A Sanctuary audio processor upsamples PCM input data to approximately 1.5MHz and 32-bit depth, and implements four reconstruction filters for PCM data and two choices of low-pass filter for DSD data. The AES/EBU and S/PDIF inputs handle 16- and 24-bit data with sample rates up to 192kHz the USB port also operates with sample rates of 352.8 and 384kHz, and will accept DSD64 and DSD128 data. The rear panel offers single-ended and balanced outputs, and five digital inputs: transformer-coupled AES/EBU on an XLR, two transformer-coupled coaxial S/PDIFs on RCAs, one optical S/PDIF on TosLink, and a high-speed USB2.0 port. The elegant-looking Vega D/A processor is housed in a slim, brushed-aluminum enclosure and has a front panel dominated by a wide, rectangular, yellow-on-black OLED display.

JA wrapped up: 'Overall, the very good measurements of Antelope Audio's Zodiac Platinum indicate excellent digital and analog engineering.' (Vol.37 Nos.9 & 10 WWW) With some musical selections JI noted the Platinum's 'slightly thicker bottom end' compared with another premium processor, and with other tracks a thicker sound overall, adding that 'both excelled at creating a transparent path to my power amps.' As for the Zodiac's headphone amp, 'I'd never heard better sound from my Grado HP1s,' JI declared. User controls appear on both the front panel and the remote handset, the former distinguished by a hefty, nice-feeling volume knobalthough JI noted that it 'produced a bit of a raggedy zipper sound' through his system when he adjusted the volume. Technical highlights include FPGA processing for some functions and 'Oven-Controlled Clocking,' in which jitter is kept low through thermal stabilization of the word clock's crystal oscillator. (The similarly chunky Voltikus power supply is slightly less wide.) Like the Gold, the Zodiac Platinum offers PCM performance through 384kHz, but adds DSD64 and 128 via USB (DoP), which it upsamples to DSD256, Antelope Audio claiming direct DSD-to-analog conversion. We strongly recommend those interested in using a computer as a true high-end digital audio source visit our sister website which is edited by Michael Lavorgna.Īntelope Audio Zodiac Platinum Bundle: $5295 (with Voltikus power supply)įrom the makers of the Class Arated Zodiac Gold comes the Zodiac Platinum, which bundles a D/A processor, headphone amp, and preamp into a small but chunky (6.5' W by 4.4' H by 7.6' D) enclosure.

To be included in Class A+, a digital processor must be capable of handling DSD or 24/96 LPCM data. Editor's Note: The sound of any particular CD transport/digital processor combination will be dependent on the datalink used-see 'Bits is Bits?' by Christopher Dunn and Malcolm Omar Hawksford, Stereophile, March 1996, Vol.

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