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

[nicks25]

I really hate to drag out an old horse here again, but I'm totally failing at my attempts to install Gustarender 1v4. It doesn't help that I'm on my Gfs Windows computer in what seems like an ecosystem designed to drive Mother Theresa to murder. I download the Mediabridge file, throw it into Winzip, and it says it's extracting, but at the very end I'm told the file was corrupted. Tried 7 times (she's really happy with the mess I left on her rig), same result. I'm going to post a couple of shots here hoping maybe someone will say "hit that button dummy" and my misery will come to an end.

On a side note, I noticed on the Mediabridge download page that they're saying the file is compatible with Mac via winzip for Mac - anybody tried?

Thanks in advance to anyone who is willing to help!

Post 2291 might help

 

[BShaw]

Post 2291 might help

Thanks Nick, I was having trouble finding that. I wrote to Gustard this afternoon asking them for Driver and Gustarender 1.4 files with instructions and I will post them here if and when they respond so that we have a refresh and hopefully an easier time than working from the downloads on the Gustard.cn page, which keep getting flagged as corrupted for me. I also told them it might be a good idea if they made it easier for Mac users to be able to install their updates.

 

[nicks25]

Thanks Nick, I was having trouble finding that. I wrote to Gustard this afternoon asking them for Driver and Gustarender 1.4 files with instructions and I will post them here if and when they respond so that we have a refresh and hopefully an easier time than working from the downloads on the Gustard.cn page, which keep getting flagged as corrupted for me. I also told them it might be a good idea if they made it easier for Mac users to be able to install their updates.

The number if users reporting issues with both firmware and renderer updates for Gustard DACs is really not acceptable. It is actually affecting my decision to purchase. It seems that people eventually get through the process but it should not be so painful. I hope you are able to obtain some clearly written instructions.

I am also a Mac user but I believe you need virtualization software on a Mac to perform upgrades. I do have an old Windows 7 laptop I can dust off.

 

[Flathead2]

I am streaming directly into the R26 via the LAN input and utilizing Tidal and Qobuz through Roon. I have the latest firmware all around and this architecture has been working without a hitch. The SQ is outstanding. However, the OLED panel consistently indicates "LAN - PCM 44.1 k" regardless of the resolution of the album being streamed, 96 or 192 kHz for example. Does anyone understand why this might be? As processed, high definition albums sound high def to me.

 

[BShaw]

The number if users reporting issues with both firmware and renderer updates for Gustard DACs is really not acceptable. It is actually affecting my decision to purchase. It seems that people eventually get through the process but it should not be so painful. I hope you are able to obtain some clearly written instructions.

I am also a Mac user but I believe you need virtualization software on a Mac to perform upgrades. I do have an old Windows 7 laptop I can dust off.

I agree with your point and spoke plainly in my email to them, saying exactly the same thing. I also told them that in the US at least, I'm willing to bet the number of mac users in the audiophile community is very likely skewed higher than the general population. I also asked them to post the contents of their updates, just like every single app designer and software company, ever.

 

[camrector]

I am streaming directly into the R26 via the LAN input and utilizing Tidal and Qobuz through Roon. I have the latest firmware all around and this architecture has been working without a hitch. The SQ is outstanding. However, the OLED panel consistently indicates "LAN - PCM 44.1 k" regardless of the resolution of the album being streamed, 96 or 192 kHz for example. Does anyone understand why this might be? As processed, high definition albums sound high def to me.

What does the Roon signal path say?

 

[BShaw]

Here is the response I got from Mr Zhang at Gustard, very prompt and informative, especially for me since I've been having a hard go of it trying to get the OCK-1 and the R26 to get along.

Hi Bryan

Thank you for writing again


You can download the 1v4 version here, right in the middle of the row



https://download.shenzhenaudio.com/#GUSTARD_R26/1



Please be sure to unplug the power cord of the R26 before starting the update operation of the streamer



Many of your suggestions are very valuable and we will improve them.



In China, Windows is the main PC system, and a certain proportion of Mac computers are used, but they all have Windows.



We will find a way to update and be more friendly on MAC.



Actually we have tested tidal connect. It works ok.



However, this is not an open standard and requires authorization. We have contacted tidal but they have not responded yet. Maybe wrong email?



We have the same concerns about QOBUZ.



If it is not authorized, it is in an illegal version and cannot be released.



By the way, when your R26 is connected to a 10M external clock. You can observe the 10M input BNC socket of R26 first, and observe whether the small hole in the middle matches the pin of the cable. If it is convenient, you can take a clear photo for our reference.

At the same time, you can consider using a small pliers to clamp the reed of the small hole to make it narrower and better contact the pins in the plug. There should be no problem.



Best regards



Zhang Shan

 

[Flathead2]

What does the Roon signal path say?

I am not always sure what I am looking at or doing with the Roon and Gustard firmware and settings. I am not sure how to identify the signal path per se, but I had actually chosen the Gustararender-1v3 via airplay as an audio zone. Once I deselected it and chose Roon Audio 2.0 as the audio zone the LAN input has worked as expected, that is, I am seeing the expected resolution of the album being streamed in the OLED panel. The SQ also sounds fantastic. but as a note, the SQ of the Gustararender-1v3 was also terrific. Thank you again for responding.

 

[camrector]

I am not always sure what I am looking at or doing with the Roon and Gustard firmware and settings. I am not sure how to identify the signal path per se, but I had actually chosen the Gustararender-1v3 via airplay as an audio zone. Once I deselected it and chose Roon Audio 2.0 as the audio zone the LAN input has worked as expected, that is, I am seeing the expected resolution of the album being streamed in the OLED panel. The SQ also sounds fantastic. but as a note, the SQ of the Gustararender-1v3 was also terrific. Thank you again for responding.

That was exactly why I asked!!
Airplay is limited and I figured you had selected that by accident.
If you want to check what Roon is doing
Click that little purple or blue diamond/star shape
That will show you everything happening from Roon all the way to your R26

 

[nicks25]

Here is the response I got from Mr Zhang at Gustard, very prompt and informative, especially for me since I've been having a hard go of it trying to get the OCK-1 and the R26 to get along.

Hi Bryan

Thank you for writing again


You can download the 1v4 version here, right in the middle of the row



https://download.shenzhenaudio.com/#GUSTARD_R26/1



Please be sure to unplug the power cord of the R26 before starting the update operation of the streamer



Many of your suggestions are very valuable and we will improve them.



In China, Windows is the main PC system, and a certain proportion of Mac computers are used, but they all have Windows.



We will find a way to update and be more friendly on MAC.



Actually we have tested tidal connect. It works ok.



However, this is not an open standard and requires authorization. We have contacted tidal but they have not responded yet. Maybe wrong email?



We have the same concerns about QOBUZ.



If it is not authorized, it is in an illegal version and cannot be released.



By the way, when your R26 is connected to a 10M external clock. You can observe the 10M input BNC socket of R26 first, and observe whether the small hole in the middle matches the pin of the cable. If it is convenient, you can take a clear photo for our reference.

At the same time, you can consider using a small pliers to clamp the reed of the small hole to make it narrower and better contact the pins in the plug. There should be no problem.



Best regards



Zhang Shan

Thanks for the update Bryan. I hope you were able to download a non-corrupt file and successfully update the renderer.

 

[Deleeh]

Hello,
@BShaw I don't have the R26 yet but it is on order.
As I saw in the manual, the Usb C port is responsible for the firmware update.
If you have the possibility to have a cable that connects Usb C and Usb A male, if available, then download the firmware to a Usb stick and connect it to the cable as described above.
At the Gustard, disconnect all cables except the Usb C cable and try the firmware update again.

There are sometimes devices that only update when all cables are disconnected, perhaps this is also the case here.

That would be one way to try it but no guarantee.
Good luck trying, I hope it won't be that complicated to update mine.

Speaking of updating, should I update mine if it comes with software 1.3?
Or should I wait until it is burnt in and do it later?

Another question I have is about the R2R Dacs in standby mode.
Should it stay in standby permanently or can I unplug it completely later when I'm not using it?

 

[Fluty]

Can anyone confirm if the update 1.4 solves the stuttering problem some of us have previously experienced?

 

[Forgisound]

Can anyone confirm if the update 1.4 solves the stuttering problem some of us have previously experienced?

The update fixes the crackling issue. Especially the DSD file. Which was very loud. But the update fixed it.

 

[Luvdac]

Is there any benefit is using a DDC w/ i2s output to the R26 and the ethernet fiber upgrade for the ethernet feeding my external streamer ( not using the R26 streamer for now so that is not part of the question).

Absolutely. I don't know what you're using as a core but upgrading the usb card to a jcat xe ( pricey at 700 euros) will improve things by quite a giant leap.( I'm assuming you are connecting the dac directly to a core). Another big step up would be to get an upgraded switch with inbuilt fiber ports, such as a cisco meraki. Audiophool.nl does the upgrades, but again it's a few hundred bucks.
I run my dac connected to a u18 via pure silver hdmi i2s. The u18 is directly connected to the roon servers' jcat usb xe card. Power supply for the server is a hdplex 500 and all cables are hand drawn pure silver. The server connects to an upgraded cisco meraki switch from a jcat ethernet xe card using pure silver ethernet cable. The meraki gets its Internet connection via the optical fiber ports. Both the u18 and dac are getting clocked by lhy ock 2 clock with silver cables.In this configuration the direct usb connection just destroys the direct lan connection to the dac.

I hope this was helpful and gives you an idea of upgrade paths.

 

[duffer5]

Here's the cable: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F1D6LKN/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Here's the modules (need 2): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003CFATYM/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
And here's the converter (need 2): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003CFATL0?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Besides the above components, you'll need two short-as-possible ethernet tails, I made mine up with stuff on hand. The whole process took 30 minutes, only because I had to route the fiber through the basement and back up, and because I'm a bit of a spazz.

EDIT: One more thing, if you want to replace the crap SMPS that come with the converters, here's a link to 9v Jameco LPS that's cheap as hell and gets a lot of recommendations: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N17N8FP?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Ordered placed. I was tempted to order that all in one that @m-i-c-k-e-y posted from TeraDak but I need to walk before I run. @BShaw I ordered the replacement Jameco LPS as well. Thank you for the suggestion. Based on the specs they may work as well if not better than the Topping P50 as the two are "separately," isolated. Thanks to the rest of this group for the insights. Very helpful.