(http://www.antelopeaudio.com/en/images/fpdac.jpg)
http://www.antelopeaudio.com/en/zodiac_rubicon.html
This company is founded by the original designer of Aardvark pro gear which was a great gear at good value prices. Now he is going upscale, aiming at the high end consumer market, and extreme pro audio buyers.
Their "10M" digital clock is taking over the world right now.
The Zodiac will be released in a couple months. Keep your ears peeled for it!
Any idea on a price range for this dac?
No, I dunno, Ed.
My Sweetwater salesguy told me about it. Check their website in the winter. The faceplate says "Mastering DA converter" so I would guess they are shooting for Benchmark/Apogee, maybe Berkeley. They should send one to Robert Harley and pray for raining money.
With bigfish's new Quest for DAC (http://www.audionervosa.com/index.php?topic=2253.msg23822;topicseen#msg23822) I was wondering what ever became of this DAC. Sure enough, it is available in two levels. Some interesting features. I'll look for some opinions about the sound.
It's a new company, only 1-1/2 years old, but started by the design engineer from Aardvark Audio, who made some excellent pro gear (I owned some) before Aardvark suddenly disappeared a few years ago. Word is he is a genius and the new Antelope gear is excellent.
MFG:
http://antelopeaudio.com/en/products_integrity.html
Seller:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Zodiac/ $1500
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ZodiacPlus/ $2500
Top of the Line "Zodiac Gold" version, not yet released, will list for $4000.
My Sweetwater salesman, Nate Edwards, told me about this DAC, he heard it last year.
Gossip:
http://www.mamut.net/goldenagemusic/newsdet1175.htm
http://audiofanzine.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/antelope-audio-zodiac-da-converter/
Maybe something on head-fi too, but they are down for maintenance, do a search.
Edit: Here's another forum discussion of Zodiac, more vids, more tech talk.
http://www.head-case.org/forums/home-source-components/6148-antelope-audio-dacs.html