In the past one or two years, the fever level walkman and mobile phones have developed rapidly, and more and more peripheral products have emerged. There are also many new options for the external decoding ear amplifier used in mobile phones. Today we introduce the Geek Out 1000 decoding ear amplifier from LH Labs.
Speaking of LH Labs, many users may not have heard of it. In fact, it is from Light Harmonic (the manufacturer of luxury decoding Da Vinci DAC MKII). The Geek Out 1000 is a product under its portable audio product line, and there is also a more high-end new series Geek Out V2. Speaking of the decoding ear amplifier all-in-one machine, users who pay attention to mobile phones may remember the HA-2 that appeared at OPPO's new product launch in the fall of 2014. It is a dedicated decoding ear amplifier all-in-one machine for mobile phones, and it has its own lithium battery, which can even charge mobile phones.
In addition, Chord Hugo, which is familiar to enthusiasts, is also a typical product of the portable all-in-one machine. The sound quality of this machine is recognized as the peak of the walkman.
The Geek Out 1000 we introduced today is a little different from the above product. Its functions are very pure. Even its body has only a volume key, and its size is very small. It looks like a USB flash drive (of course, it does not have storage function). Although small, the configuration is not ambiguous at all:
DAC chip: ESS SABRE9018K2M
Operational amplifier chip: TPA6120A2
Type of earphone: Class A
USB control: XMOS XS1-SU01A-FB96
Audio input: USB 2.0
Audio output: dual 3.5mm headphone ports (one 0.47 Ω, one 4.7 Ω)
Maximum output: 1000 mW @ 16 Ω
Signal to noise ratio: 101dB
THD+N：<0.01%
PCM sampling rate support: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz, 352.8 kHz, 384 kHz
DSD sampling rate support: 2.8224 MHz, 3.072 MHz, 5.6448 MHz, 6.144 MHz
Bit rate support: 1 bit, 16 bit, 24 bit, 32 bit
The Geek Out 1000 uses the SABRE9018K2M used by many HiFi mobile phones as the decoding chip, and the TPA6120A2 integrated IC as the amplification chip. At the same time, it uses Class A amplification. Such a combination is rare in similar products. The music support for different standards is also quite rich.
The Geek Out 1000 is small in shape, only slightly larger than the general USB flash drive. The surface of the machine body is made of aluminum alloy material cut by CNC, with good texture. The fuselage has seven working states,
The body structure is very simple. There are only two volume keys on the side.
USB 2.0 interface can work with computers, mobile phones, tablets and other devices. There are relevant tips and instructions on the back of the fuselage.
There are two 3.5mm headphone connectors at the bottom, of which 0.47 Ω is suitable for use with low impedance headphones and earplugs, while 4.7 Ω is suitable for use with high impedance headphones and linear output.
When we use the Geek Out 1000 with a computer, due to the sufficient power supply environment, it can give full play to its sound quality. However, we need to install relevant drivers and settings on the computer to use it properly.
The Geek Out 1000 can also be used with mobile phones. Take Android mobile phones as an example, you can use OTG cable to connect mobile phones with the Geek Out 1000. After connecting to Geek Out 1000, the phone will pop up the connection information, and click OK.
Using seashell music and other applications together, we can even use Geek Out 1000 to decode DSD music.
When decoding the DSD, the third blue light of the Geek Out 1000 lights up.
In terms of sound (with notebook computers and NF4 earplugs), Geek Out 1000 is a device with distinct personality. The overall sound is neutral and warm, and the sound lines are angular. Although its sound quality is good, it can also achieve a good balance in the sense of hearing. After listening for a long time, people will not feel tired because of excessive stimulation. Its hearing endurance is excellent. In terms of tri frequency distribution, the key point of the Geek Out 1000 is its medium and low frequencies. The low frequencies are extremely fast, and the dive is also quite in place. Although the high frequencies do not make people feel like flying to the ceiling, the details and extension are also commendable. The medium frequency is thick enough, and the male voice is excellent, especially suitable for listening to some singers with thick voice and magnetism (such as Eason Chan, Mr.). The performance of female voice will be inferior to that of male voice. Because Geek Out 1000 belongs to the style of thick sound base and warm voice, it may make some people feel that female voice is not clear enough. In general, Geek Out 1000 is a high-quality and comprehensive all-in-one machine, especially suitable for the performance of various male voices, and the performance of instrumental music is commendable.
When used with mobile phones (we use the top configuration of Xiaomi Note as an example), the Geek Out 1000 has less control over middle and low frequencies than that of a computer due to power supply, and its sound field is not so open, so its overall quality is inferior. But as a portable front end, a mobile phone with enough power supply (some phones with too low USB output power can't even be used)+Geek Out 1000 is really a good combination, with excellent sound quality, durable hearing, and volume suitable for carrying. However, the Geek Out 1000 is not without problems in use. First, the default volume is too high for use with mobile phones. Especially when connecting low impedance headphones, if the volume is not turned down in advance, its excessive thrust may even cause damage to the headphones. In addition, due to the use of Class A amplification, the heating capacity of the Geek Out 1000 is quite amazing. After being connected, one or two songs have already felt obvious heating, and even feel hot after listening for a long time. The Geek Out 1000 is not a fuel efficient light in terms of power consumption. It uses up to 14% power when listening to half an hour of lossless music with the top configuration of Xiaomi Note. It really takes a price to get a good voice
Finally, we have to mention that the price of this advanced "U disk" is not cheap. The official price is US $299, and the domestic price ranges from 2200 to 2500 yuan.
