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

[Chodi]

There is very little actual DSD content avilable unless Roon is doing the conversion (which would be something similar to HQP). Original recordings in DSD are rare as that format has been abanded by all but a very few recordings.

 

[m-i-c-k-e-y]

Not necessarily... Have a look at nativedsd's catalog at https://www.nativedsd.com/catalogue/
Use filters to see materials recorded in Native DSD. In the contrary is beginning popular.
Hark, PS Audio is selling vinyl done in DSD: https://www.psaudio.com/copper/article/octave-records-releases-its-first-vinyl-lps/

 

[labeelen]

Please let us know if this works for you. It may convince me to purchase the R26. I've been on the fence because of your comments and the limitation of Roon as the internal streamer. I am a classical music guy so Roon would not be my first choice. I have heard that Gustard plans to add other sites to their streamer through firmware but I'm a wait and see type of guy.

Just tried DoP, which shows exactly the same behavior as DSD, i.e. when DSD Direct =ON in R26 menu, there is noise.

 

[Chodi]

Not necessarily... Have a look at nativedsd's catalog at https://www.nativedsd.com/catalogue/
Use filters to see materials recorded in Native DSD. In the contrary is beginning popular.
Hark, PS Audio is selling vinyl done in DSD: https://www.psaudio.com/copper/article/octave-records-releases-its-first-vinyl-lps/

Of course your right there is a catalog of existing original DSD recordings but it is very limited compared to the general market. It is a high resolution method that the general market does not require and as always companies offer what the public wants. There are still some high end companies that occasionally use the DSD recording standard for high resolution offerings. My point was that DSD is the exception. Just a matter of economics and what the general market will buy. Software like HQPlayer converts pcm to DSD as an option and there are still a number of dacs that support the DSD format. I would personally like to see it become more main stream as I like the format.

 

[labeelen]

Yes I’ve never used HQplayer or the R26 volume control.
With Roon I could send DSD as DOP but there is no need for me because DSD can be sent to the R26 native using the LAN input.
I was using pure DSD files with both Direct on/off, and for me it took 2 minutes to hear how much more noise direct “on” had.

Like Chodi mentioned, upsampling via HQPlayer is miles ahead of upsampling in Roon … and it should.
Roon has it’s qualities in streaming and managing musical content and HQPlayer is specialized in upsampling (and also does a better job in EQ using either Convolution or Matrix) … they complement each other very well.

 

[Chodi]

Just tried DoP, which shows exactly the same behavior as DSD, i.e. when DSD Direct =ON in R26 menu, there is noise.

My understanding is that you should turn DSD off. Then do your processing through HQP. That is unless you are playing a true DSD file.

 

[camrector]

I got this reply from Gustard.

I sent an email as well to confirm. But haven’t heard anything yet.
Very sad if true. That would make the R26 one of the worst DSD DACs on the market. It would be a very cheap and lazy solution. I’m very doubtful if this reply is accurate.
Upsampling DSD in Roon or HQ player would be a must.

 

[camrector]

My understanding is that you should turn DSD off. Then do your prodessing through HQP. That is unless you are palying a true DSD file.

Actually if that email was true Upsampling in your HQ player then have DSD direct “on” would be the only way to have DSD on the R26

 

[Chodi]

Actually if that email was true Upsampling in your HQ player then have DSD direct “on” would be the only way to have DSD on the R26

That is not the way HQPlayer works. You feed it pcm and HQP does the conversion to DSD. Unless of course the file is native DSD.

 

[camrector]

That is not the way HQPlayer works. You feed it pcm and HQP does the conversion to DSD.

No it’s how that email said the R26 works. If DSD direct is “off” it converts to PCM.
There would be no DSD with direct off.

 

[labeelen]

No it’s how that email said the R26 works. If DSD direct is “off” it converts to PCM.
There would be no DSD with direct off.

You have to understand how HQPlayer works. It sits between Roon and the R26 and communicates to the NAA application on the digital board in the R26.
Within Roon you select HQPlayer as your output an you can stream your music to it.
Then HQPlayer receives this stream from Roon and can upsample it to either pcm or dsd and sends it to the NAA.
R26 receives it via its NAA and can then further proces and decode it (using its filtering and dsd- or ladder DAC)
(p.s. HQPlayer runs on a separate computer, e.g. Intel nuc)

 

[camrector]

That wouldn’t matter at all. According to the email.
If the R26 has direct off. The R26 will convert everything to PCM and send to the ladder. If Direct is set to on that is the only way the R26 will process DSD.
@labeelen

 

[Chodi]

No it’s how that email said the R26 works. If DSD direct is “off” it converts to PCM.
There would be no DSD with direct off.

Yes that is correct. If the file is native DSD you have the option of leaving it on. There are few native DSD files. Leave DSD off on R26 and stream pcm then let HQP convert it to DSD with your choice of rate and filters in HQP. I apologize as it is hard to describe unless you have some experience with HQplayer.

 

[camrector]

Yes that is correct. If the file is native DSD you have the option of leaving it on. There are few native DSD files. Leave DSD off on R26 and stream pcm then let HQP convert it to DSD with your choice of rate and filters in HQP. I apologize as it is hard to describe unless you have some experience with HQplayer.

According to that email. As soon as a DSD signal hits the R26 and DSD direct is off, the R26 converts it to PCM.
There is no way HQ player is getting between that conversion.
You can upsample in HQ all you want, Doesn’t matter what happens upstream. IF the R26 has direct off, it converts to PCM.

 

[GP123]

Gustard actually mentions in the manual that it may be better to use higher performance PC to upsample DSD and sends the final DSD to R26 In direct DSD mode. I suppose that means sending DSD64 to R26 in direct mode may not be such a good idea.