing the new driver and updating to Control Panel v3.

Driver shows as 1.61.0.0

J. River reports ASIO Zodiac driver present but it just doesn't playback anything higher than 192kHz.

I have tried setting all different modes in Control Panel:

FS Class1 (obviously won't work)
HS Class1
HS Class2

http://i.imgur.com/qnJzwkC.png
http://i.imgur.com/KaAaxGh.png
http://i.imgur.com/JEmmlHl.png

Please advise.

rklein · « **Reply #1 on:** 2 Mar 2013, 05:59 pm »

I did not know that the Zodiac Gold is a DSD capable DAC? If so, it would be on my short list because of its wonderful preamp.

Regards,

Randy

doctorcilantro · « **Reply #2 on:** 2 Mar 2013, 06:12 pm »

I got wind of it when I emailed tech support to bug them about it; randomly checked the site the other day and it looks like the ASIO driver is up.

Maybe that's not it; I just assumed since was brand new and never there before.

I run the Gold direct into my SET amp....loving the DAC. Dead quite, remote control, direct to amp...and hopefully DSD soon!

srb · « **Reply #3 on:** 2 Mar 2013, 06:56 pm »

Quote from: rklein on 2 Mar 2013, 05:59 pm

I did not know that the Zodiac Gold is a DSD capable DAC? If so, it would be on my short list because of its wonderful preamp.

Not natively, you need to use a player that is able to convert DSD to PCM.

Steve

wisnon · « **Reply #4 on:** 2 Mar 2013, 10:44 pm »

Quote from: rklein on 2 Mar 2013, 05:59 pm

I did not know that the Zodiac Gold is a DSD capable DAC? If so, it would be on my short list because of its wonderful preamp.

Regards,

Randy

Which DSD Dac did you get?

rklein · « **Reply #5 on:** 3 Mar 2013, 01:16 am »

Exasound E20

mikeeastman · « **Reply #6 on:** 3 Mar 2013, 02:56 am »

rklien how would you compare the E20 to the Mytek? why did you decide on the E20?

Mike

ted_b · « **Reply #7 on:** 3 Mar 2013, 03:28 am »

Quote from: doctorcilantro on 2 Mar 2013, 05:52 pm

Been attempting to get DSD working for a few days with J. River. Something's not right.

Anyone got it working?

Sent this to Support:

The Antelope Zodiac Gold is NOT a DSD-capable DAC; never was. What makes you think it is now? An ASIO driver does not make a PCM DAC play DSD automagically.

By the way, it is my favorite DAC-trying-to-be-a-preamp, as its great remote volume stepped attenuator is the real deal. I have yet to find another DAC that plays preamp so well.

Randy borrowed my Mytek and my Exasound E20 (demo) and made his choice in the luxury of his own home.

The Exasound, as per my review, is quite a DAC. And now George and the Exasound team have updated it to a version II and now have it doing DSD256 (i.e 4X DSD)!!

doctorcilantro · « **Reply #8 on:** 3 Mar 2013, 05:41 pm »

Ted,

Sorry thought I posted here, but (jumped the gun thinking they had provided DSD support but it's just a new ASIO driver for now):

"A reply has been made to your ticket:

---------------------------

Hello and thank you for your inquiry.

We are currently working in some firmware that is going to be released in the next couple of months.
It will provide full DSD support but its still under developement.

Once it is released it will be available through our Web site!
Keep on checkin it for news!

Best regards
George

---------------------------

Ticket ID: 362
Subject: DoP
Department: DAC Support
Priority: Medium
Date Submitted: Feb 3 2013, 8:26 PM
"

ted_b · « **Reply #9 on:** 3 Mar 2013, 05:46 pm »

Yeah, I spoke at length with Marcel James (Antelope US, and one of the good guys) at CES. He informed me that Europe HQ (particularly Igor, the "man") was doggedly determined to stay away from the DSD momentum, but finally gave in.

I'm sooo glad to see this. DSD from Antelope will be spectacular.

Hipper · « **Reply #10 on:** 3 Mar 2013, 08:07 pm »

Quote

By the way, it is my favorite DAC-trying-to-be-a-preamp, as its great remote volume stepped attenuator is the real deal. I have yet to find another DAC that plays preamp so well.

I have a TEAC/Esoteric D/70, now some nine years old, which has a volume control and excellent remote.

ted_b · « **Reply #11 on:** 20 May 2013, 03:37 pm »

UPDATE: This is news from Tony (tdangelo) who was enquiring about the rumored Gold DSD upgrade:

Antelope Audio wrote: "Hi, thanks for your interest. Our research showed that a DSD upgrade for Zodiac Gold is not just a matter of firmware update, but it needs also hardware changes which cannot be implemented. This is the reason why very soon we will be releasing a new DAC with DSD support."

Srajan Ebaen · « **Reply #12 on:** 20 May 2013, 05:17 pm »

At the Munich show Antelope announced the Platinum (Euro 3.000 with standard SMPS) that'll do 64 and 128DSD. It looks nearly identical to the Gold except for the front where the headphone sockets are. This one can set the output voltage for each 6.3mm jack discretely...

ted_b · « **Reply #13 on:** 20 May 2013, 05:21 pm »

Thanks Srajan. Let's hope it has the Gold's wonderful gold stepped relay attenuators, the only DAC I've ever had in my system that successfully impersonated a very good preamp.

doctorcilantro · « **Reply #14 on:** 20 May 2013, 06:14 pm »

You'd think they would have put something on their News or Blog page. Also strange they had tech. support pinging us back with "DSD firmware imminent". Curious they weren't aware from the start that it would require hardware update. Should DoP be just a firmware upgrade given the DAC chip and the fact that Class 2 384kHz with new ASIO driver works over USB on Windows? Smells fishy to me given they obviously had the platinum in the works for some time.

Guess ill start looking at affordable DSD DACS to add-on via XLR to my Gold - J. river does allow you send particular file types to unique zones, and then the Gold should auto-detect an active input via XLR.

Or sell my Gold and find something else....

doctorcilantro · « **Reply #15 on:** 20 May 2013, 06:57 pm »

Zodiac Platinum

- Allow up to 384K
- Architecture "quadruple" Quad DAC DAC
- The dynamic range of 132 dB
- Analog Volume Control in 0.05 dB

Should be compatible with Voltikus. Coming Mid-July.

Phil A · « **Reply #16 on:** 20 May 2013, 07:37 pm »

If I did the math correctly, the 3,000 Euros is just under $3.9k. I suppose it will have an outboard power supply too for additional?

ted_b · « **Reply #17 on:** 20 May 2013, 08:58 pm »

Quote from: Phil A on 20 May 2013, 07:37 pm

If I did the math correctly, the 3,000 Euros is just under $3.9k. I suppose it will have an outboard power supply too for additional?

Already does. The Voltikus.

Srajan Ebaen · « **Reply #18 on:** 20 May 2013, 09:26 pm »

SMPS standard, Voltikus optional. And as you saw on the photo, it also does DSD256 (like the ExaSound and the new Kallista from Gryphon though no software for that exists yet). The relay-switched resistor matrix attenuator with remote control "accurate to 0.05dB" is inherited from the Gold. The sheet also talks of a custom USB Quad DAC for 132dB dynamic range and there are analog inputs for "true preamp functionality". And of course the software control panel and automatic internet-based device upgradeability come with it too -:)

ted_b · « **Reply #19 on:** 20 May 2013, 09:28 pm »

Quote from: Srajan Ebaen on 20 May 2013, 09:26 pm

SMPS standard, Voltikus optional. And as you saw on the photo, it also does DSD256 (like the ExaSound and the new Kallista from Gryphon though no software for that exists yet -:)

Yeah, not until Five/Four releases their recent Boston recording.

I'm trying to get a sample from Michael Bishop.