Geek Pulse: Geek desktop DAC/AMP by Light Harmonics
Oct 28, 2013 at 10:35 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 13,800

m-i-c-k-e-y

Headphoneus Supremus
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Geek Pulse is a high-definition DAC and 3W headphone amplifier from LH Labs that was crowd-designed and crowd-funded  on Indiegogo. Since its launched, word has spread quickly and Geek Pulse has become the most successful crowd-designed high performance audio component in the world.
 
Geek Pulse decodes both PCM (the most common music format, the one used in your CD's and MP3's) and DSD music files (a rapidly-growing digital download format that audiophiles tend to love). It uses a converter that can convert bit rates of 1 bit, 16 bit, 24 bit, or 32 bit. It decodes sample rates of 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz, 352.8 kHz, 384 kHz, 2.822 MHz, 3.072 MHz, 5.644 MHz, and 6.144 MHz
 
What input can we connect it with?
 
Geek Pulse has several digital inputs, whether it's a server, and computer, a CD transport, or a smart devices like iPhone/iPad and Android phones?Tablets. It has one USB 2.0 input, two S/PDIF RCA inputs, one TOSLINK optical input, and one AES/EBU balanced input.
 
Geek_Pulse_back.jpg
 
Outputs?
 
Geek Pulse has two ways to get music out of it. First, it has a world-class headphone output that puts out 3,000 mW through a pure class A amplifier into your headphones. Second, it has line level outputs for you to connect to your home stereo. Standard RCA for the base Pulse and additional XLRs for the Pulse X.
 
 
Geek_Pulse_Front_Back_Split.jpg
 
For Updated Features and Specification see:
 
http://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AljAXIFo7qVqdFdmVUoxOXB1VzFPaGtkQXdRa01ibUE#gid=1
 
 
Geek Pluse X Infinity Board​
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Standard Geek Pulse with optional LPS (Linear Power Supply)​
 
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Geek Pulse X (front)​
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Geek Pulse X (back)​
 
 
Geek Pulse differences
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Interesting Features:
 
  1. Fully Balanced
Fully balanced internal circuit.
 
  1. Super Quiet DC Power Circuit

Since Geek Pulse isn't USB powered (like Geek Out is), we'll make "Da Vinci magic" again with a quiet and proven super regulator that uses a large bank of capacitors, providing the best power supply in its class.
 
  1. Femto Clocks
 
 
 
New Addon Products
 
Geek Blue
 
Geek Blue is a Bluetooth 4.0 addon with the aptX codec so you can stream your tunes from your Android, iDevice, and any other Bluetooth-compatible device.
 
Geek LPS and LPS4
 
Geek Pulse has a friend named Geek LPS. LPS stands for "linear power supply." If you really want to get the most out of Geek Pulse, Geek LPS is a must.
 
Geek LPS takes dirty AC power from the wall and delivers clean DC power to Geek Pulse. This clean DC power has very low noise, which improves the sonic quality of the music coming out of Geek Pulse. With clean power, you get more natural music.
 
As an added feature, Geek LPS can be used to clean the noise off of the USB connection from your computer to Geek Pulse. Just connect your computer to Geek LPS using a USB cable, then connect Geek LPS to Geek Pulse (or any USB DAC, for that matter) using a second USB Cable. When you do this, Geek LPS disconnects the 5V power coming over the USB cable from the computer and replaces it with clean (under 6uV noise) 5V power coming from its super-regulated power circuits.
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Geek LPS​
 
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Geek LPS4 (4 outputs)​
 
 
Benefits of a Linear Power Supply
  1. No switching power noise!
  2. Unlike a battery, no need to recharge.
  3. Unlike a battery, a LPS has excellent system grounding.

 
Special note: If you live in a country where your power is not one of the ones specified (Japan or Brazil, for example), please don't buy Geek LPS. Also note that the 110V/120V and 220V/240V is jumper switchable (inside) .
 
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Will update periodically.
 
Just here for the music.
 
Reason for Edit: Updated Pictures
 
Oct 28, 2013 at 12:18 PM Post #2 of 13,800
  A new campaign for a desktop version of their Geek Out portable DAC/Amp will start very soon in Indiegogo watch out! 
 
Geek Pulse is a high-definition DAC and 3W headphone amplifier.
 
Starts at $249 for very early backers.
 
 
 
 
 
Will update when it comes available.
Just here for the music.

Very excited.  I just really hope they don't stick with shiny acrylic for the faceplate.  A gain switch would also be crucial so that more sensitive headphones and IEMs could be used with the 3W headphone out.
 
Oct 28, 2013 at 1:46 PM Post #4 of 13,800
Campaign will start 29 October midnight (Pacific). Delivery will be April 2014
 
Oct 28, 2013 at 9:10 PM Post #6 of 13,800
Wait, tonight or tomorrow night? I am assuming tomorrow night.
 
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:23 PM Post #9 of 13,800
subbed. looking at the back, it appears to use an external PSU, hopefully linear and not SMPS. However, this could make a sweet little transportable setup to run off a battery pack :)
 
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:33 PM Post #10 of 13,800
  subbed. looking at the back, it appears to use an external PSU, hopefully linear and not SMPS. However, this could make a sweet little transportable setup to run off a battery pack :)

 
 
It will be SMPS, they have plans to release a LPS of their own later.
I like the idea of low cost and upgrade path being up to the user. They also have a battery option included if they make funding goals.

It sounds like they are also planning to use the same Sabre dac chip as their Geek Out. 
 
Oct 28, 2013 at 11:41 PM Post #11 of 13,800
   
 
It will be SMPS, they have plans to release a LPS of their own later.
I like the idea of low cost and upgrade path being up to the user. They also have a battery option included if they make funding goals.

It sounds like they are also planning to use the same Sabre dac chip as their Geek Out. 

OK cool, atleast they give you options to "soup it up" a bit :)
 
I'd like to make two requests though. Please put the power switch in the front and  please please please do NOT make that blue LED a retina burner. Thanks!
 
Oct 29, 2013 at 3:05 AM Post #13 of 13,800
And we're live! Anyone who's getting it, feel free to PM me for a referral. :wink:
 
Oct 29, 2013 at 3:44 AM Post #14 of 13,800
In for one. Halfway to their goal in :30 and surprising few perk levels choosen. An awful lot of $199 and $239 'donations' though. Wonder what that could be?  
cool.gif
 
 
Oct 29, 2013 at 3:51 AM Post #15 of 13,800
  In for one. Halfway to their goal in :30 and surprising few perk levels choosen. An awful lot of $199 and $239 'donations' though. Wonder what that could be?  
cool.gif
 
 

 
Done!! 
bigsmile_face.gif

 

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