Zodiak

You have to admire Antelope for their Zodiak Platinum DAC. They were the first to announce DSD 256 with their Platinum release, and their separate Rubidium clock hearkens back to the days of Video Toaster. In addition, their Power Supply is reminiscent of one of the best outboard DAC's for the iPhone 4, the VModa VAmp Verza.

Users preferring balanced headphone amplification will have to go elsewhere, or else add a Bryston BHA-1 (and power-supply) to the equation.

We will be wondering which sounds better: the Zodiak Platinum, or the Aurilac Gemini? Omega to Alpha or Alpha to Ortega?

A five-box solution thus for a headphone jack brings reference amplification out of DCS Debussy (nay Vivaldi) territory, and into the rarefied realm of the YBA Signature 6-box solution.

From the simplest of virtues comes the most glorious expense.