Geek Pulse: Geek desktop DAC/AMP by Light Harmonics

[vnmslsrbms]

All this insistence on quality and yet Pulses are still shipped to customers DOA?

Where did you get that it was shipped to customers?  They caught the board issues during testing it seems.  Internal Quality Standard.  

 

[mandrake50]

The Infinity is the version with the Femto clock...haven't compared the basic Pulse and the Infinity, but have the Geek Out 1000 and the Special Edition with the Femto clock, the Femto makes a big difference in SQ.

I think that there were other upgrades in the SE other than the clocks...Being able to hear differences in the audio output based on a few parts per million in clock accuracy is not real likely.

 

[vnmslsrbms]

 
I think that there were other upgrades in the SE other than the clocks...Being able to hear differences in the audio output based on a few parts per million in clock accuracy is not real likely.

Yeah but switching the clock modes in my Vega I was able to hear differences.  But only if I switch back and forth really quickly LOL.  It's not a big deal really.  But yeah the SE had many other pricey component upgrades.  I'm not sure how much better they will sound.  But they do look gold though!  

 

[Chrome Robot]

I am amused at how Larry and the gang attempt to spin the further delays as a positive about their dedication on insisting on quality, particularly with the numerous faulty units of varying models that they have shipped. Just more BS and attempt to shift the perception of fault.

What temerity this lot has!

 

[atsq17]

Background: I'm still waiting on a unit I first pledged for in 2013. 
 
In their defence, if you DID release stuff that are faulty, you'd work even harder to prevent future cases which is what they are sort of doing. 
 
What they need to do better is communicate better and more often and acknowledge that we are technically being screwed over. 
 
Pretending otherwise or that this is all part of the plan just fuels anger and dissatisfaction. 

 

[doctorjazz]

 


I think that there were other upgrades in the SE other than the clocks...Being able to hear differences in the audio output based on a few parts per million in clock accuracy is not real likely.

Yeah but switching the clock modes in my Vega I was able to hear differences.  But only if I switch back and forth really quickly LOL.  It's not a big deal really.  But yeah the SE had many other pricey component upgrades.  I'm not sure how much better they will sound.  But they do look gold though!  

There was supposed to be other upgrades, in part quality and tolerances, but, while I have no way to prove it or isolate it from other improvements for the Special Edition, but I believe the Femto clocks are a big part of it. But, as I said, can't really prove it without having identical models with and without the Femto to compare.

 

[snip3r77]

Actually those guys that are still waiting is because most of you opt for the new chassis. Perhaps getting the old chassis is a good idea. Yeah.. I got the old chassis and I'm not waiting anymore.

 

[Jupiterknight]

  Yeah but switching the clock modes in my Vega I was able to hear differences.  But only if I switch back and forth really quickly LOL.  It's not a big deal really.  But yeah the SE had many other pricey component upgrades.  I'm not sure how much better they will sound.  But they do look gold though!  

The various FW might make a difference as well, just to make it more complicated to compare.. I have two Geek Pulse vanilla in two different 1.0 chassis, both are totally burned in, so let's rule that out!  Anyhow, FW 1V4 sounds differently from FW 1V5. To my ears at least and I used a switch box, units volume matched, going back and forth it was fairly clear, although without this type of direct comparing I most likely wouldn't be able to tell or identify a difference.
 
Anyhow, FW 1V4 sounded more smoother and better balanced than 1V5.  So IMO there could be more than component upgrades at stake when we compare units, have opinions on such without being able to compare directly..

 

[vnmslsrbms]

  The various FW might make a difference as well, just to make it more complicated to compare.. I have two Geek Pulse vanilla in two different 1.0 chassis, both are totally burned in, so let's rule that out!  Anyhow, FW 1V4 sounds differently from FW 1V5. To my ears at least and I used a switch box, units volume matched, going back and forth it was fairly clear, although without this type of direct comparing I most likely wouldn't be able to tell or identify a difference.
 
Anyhow, FW 1V4 sounded more smoother and better balanced than 1V5.  So IMO there could be more than component upgrades at stake when we compare units, have opinions on such without being able to compare directly..

But... are you able to test the firmwares on the respective machines?  Like swap them?  Maybe the units themselves are different too (just sounding, since they are the same vanilla pulse).  Oh so many variables.  Surprised the 1v5 sounded worse though.  Bummer.  

 

[Jupiterknight]

  But... are you able to test the firmwares on the respective machines?  Like swap them?  Maybe the units themselves are different too (just sounding, since they are the same vanilla pulse).  Oh so many variables.  Surprised the 1v5 sounded worse though.  Bummer.  

Yes, I can load 1v4 on one unit and 1v5 on the second unit and the other way around. I do use two different PC's so that could be another variable as well, but I have tried swapping/changing all combinations within the time frame I have and want to spend on this circus... and still came to the same conclusion that there was a difference. That I will keep 1v4 on both units.. 1v5 was to bright/digital sounding to my ears..

 

[smial1966]

True. Which we were erroneously informed would delay shipping by a couple of months at most, not by 6 months or more which is now the likely outcome and this presupposes that LH Labs delivery estimates are even accurate, when historically they've missed every shipping estimation by a wide margin.
 
Oh well, I've been waiting 26 months for my Pulse Infinity, what's another... add your own guess here. 

    
 
Quote:

Actually those guys that are still waiting is because most of you opt for the new chassis. Perhaps getting the old chassis is a good idea. Yeah.. I got the old chassis and I'm not waiting anymore.

 

[germay0653]

  I think that there were other upgrades in the SE other than the clocks...Being able to hear differences in the audio output based on a few parts per million in clock accuracy is not real likely.

Have you heard a DAC with them?  I can tell you the Pulse X Infinity is leaps and bounds better than the vanilla V1 GO's.  Larry also matched internal components, not sure which ones, and personally tunes each SE model.

 

[doctorjazz]

The Geek Out SE V1 sounds much better than the GO 1000, and better than most other DACs I've compared it to (CEntrance Hifi M8, Denon's iPod amp/dac, the built in DAC in my Peachtree GrandPre Preamp). I can't tweeze out which improvement Larry made is the reason (likely all together), but I believe the clock is significant (I have absolutely NO way to prove my statement, of course, but doesn't stop me for a minute from making it, like a TRUE Head-Fi denizen).

 

[mandrake50]

The Geek Out SE V1 sounds much better than the GO 1000, and better than most other DACs I've compared it to (CEntrance Hifi M8, Denon's iPod amp/dac, the built in DAC in my Peachtree GrandPre Preamp). I can't tweeze out which improvement Larry made is the reason (likely all together), but I believe the clock is significant (I have absolutely NO way to prove my statement, of course, but doesn't stop me for a minute from making it, like a TRUE Head-Fi denizen).

I have an Infinity and a GO 1000. Of course they are different. I very definitely prefer listening to the Infinity. I attribute that to the entire design and implementation. If I had to guess, maybe 10% of that is the clocks. As you say, in the absence of test data and critical listening of a like design with the only difference being the clocks, or better yet AB tests, I can't prove that. Knowing what the clocks do in the circuit, however, At least I have some basis for the statement. I am sure that better caps and resistors with a higher level of matching and precision, make a far more audible difference. The topology of the board and power supply also would be far higher on my list of difference makers. But this is a comparison (GO VS Infinity) that has little bearing on assuming any differences in sound that would be provided by simply adding one higher precision in a circuit that otherwise stays the same. In that case I doubt that neither the sound nor the measurements would change appreciably. That last is what the point here is, correct? Not comparing two completely different designs (GO and Infinity) that just happen to also have different clocks.

 

[doctorjazz]

I mostly get my Impressions on the Femto clock from Larry and the various updates. It always seemed to me the Femto clock was the main thing he stressed in the various upgrades. If course, alkyl the contents and matching and listening makes a big difference.