LH Labs Geek Out GO2A, V2, V2+, Infinity and SE Impressions and Reviews

Oh Boy - that can really happen to anybody not being careful and forgetting for a moment …
Very dodgy!

 

So, just ordered a Vali 2 to pair up with my GOV2 Infinity. Does anyone know of a technical reason (separate vs shared grounds) not to make an adapter that splits the balanced out to two RCAs? SE would certainly be easier (I hate the available TRRS jacks).

 

Don't do this! Balanced to RCA and you will decrease the lifespan of our GO dramatically ….
Positive Polarity + Negative Polarity [2 phases] >> Signal + Ground = not a good idea!

Just go GOV2 SE to SE on the Val 2 and you are safe!

 

Thanks! My instinct was telling me something like this, but I didn't have the technical knowledge to confirm or deny for myself. Thank goodness too. I have plenty of good 3.5 TRS plugs to work with.

 

Now the real hope is that the Vali 2 single ended output sounds better than the GOV2 balanced output. Otherwise I will have wasted $200.

 

Tell me what it sounds like once you have sorted the cabling.

 

I did a battery life test just now.
* 8.5 hours
* High gain
* FRM filter
* Single-ended output driving OPPO PM-3
* iPhone 4S with 30-pin Apple Camera Connection Kit
* 16/44.1 ALAC music playing in the stock Music app with volume 13/16

Not too bad for what I would use it for. My iPhone has around 40% battery after this test. I usually start to panic when it hits below 40%, so 8.5 is plenty for me if I use it with the iPhone.

 

Thanks for the real-world example! That sounds good enough for a travel day.

 

Can you go balanced with the PM-3s??

 

I don't have a balanced cable for the PM-3 at the moment. I've been meaning to build one myself for the experience, but I haven't had the time to sit down and find parts for it. I've used Mogami star quad cable for my K701, but for a portable headphone like the PM-3, it's way too stiff and unmanageable.


Oh, one other thing that I find annoying with the GOv2+ is that you can't charge it and use it as a DAC/amp simultaneously. Even if you have 2 microUSB cables attached to it, and the green charging LED is lit, it seems to drain the battery.

 

I definitely recommend going balanced with the GOv2 -

 

Did they shipping out Go V2+ infinity now? I want to order one but i dont want to wait looong to get one : (

 

The LHLabs forums might have more up to date info on shipping. I am waiting on one and have received no updates.

 

Last I heard, they were waiting on silk screened plates to finish assembly. (The metal chassis ones they sent out - like the one to Flysweep - had no markings for the LEDs and branding.)

I was really hoping that they'd be here for the Xmas holiday because it would be terribly useful for the back and forth. Ah well.

 

Hey guys, could I safely use a 3.5mm TRRS balanced cable with single ended 3.5mm outputs?

 

I posted some quick impressions over in the Vali 2 thread. The quick summary is that I don't know... And I think that is a testament to how very darn good the balanced out sounds.

 

You mean stick a balanced trrs plug into the single ended output of another amp or dac? It probably won't work properly since the ground is split.

 

I am confused, or maybe stupid, but how is the v2 used as a dac only, bypassing the amp? If as stated above the se hp out is used as a line out, isn't this double amping the signal? I must've missed something.

 

All DACs have an analog stage. Think of the amplifier in the GOV2 as the analog stage when used at 100%. It isn't quite like connecting a DAC to two amps, which would give you crazy gain and probably a lot of distortion.

 

But without a dedicated line out, isn't it providing the same amount of gain as if it is driving 'phones? Sorry, just trying to understand.