One of the things we have observed is that many customers that start with our entry product quickly decide they want to move to our top
product. So we have thought long and hard about how to make this easier. The Modular Series (CX/EX/P1/P2) approach addresses it like this:
EX – The EX is our lowest priced model, combining server and renderer functions, plus a simple DAC. So you can move from a CD Player to an
EX and leave getting a DAC till a later date. You can progress from here to our top of the line solution without needing to sell the EX. The two
upgrade steps are to add a USB DAC, and to add a CX. See the CX+EX Solution described below.
CX – The CX is like an EX, but there is no DAC included, and it uses a very powerful computing core to enable DSP functions, and to manage
large libraries with ease. The CX also provides superior sound quality to the EX, when they are used as both server and renderer. So the CX is
an alternative starting point to the EX, except that you will need a good USB DAC. Another option with the CX is to use it with a Streamer, and
this makes most sense with a Roon Ready DAC.
CX+EX – The emphasis in the EX is on the renderer function. The emphasis in the CX is on the server function. In the CX+EX solution, you use
the CX as the server and the EX as the renderer, and connect them together with a short high quality Ethernet cable. In this conguration each
of the CX and EX are performing just one function and this results in much higher performance. Therefore, whether you start with an EX or a
CX, you can progress to our top of the line solution by adding the other unit.
UPGRADING – Upgrading is straight-forward. For example, if you bought an EX and P1, and then add a CX, you can simply disconnect the P1
from the EX and connect it to the CX. Storage disks can be installed and removed from the EX and CX without you having to use any tools,
because the disks slide in through the rear panel. Therefore if you bought an EX and installed storage disks in it, when you add a CX you can
remove the disks from the EX and insert them in the CX. Because the storage has to be optimised, you will need assistance from your dealer or
from Antipodes Support to setup the storage, but this can be done over the internet without you even removing the EX or CX from your stereo
system.
