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

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by jexby, Sep 29, 2015.

  1. JayC

    JayC Resident Crash Test Dummy

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    980
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Eindhoven
    So, I spent some time trying out the SE firmware on a standard unit (another user here used the infinity on his device, I will check with him if he wants his name posted), to see if I could potentially unlock the extra gain mode, or somehow get other bonus sonic improvements. It was, of course a bit of a gamble since LH Labs says you could brick your device and they will not be responsible in this case. But I had a tinfoil hat on based on the fact that the standard unit got the -3db noise floor improvement of the infinity model (its on their website as well) via a firmware update. Also, it has occurred in the past that companies cut production costs a bit by sticking to the same components and throttling devices to offer them as a lower model.

    Anyway, I decided to go ahead and flash this device with the SE firmware. Took a lot of hesitation to press that "flash" button, but I did. Couple of quick seconds later, all was done successfully and I was also happy to see (based on the LEDs) that all three filter modes seemed to be accessible and it seemed to switch between gain modes too! Now, onto the tests.

    I put the device in the FRM filter mode, line out to my speakers and heard a fair difference between the two firmware and was pretty stoked! Things sounded just a tad smoother in the treble, and a little better with soundstage as well. I thought maybe this was thanks to some secrets unlocked from the SE firmware (blame it on that tinfoil hat). But, I had two problems -
    1. I was using speakers in a pretty small room
    2. I jumped from 1.5 of one variant to 2.1 of another
    So I didnt have a well setup system to listen critically on, and it was possible all of this was just (spoiler alert) the filter improvement between firmware iterations (1.5 vs 2.1).

    I tried approaching a few members here to see if they would help me test this, but I probably had bad luck because the couple I spoke to had some reservations about bricking their device or already had an SE, etc.

    I went ahead and got a friend to help set up a blind test. they would pick a random firmware to flash, and I had to try pick out which was being used. This is where most of my excitement died, and the actual results dont matter at this point, because I openly can say that I was now just guessing. I couldnt tell the standard from the SE firmware apart at all. So what I heard was down to the slightly improved filter implementation and nothing else, it seemed.
    Also, I discovered that the middle gain mode didnt actually work - it just switched LEDs but the volume dropped between low and mid gain. I have to test this more maybe, but I'd imagine that this is not how it is supposed to work.
    I did not end up testing the streaming filter, because I was pretty bummed at this point and I also dont have a subscription to Tidal/Spotify.

    So overall, I guess this was a nice theory to have and it was cool to see success in that the flashing worked and didnt brick the device. But, if you want those hardware improvements you gotta fork out the cash for the SE, or if you just need the extra gain/filter of the infinity in your standard model, flashing probably doesnt help (again, I would probably have to spend more time checking this).
    If you want to try it out, go ahead - maybe my ears are shit and/or on a nice pair of headphones you'd be able to find sonic improvements that I was trying to chase - but do not blame me if something does end up going wrong and you land up with a brick.

    (Edited later for clarity)
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2017
  2. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    12,568
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    I contacted LH Labs and asked for the 2.1 firmware, provided them my GOV2+ Infinity serial number. They refused to give me he firmware, stating that the 2.1 was for the GO2a and GO2Pro only and that there are in fact hardware differences between those and the GOV2+ with metal plates.
     
  3. mscott58

    mscott58 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,028
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Philly - Yo
    Ponderous man, really ponderous...

     
  4. Garns

    Garns Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,483
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Sydney, AUS
    Here is a brief report on the Shanling M1 with a GOV2+ Infinity.

    Up to now I have been using the GOV2+inf with my phone (Moto G3) via a USB otg cable. While very happy with the setup soundwise, it's a bit of a faff plugging everything in, and a bit annoying having an umbilical on my phone. So I picked up a Shanling M1 from Massdrop to use exclusively as a USB transport with the GO.

    Received the M1 today, powered it on, it works, good. So I connected it with a USB otg cable to the GO and banded them together. Hmm, a bit chunkier depthwise than I'd hoped, but the ergonomics seem pretty decent. This looks like a goer.

    Sound impressions: pretty much awful. Soundstage is super narrow, bass is indistinct, treble is scratchy and as digitital as you like. I keep looking at the GO to check I didn't forget to set the right filter mode, but the filter mode is right. It's just that the USB signal from the M1 is terrible. Basically this drags the GO down into sub-Chord Mojo territory.

    So despite the improved ergonomics I am adjudging this a failure. I found it so fatiguing I could only manage about 15 minutes on the train home before switching it off in disgust. Back to the phone for me.
     
    Last edited: May 24, 2017
  5. Decomo

    Decomo Almost "Made"

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    Likes Received:
    163
    Trophy Points:
    50
    Location:
    Australia
    Strange process.. Anyhow, I just submitted a ticket to get newer firmware for GO2A. After reading @jayeshrc 's post, not sure if it is even worth it but might give a go..
     
  6. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,495
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    42°S
    Hi Larry. Great to hear from you. Can you please have a look at your support system. It is 'auto-closing' open tickets that haven't actually been replied to.
     
  7. Decomo

    Decomo Almost "Made"

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    Likes Received:
    163
    Trophy Points:
    50
    Location:
    Australia
    Can anyone help me understand Balanced output part? Does this mean that GO2A can be used as fully balanced DAC line out to dedicated desktop balanced amp by using TRRS to two XLR cable connector?

    I am kinda lost what this part means "Also add and connect another cable to connect GO2Pro/GO2A’s ground to Preamp’s ground via TRS Singled-ended cable."

    Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank U.
     
  8. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,162
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Singapore
    XLR outputs typically have 6 connectors in the end, L+ L- R+ R- and the 2 grounds from each 3pin XLR.

    The 3.5mm TRRS balanced out of the GO2A series supplies the L+ L- R+ R-, but there's no ground, which can cause issues. So you connect the ground from the TRS plug of the GO2A to the preamp so the ground is common between the GO2A and the preamp/integrated/amp.
     
  9. Decomo

    Decomo Almost "Made"

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    Likes Received:
    163
    Trophy Points:
    50
    Location:
    Australia
    Thank you very much. So if I understood correctly, I connect TRRS 3.5mm out to 2 x 3 pin XLR and TRS 3.5mm SE out to 2 x RCA cable. Is this correct?
     
  10. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,162
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Singapore
    Yes, that'd be the easiest way. If you really wanted to you could get a custom cable with 2 3.5mm plugs on one end and 2 3pin xlr on the other with the right pins connected, but you'd be able to use that only on products that are balanced like that.
     
  11. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,070
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Cape Town, South Africa
    Yes, so long as your amp has RCA in. If you only have XLR (active monitors etc) you'd need to take 2 ground leads from a TRS connector and wire those into the 2 XLR ground pins.

    Like so:
    [​IMG]
     
  12. Decomo

    Decomo Almost "Made"

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2016
    Likes Received:
    163
    Trophy Points:
    50
    Location:
    Australia
    Thank You (@GoodEnoughGear @Grahad2) So Much. Fully understood now. I try to go with 2 x 3.5mm plugs on one end and 2 x 3pin xlr on the other with the right pins connected option since my Amp has a switch to go with Balanced/SE.

    [​IMG]
     
  13. GoodEnoughGear

    GoodEnoughGear Evil Dr. Shultz‎

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,070
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Cape Town, South Africa
  14. JayC

    JayC Resident Crash Test Dummy

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    980
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Eindhoven
    Maybe you misunderstood, but my post was relating to using other variant's firmware on the standard GO2A. Just to clarify - I came to the conclusion that the v2.x firmware did sound a bit better than v1.5, but I did not see any other improvements/extra features (useable extra filter/gain mode) by flashing the device with the infinity or SE firmware.
     
  15. synthwavefan

    synthwavefan Cluelessly Misogynistic - MOT - LH Labs

    Banned
    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2016
    Likes Received:
    38
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Wait, so are you saying that you would need two sets of cables plugged in at at the same time? I'm still lost.

    Let's put it in terms that stupid people like me can understand:

    If I upgrade the firmware, and want to plug my 2A via single ended output into my active monitors or Marantz amp, would JUST using one RCA such as the Amazon link be acceptable? Or would I need another cable plugged in as well? (and which one?) And which hole does the RCA come out of then: the SE or the Balanced hole?
    https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-105597-3-Feet-Premium-Stereo/dp/B0094A1F3S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1496303587&sr=8-3&keywords=3.5mm+stereo+to+RCA&refinements=p_89:Monoprice

    Likewise, if I want to use the balanced output, do I use a regular 3.5mm TRRS into 2 XLR plugs, both 3 pin? Do I add another cable? What type And where do I add it?
     
  16. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,162
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Singapore
    Single Ended output:
    3.5mm TRS from GO2A to 2x RCA cable.
    Plug the RCAs into preamp or amp.

    Balanced output:

    Method 1:
    3.5mm TRRS from GO2A to 2x XLR cable.
    3.5mm TRS from GO2A to 2x RCA cable. (recommended)
    Plug both XLRs and RCAs into preamp/amp. (Yes 2 sets of cables)
    Select XLR for playback. RCAs are plugged in only to ensure that the ground is common across both your equipment and the GO2A.

    Method 2:
    3.5mm TRRS AND 3.5mm TRS to 2x XLR cable.
    Follow wiring guide posted here. Plug XLR into preamp/amp.
     
    Last edited: Jun 3, 2017
  17. synthwavefan

    synthwavefan Cluelessly Misogynistic - MOT - LH Labs

    Banned
    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2016
    Likes Received:
    38
    Trophy Points:
    28
    THANK YOU. God, what a pain to do that. It sounds like the new firmware adds unnecessary hassle for not a lot of improvement. What was the reasoning behind the change?
     
  18. Grahad2

    Grahad2 Red eyes from too much anime

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,162
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Singapore
    It has always been the same way...? Just that now you get a dedicated line out mode.
     
  19. synthwavefan

    synthwavefan Cluelessly Misogynistic - MOT - LH Labs

    Banned
    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2016
    Likes Received:
    38
    Trophy Points:
    28
    If it's always been the same way, why are we all the sudden having to add new wires? I've never had to run extra cables while running balanced.
     
  20. Dino

    Dino Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2016
    Likes Received:
    3,332
    Trophy Points:
    113

Share This Page