Antipodes CX

[nbpf]

The Antipodes CX is meanwhile available in the UK. Has anyone had a chance to demo it? Any reviews or comparisons with other servers? 

[Barry in Calgary]

Hi

 

I currently use and Antipodes CX (Roon server) and EX (Roon Endpoint).  I upgraded from an Antipodes Core, which is a very similar product to the CX.  I compared the Core to the Bryston BDP2 and found the Core a slightly better sounding product.  I compared the Core using MPD and Roon (when using Roon, the Core acted as both server and endpoint).  I  found I preferred the Core to the BDP2 when using MPD but the difference was small, when I switched the Core over to Roon the difference (vs. BDP2 using MPD) increased significantly in favour of the Core.

 

Later I had the opportunity to trade in my Core (plus cash) for the CX+EX pair.  I found that separating the Roon server and endpoint functions (CX is Connected to EX and network via ethernet without the need for a hub) made a MUCH larger difference in sound quality than any of the other differences I mentioned above.

 

In summary, while I have no experience with the CX on its own, the CX+EX pair is remarkable sounding server and the Core, which I believe is similar to the CX is also a very nice product.

 

Regards

Barry 

[magnuska]

Hi

 

 

I have the Antipodes EX as roon endpoint and a Audiostore prestige as roon server. 

These are direct ethernet connected with no switch in between. The SQ is very good. 

 

Have not tried the CX but I guess another good leap with this. But I feel no need anymore to change the  transport/endpoint bit.

I used sotm ultra 200 with ISO regen before as endpoint .

[audioking87]

@magnuskaI thought the direct Ethernet link on the EX worked only with Antipodes products (CX)? How did you manage to use your prestige as server and ex as endpoint/renderer?

[FredM]

Here you go:

https://www.hifi-advice.com/blog/review/digital-reviews/network-player-reviews/antipodes-cx-ex-part1/

[magnuska]

9 hours ago, audioking87 said:

@magnuskaI thought the direct Ethernet link on the EX worked only with Antipodes products (CX)? How did you manage to use your prestige as server and ex as endpoint/renderer?

For me it was plug and play. Ethernet cable from Prestige to Antipodes. No settings needed.

 

//Magnus

[audioking87]

24 minutes ago, magnuska said:

For me it was plug and play. Ethernet cable from Prestige to Antipodes. No settings needed.

 

//Magnus

 

Thanks,

 

I will try an Ethernet link from jcat net femto on my custom music server to the ex. Are you using roon from your phone to have the configuration of the server to the ex? My music server is a win 10 machine. 

[Advieira]

CX is a server or a streamer? Do I need a other PC to run Roon Core?

[The Man]

The CX EX is an overpriced combo... definitely over 10K for both. My advice is get an innuos music player instead. They cost less and perform excellent...  The Antipodes products have a very detailed sound .. the innuos servers have a warmer sound. 

 

Both are nice its just you get more bang for the buck with the innuos. 

 

CX or EX can both be run as servers or endpoints... 

[Advieira]

Have anyone found a picture inside os EX and CX?

Unlike the DX g2, which we can find a lot of internal photos, there are no reviewers or CX + EX interiors manufacturer photos.

 

I mean, seeing the internal design helps us to understand, a little,  the price.

[audioking87]

1 hour ago, Advieira said:

Have anyone found a picture inside os EX and CX?

Unlike the DX g2, which we can find a lot of internal photos, there are no reviewers or CX + EX interiors manufacturer photos.

 

I mean, seeing the internal design helps us to understand, a little,  the price.

 

I've opened up my EX. Not much to see inside there. A motherboard, 2 SATA cables, and just thick aluminum separating the drive bays and the linear power supply.

[Advieira]

36 minutes ago, audioking87 said:

 

I've opened up my EX. Not much to see inside there. A motherboard, 2 SATA cables, and just thick aluminum separating the drive bays and the linear power supply.

 

How is possible be better than DX, which have a lot of upgrades (Sotm USB interface, etC)?

[Advieira]

[audioking87]

24 minutes ago, Advieira said:

 

How is possible be better than DX, which have a lot of upgrades (Sotm USB interface, etC)?

 

I don't know if it's better than a DX or if it is it's not by much. Unless you have money to burn, cx+ex is not the best value (you'd have to have some serious gear to make it worth your time/hard earned money).

 

[matthias]

Before buying

Antipodes CX/EX

I would compare to

Innuos Zenith Statement

and

Pink Faun 2.16X.

 

Matt

[Advieira]

With the recents C.A. findings (clocked switchs or Audiolinux) I have reasons to believe cx+ex dont worth the money, as you can find similar SQ for less than half.

[Weerstandje]

First I owned (still do actually, but it is on sale) an Aurender N10. The best sounding server I heard so far. However it does not do anything with Roon an once you experienced Roon you don't want to do without it anymore.

So I thought I'd do the 'cheaper option' and bought a Roon Nucleus to run the core/server. I put an SSD in it and even powered it from a Keces Lineair power supply.

It sounded okay but compared to the Aurender N10 it was just thin and gray. After all it is a a cheaper NUC board and the N10 is build to be as silent as far as noise goes as possible. And the difference is there.

 

So exit Nucleus and I got the Antipodes CX to run the core. It is connected directly over ethernet to a dCS Vivaldi upsampler and dac.

The device is still in its run in period. It has played only 24 hours, but I must say that after 12 of playing time it already beats the Aurender soundwise .  Instruments have even more space between them and I find everything more precise and easy sounding. And above all with the CX, my now best sounding source runs Roon   Compared to that the Aurender user interface (conductor app) stays far behind.

 

I don't think an extra CE will bring much because the dCS upsampler is already a Roon ready renderer/endpoint.

On the other hand the CX has a heavy power processor and any heavy processing will generate noise. The CX deals fine with that noise, but if you separate the audio output handling (over usb to the dCS for instance) to a separate dedicated device like a low processing power CE, then it might lower any noise even further.

 

But the CX on its own is the best front end I had as it is all ready.

[audioking87]

Has anyone else tried the CX? I have EX and thinking of going to the combo as I upgraded my DAC among some other things. Just would like some feedback on how the combo sounds. The EX is a pretty musical sounding server.

[audioking87]

Anyone? Also wondering if its only Roon that would take advantage of a CX+EX pairing as I'm looking at other software solutions besides Roon.

 

Thanks

[McNulty]

I also have just the EX and had an in store demo of first only the EX and then the EX / CX combo (both with Roon). In that system I didn’t find the gain in SQ significant enough to justify the additional costs of the CX.
 

With the recent Roon 1.7 upgrade my experience is the EX performs better on SQ, suggesting the additional improvements to be gained with adding the CX might even be smaller with Roon nowadays. Christiaan Punter from the review site Hifi Advice however was really impressed with the EX / CX combo compared to just the EX, see https://www.hifi-advice.com/blog/review/digital-reviews/network-player-reviews/antipodes-cx-ex-part1/ 

[magnuska]

I have EX as Roon player AND bridged with a short 50cm Sablon ethernetcable, to a Innuos ZEN mini mk3. Have not tested the Antipodes alone in my system but It sounds very good as is now.

The Roon core server part makes a difference in my setup. Recently I  installed the experimental roon Squeezelite wich sounds better than the regular Roon with Innuos.

Some days ago there was a base software upgrade to the EX as well and a day later I installed the new Roon 1.7. If the rise in SQ was mainly because of this or that upgrade I can´t say. For every software upgrade I do that push SQ forward I am very happy.

[McNulty]

@magnuska: could you please share where I can find the base software upgrade for the EX? It was my understanding the EX uses Sonicorbiter, which is at version 2.7 for some time now. Thanks.

[magnuska]

@McNulty you have to email antipodes support and arrange a remotesession with them. You can`t do it yourself.

 

 

[audioking87]

Thank you guys for the input. Trying to arrange a demo at my dealer. Yes the ex is great and cx will only be an improvement if you are playing local files and streaming won't make a difference.

[audioking87]

Antipodes is still at 2.7 there haven't been any recent updates.