hpamdr
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I've evaluated Gustard X20 side to Metrum Acoustics Musette with Elise and T1 for a week. I did the tests with EL3N, 6N7GT, ECC31, VT-231 as drivers and 5968, 6080 GEC/CSF as power tube.
I use Elise with OPO BDP105 and SMSL M8 (both based on ESS 9018 )
Out of the box, the X20 was not sounding at it best but after 300h of decoding feedinge wav, flac,DSD at different bitrate. I really started the evaluation and get from a dealer the one I wanted to buy a Metrum Acoustique Musette.
The Musette was already burned by the distributor as it is a demo device.
I did listened during the test : Same palylist multiple times on both DAC and on Elise with T1 and the the tube i usally chose depending of the music.
Organ music, philarmonic, small ensemble (violin, flute, celo, viola), piano, harpsichord, jazz, pop and blues.
Both Dac are very good DAC and at least as good as the OPO BDP105. I do not know if the comparison is fair as my ears are already trained to ESS9018 sound.
Musette have a very sweet sounding presentation with jazz, vocals and small ensembles.
Medium and high are very well articulated the overall presentation is very natural but seems less neutral to me that the X20.
Gustard is very transparent and detailled and a bit more dynamic that the musette.
With organ music and symphonic music i feel than the gustard is much precise.
No apparent digital glare, stridency or harshness/digitittus, the overall presentation is alvays very neutral and all seems to be at the right place.
Playing dsf/dff file using Native or DOP reveals more details than with the musette.
With Elise the gustard pairs better than the musette and is finally the winner !
For me the transparency an the precision of the X20 is really exploited with EL3N or ECC31 as drriver and you get the tube flavor to have a very natural sound. The remote and the very high output level goes well with Elise.
If the test was done with an SS amp or if I was not already used to ESS9018 sound i would probably decided to keep the musette as the sound is very natural and sweet.
I use Elise with OPO BDP105 and SMSL M8 (both based on ESS 9018 )
Out of the box, the X20 was not sounding at it best but after 300h of decoding feedinge wav, flac,DSD at different bitrate. I really started the evaluation and get from a dealer the one I wanted to buy a Metrum Acoustique Musette.
The Musette was already burned by the distributor as it is a demo device.
I did listened during the test : Same palylist multiple times on both DAC and on Elise with T1 and the the tube i usally chose depending of the music.
Organ music, philarmonic, small ensemble (violin, flute, celo, viola), piano, harpsichord, jazz, pop and blues.
Both Dac are very good DAC and at least as good as the OPO BDP105. I do not know if the comparison is fair as my ears are already trained to ESS9018 sound.
Musette have a very sweet sounding presentation with jazz, vocals and small ensembles.
Medium and high are very well articulated the overall presentation is very natural but seems less neutral to me that the X20.
Gustard is very transparent and detailled and a bit more dynamic that the musette.
With organ music and symphonic music i feel than the gustard is much precise.
No apparent digital glare, stridency or harshness/digitittus, the overall presentation is alvays very neutral and all seems to be at the right place.
Playing dsf/dff file using Native or DOP reveals more details than with the musette.
With Elise the gustard pairs better than the musette and is finally the winner !
For me the transparency an the precision of the X20 is really exploited with EL3N or ECC31 as drriver and you get the tube flavor to have a very natural sound. The remote and the very high output level goes well with Elise.
If the test was done with an SS amp or if I was not already used to ESS9018 sound i would probably decided to keep the musette as the sound is very natural and sweet.