Geek Pulse: Geek desktop DAC/AMP by Light Harmonics

[Currawong]

I'd leave worrying about opamps to them. 

 

[nick v]

  I'd leave worrying about opamps to them. 

That's an awfully strange perspective when it comes to an upgrade that we'd be paying extra money for. I'd kind of like to know what op amps will be in the standard version and what they'll be using in the 'Internal Amp Upgrade' to make the determination whether or not it's worth my extra money. Seems rational to me, no?
 
Although, admittedly they do seem to be offering tremendous value here and I will likely add the upgrade without knowing exactly which parts they're using. I would just prefer to know...

 

[germay0653]

Larry is also considering a Muses op-amp.

 

[Currawong]

 

  I'd leave worrying about opamps to them. 

That's an awfully strange perspective when it comes to an upgrade that we'd be paying extra money for. I'd kind of like to know what op amps will be in the standard version and what they'll be using in the 'Internal Amp Upgrade' to make the determination whether or not it's worth my extra money. Seems rational to me, no?
 
Although, admittedly they do seem to be offering tremendous value here and I will likely add the upgrade without knowing exactly which parts they're using. I would just prefer to know...

 
Now I think of it, only the OPA627 or two best MUSES opamps would actually cost significantly more. I can think of opamps that would sound significantly worse, rather than better than the usual well-known models, but I don't consider it that big of a deal as I used to. It was only cheap, lousy designs I noticed differences in opamps. In good designs all the good opamps sounded about the same.

 

[Larry Ho]

  Larry is also considering a Muses op-amp.

Muse kindly provide me three models totally 10+ pcs to test... TI also sent me some nice samples too...
 
When our EP2 boards comes in with these goodies, it would be FUN to listen.
 
Before I went to CES, I just found another good tweak to make ES9018K-2M sound even better in Geek Out.
I will use that to Geek Pulse as well... 
 
Still in the middle of CES, talking, watching, learning, thinking! 
 
Cheers,

 

[Muinarc]

Thanks for the interesting update Larry. Hope you are having a good time at CES.

 

[digitalzed]

  Muse kindly provide me three models totally 10+ pcs to test... TI also sent me some nice samples too...
 
When our EP2 boards comes in with these goodies, it would be FUN to listen.
 
Before I went to CES, I just found another good tweak to make ES9018K-2M sound even better in Geek Out.
I will use that to Geek Pulse as well... 
 
Still in the middle of CES, talking, watching, learning, thinking! 
 
Cheers,

Thanks Larry, good information. Curious, any update on when Geek Out will ship to the original Kickstarter backers? 

 

[earfonia]

  Muse kindly provide me three models totally 10+ pcs to test... TI also sent me some nice samples too...
 
When our EP2 boards comes in with these goodies, it would be FUN to listen.
 
Before I went to CES, I just found another good tweak to make ES9018K-2M sound even better in Geek Out.
I will use that to Geek Pulse as well... 
 
Still in the middle of CES, talking, watching, learning, thinking! 
 
Cheers,

 
Hi Larry, I've been comparing Op-Amps using Fiio E12DIY amplifier for the last few weeks, and I found AD8599 to be one of the best Op-Amps I ever tried so far.
http://sg.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?R=AD8599ARZvirtualkey99990000virtualkey584-AD8599ARZ
 
It really compares well with AD797, if not better.  AD8599 has more low bass, and more transparent and spacious compared with AD797.  Hope you would give it a try

 

[m17xr2b]

The implementation matters more than the Op-Amp used, different implementations will give different results when comparing op-amps.

 

[miceblue]

The implementation matters more than the Op-Amp used, different implementations will give different results when comparing op-amps.

Exactly. That's why I was opposed to having op-amp rolling in the Geek products.

Op-amp rolling = convenience over optimisation.

 

[Larry Ho]

   
Hi Larry, I've been comparing Op-Amps using Fiio E12DIY amplifier for the last few weeks, and I found AD8599 to be one of the best Op-Amps I ever tried so far.
http://sg.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?R=AD8599ARZvirtualkey99990000virtualkey584-AD8599ARZ
 
It really compares well with AD797, if not better.  AD8599 has more low bass, and more transparent and spacious compared with AD797.  Hope you would give it a try

If my memory serves me right, AD8599 sounds warm and involving. But need some good caps surrounded to reveal the details. Not a bad choice.
 
AD797 is not easy to get it sound right... You need to find a good supporting circuit to give it the justice. 

 

[Larry Ho]

Yes!

 

[AxelCloris]

Viito just posted this design on the Geek Temple, and oh my god is it gorgeous. I want to put all my votes towards this.
 

 
It has rounded corners, similar to a Mac Mini. So lovely... I'm just going to stare at this for a while now...

 

[miceblue]

Yeah I saw that. I thought the white on the base was part of the white background, so I thought the unit was "floating" with the black bottom being the only thing keeping it up. XD

 

[AxelCloris]

It looks to be a brushed aluminum color from what I can see, but monitor calibration may be off. But I can see what you mean, it does somewhat blend in with the white background. The shadows and reflection are what I noticed to see it was rectangular.
 
So pretty. I'd actually be willing to pay a bit more if it looked like this.