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Author Topic: Geek Out 1k  (Read 8375 times)

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ultrabike

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Geek Out 1k
« on: July 15, 2014, 06:37:36 AM »
Have had these for quite a while now. Thanks Raif! :)p5

Keep in mind that when describing how an Amp/DAC sounds, to me it is not always at the same level as with headphones. In most cases differences are more subtle... sometimes. With that in mind, these are IMO warm yet very detailed. I think it complements well headphones such as the HD600. It's a pretty powerful little gadget, and it gets a bit warm...

The Geek (1000 mW) is also a pretty practical device and it indeed handles all the way to 192 kpbs through it's ASIO driver. I feel it can render dynamics pretty well. I found this little amp quite engaging indeed.

What I did not like AT ALL is the volume control. HORRIBLE. The volume setting needs to be saved somewhere inside the device. ALWAYS make sure the volume is turn down before playing anything through. Default is full powa.

As far as measurements is concerned, take them with a grain of salt. I'm not using an Audio Precision or a Prism Sound or a whatevers... Just a set of laptops and good 'ol REW. Results I get seem a little worse than what the LightHarmonic guys get, but not bad at all IMO.

Test were done with a 33 ohm load. The Geek is able to deliver 4 Vrms into 33 ohms, which translate into about ~500 mW. I'm confident that with a 16 ohm load (if current is not limited by the USB source) the Geek will deliver 1W... This is about 250 mA, and I'm definitively not confident that the Geek will deliver these 1Ws in "Class A" mode.

Here are the 1 kHz THD plots under different output power considerations and using 192 kHz option in the Geek (Focusrite 2i2 capture is set to 96 kHz which is the highest it can do):

NOTE: Please ignore the y-scale, as the dBFS are off by about 5 dB. However, the distortion % are IMO accurate. Full scale to me is 4 Vrms (relative to the Geek), but the 2i2 inputs are not calibrated to that. The title of the plots specify what I think is the actual dBFS.

1 kHz THD (-20 dBFS)



1 kHz THD (-10 dBFS)



1 kHz THD (1 Vrms)



Same situation, but Geek is set to 44.1 kHz

1 kHz THD (1 Vrms)



The following are the 500 Hz THD numbers for 44.1 kHz and 192 kHz Geek settings @ 1 Vrms

500 Hz THD (192 kHz)



500 Hz THD (44.1kHz)

« Last Edit: July 15, 2014, 06:49:47 AM by ultrabike »
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ultrabike

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Re: Geek Out 1k
« Reply #1 on: July 15, 2014, 06:37:48 AM »
Moving on to the IMD plots @ 192 kHz and 1 Vrms

SMPTE (60 Hz + 7 kHz 4:1)



DIN (250 Hz + 8 kHz 4:1)



CCIF (19 kHz + 20 kHz 1:1)



IMD plots @ 44.1 kHz and 1 Vrms

SMPTE (60 Hz + 7 kHz 4:1)



DIN (250 Hz + 8 kHz 4:1)



CCIF (19 kHz + 20 kHz 1:1) - Note the un-attenuated image not present in the 192 kHz case

« Last Edit: July 15, 2014, 06:58:12 AM by ultrabike »
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ultrabike

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Re: Geek Out 1k
« Reply #2 on: July 15, 2014, 06:38:00 AM »
One of the things that seem to stand out about the Geek, besides the formats and the power it can provide for its size, is that it seems to come across a bit warm. Therefore a set of custom bass target IMD plots: 30 Hz + 100 Hz (4:1) & 20 Hz + 70 Hz (4:1) where generated and compared to the Focusrite 2i2 at 0.4 Vrms... (Kinda nice output level for the Focusrite since it cannot give out as much juice as the Geek 1W)

IMD 30 Hz + 100 Hz (4:1) Comparo - 2i2=green, g1k=yellow



Geek is about 0.0804% while 2i2 is about 0.0256%

IMD 20 Hz + 70 Hz (4:1) Comparo - 2i2=red, g1k=red



Geek is about 0.0787% IMD while 2i2 is 0.0298%

The a bit higher IMD of the Geek may (or may not) account for the perceived extra warmth or bass slam or [insert your favorite term] when using the Geek 1W.
« Last Edit: July 15, 2014, 07:15:03 AM by ultrabike »
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ultrabike

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Re: Geek Out 1k
« Reply #3 on: July 15, 2014, 07:25:51 AM »
Summary: Geek Out 1K SQ wise kicks ass and is the schiit yo... Interface volume control is  poo poo poo  poo poo   poo

... also the FR is uber flat into 33 ohms from the 0.47 ohm connector... Ignore the dB scale as it's a bit arbitrary:

44.1 kHz



192 kHz

« Last Edit: July 15, 2014, 07:39:49 AM by ultrabike »
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Azteca X

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Re: Geek Out 1k
« Reply #4 on: July 15, 2014, 02:08:39 PM »
Quote from: ultrabike on July 15, 2014, 07:25:51 AM
Summary: Geek Out 1K SQ wise kicks ass and is the schiit yo... Interface volume control is  poo poo poo  poo poo   poo

Agreed that it sounds great and is a great product, and also that the volume control is wonky.  The good news is they are posting a firmware update in the near future to correct that.  I have just used my system volume controls (on a Mac, I go to the Audio MIDI panel and drag it down quite a bit).  The SQ can't be changed much after it ships but the volume control can!  So hang in there.
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zerodeefex

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Re: Geek Out 1k
« Reply #5 on: July 15, 2014, 06:55:53 PM »
Do you already have a 450 coming? Both CT and I find it slightly less warm than the 1000. I'm actually using it as my work DAC with the Wyrd.
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Anaxilus

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Re: Geek Out 1k
« Reply #6 on: July 15, 2014, 07:28:46 PM »
Quote from: zerodeefex on July 15, 2014, 06:55:53 PM
Do you already have a 450 coming? Both CT and I find it slightly less warm than the 1000. I'm actually using it as my work DAC with the Wyrd.

Yup, gonna pick one up this week and hand it off at some point.
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ultrabike

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Re: Geek Out 1k
« Reply #7 on: July 15, 2014, 07:31:48 PM »
I can do the tests on the 450 as well, and provide them both in a few days to Mike so he can make some comparos...

I feel as if this one was kind of like the anti-Vali in terms of sound signature, but in a good way. This one is obviously more compact, but it's solid state. Both are smallish for what they are. Also this is more than an Amp, and the DAC section is pretty versatile. I would say this is ideal for portable and practical applications... if one overlooks the power consumption. The 450 might be more practical in that sense... Different operating points might also change the distortion scene, but dunno.

A good driver (SW) should turn this into an even shinier object.

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Marvey

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Re: Geek Out 1k
« Reply #8 on: July 16, 2014, 03:24:26 AM »
Wut bad about vol control? Plz explain
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ultrabike

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Re: Geek Out 1k
« Reply #9 on: July 16, 2014, 03:39:11 AM »
Welp... Happily plug in the device, then the cans, fire up the music... and...



QUICKLY PRESS STOP! Lower the volume on the device or ASIO... Back to normal.

Day passes, plug in the device again, then the cans, fire up the music... and... fvck! Didn't I turn down the volume before! Apparently not!

Annoyingly realize the thing doesn't save volume level...
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