Thread: KickStart - GEEK: A New USB Awesomifier for Headphones

Trung, I've seen that before & it sure does look interesting. Good find.

A new campaign for a desktop version of their Geek Out portable DAC/Amp has started in Indiegogo!

Geek Pulse is a high-definition DAC and 3W headphone amplifier.

Beyond being a rad DAC, Geek Pulse has two ways to get music out of it. First, there's a pair of RCA connectors on the back. Second, it has an amazing headphone amplifier inside that is accessed by a 1/4" headphone jack on the front. Again, this is audiophile approved stuff and it is powerful. It'll push 3,000 milliwatts into a pair of headphones.

The Geek Pulse DAC is just one component in a line that LH Labs hopes to continue building that will work together in synchronized harmony.

Now price at $299 for very early backers. Now is 40% off and come with a true audiophile cable.
$398 for both Geek Pulse and Geek Out ($199+$199)


GET IT HERE


Updated Features:
Gain Switch - either on PCB board or Dip Switch at the back. With this switch, Geek Pulse will work well with 99% of the headphones that are on the market, including IEMs.
Two Planed Versions - RCA or mini-XLR model. (to be finalized, definitely having a balanced out)
LEDs dimmable

In development:
Volume Control Knob (headphone output)
Display suggestions
Mute output with headphone jack insertion

** Will be formaly announcing the first milestone of product specification changes. Stay tuned.








Interesting Features:

Fully Balanced
Fully balanced internal circuit.

The 3D Awesomifier ​
Geek Pulse's 3D Awesomifier electronically duplicates what happens naturally when we listen to sound through a stereo. Sometimes this technology is called "crossfeeding," but Geek Pulse does it in a very unique way, using both digital and analog technologies proprietary to LH Labs.





Super Quiet DC Power Circuit
Since Geek Pulse isn't USB powered (like Geek Out is), we'll make "Da Vinci magic" again with a quiet and proven super regulator that uses a large bank of capacitors, providing the best power supply in its class.




Disclaimer: the link above linked to my reward links. However, I do love their products, and ordered both Geek Out & Pulse so I want to share with you this product.

Source: Indiegogo / Headfi

The first specs milestone changes will be released soon! Will posted it here if anyone interested.

Changes & Updates to Geek Pulse
This is not a final list of changes, this is just what we can commit to right now.


1. We're removing the decorative "V" on the front panel.
2. We're changing from a glossy acrylic front panel to a metal one.
3. We're changing the volume control buttons to a large control knob.
4. We're adding informative LED's to the front panel to display sample rates, etc.
5. We're adding a gain switch so all ya'll with IEM's won't blow your ear drums out. We're thinking three positions: 3 W, 1 W, and 100 mW.
6. The headphone output and the line output will have discrete analog circuits.

Geek Blue - A Bluetooth Stage that is Rad
This idea came from you! Geek Blue is a Bluetooth 4.0 stage so you can stream your music right from your Android, iDevice, or other Bluetooth-enabled device to Geek Pulse.
Price at $169 for 30% less than its MSRP of $249.
They can now be avialble at the Indiegogo funding website

Light Harmonic becomes ambitious and overwhelmed. They expand into new areas so quick. I both have good and bad feeling about this.
Good marketing strategy though.

This sounds like just the thing for my laptop. (I need to do something about it's sound or lack thereof depending on how you look at it. It's terrible with external speakers and just ok with headphones, but very weak). I need to find out how much this thingy is without the cable. (Hmm, seems there is nobody to ask question of, so how do I go about finding out)? I have time though because I'm not an early adopter of anything, just my nature (sometimes I wait too long).

How do you say it's weak with headphone? with 3W you can drive most of headphones out there at loud to very loud volume. I pair my Sen HD650 with Dragon Fly, and they only have 150mW, and it's louder than what I need at max volume.
Besides, audio item at $200~300 range, it's pretty liquidity to try on and sell later on if you dont like

Originally Posted by vincent215

How do you say it's weak with headphone? with 3W you can drive most of headphones out there at loud to very loud volume. I pair my Sen HD650 with Dragon Fly, and they only have 150mW, and it's louder than what I need at max volume.
Besides, audio item at $200~300 range, it's pretty liquidity to try on and sell later on if you dont like

What I meant was that the sound quality is weak, sorry I wasn't clear. I hate music loud. I also see your comparing my straight to headphone from PC to your Dragon Fly thing connected to your PC. That's apples and oranges. I hate trying to sell stuff later and won't bother with doing it, so I need to have anything I get work and do it's job from the start. This item has promise and all I'm trying to find out is what the cost is without the cable, but I can't seem to find anyone to contact about that.

The cable is one of the extra gadget that they included when funding reach 200k, which is now passed. I dont know if this is a special thing for funding period only or it will be available in every retail package.
You can contact thei main company, Light Harmonic to ask about it.

Updated Features:
Removed decorative "V" on the front panel.
Changed from a glossy acrylic front panel to metal.
A large volume control knob with digital encoder sending to digital volume control - 64bit.
Controls both headphone and line out.
Informative LED's to the front panel to display sample rates, etc.
Gain switch, three positions: High (3W) Medium (1W) Low(100mW).
Headphone Mute
The headphone output and the line output will have discrete analog circuits.
​
In development (and continually taking other suggestions):
Balanced output version of Geek Pulse (dual-mono ESS9018K2M) - soon.




New Addon Product


Geek Blue

Geek Blue is a Bluetooth 4.0 addon with the aptX codec so you can stream your tunes from your Android, iDevice, and any other Bluetooth-compatible device.


Source

They added Geek Pulse X to the campaign - a fully balanced version of Geek Pulse!


What is Geek Pulse X?
(top)
Geek Pulse X is a balanced version of Geek Pulse. The differences between the two on the outside are easy to spot. On the front panel, instead of a standard 1/4” stereo headphone jack, you’ll find a 4-pin balanced output. On the back panel, you’ll find two XLR outputs, one AES digital input, one RCA digital input, and one TOSLINK input. But these external differences only scratch the surface of the design change inside.


In order to accomplish a true balanced design, we have to nearly double the internal components, including the DAC IC and the analog signal amplifiers. This means that Geek Pulse X uses a dual mono (sometimes called “mono-mono") design. There are other internal component upgrades as well. Geek Pulse X will employ Nichicon Muse capacitors in the decoupling stage, and the analog stage will feature a dual mono, high-bias class A module with high-precision, non inductive Caddock resistors. This is all geek-speak for “this sucker’s bad to the bone.”


Should I Choose Geek Pulse or Geek Pulse X?
Well, my friend, that’s up to you. But here’s what I’d consider:

• Do you have balanced headphones?
• Do you prefer to interconnect your components with balanced cables?
• Do you like AES better than SPDIF to connect your digital components to your DAC?

Source

Update

• Removed decorative "V" on the front panel.
  
• Changed from a glossy acrylic front panel to metal.
  
• A large volume control knob with digital encoder sending to digital volume control - 64bit.
  
• Controls both headphone and line out.
  
• Informative LED's to the front panel to display sample rates, etc. (14 LED arrays to show status)
  
• Gain switch, three positions: High (3W) Medium (1W) Low(100mW).
  
• Headphone Mute
  
• Op Amp OPA1652
  
• Geek Blue X will have 1/4 and balance headphone out

Front plate is now change to:

There are 3 version of the Geek If you are still confused this picture should clear it out:





Source

Originally Posted by NorthStar

"USB Awesomifier"; ok, must be awesome.

That 3D Awesomefier is just a marketing trick. It's actually crossfeed
However, this dac is still special in the way that it also decode DSD, and use ESS Sabre 9018K2M, top of the line dac chip.

I think The Geek Pluse& Geek Out combo is great for the money. 1st because Geek Pulse is already $300, for just $100 more, you will get a device that will cost $200 in their website. I am sure that you can use it for a while, and sell it and earn extra. 2nd, consider the Geek Out competition, Audio Quest Dragon Fly and AK10, etc. , their price are in the range of $100 to $400, and the actual retail Geek Out price is alreay $200, I think it's definitely worth $100 more. Besides, I have a Audio Quest Dragon Fly to drive HE400 & Sen HD650, for office use. I think the Geek Out will made a great low-profile but still awesome sounding office/travel rig. There's only 50 slots left for the combo.

I think they made a point in the Geek Pulse, but crowd engineering goes over kill (dac, cables, remote control, upgraded parts, etc.), and cause people to go over hype.
Out of all of the available perk, I think the standard Geek Pulse & Geek Out combo made the best out the money. Assume that you are interested in the Geek Pulse already because they have good dac chip, and good features provided. Geek Pulse is already $299, for $100, you will get a device that will cost $200 in their website. I am sure that you can use it for a while, and sell it and earn extra. 2nd, consider the Geek Out competition, Audio Quest Dragon Fly and AK10, etc., their price are above $100 to $300 (and slacking in term of features & power). I think it's definitely worth $50 more. I have an Audio Quest Dragon Fly to drive HE400 & Sen HD650, for office use. I think the Geek Out will made a good low-profile & powerful office/travel rig.
The combo perk is back online if you are curious.:thumb:
64 hours left and counting to 1 million.
Link

For those who miss the 1st campagin
The 2nd campaign is up and you can make pledge in exchange for a Geek Pulse&Out at 50% discount price or other Geek Products.
Source

There's only 24 hours left to get the Geek Pulse at $299 (40% off)
Or Geek Pulse & Geek Out combo for $418 (50% off)
Get it here