Haha, I did the exact same thing; I sent him a PM as soon as I read the thread. Let's see what happens.
Geek HPA by LH Labs
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bitsnbytes
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Although I would like to see a tube HPA, tube rolling will be expensive. Is there a reason why a lot of the tube HPA's have dual sockets instead of just one?
The thing is, if you need to buy in pairs, they need to match to a certain degree. But most valves have two halves and can used for left and right. As I understand it, you can design a HPA around just using one tube. But is there an advantage of having a pair (or more) instead of just one tube?
The thing is, if you need to buy in pairs, they need to match to a certain degree. But most valves have two halves and can used for left and right. As I understand it, you can design a HPA around just using one tube. But is there an advantage of having a pair (or more) instead of just one tube?
Anaximandros
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You have a tube for each channel. Better separation, less distortion per channel.
Simply analog to having a DAC for each channel
Simply analog to having a DAC for each channel
Anyone who pledged the $9 received any updates on the HPA? 
Anaximandros
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No updates so far.
bitsnbytes
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There's some forum chatter at LHL, but it seems to be a limited discussion to certain members:
http://lhlabs.com/force/roundtable-geekheadphoneamp/2986-geek-hpa-design-discussion#50199
Personally, I'm interested in a tube offering, with flexibility for 6-12v tubes, which might require a switchable heater selection (or automatic?) and auto-biasing for maximizing the tubes (or at least a way to adjust them easily.
Design-wise I'd prefer to have it "streamline" looking instead of the usual tubes sticking out. But I could live with tubes sticking out
And same footprint as the Pulse would be nice.
http://lhlabs.com/force/roundtable-geekheadphoneamp/2986-geek-hpa-design-discussion#50199
Personally, I'm interested in a tube offering, with flexibility for 6-12v tubes, which might require a switchable heater selection (or automatic?) and auto-biasing for maximizing the tubes (or at least a way to adjust them easily.
Design-wise I'd prefer to have it "streamline" looking instead of the usual tubes sticking out. But I could live with tubes sticking out
And same footprint as the Pulse would be nice.
bitsnbytes
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Anyone who pledged the $9 received any updates on the HPA?
Put down $9, although there has so far been no news. Maybe I need to check my email spam filter...
Anaximandros
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Some People have write access in the Round Table sub Forum at lhlabs, but there is not much going on there.
Anyone of you monitorin this thread have write access there?
http://lhlabs.com/force/roundtable-geekheadphoneamp/2986-geek-hpa-design-discussion
If not you can forward me your suggestions and I'll post them there.
Anyone of you monitorin this thread have write access there?
http://lhlabs.com/force/roundtable-geekheadphoneamp/2986-geek-hpa-design-discussion
If not you can forward me your suggestions and I'll post them there.
greenkiwi
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I am definitely concerned with some of the initial "requests" that were made, particularly around an amplifier designed to drive everything. Within a particular budget and design parameters, there are always compromises to be made.
There appear to be a variety of different headphones out there:
Attempting to design a headphone amp that has enough power and gain to drive a pair of HE-6s AND has low enough noise and reasonable volume control with IEMs seems to be a very very tough task, and seems fraught with unpleasant compromises.
Instead of trying to please everyone, I hope they are able to find a subset to please and potentially have ways of pleasing others. Maybe a variety of configurations. Though instead of offering and NxN matrix, just a fixed set of configurations handled in a way more like a group buy, rather than the current model. For example, right from the start set the expectation that only configurations that have over N backers will be made. Anyone who has backed a different configuration can choose to either change or get their money back.
And I'd much rather that they just said we have a regular version for $600 and a top of the line version for $800. The $200 will be used in whatever way Larry/Gavin think improves the sound/experience the most. And the accountability would be through describing what the improvements actually are that they make in the final board, rather than crowd sourcing the design of the details themselves. What I believe we care about most is the final product and how it meets the design criteria, not whether individual components are X/Y/Z.
There appear to be a variety of different headphones out there:
- IEMs
- Regular Orthos (everything but the HE-6)
- High Z cans (everything over 200 ohms or so)
- Crazy Orthos (HE-6 and anything else than needs 8W of power)
Attempting to design a headphone amp that has enough power and gain to drive a pair of HE-6s AND has low enough noise and reasonable volume control with IEMs seems to be a very very tough task, and seems fraught with unpleasant compromises.
Instead of trying to please everyone, I hope they are able to find a subset to please and potentially have ways of pleasing others. Maybe a variety of configurations. Though instead of offering and NxN matrix, just a fixed set of configurations handled in a way more like a group buy, rather than the current model. For example, right from the start set the expectation that only configurations that have over N backers will be made. Anyone who has backed a different configuration can choose to either change or get their money back.
And I'd much rather that they just said we have a regular version for $600 and a top of the line version for $800. The $200 will be used in whatever way Larry/Gavin think improves the sound/experience the most. And the accountability would be through describing what the improvements actually are that they make in the final board, rather than crowd sourcing the design of the details themselves. What I believe we care about most is the final product and how it meets the design criteria, not whether individual components are X/Y/Z.
uncola
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I definitely hope they keep it down to just like one or two configurations at most so they can focus.. and avoid feature creep.
All aboard the pre-campaign thread. What's after this? Geek full-size headphones? Don't think they understand mercy to our wallets.
I'd love to try and bring some more information to the round table on the LH Labs forums, so I have a simple question that may help jump start some ideas. Think of your favorite dedicated headphone amp in the $500-800 range. What do you like about it? What makes it special? Surely synergy with our favorite headphones is one of those answers but what else?
I'll start and I have an easy one, simplicity. I love dedicated amps that are simple. One, maybe two inputs and a simple way to switch between them. If the amp has tubes I want it to be simple to access them and change them when desired. I want a simple design, maybe even going so far as to call it minimalist. Simple, that's what I'm looking for. I want something my non-techy wife can use without needing to ask me how. The simpler it is, the better.
What about everyone else?
I'll start and I have an easy one, simplicity. I love dedicated amps that are simple. One, maybe two inputs and a simple way to switch between them. If the amp has tubes I want it to be simple to access them and change them when desired. I want a simple design, maybe even going so far as to call it minimalist. Simple, that's what I'm looking for. I want something my non-techy wife can use without needing to ask me how. The simpler it is, the better.
What about everyone else?
greenkiwi
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I'm all for clean and simple.
Unfortunately I haven't had a lot of experience with multiple different amps, but from reviews, I think getting a amp with performance in the direction of the liquid glass and crimson would be what I would want.
Those are the tube amps that are on my dream list.
Unfortunately I haven't had a lot of experience with multiple different amps, but from reviews, I think getting a amp with performance in the direction of the liquid glass and crimson would be what I would want.
Those are the tube amps that are on my dream list.
A product like the Liquid Glass of the new Crimson would indeed be amazing, but in the target price range I don't feel it's a reasonable expectation. I have no doubt Larry will work his team to their max and pull the best sound that they can but the target price will inevitably hold them back. At least it will if we don't run into design creep again, and that may happen. Is there something specific about the Cavalli products you like? A certain aspect of their sound signature that they bring to the table that others don't?
bitsnbytes
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I'm all for clean designs, form following function. I'd also like to see it complimenting the Pulse that I hope to receive soon, at the very least having its footprint.
I echo greenkiwi's concern about having a Swiss Army knife style amp. Something tells me that ultimately the versions that will be out are at least one that will please 80% of the people, and one that will please Larry the designer--something in a special edition or all souped up and beyond 4 figures in parts. I can see at least one amp that will work around Larry's favorite tubes, or his favorite opamps, etc.
What I'd like to see is something that's a bit "more" than my original Lyr. I'd pay more to have something that has better components (active/passive) and cleaner power. I think I mentioned it elsewhere, auto-biasing, adaptive heaters...unless the design affects the SQ.
Someone in the Geek Force also mentioned the Bottlehead Crack (~$500 for upgraded) and S. E. X. (~$650 upgraded version) which are really appealing (except I'm not really in a position right now to DIY and troubleshoot any problems I know I will create). I like the Bottlehead industrial looks, but the input only on top (as well as everything else) leaves it looking...well, DIY.
I echo greenkiwi's concern about having a Swiss Army knife style amp. Something tells me that ultimately the versions that will be out are at least one that will please 80% of the people, and one that will please Larry the designer--something in a special edition or all souped up and beyond 4 figures in parts. I can see at least one amp that will work around Larry's favorite tubes, or his favorite opamps, etc.
What I'd like to see is something that's a bit "more" than my original Lyr. I'd pay more to have something that has better components (active/passive) and cleaner power. I think I mentioned it elsewhere, auto-biasing, adaptive heaters...unless the design affects the SQ.
Someone in the Geek Force also mentioned the Bottlehead Crack (~$500 for upgraded) and S. E. X. (~$650 upgraded version) which are really appealing (except I'm not really in a position right now to DIY and troubleshoot any problems I know I will create). I like the Bottlehead industrial looks, but the input only on top (as well as everything else) leaves it looking...well, DIY.
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