Light Harmonic (maker of the starship-esque Da Vinci digtal-to-analog converter (DAC)) goes for something smaller and cheaper with the Geek, a portable DAC the size of a USB thumb drive.
The Geek promises to give PC audio "more detail, greater depth, stronger bass and dynamics” by replacing built-in soundcards. It plugs into USB ports, drives 2 pairs of headphones or speakers, and supports high-resolution audio formats up to and including 384kHz PCM files.
Light Harmonic also claims the Geek is the first portable DAC able to process DSD and double-DSD files.
Handling all audio work is a TI PCM1795 DAC chip.
The Geek should hit the market sometime during Q1 2014. Light Harmonic is currently taking preorders on Kickstarter (as most companies do these days), where it managed to make in excess of the initial $28000 goal within the first week of its 30-day crowdfunding campaign.
