ikkx
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2014
- Posts
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- 11
I just bought the GEEK PULSE basic version off ebay for $280, is this version crap? I thought it had two DACs, but apparently it's just one. Should I just resell this?
I just bought the GEEK PULSE basic version off ebay for $280, is this version crap? I thought it had two DACs, but apparently it's just one. Should I just resell this?
I paid $20 more than you for a brand new one, base model. When I first received it I thought it was too light to have quality components and the chassis wasn't anything amazing to look at. However, about 100 hours into using it, I do think it is a quality DAC and I've previously owned DACs ranging from $100-1,500. The amp section is actually decent as well. I can't say it is my end-game DAC, but it gets the job done and I can't really find any major faults. It's probably more psychological that I don't rate it higher. The cheap wall wart and the aesthetics aside, use it for a while and then decide. Give it a little break-in period too.
If it works I think is a great deal. Listen to it to see if you like it.
Still waiting on Pulse Infinity 2.0, and I was an early backer. Anyone else from the UK still waiting?
It's essentially as new, I'm asking because I've only had the dragonfly before and it broke (got bent while USB was plugged in). Since I have no reference how something in the range 300+ should sound like, I'm asking if there are better things out there at that price point. I have the x2 headphones (WOOX version). If in your opinion a cheaper DAC sounds just as good i'll just resell it for the same amount of money and get that instead.
I'm not sure how good resale is on the Pulse, but I dare say that if you don't need portability, the Pulse is an excellent value at $300
it'll be resold for $300 again, portability isn't an issue for me. The ifi Macro has been sold for $250, Nano for $100 on ebay before, geek out v2 at $160, Audioquest nighthawk for $350. ebay prices have not much incommon with retail, the only reason I paid that much for pulse is cause I thought it's $1000 retail. it's all about the timing on ebay.
Is there a big difference between nano/micro, geek pulse and what kind of micro (ican/idac, etc)? and what do you think about the x2's, what's better than it?
Thanks.
I see that you're looking for advice, but what you're continuing on with is starting to get like asking what someone else's favourite colour is and whether you should change yours...
WNBC has given you some pretty decent feedback/advice and certainly enough for you to firm up a personal decision with. In my opinion you seem to be wanting to see the vanilla Pulse and that's skewing your interpretation of what he's telling you.
Just make a call, then follow through. Any of these DAC-amps are OK, but only as long as you accept that they could be. If component chasing is your thing, then move on up to spending some real money and there you can start to discuss the potential worthiness of the pieces vs. another.
How were you able to get a LPS4 in the 2.0 chassis?
Here's a little eye candy for y'all!
I finally got back from my trip and got time to hook it all up, so here is the Infinity Stack. Pulse X Infinity and Pulse LPS4 both in V2 chassis. As far as I've seen, I'm the only person I know of that has the combo. Eat it! Hahahaha!
Really though, who's eating it, me? It took nearly 2.5 years to get it and I had to live through Perkagedon... The real stepping stone were the several issues that my V1 LPS4 had which sent it in for an extended RMA with no estimated date of return. That then coincided with the release of the V2 LPS4 which has a totally new PCB and layout.
After a slew of emails I got slotted in for a V2 LPS4 and now have a matching stack, which I am quite pleased about. That old LPS4 with the new V2 Infinity would have been horrible.
As for sound, the blackness is what grabs me. The notes climb out of the darkness like I've never heard. There's also GOBS of detail. The plankton is much appreciated. With this and the new headphones it's made for a great night.
Next step is to get a balanced cable for my headphones, then try an outboard amplifier with the X Infinity on dedicated DAC duties.
Sharing my JRiver Settings. These are the same I use Geek Out also.
Normally I prefer Kernel Streaming:
And upsample everything to DSD128..
If you prefer ASIO these are the settings under Audio Device:
Remember:
1. Setting Bitstreaming to NONE converts everyhing to PCM
2. Output Encoding under DSP studio changes Output.
NONE = leave as is
DSD in DoP = converts/upsamples everything to DSD64
2x DoP = converts/upsamples everything to DSD128
3. Sample Rate as the name imply changes PCM sample rates. This will work only if in Output Encoding section is NONE (no DSD convertion).
NONE = leave as is
44100 - 384000 = respective sample rates that you can convert.
Examples:
Bistreaming: NONE, Output Encoding: NONE, Sample Rate: All 384000
Meaning: All signals are converted to PCM at 384000 Hz
Bitstreaming: DSD, Output Encoding: DSD in DoP, Sample Rate: NONE
Meaning: All signals are upsampled to DSD64. DSD128 is downsampled to DSD64
Bitstreaming: DSD, Output Encoding: NONE, Sample Rate: NONE
Meaning: DSD are played/bitstreamed to their respective sample rates, and so does PCM.
Happy tweaking...