I agree with almost everything you've written here Petros, finding the R26 to be a superb DAC. I'm relieved that someone at last agrees with my problems with the streamer function! However I most emphatically disagree with one of your findings, which is: "The soundscape is grand sized but severely lacking in dimensionality and holography, the reconstructed images remind more of paper dolls rather than sculptured figures with real relief."
To put my comments in perspective I must provide my credentials. I've been a member of professional symphony orchestras (etc.) for more than four decades, and know the sound of an orchestra and its constituent members better than the back of my hand. Equivalent to most people's 9 to 5 office job, I've played in rehearsals and performances almost every day of my life, you can check me out here: www.michaelscottflute.com.

One thing classical musicians do more than anybody is - we listen, to ourselves and to each other. We develop good ears. You can probably guess my instrument. I've been a Hi Fi enthusiast for more than 35 years, currently running Sonus faber Elector Amator speakers & Audio Research amps. I can vouch for, in my system, that the R26 produces a colossal and holographic sound-stage not only way outside my speakers left and right but through and beyond the rear wall, showing real depth (my speakers sit 6 feet in front of the wall). Symphony orchestras have consistent instrument placement, and all are very clearly and securely located here by the R26. Every instrument has substance and body. I've never before encountered such a realistic, lifelike representation, being aware in particular of recordings in which I was a part.

Thank you for your comments.
Let me respectfully disagree, maybe you are not very experienced with other DACs?
If the R26 is collosal then what is to be called the Denafrips Pontus or Terminator Plus?
Or the Ideon Audio Ayazi MK2? (not to mention the more expensive models).
And numerous other DACs.
But anyway as you probably know, reviewing is pretty subjective so we don't have to agree with everything.
But, I am willing to add to my review the sentence "compared to some other DACs like the..." so readers don't get it wrong.

Hey @Fluty , BTW I have listened to almost all recordings of the Australian Chamber Orchestra with Tognetti conducting.
I guess that you was part of the personnel?

My own experience with the Holo Audio May KTE dac , Mearson Dac 1 the soundstaging and imaging of well recorded music location height depth I was able with minor adjustments of my TeKton speakers to enhance this illusion even more, My speakers are easy to work with in a room I found the Gustard R26 a little behind other much more expensive dacs I think the Gustard is biting at the other manufacturers heels . I can take my R26 over the a friends place whom I sold the Holo Audio dac to for direct comparisons I’ll wait until I receive a AfterDark clock .

I wholeheartedly agree the tone and timbre of the R26 very well done and a big plus the over all musicallity the R26 brings to the table at this price lays waste to other dacs in its price category .

Thank you.
As I have clearly pointed in the review it is really good.

@Ichos, I was a member of ACO before Tognetti joined - in fact I was playing in their inaugural concert (not saying how long ago that was....) but I'm not in the most recent recordings as I moved to play with Adelaide Symphony.

@Fluty
I play the clarinet and my youth dream was to join an orchestra but I guess that I wasn't talented enough!

Great review, I have one on the way and cant wait to listen to it. I found your comments about sound stage interesting other reviews said this was a sound stage king.

Thank you!
Come guys with the soundstage...
It is great and grand, just lacking in a couple of points when compared to the competition where they lack in something compared to the R26!!!

Solid review. Besides what the others have mentioned above I also disagree with your assessment of the streamer functionality and SQ. The LAN input is by far the best sounding input on this DAC. I have had ZERO issues streaming every sample rate including DSD via Roon. Not a single hiccup. It sounds phenomenal and bests any other streamer source I’ve heard. I wouldn’t recommend anyone use an external streamer period. The usb input sounds soft and veiled compared to the LAN input. I2S has limited pin out compatibility and would require someone to purchase a DDC (which in multiple A/B tests from multiple people has not sounded as good as the LAN input with internal streamer)
Maybe revisit this comparison yourself.

The R26 easily beat my own Pontus 2
(which I sold) and sounded a lot better than the loaner Venus 2 I was about to upgrade to. I was a Denafrips fan boy and the R26 put me in my place.

Thank you.
It is great when we can share different opinions on audio gear.
This is the essence of this hobby.
I am more a fan of the Venus but this doesn't mean much!
Regarding the streamer my opinion is solid but I haven't use Roon.

Agreed. I highly recommend revisiting the internal streamer with the LAN/Roon option. It’s rock solid with near perfect sound quality. Early Gustard literature seemed to mention Roon compatibility available first, followed by other protocols being supported with future firmware updates. It would make sense for a DAC company to focus on the stability and sound quality of the most popular audiophile platform in the world first.
My theory here seems to be supported by yourself and other reports that use less popular streaming/player services.
Us Roon users have had zero issues.

Since your review there has been a couple firmware upgrades that have seemed to address the issues you experienced.

Keep up the good work!

I Know that Roon can be a game changer but I don't have a subscription as many other people so I cannot base a review on Roon alone.

Then the truth is that a reviewer with a loaned unit is impossible to include future firmware updates that fix various issues.
This is where owners come into play and inform the community about the current situation!

Nice review! Thank you.

Thanks for a great very informative review. Any particulars on how it compares to the Pontus II? I have the Pontus II which is currently my fav dac after trying Airist Audio, Schiit BiFrost II, SMSL VMV D1SE and Ares II but am still getting some occasional digital glare type notes coming thru and can't figure out if it's the dacs as they all do it at the same points in my reference tracks, or maybe the tracks are just not well recorded and maybe I'm hearing compression artifacts. Tried different pre/amp/cables/speakers and same issue at same points on reference tracks. Thanks

From what I remember from my time with Pontus II, it is slightly warmer and fuller sounding than the R-26 and maybe a bit more holographic.
But the R-26 has more technical advantages it is more accomplished in this regard while maintaining that analogue and organic quality on the sound.
The technicalities of the R26 remind me more of the Venus than the Pontus.
I don't remember much digital glare with the Pontus II but the truth is that the filters, especially the NOS are adding some kind of weirdness to the sound.
On the other hand the NOS of the R26 is really NOS and almost %100 absent of digital glare.

Interesting, I prefer the slightly fuller/warmer sound of the NOS mode on the Pontus II than with it turned off and the small amount of digital glare is about the same in both modes, are you saying the NOS on the Gustard is possibly more true with less filtering and therefore potentially less digital glare? Thanks

The Denafrips isn’t actual NOS.
It still oversamples.