Antipodes 22K or AqualinQ?

[Ricco275]

Currently my digital section is composed of MSB Discrete and a NUC.
I purely listen to Qobuz via Roon.
I don't have the chance to listen to Aqua LinQ and Antipodes K22.
Would the K22 deliver a superior sound and overall experience vs the LinQ?
I could get the LinQ at 35% less than the Antipodes.
Thank you for your advice.

 

[barbz127]

How are you connecting the nuc to the discrete at the moment?

 

[Ricco275]

How are you connecting the nuc to the discrete at the moment?

Renderer V2 with both units connected to the network via Ethernet.

 

[bryans]

If I understand correctly the Render V2 is a network/Roon endpoint. In this design you are looking to replace the NUC with an Aqua LinQ or Antipodes K22. So you are replacing the Roon Server correct? What I would try is using the Aqua LinQ or Antipodes K22 via a USB connection. The Roon Core/Endpoint would be on the Aqua/Antipodes. I would think this would provide better isolation and could give you better sound.

Now I haven't tried this but this is just my thinking.

 

[Ricco275]

If I understand correctly the Render V2 is a network/Roon endpoint. In this design you are looking to replace the NUC with an Aqua LinQ or Antipodes K22. So you are replacing the Roon Server correct? What I would try is using the Aqua LinQ or Antipodes K22 via a USB connection. The Roon Core/Endpoint would be on the Aqua/Antipodes. I would think this would provide better isolation and could give you better sound.

Now I haven't tried this but this is just my thinking.

Yes correct. I would initially use a coaxial connection and then perhaps move to MSB USB pro module. Anyway I wouldn’t need to use the renderer nor the NUC.

My main question is: Antipodes or Aqua?

 

[barbz127]

I would suggest the K22 - it can double as a server and player should you need/want to replace the nuc or have it offline for a period plus the K22 will allow you to run different clients (roon, upnp, etc) without having to buy additional modules to make it work.

I use a Antipodes k30 as server/player with the prousb/isl out to the msb discrete.