Post by klinemj on Jun 19, 2016 12:33:15 GMT -5
I am now the proud owner of an LH Labs Geek Pulse Infinity DAC...slightly used.
I've been borrowing it from another Lounge Member who was kind enough to loan it out for others to hear. When I inquired about where he bought it and how much it was, he offered to let me buy it. After significant listening, I decided to go for it. I sent the payment via PayPal today! (Thanks GreenKiwi)
So, why did I get it and how am I using it? As many of you know, I own a DC-1 but I moved it to a second system after I got my XMC-1. I found that I liked my XMC-1 with Dirac better than the DC-1 through my XSP-1, with each being fed the same source (either JRiver on my PC or via my Sonos digital out). So, given the XMC-1 with Dirac was my preferred system, I focused mainly on comparing the "Geek" to the XMC-1 in 2 different configurations. First, I set up the balanced analog in for the Geek...setting the XMC-1 to reference stereo, and I connected the Geek via coax to my Sonos. Then, I modified the usual settings on my Sonos to default to reference stereo and left the Sonos connected via optical. Each used speaker preset 1 which only is set up to set levels and distances. I set the Geek's filter to FTM.
Then, I listened...and listened...and listened. As usual, I listened to a broad array of music, including female vocals (Allison Kraus, Edie Brickell - with Steve Martin!), jazz (Miles and also Oscar Peterson), James Taylor, Dire Straits, Grateful Dead, and more (in fact..."much, much more!). Source material was either FLAC off my NAS or Tidal pulled via my Sonos.
For listening, at first, I listened to ~30 seconds to 1 minute of music via the XMC-1, then backed up the music to the same point, switched inputs to the Geek and re-listened. Then, I went to listening to whole songs with one vs. the other.
I noticed a consistent edge to the Geek. The XMC-1 sounds very, very good...no doubt. But, I found it smearing some sounds together in the mid's and high's that the Geek more clearly distinguishes. I really didn't want that to be true because, frankly, my wife and I have spent a LOT more than usual in the last 6 months with a Disney Cruise, a lot of very expensive car repairs on our existing cars, and I bought her a new (used) Audi A5.
The Geek has 4 selectable filters, so I decided to try the others. Each one sounds a little different but each has the same advantage over the XMC-1.
So, then I had to wrestle with the question of whether the sound difference was "big enough" for me to bite the bullet.
But first...I needed to compare the Geek to what I had liked best...the XMC-1 with Dirac running. So, I compared the Geek in Reference Stereo to the XMC-1 with Dirac running. And, I drew the same conclusion.
At this point, I really needed to decide...and, the only thing really holding me back was whether or not I could live w/o a sub in 2 channel listening. I broke out a few good tests, including Dire Straits Money for Nothing. Even without a sub, the Maggies sounded great. So, I decided to say "Yes to the DAC!"
The LH Labs Geek Pulse Infinity is certainly a very nice sound. And, it is a hefty beast...weighing in at 4 pounds and in a fairly large box (8.8 x 10.2 x 3.5 inches).
And, to add extra icing to the cake, I have figured out a way, thanks to mshump to use my sub with the XMC-1 in reference stereo by splitting a channel off the DAC output and running it to my Rythmik F25's "Source In" XLR input. This acts very much like a HT Bypass just with functionality built into the sub!. I have to get an XLR splitter and a 10' XLR cable tomorrow (a short run up to Parts Express!) and I will try that out.
Here are generic/stock photos of the Geek from its manual. The photos are in better lighting than what I have in my equipment stand. A very handsome piece of gear. All controls for it are via the knob on the front.
Now that I have it, I feel like I need to get some really good headphones to try out that aspect of it!
Mark
I've been borrowing it from another Lounge Member who was kind enough to loan it out for others to hear. When I inquired about where he bought it and how much it was, he offered to let me buy it. After significant listening, I decided to go for it. I sent the payment via PayPal today! (Thanks GreenKiwi)
So, why did I get it and how am I using it? As many of you know, I own a DC-1 but I moved it to a second system after I got my XMC-1. I found that I liked my XMC-1 with Dirac better than the DC-1 through my XSP-1, with each being fed the same source (either JRiver on my PC or via my Sonos digital out). So, given the XMC-1 with Dirac was my preferred system, I focused mainly on comparing the "Geek" to the XMC-1 in 2 different configurations. First, I set up the balanced analog in for the Geek...setting the XMC-1 to reference stereo, and I connected the Geek via coax to my Sonos. Then, I modified the usual settings on my Sonos to default to reference stereo and left the Sonos connected via optical. Each used speaker preset 1 which only is set up to set levels and distances. I set the Geek's filter to FTM.
Then, I listened...and listened...and listened. As usual, I listened to a broad array of music, including female vocals (Allison Kraus, Edie Brickell - with Steve Martin!), jazz (Miles and also Oscar Peterson), James Taylor, Dire Straits, Grateful Dead, and more (in fact..."much, much more!). Source material was either FLAC off my NAS or Tidal pulled via my Sonos.
For listening, at first, I listened to ~30 seconds to 1 minute of music via the XMC-1, then backed up the music to the same point, switched inputs to the Geek and re-listened. Then, I went to listening to whole songs with one vs. the other.
I noticed a consistent edge to the Geek. The XMC-1 sounds very, very good...no doubt. But, I found it smearing some sounds together in the mid's and high's that the Geek more clearly distinguishes. I really didn't want that to be true because, frankly, my wife and I have spent a LOT more than usual in the last 6 months with a Disney Cruise, a lot of very expensive car repairs on our existing cars, and I bought her a new (used) Audi A5.
The Geek has 4 selectable filters, so I decided to try the others. Each one sounds a little different but each has the same advantage over the XMC-1.
So, then I had to wrestle with the question of whether the sound difference was "big enough" for me to bite the bullet.
But first...I needed to compare the Geek to what I had liked best...the XMC-1 with Dirac running. So, I compared the Geek in Reference Stereo to the XMC-1 with Dirac running. And, I drew the same conclusion.
At this point, I really needed to decide...and, the only thing really holding me back was whether or not I could live w/o a sub in 2 channel listening. I broke out a few good tests, including Dire Straits Money for Nothing. Even without a sub, the Maggies sounded great. So, I decided to say "Yes to the DAC!"
The LH Labs Geek Pulse Infinity is certainly a very nice sound. And, it is a hefty beast...weighing in at 4 pounds and in a fairly large box (8.8 x 10.2 x 3.5 inches).
And, to add extra icing to the cake, I have figured out a way, thanks to mshump to use my sub with the XMC-1 in reference stereo by splitting a channel off the DAC output and running it to my Rythmik F25's "Source In" XLR input. This acts very much like a HT Bypass just with functionality built into the sub!. I have to get an XLR splitter and a 10' XLR cable tomorrow (a short run up to Parts Express!) and I will try that out.
Here are generic/stock photos of the Geek from its manual. The photos are in better lighting than what I have in my equipment stand. A very handsome piece of gear. All controls for it are via the knob on the front.
Now that I have it, I feel like I need to get some really good headphones to try out that aspect of it!
Mark
