Geek Pulse: Geek desktop DAC/AMP by Light Harmonics

[Zoo Animal]

  Good stuff.  I am wondering if they will lower the output on the RCA to closer to the Redbook standard of 2V instead of the listed 4V, which is closer to normal balanced/pro output.  Hope that a balanced out for the headphone is doable, too, as that would be more useful for me than the balanced output.

I took that to mean for the headphone out, as he mentions it is balanced to the headphone driver. But you are right it could be either.

 

[angelo898]

Looks good

 

[FraGGleR]

  I took that to mean for the headphone out, as he mentions it is balanced to the headphone driver. But you are right it could be either.

Larry mentioning RCA makes me think he is only talking about balanced line out, not headphone.  No one that I am aware of yet has used mini XLR for headphones (a damn shame).

 

[BaTou069]

Hello Guys
 
I'm a backer from their kickstarter project and I'm wondering if supporting their new project makes any sense for my system:
 
In my living room I use 
 
Harman Kardon AVR 146
Yamaha Speakers that are for Home Theater (5.1), dont remember the model.... ( here a pic: http://inglele.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/ns-p270.jpg )
 
I would either listen to CD's connected with optical cable, or connect my PC to it. PC connection normal coax or when the small geek arrives, with this pre-connected....
I dont have any optical outpout from my pc
 
Do i need a better setup in order to take advantage of an DAC like this?
 
Thanks

 

[FraGGleR]

  Hello Guys
 
I'm a backer from their kickstarter project and I'm wondering if supporting their new project makes any sense for my system:
 
In my living room I use 
 
Harman Kardon AVR 146
Yamaha Speakers that are for Home Theater (5.1), dont remember the model.... ( here a pic: http://inglele.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/ns-p270.jpg )
 
I would either listen to CD's connected with optical cable, or connect my PC to it. PC connection normal coax or when the small geek arrives, with this pre-connected....
I dont have any optical outpout from my pc
 
Do i need a better setup in order to take advantage of an DAC like this?
 
Thanks

I'd say almost any aftermarket DAC, especially ones commonly found on Headfi will be certainly better than a computer onboard audio system and most likely better than most AVRs.  Cirrus Logic isn't that popular a chip manufacturer around here, so most likely you will get better performance from a new DAC.  One issue is that you will only be able to use the GEEK products for 2 channel listening.  You would have to bypass the GEEK for surround sound.  
 
The Pulse looks like it is going to scale well.  You will most likely get an improvement with your current setup, but might see even better improvements as you upgrade your receiver and speakers. 

 

[alvin1118]

Hi Larry,
 
Good to see you here! 
It's really exciting to participate in these GEEK OUT and GEEK PULSE champions, you guys REALLY rock !
 
Suggestion for GEEK PULSE:
 
1. Adjustable Fixed / Variable Line-Out - Allow user to utilize GEEK PULSE as pure DAC or DAC + Preamp
 
2. Optional Linear PSU - TO bring GEEK PULSE SQ to another level !!
 
3. Volume Knob - Can be analog / digital. Personally like the volume knob kind of convention way to adjust volume instead of push buttons
 
4. Automatic Source Selection based on prefix priority. Whichever connected source detected will be selected i.e. First (USB), Second (Coaxial 1), Third (Coaxial 2), Forth (TOSLink)
 
5. OLED Display of selected source, volume info, sampling rate etc
 
6. Active I/V & LPF
 
7. Audiophile grade 3.3VDC & 5.0VDC voltage regulator - LT1117 series? 
 
8. Full aluminium / alloy chassis
 
Too much things to list down... 

The hard truth is, to squeeze all these features into GEEK PULSE cost money. As a backer at USD249 price point, it's really rightful to request for so much? Or we should think & suggest as if it's MSRP $499 ?
 
 

 

[m-i-c-k-e-y]

  And are people voting for MUST haves, or NICE to haves?  I think it is more useful for Light Harmonic if we are distinguishing between those.  Some of the popular poll items don't seem to make sense as dealbreakers or sensible items for this kind of product.

 
I too want to have also a Rotary Volume Control instead of pushing buttons. Don't care if its analog or digital as long that its sound good.
 
However, the system won't let me edit  the Poll I created. Sorry! Even currawong, an administrator can't. So we're stuck. And I don't want to loose the data other's have already created.
 
At least we do have a trend on what backers wants.  We'll leave up to developers to decide. And they are listening. We still can express our other desires thru our posts here and thru their campaign site.  
 
Thanks!

 

[m-i-c-k-e-y]

@ Alvin 
 
They have a Linear DC PSU instore for the Geek Pulse.  Hoping they will send in it next or the battery pack as an add-on.
 
Let me post what Gavin has said...
 

Creator Gavin Fish 1 day ago
We have several components on the drawing board which will be affordable to more folks and still have LH Labs performance. The next two we'll release will probably be a bluetooth stage and an Airplay stage (if MFI gets approved). We also have plans for a pre-amp, an amp, a phono stage, and a linear DC power supply. Geek Pulse really will be a family of products.

 

[Rayvolution]

So I can use the RCA out to connect to a dedicated headphone amp right? Or is it still acting as an amp too over RCA?

 

[sbradley02]

  I don't think an analog volume control necessarily makes sense here since this is based on a 32-bit chipset with digital volume control built in.  I would love an actual knob to control the digital volume though.  

Yes, this is exactly what I have been requesting. Should be straightforward. An absolute encoder would be best but likely too expensive, but even an incremental encoder would be a big improvement over up/down buttons which are very inconvenient to use...

 

[rdsu]

  @ Alvin 
 
They have a Linear DC PSU instore for the Geek Pulse.  Hoping they will send in it next or the battery pack as an add-on.
 
Let me post what Gavin has said...
 

Creator Gavin Fish 1 day ago
We have several components on the drawing board which will be affordable to more folks and still have LH Labs performance. The next two we'll release will probably be a bluetooth stage and an Airplay stage (if MFI gets approved). We also have plans for a pre-amp, an amp, a phono stage, and a linear DC power supply. Geek Pulse really will be a family of products.

Maybe a new Stretch Goal!?
----
Larry Ho said 3 hours ago
Yes. We will have 220V version as well in linear power supply configuration (stretch goal). For normal power input, it is 110V/220V compatible.
Cheers,
----

 

I made that suggestion, and maybe they accepted it...

 

[lauandyuen]

no dont use mini xlr, it is not standard hi fi audio plug. It must use original  xlr .
I still wait original  xlr + volume control.

 

[m-i-c-k-e-y]

 
Maybe a new Stretch Goal!?
----
Larry Ho said 3 hours ago
Yes. We will have 220V version as well in linear power supply configuration (stretch goal). For normal power input, it is 110V/220V compatible.
Cheers,
----

 

I made that suggestion, and maybe they accepted it...

 
One of their stretch goal is a rechargeable SLA battery pack. But its way up there I doubt we can catch it, who knows. If not hoping it will be an add-on later for those who wants. I believe the Linear DC PSU is separate component that they will develop along with others (blutooth/airplay, preamp, amp) to complement Geek Pulse (see Gavin's post above).

 

[eliwankenobi]

Larry Ho

Please make volume control available for line out as well. Add a switch to bypass volume control so as to have the option of just DAC or DAC + Pre.

Add a small LED screen between the "V" to make it look more like flagship DaVinci DAC.

Just my suggestion.

 

[flipper2gv]

  Yes, this is exactly what I have been requesting. Should be straightforward. An absolute encoder would be best but likely too expensive, but even an incremental encoder would be a big improvement over up/down buttons which are very inconvenient to use...

I don't think they have the room though.

A digital rotary volume control would be very appreciated now. And that would be the last thing I'd ask.