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

[camrector]

My R26 came with 2022-06-11 SW version, is it latest available?

Yup that is the latest.

 

[camrector]

No, there are two subsequent fw updates, the latest was in November.

I believe that is the latest as in Nov 6 2022
11/6/22 for us Americans lol

 

[BShaw]

I believe that is the latest as in Nov 6 2022
11/6/22 for us Americans lol

Oof. Haven’t finished my tea, apologies. EDIT - I actually think that's June 11, not Nov. 6. I updated a few weeks ago and on my front panel it reads 2022-10-27, so it's written YYYY-MM-DD. I'm remembering my original software date was also 2022-6-11

 

[SupCompracer]

Mine still reads 2022-06-11 and I did update the firmware upon arrival a couple weeks ago. Since there was no way to see what firmware it had using the USBImager (nor the driver software), I applied the 1.3 update as it had fixes for Roon, networking. The firmware shows up as 1v3 in Roon. (If I had known in the beginning the firmware version showed up in Roon I would have tried it first). R26 works flawlessly with USB, LAN and I2S so I'm convinced there are no problems with firmware update even though the date hasn't changed.

I've read some used different methods when flashing, such as it has to be in standby. However, no device would show up in the USBImager firmware updater unless power switch in rear was shut off. The firmware instructions also state power off. With power off, the 29.4GB storage device showed in devices and I could write the update.

EDIT: Using Win 11.

 

[Super Sonico]

For everyone who want update to the latest FW from 15.11.2022 - here are the file the support sent to me.
it fixed my Problem with the Switching Relay (Click Sound) that occured everytime the Sample Rate was changed.

 

[migo]

Oof. Haven’t finished my tea, apologies. EDIT - I actually think that's June 11, not Nov. 6. I updated a few weeks ago and on my front panel it reads 2022-10-27, so it's written YYYY-MM-DD. I'm remembering my original software date was also 2022-6-11

Yeaah that is the reason I'm asking! I don't know date format used here. Distributor said they shipped latest revision of R26 to me! Renderer is 1v3 and works flawless so far.

 

[rodthebod]

For everyone who want update to the latest FW from 15.11.2022 - here are the file the support sent to me.
it fixed my Problem with the Switching Relay (Click Sound) that occured everytime the Sample Rate was changed.

Well done for posting and attaching these updates which do not seem to be available on the official Gustard.cn site. Maybe it would be a great idea for these updates to become sticky or pinned so others can access them without having to trawl the whole thread......... is this possible?

 

[OCC7N]

I must say Gustard challanged my purchase of a new R2R. If I did not have the HE9 LE by AGD I would without hesitation buy this R26 dac. I went with R8HE mk2, 80% because of the ACSS connection...buuuut If I ever decide for a streamer R26 has my first place.

 

[TheR0v3r]

Flat sound of a chip base dac VS R2R it’s all in the implementation my WarWick system certainly doesn’t sound flat as does DCS Bartok and Merason Dac I have listened to .

I just saw that you mentioned the Merason Dac1. I love my Merason and I’m not sure if you felt that it sounded flat or not. Very few people mention it so I’m very curious about your opinion.

Edit: Maybe a bit off-topic but maybe of interest regarding the importance of implementation.

 

[comzee]

Any noise possibly made by a dc/dc buck convertor, is minimized by a basic ceramic capacitor within the device. Noise is way lower with these than without.

I'm sure the noise is lower with the ceramic capacitor, but in my experience, eliminating all buck converters from a device boasts noticeable benefits.

ymmv

 

[comzee]

OK, so I wasn't aware there was a system firmware. After reading relevant posts, I'm going to attempt to upgrade it.
(I've only done the render 1.3)

One questions tho, the whole reason I missed this, was because for the life of my I can't find the download files on gustard.cn.
I click all four buttons at the top, none of them bring me to the system firmware files, or the serial driver.

The "support" section on the main part of the website, also does not bring to any system firmware files.

Of course I'm going to try and install the firmware @Super Sonico posted, but out of curiosity, where are the they located at gustard.cn??

EDIT:

I got it updated with the file Super Sonico provided. It wasn't hard, but I work in tech.
Surprised they don't have a more elegant solution if they expect people to upgrade this...

Still curious as where the firmware files are hosted at gustard.cn if anybody knows?


EDIT2:

The system firmware actually did fix some popping for me.
I run my R26 in two configurations. For music, LAN, but it's also connected to my entertainment center Windows PC via AES (from a HydraZ DDC).
When windows system sounds would play, there was popping, or stuttering, at the start and end of when those super short windows system sounds played.
This is fixed with the 2022-11-15 firmware.

 

[camrector]

Mine still reads 2022-06-11 and I did update the firmware upon arrival a couple weeks ago. Since there was no way to see what firmware it had using the USBImager (nor the driver software), I applied the 1.3 update as it had fixes for Roon, networking. The firmware shows up as 1v3 in Roon. (If I had known in the beginning the firmware version showed up in Roon I would have tried it first). R26 works flawlessly with USB, LAN and I2S so I'm convinced there are no problems with firmware update even though the date hasn't changed.

I've read some used different methods when flashing, such as it has to be in standby. However, no device would show up in the USBImager firmware updater unless power switch in rear was shut off. The firmware instructions also state power off. With power off, the 29.4GB storage device showed in devices and I could write the update.

Mine says the exact same thing on the R26 and Roon. I never did an update. I have no humming or buzzing issues either.

 

[SupCompracer]

Still curious as where the firmware files are hosted at gustard.cn if anybody knows.

Couple ways to get there. Off Home page, Service Support>Driver/Firmware. Off the R26 page, click on USB Universal Driver tab. I download overseas version.

 

[comzee]

Mine says the exact same thing on the R26 and Roon. I never did an update. I have no humming or buzzing issues either.

@SupCompracer

The base system firmware, and the renderer firmware, are completely separate files, and procedures to upgrade, using different software.

system firmware =/= renderer firmware

I literally just learned that the system firmware exists today.
Again, the only place I've found a download for it is @Super Sonico post. He also has a jpeg image hosted for instructions.

If the date on display has not changed, the system firmware has not been updated.
Yes, you can update the renderer firmware to V1.3 (the latest) without updating the system firmware.

 

[SupCompracer]

I have no humming or buzzing issues either.

Same here. No noise from R26 'on' or in standby. IIRC, in LAN, changing DSP setting resulted in slight tic, bit nothing of the speaker blowing category.