Sherri Geshelli shared some more information with me after I filmed the video: 1) The wood case here is padauk (red wood) and zebra wood (the striped wood). 2) "Joe the Woodworker" is Geno's dad! He was a master craftsman who retired and now works with Geno & Sherri. There will be other wood options still using this case design. Pricing information TBD.
I was amazed by the quality of the woodwork of my J2 - that it's handmade by an expert shows. The new box is a bit simpler construction from a woodworker's perspective, but looks equally nice, for some of us probably even nicer.
I fully agree with your observations about the "Geshelli" look and sound. I really like the new look. I am more acquainted with the $300 or less dac / amp set, and have to say that my ESS J2 with the original op amps sounds so smooth and "just right". No piercing high treble (I appear to be sensitive to frequencies in the 8K+ range) and full but not bloated bass. I recently put on some high-res classic crooners and it was table-slapping good. Oh yeah. It was eye-rolling good. I listened with the E2 on my 6XX and Tangzu Zetian Wu IEMs and could not believe how pleasing it sounded.
I got an J2S upgrade board for my J2 - and the Sparkos SS3602 are *amazing*! In my experience, the soundstage is totally dependent on the recording. Ditto for the macro dynamics. Joe is Grampa Joe - he is Geno's father, and he also does a lot of the product design. The Archel 3 Pro uses the Sparkos SS2590 - which is the top-of-the-line op-amp from Sparkos.
so it's possible to replace the board and then install the Sparkos opamps in an 'old' J2? - that sounds interesting. If so, is replacing easy? I have a J2 in the wooden case - AKM chip. It has a nice sound and as a bonus it looks 'cute'.
@@alphaniner3770 The replacement J2S board slides into the case, and it is super easy. There are 4 screws on the back plate, and the old board slides out. Then you remove the 5 screws that hold the back plate to the board, and put them on the new J2S board. Slide it back into the case, and put in the 4 screws - that's it. The J2S is only available with the AKM chip.
@@NeilBlanchard thanks! I will contact the company. I recently upgraded the simple power adapter with a lineair power supply (Keces) - that gives a nice improvement too.
@@NeilBlanchard yes, that's why I got this Keces, it can power two devices (DAC and player) and voltage can be switched for possible other devices - great to have such a device in my inventory.
These guys are great. Hope to get a Geshelli at some point. As a retired woodworker I want to mention one thing about the new design , which looks great, is that the Padauk will not stay that color. It will turn a brown color because of air and sunlight exposure. Still should look great with the zebrawood center.
Will it become the colour it has on the endgrain, or is that just because the finish soaked in more there? I've read somewhere that it's due to UV and oxygen that wood changes colour? I'm assuming endgrain will allow more of the oxygen exchange so the process has already started there? If I'm wrong, please correct me and don't feel bad haha. I'm eager to learn more about wood and the processes
Interesting. Since I bought this unit I'll have the opportunity to watch this over the long haul. Will the sealant (whatever they use) not at least slow that transition?
@@wavetheorysound it may slow it down a bit. It would be better if they used a thin sealant so a buyer could sand the case every couple of years. But iut will eventually turn a chocolate brown.
Fantastic review! I especially appreciate the thorough discussion regarding the USB option... I was on the fence about that, and you saved me $50. Just purchased a J2S (aluminum case, 3602 on the RCA) using your affiliate link. 🙂
Just received my J2S with the Sparkos opamp inthe RCA output and it’s brilliant. Layering and instrument separation are wonderful. Didn’t know streaming could sound so great. It does need at least 6 hours break in to reach it’s full potential.
Hey was just seeing if the modi multibit 2 will be getting a comparison to this. Both at essentially the same price, want to know what you think when comparing them. Leaning towards multibit 2 right now, but would like to hear what you have to say.
I have the same dac. Upgraded to Sparkos 2590 (on the unbalanced output) from Sparkos 3602. A massive improvement over the 3602, not even close. You should try that as well 🙂
Lol. Being able to introduce a new twist on a product from a company as respected as Geshelli is an honor and quite exciting in and of itself. When it also sounds good it gets all the more exciting. Thanks for watching and commenting!
hi, looking forward to your Ares 12th review 😊 in another review mentioned, it sounds bests with a good hdmi i2s source. would be great if you could try it out. thx
Connecting it to a smartphone (Via USB Adapter. I am assuming that it is okay to do that), will it reduce the noise and improve the sound quality? Thanks
It actually does make a difference when you're looking at customs fees and shipping insurance/fees. For example, to send something from the US to Canada with our contracted shipping rates, that penny makes a difference in the rate structure.
I wouldn't mind a second Delta sigma dac to pair with bifrost. But I'm interested in what schitt does here in a bit now that the akm chips are available.
In a few weeks I'll have pretty firm handle on how it stacks up to Ares 12th, Draco, Bifrost 2/64, dac1421, VMV D1se, D90se...and who knows what else by that time hahaha. Will that work? 😄
@@wavetheorysound hahaha sounds like a lot of rigorous listening left to do. Can’t wait for your final thoughts on how these fare against the competition. Ive been enjoying my topping e70 velvet for a bit now, oddly dynamic and musical sounding for a topping product.
Hi. No, I’m not in Australia, but close by. There are forwarders that receive and ship out to the country I’m in and it’s not too expensive. Maybe you could check into that and see if there’s such a company in your area. Otherwise having it shipped directly would probably cost allot plus duty.
Advice from the heart to gear reviewers: Talk less or at least back it up and post actual sound clips. “You can’t hear what X sounds like over You…”. Okay. Like I can’t hear what a Stratocaster sounds like on a CD with lower sample rate? Of course I can. I can also hear tonality, dynamics and timing just fine on a recording of a DAC playing.
Sherri Geshelli shared some more information with me after I filmed the video: 1) The wood case here is padauk (red wood) and zebra wood (the striped wood). 2) "Joe the Woodworker" is Geno's dad! He was a master craftsman who retired and now works with Geno & Sherri. There will be other wood options still using this case design. Pricing information TBD.
I was amazed by the quality of the woodwork of my J2 - that it's handmade by an expert shows. The new box is a bit simpler construction from a woodworker's perspective, but looks equally nice, for some of us probably even nicer.
What are the audio fidelity price brackets? Lo-Fi, Mid-Fi, Hi-Fi. Additionally, please refer or link the source material of your response. Thank you.
I'd love to get a review of the 4499 AKM version...thx!
Looking forward to ordering my own version of this DAC. Thank you very much for sharing this review with us all. Wonderful people at Geshelli.
I fully agree with your observations about the "Geshelli" look and sound. I really like the new look. I am more acquainted with the $300 or less dac / amp set, and have to say that my ESS J2 with the original op amps sounds so smooth and "just right". No piercing high treble (I appear to be sensitive to frequencies in the 8K+ range) and full but not bloated bass. I recently put on some high-res classic crooners and it was table-slapping good. Oh yeah. It was eye-rolling good. I listened with the E2 on my 6XX and Tangzu Zetian Wu IEMs and could not believe how pleasing it sounded.
I got an J2S upgrade board for my J2 - and the Sparkos SS3602 are *amazing*! In my experience, the soundstage is totally dependent on the recording. Ditto for the macro dynamics.
Joe is Grampa Joe - he is Geno's father, and he also does a lot of the product design.
The Archel 3 Pro uses the Sparkos SS2590 - which is the top-of-the-line op-amp from Sparkos.
so it's possible to replace the board and then install the Sparkos opamps in an 'old' J2? - that sounds interesting. If so, is replacing easy?
I have a J2 in the wooden case - AKM chip. It has a nice sound and as a bonus it looks 'cute'.
@@alphaniner3770 The replacement J2S board slides into the case, and it is super easy. There are 4 screws on the back plate, and the old board slides out. Then you remove the 5 screws that hold the back plate to the board, and put them on the new J2S board. Slide it back into the case, and put in the 4 screws - that's it.
The J2S is only available with the AKM chip.
@@NeilBlanchard thanks! I will contact the company. I recently upgraded the simple power adapter with a lineair power supply (Keces) - that gives a nice improvement too.
@@alphaniner3770 Yes - I am doing that as well. And using a linear power supply on your streamer has a similar improvement.
@@NeilBlanchard yes, that's why I got this Keces, it can power two devices (DAC and player) and voltage can be switched for possible other devices - great to have such a device in my inventory.
These guys are great. Hope to get a Geshelli at some point. As a retired woodworker I want to mention one thing about the new design , which looks great, is that the Padauk will not stay that color. It will turn a brown color because of air and sunlight exposure. Still should look great with the zebrawood center.
Will it become the colour it has on the endgrain, or is that just because the finish soaked in more there? I've read somewhere that it's due to UV and oxygen that wood changes colour? I'm assuming endgrain will allow more of the oxygen exchange so the process has already started there? If I'm wrong, please correct me and don't feel bad haha. I'm eager to learn more about wood and the processes
Interesting. Since I bought this unit I'll have the opportunity to watch this over the long haul. Will the sealant (whatever they use) not at least slow that transition?
@@wavetheorysound it may slow it down a bit. It would be better if they used a thin sealant so a buyer could sand the case every couple of years. But iut will eventually turn a chocolate brown.
Fantastic review! I especially appreciate the thorough discussion regarding the USB option... I was on the fence about that, and you saved me $50. Just purchased a J2S (aluminum case, 3602 on the RCA) using your affiliate link. 🙂
This thing looks so beautiful that it probably becomes an item for collectors who want to own the entire Geshelli series.
Just received my J2S with the Sparkos opamp inthe RCA output and it’s brilliant. Layering and instrument separation are wonderful. Didn’t know streaming could sound so great. It does need at least 6 hours break in to reach it’s full potential.
"It sounds really good"
"It sounds accurate"
"The soundstage is the size that it needs to be"
Wow, great description 👏
Hey was just seeing if the modi multibit 2 will be getting a comparison to this. Both at essentially the same price, want to know what you think when comparing them. Leaning towards multibit 2 right now, but would like to hear what you have to say.
The Geshelli's are the best . Supper nice. And my j2 sounds so good. I wish i got that wood case.
I have the same dac. Upgraded to Sparkos 2590 (on the unbalanced output) from Sparkos 3602. A massive improvement over the 3602, not even close. You should try that as well 🙂
I am curious to know how you set this up? I would love to use the SS2590 dual mono module in a J2S.
Very curious on how this compares to the Ares 12th Anniversary.
Great review, how does sound compared to Weiss Dac?
Beautiful DAC.
Jeez never seen you this excited about anything before, like a kid on xmas lol. keep on doing what you do we all appreciate it>
Lol. Being able to introduce a new twist on a product from a company as respected as Geshelli is an honor and quite exciting in and of itself. When it also sounds good it gets all the more exciting. Thanks for watching and commenting!
From the guy asking about your shirts: did you ever publish the socketed with Sparkos?
Yes? Can you shoot me the link?
Thanks
hi, looking forward to your Ares 12th review 😊 in another review mentioned, it sounds bests with a good hdmi i2s source. would be great if you could try it out. thx
Connecting it to a smartphone (Via USB Adapter. I am assuming that it is okay to do that), will it reduce the noise and improve the sound quality?
Thanks
Op amps that increase dynamics over the stock OPA 1656's are the OPA 1692's. I haven't heard the Sparkos.
I wish people would not say: ..."and 99 cents". We are not fooled.
It actually does make a difference when you're looking at customs fees and shipping insurance/fees. For example, to send something from the US to Canada with our contracted shipping rates, that penny makes a difference in the rate structure.
They could add the sparkos SS2590 as another option but needs a bigger case.
Wd love to see Geshelli use a Rohm chip..
I wouldn't mind a second Delta sigma dac to pair with bifrost. But I'm interested in what schitt does here in a bit now that the akm chips are available.
Needs a bamboo case!
I love the wood!
Nice
Interested to know how you like the stock akm version to the original ess pro j2
content begins at 5:00
What is your favorite DAC !so far . We are curious as viewers. ?
Archel 3 Pro?
Wow, $600usd for the full upgrade and usb… i hope these sound better than other $5-600usd offerings!
In a few weeks I'll have pretty firm handle on how it stacks up to Ares 12th, Draco, Bifrost 2/64, dac1421, VMV D1se, D90se...and who knows what else by that time hahaha. Will that work? 😄
@@wavetheorysound hahaha sounds like a lot of rigorous listening left to do. Can’t wait for your final thoughts on how these fare against the competition. Ive been enjoying my topping e70 velvet for a bit now, oddly dynamic and musical sounding for a topping product.
@@wavetheorysound you should ask Zidoo for an Eversolo Z8 DAC - it's about $699 and is excellent
Seth Rogan, is that you?
Sorry, I’m not educated in audio equipment. What is opamp?
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operational_amplifier
How is the new he1000v2 stealth back on the stand?:)
I've got the Stealth Version. Like it a lot and more than the OG HE1000V2. It's close to the HEKse for $1500 less
Hot take: I like it better on my head than on the stand! More to come...
Can't find the full review?
coming VERY soon
where can u buy Geshelli Labs J2S DAC in Australia
Hi. No, I’m not in Australia, but close by.
There are forwarders that receive and ship out to the country I’m in and it’s not too expensive. Maybe you could check into that and see if there’s such a company in your area. Otherwise having it shipped directly would probably cost allot plus duty.
Advice from the heart to gear reviewers: Talk less or at least back it up and post actual sound clips. “You can’t hear what X sounds like over You…”. Okay. Like I can’t hear what a Stratocaster sounds like on a CD with lower sample rate? Of course I can. I can also hear tonality, dynamics and timing just fine on a recording of a DAC playing.
Yuk
nice b ox
Are the front/back panels glass or plastic ? Although very nice, I wonder how good the case is at shielding fom EMI ?
Pretty sure the panels are some kind of Plexiglass you can get in a variety of different colors