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

Wow, interesting short visit with @jexby. Was really there to give a listen to the Moby, but tried the GO 2a Infinity 1.5. While it was outranked by the other dacs in attendance with my Senn 650s, it did an admirable job.

 

Just got my GOV2+ Infinity in yesterday, and I'm not sure what to make of it so far...

I was hoping this would be my endgame portable solution, but the noise floor is higher than my Moto X & Ak Jr. with the Andromedas, and it picks up a ton of interference from my phone unless I put it on airplane mode or use a really long cable. Not exactly my definition of portable if I can't reasonably use my cell phone with it and it doesn't play nice with my IEMs. Has anyone else been having these issues?

That being said, despite the noise floor it sounds quite good with the Andros. Increased bass due to the low OI but it sounds very engaging and smooth. Need to play around with more headphones before I make my final judgment, but already wishing I went with a GO2A after waiting for this thing for over a year.

 

I have been using my V2+ (not Infinity) with my Nexus 6P phone and my Noble K10's. I have not noticed any interference or noise even here in my computer "lab" with tons of other electronics. I am not sure how the sensitivity of the Andro's compare though.

I can try some more sensitive IEMs to see if I can hear any noise.

What power output do you have the V2+ set to?

 

I've done most/all of my listening at low gain (blue) with the Andromeda, but I noticed the noise floor is a consistent volume across all three gain settings. Maybe I just have unrealistic expectations, but the noise floor seems higher than the slight tube hum on low gain of my Vali 2 with the Andromedas which I wasn't expecting considering the battery power supply. Maybe I got a lemon? My Leckerton with ADA4627s picks up some cell phone interference too, but it seems much worse on the GOv2+ (from memory, without comparing side by side).

Happy to report that it sounds great with my TH-x00's (can't hear noise floor), but not planning on using those for portable use anytime soon.

Edit: Filed a support ticket. I did a direct comparison with my Leck which is dead silent at low gain, I can't imagine the noise floor is supposed to be this high. Let the waiting game begin.. again..

 

My 2A arrived today and I agree with everything already shared. The background especially is noticeably blacker. The layering is better, more 3D like...the vocals especially have more definition and tonally sound amazing.

This thing is incredibly detailed --- it's more laid back than the V2, almost putting it at borderline boring to listen to but it's so detailed. Everything is very defined/chiseled and the background, as others have stated, is like pitch black. I'm listening to "Dear Diary" by the Moody Blues and I swear to God I'm hearing the studio equipment in the background. I'm hearing some clicking like the multitrack machine is switching I've never heard before and I'm also hearing what literally sounds like the tape reel spinning as it records.

This thing is HOT. Like really hot, probably even hotter than the 450. If you're not careful, you'll burn your hand. I'd like a thermometer gun so I can measure this thing.

So far, I'm pretty darn impressed with this.

 

@synthwavefan , which iteration of the v2 is that? The v2a? Or is it one of the v2+'s?

 

I edited my post to reflect the 2A model.

 

That's a deal breaker for me.

 

Is it even hotter than GO1000? I ordered GO1000 last week to use for the time being GO2A becoming available to public and it sounds like it has flat sig all across the board and it gets hotter than previous models. Sounds like deal breaker to me, too.

 

Sorry, I mean it gets as hot or hotter than the 450 model. I left that part out. I have no experience with the 1000.

It's a very laid back, mellow sound. It's not exciting, but it's very analytical yet musical sounding. If that makes sense. It's very relaxing.

 

Thank you for your clarification. I have not tried with GO450 but both are 1st version as far as I understand so I guess that it should be similar. Heat is not primary issue since I will not hold it longer than a few seconds. The sound sig concerns me the most... It sounds a bit contradictory. laid back...but analytical & musical...

 

Well, I have never thought of the GO450 or GO720 as laid back. The GO V2+ certainly isn't either. But it could be headphone dependent.

The GO V2+ barely gets warm. Much cooler than the GO450 or GO720.

 

"Dry"? What is considered dry? What is considered wet? If we must go there, to me the 2A actually sounds a tad "wetter" than the V2. The 450 is probably "dryer" than the V2. I'm not exactly sure. We would have to define exactly what you mean.

How do you know that it's not just your perception that the GO line (specifically the V2 and 2A) is aggressive? Maybe my perception is different. Maybe there is no "aggression" or "laid back" sound signature to this lineup in reality --- it all exists in the head of the users?

BTW, I showed your comments to my friend (who also has extensive experience with the 450 and V2) and he also collaborated my experience and description. Our reality is obviously different than yours. But what makes yours right and ours wrong --- objectively?

Bottom line: You may or may not find the GO lineup varying degrees of mellow or aggressive. The only way to really find out is to listen to them yourself and make your own judgment based on your reality.

On a side note --- the 450 is more aggressive than the V2. By quite a bit. Not as aggressive as the Creative Sound Blaster G5x, but it kind of straddles that middle area between that and the V2.

 

I do have a question --- what are the differences between the 450 and the 720? My friend was looking into buying a 720 but we can't find much information on it. If you can throw in some observations on the 1000, that would be helpful as well!

 

'Analytical' and 'musical' are usually antonymous.

 

Not in this DAC. To me. I'm hearing very detailed (analytical) sound but it sounds very pleasant to me (musical).

Again, your perception may be completely different. But, I do generally agree with everything that was posted over on page 10. They nailed it.

THE ONE OTHER THING I WOULD SAY: The sound on this runs a bit on the lean side. It's a little thin. To me. Not that it sounds bad in any way, but it's not a thick fat sound. As always, YMMV