GUSTARD DAC-R26 Balanced Decoder R2R+1Bit Dual Native Decoding Music Bridge

[Nada]

.......With the May, it was 3-4db low shelf from first day/week I had it to now over 700hrs. and it's incredible at .75db.

That's fascinating. Thanks for sharing. Research into neuroplasticity indicates it takes ages for the brain to fully adapt to changes, e.g. in the preferred timbrel nuances and frequency balance. There are fast adaptive processes in seconds, but the hardwired secondary auditory processing can be expected to take months to change.

We often cannot recognise these inner changes that happen very slowly with nothing to see. We can see the DAC and know things are changing, so misattibute the change to the DAC "burning in". In terms of frequency response, DACs are usually ruler flat from the first turn on to failure. Any deviation is a fault developing.

The question for many will be why bother trying to get used to a DAC they don't immediately enjoy? If someone likes the timbrel richness of the Ares, or say a tube amp, why would they want to endure the unpleasant adjustment to a leaner palette. Some colourful DACs or tube amps obscure nuances, so a change would be rewarding there. But some DACs and tube amps have the Goldilocks combo of rich tonality while offering a clear window into the subtle nuances.

 

[Alenotta]

Hello folks
Well I'm heading towards the fabled 300 ( This is Sparta! ) hour mark, and have a question.
In NOS mode, streaming from Tidal, there's a click at the beginning of every track. Said click doesn't happen on my Qobuz sub. Any ideas as to why this is happening and if possible how to fix it?
Thanks

Yeah this pop sound is annoying. I turn off the NOS because of it.

How does one check the firmware version?

Also, I’m being driven mad by this faint high frequency sound that constantly comes out of the DAC when plugged in. It’s like a dog whistle. Does anyone on here have a contact email for Gustard? Their website form didn’t work for me and the email listed seemed unofficial…

 

[Voske]

Yeah this pop sound is annoying. I turn off the NOS because of it.

How does one check the firmware version?

Also, I’m being driven mad by this faint high frequency sound that constantly comes out of the DAC when plugged in. It’s like a dog whistle. Does anyone on here have a contact email for Gustard? Their website form didn’t work for me and the email listed seemed unofficial…

I'm getting also real tired of these noise issues. Before buying this DAC I want to be 100% sure not ending up with any noise or hum. I find this only normal but the answers I hot from Gustard, Hifigo another reseller on eBay are not very reassuring.
-Gustard(yesterday): 'Feel free to buy now, this issue has been solved'
They also can't confirm that units now in stock (Hifigo+ Shenzhenaudio) are new ones
-Hifigo(2 days ago): 'Every user experiences this differently, please place your order as soon as possible' ??!
-Seller on eBay (3 days ago, Germany): Yes, we heard about this issue but black units are new in stock and don't have this issue (needing a silver one I'm still in the dark )
Is it just me but this is the only DAC I came across with noise issues

 

[Voske]

I'm getting also real tired of these noise issues. Before buying this DAC I want to be 100% sure not ending up with any noise or hum. I find this only normal but the answers I hot from Gustard, Hifigo another reseller on eBay are not very reassuring.
-Gustard(yesterday): 'Feel free to buy now, this issue has been solved'
They also can't confirm that units now in stock (Hifigo+ Shenzhenaudio) are new ones
-Hifigo(2 days ago): 'Every user experiences this differently, please place your orde as soon as possible' ??!
-Seller on eBay (3 days ago, Germany): Yes, we heard about this issue but black units are new in stock and don't have this issue (needing a silver one I'm still in the dark )
Is it just me but this is the only DAC I came across with noise issues

 

[Alenotta]

I'm getting also real tired of these noise issues. Before buying this DAC I want to be 100% sure not ending up with any noise or hum. I find this only normal but the answers I hot from Gustard, Hifigo another reseller on eBay are not very reassuring.
-Gustard(yesterday): 'Feel free to buy now, this issue has been solved'
They also can't confirm that units now in stock (Hifigo+ Shenzhenaudio) are new ones
-Hifigo(2 days ago): 'Every user experiences this differently, please place your orde as soon as possible' ??!
-Seller on eBay (3 days ago, Germany): Yes, we heard about this issue but black units are new in stock and don't have this issue (needing a silver one I'm still in the dark )
Is it just me but this is the only DAC I came across with noise issues

Yeah the DAC sounds great when my headphones are on. When I take them off… dog whistle. I don’t know what firmware I have. I’m on Mac so firmware upgrades are going to be tricky.

 

[Odezra]

Yeah the DAC sounds great when my headphones are on. When I take them off… dog whistle. I don’t know what firmware I have. I’m on Mac so firmware upgrades are going to be tricky.

Turn off dac - Hold the menu button on right (inside wheel) while you turn on dac

Firmware version will be displayed on right hand side

There is some good instructions for Mac users earlier in thread.

 

[EMINENT]

How do you think the Gustard and Holo compare otherwise?

Please, could you elaborate about your impressions and the differences you hear between the R26 and the Holo May?

I knew I had to answer this sometime.

I have not listened to R26 since burning the May for the last month. So, I reserve the right to amend.

Most noticeable is stage/imaging. May is a slight bit more spread than R26 or in other words.. more sense of space between instruments. Images are more defined but R26 is close. Stage is more extended in depth while vocals are still engaging. There's just a greater sense of everything in overall tonality and emotive connection. Things are grander. Timbre is also better on May, more realistic. All this from memory but I could be mis-remembering it and have some price bias where expensive = better.
The true test is firing that R26 back up and giving it a rematch.
Bottom line as it stands.. R26 is very good. Cost no object, May wins. Is it worth 3 times R26? I'd say no.

That's fascinating. Thanks for sharing. Research into neuroplasticity indicates it takes ages for the brain to fully adapt to changes, e.g. in the preferred timbrel nuances and frequency balance. There are fast adaptive processes in seconds, but the hardwired secondary auditory processing can be expected to take months to change.

We often cannot recognise these inner changes that happen very slowly with nothing to see. We can see the DAC and know things are changing, so misattibute the change to the DAC "burning in". In terms of frequency response, DACs are usually ruler flat from the first turn on to failure. Any deviation is a fault developing.

The question for many will be why bother trying to get used to a DAC they don't immediately enjoy? If someone likes the timbrel richness of the Ares, or say a tube amp, why would they want to endure the unpleasant adjustment to a leaner palette. Some colourful DACs or tube amps obscure nuances, so a change would be rewarding there. But some DACs and tube amps have the Goldilocks combo of rich tonality while offering a clear window into the subtle nuances.

Yeah, weirdly I knew I had to listen to one setting repeatedly through several days just to make sure it wasn't mood or other forces at play. Last night someone questioned my low bass amount as they knew me for having the usual 3db. I have the same transducer from last year and have used a +/-3db low shelf throughout when I had X26 Pro and then R26 went from 3-6db at a couple weeks in and back down to 3 after 500 or so hours. Same convolution filter. The only significant variable lately is the Freya vs. Hypsos/Oor as preamp. I guess the Freya could be more bassy too but I doubt it. I am using 1x Nexus stage but even passive sounds the same. So, don't think Nexus is adding any flavor, but maybe a bit of warmth. Today, both settings sounded a bit thin. I adjusted the shelf a few times and found the sweet spot. Pretty amazing when I find the magic. Different day, different preference. Go figure.
All I know is this setting today has me glued in my seat with frisson city and can't stop listening and feeling. Feeling. This is the goal. I'm happy here.

 

[Nada]

I will be testing DSD vs PCM of this album [Joe Satriani - "Engines of Creation"]. Also PCM via usb> U18 vs Pi2AES. I will eventually move it closer to my router to test how LAN compares. And then get to do it all over again after the LHY OCK-1 arrives!

Great! You have your own mini-test lab there with all those options. If you like, you can try all the different clocking possibilities that the R26 allows with a press on the remote:

10mHz based synthesised clocks vs dedicated external I2S clocks
10Mhz internal vs external clocks

I'd be fascinated to know what you discover if you are up for it?

There's just a greater sense of everything in overall tonality and emotive connection. Things are grander. Timbre is also better on May, more realistic

Thanks for the great review. Your impression fits with the design theory and measurements for the May vs R26.

Is the May worth it for 3x the price? Well, if you listen for an hour per day on average and keep the DAC for ten years, it's less than an extra dollar per day. If it saves you churning through a DAC a year you might even save.

Please feel super welcome to do another review. Maybe warm up both DACs for a week and then flip between them. Can you get them cued playing the same track and flip using a remote?

 

[migo]

Actually I was wrong there. It does seem to be MQA. Thanks for the input. I'll listen further. Hadn't really been checking on MQA/ non MQA tracks.
Thanks again

It was the same with my X26pro when played from UAPP app and USB input. It is like there is short delay while MQA decoding kicks in.

 

[migo]

I'm getting also real tired of these noise issues. Before buying this DAC I want to be 100% sure not ending up with any noise or hum. I find this only normal but the answers I hot from Gustard, Hifigo another reseller on eBay are not very reassuring.
-Gustard(yesterday): 'Feel free to buy now, this issue has been solved'
They also can't confirm that units now in stock (Hifigo+ Shenzhenaudio) are new ones
-Hifigo(2 days ago): 'Every user experiences this differently, please place your order as soon as possible' ??!
-Seller on eBay (3 days ago, Germany): Yes, we heard about this issue but black units are new in stock and don't have this issue (needing a silver one I'm still in the dark )
Is it just me but this is the only DAC I came across with noise issues

I've ordered mine (black) from Germany on last Sunday and they shipped it on Wednesday evening. Hopefully it will be fixed one, still not shipped...

 

[Voske]

I've ordered mine (black) from Germany on last Sunday and they shipped it on Wednesday evening. Hopefully it will be fixed one, still not shipped...

Please keep me informed, thanks!

 

[Halby9000]

How do you update the firmware? And where do you download it?

 

[Palyodgree]

EMIENT i just had the May KTE dac for a few days a blind test with a couple buddies I could pick the May over the R26 every time , sure the first give away I totally agree with you was all in the sound staging , width height depth this is immediately noticeable then further listening other sonic attributes of the May were noticeable over the R26 and all that through my modest system .
I did listen to the R,26 , May and a Weiss dac blind test through one of our groups members with much deeper pockets with a much more resolving system then my , mid tier Wilson speakers and PassLab components with familiar music the Gustard came in third as I expected however that shouldn’t make anyone sad at all about their purchase ,this $1400.00 dac is a huge bang for your buck.

Last year we did some blind listening tests with sources and dacs none of us could pick our own dacs out however in the mix of dacs three sources were used that were more discernible, network stream , ripped CDs and CD player ,Project Audio RS2T with Linear Tube Audio LPS , what a difference in sound quality however who has time for all the work of using a CD player lol ,…though Jussi the developer of HQplayer uses a SACD transport himself the signal being read by HQplayer , the source it can be as much of a game changer as any dac what I’m trying to say.

 

[arnolfini]

David lost; Giant slayer slayed. No mythical beast. Well, I like mine a lot though

 

[BShaw]

I don't think it's any great surprise that the R26 is bested by a $4200-$5800 DAC that's already a class leader, if I had that kind of money I would probably have bought a KTE myself. They sure are pretty!