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

[Sound Eq]

greetings

I am using r26 with my home system amp which has no remote control, I listen to tidal via roon, using a usb cable connected to an intel nuc.

- one of the reasons I bought the r26 is to use it as a preamp for my amp, I wonder if I should max out the volume on my amp or shall I set the volume on my amp to 80% ?

Initial impression it has great detail, but I expected it to be more full sounding with more body and richness, especially in mids and bass. I have an EC design fractal dac and I feel that its truer to an R2R sound than the R26 in terms of richness and fullness.

Using Ethernet/ Lan is not an option for me as my set up is so far way from the sockets so using an ethernet cable is not an option for me. I use Intona by connecting usb cable to it and then to my intel nuc

https://intona.eu/en/products/7054

My system at home is
Avid Hifi- Integra amp
Harbeth S5LH+ 40th anniversary
Gustar R26
Phasure Lush3 USB cable

 

[migo]

I bought this one.
I hope it fits and is right.
It was a suggestion from Amazon itself.
Because what Duffer posted was not available in the German Amazon shop.

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B09C22FPPK?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1&language=en_GB

I will know in an hour if it fits.

It will work for Multi mode SFPs for sure.

 

[Deleeh]

So my Fmc's boxes are running.
This cable also worked straight away:
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B09C22FPPK?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1&language=en_GB

As a direct Lan/Fmc comparison, something has changed.
FMC: Bass is definitely a good deal more powerful, deeper and more defined, mid-range more pronounced, I didn't notice anything in the treble.
Vocals are also clearly more pronounced, nice instrument reproduction, the details can be lacking now and then, I think.
And in general it seems a bit brighter and less warm than directly over Lan.
But from the music point of view it sounds more thrilling.
I have an album that I know very well on vinyl and when I run the songs through the stream it is almost close to it in terms of presentation.
What's missing is a little bit more of the impact and the analogue that you just can't beat from vinyl.

There are still a few factors to consider.
My R26 unit has only 90 hours on it since I got it.
So it will take a while until the R26 is fully there and can still do something.

The whole thing runs through the Feliks Euforia tube amp, so I could still play with the driver tube.

The fibre optic cable is certainly not over the top and I am very curious about the Finisar, which will certainly be more balanced.
Setup is next to the Fmc boxes, Zmf Auteur Og, Roon player, Fixed mode on the R26.
I have connected the "dirty side" via Usb to the Powerquest 3, which Cat cable I have, I can't say exactly (not ideal yet, I know, it's just a test for now).
The "good side" runs via the powerbank with a new Cat 8 cable.

@Sound Eq
I noticed today when I was using the usb port and everything was running through the amp Denon 800Ne was a bit sharp with fixed output.
I haven't had much time to use the preamp but it's getting to the point that you have to.
I could barely turn up the volume control on the amp without it getting enormously loud straight away.
I will test this when I get the chance.

 

[pankar0]

Yes, patch cord need to match SFP modules. That is your problem.

Ok friends let's start from the beginning because I m go crazy.
I change the optical fiber cable with the new one multi mode
Here is

Guess.. same results.
So I post pictures with all the possible (4) combinations and the results is the same

And below the specs of every unit ... I don't know if I bought something wrong.

Please help....!!!!!!!

 

[Odezra]

greetings

I am using r26 with my home system amp which has no remote control, I listen to tidal via roon, using a usb cable connected to an intel nuc.

- one of the reasons I bought the r26 is to use it as a preamp for my amp, I wonder if I should max out the volume on my amp or shall I set the volume on my amp to 80% ?

Initial impression it has great detail, but I expected it to be more full sounding with more body and richness, especially in mids and bass. I have an EC design fractal dac and I feel that its truer to an R2R sound than the R26 in terms of richness and fullness.

Using Ethernet/ Lan is not an option for me as my set up is so far way from the sockets so using an ethernet cable is not an option for me. I use Intona by connecting usb cable to it and then to my intel nuc

https://intona.eu/en/products/7054

My system at home is
Avid Hifi- Integra amp
Harbeth S5LH+ 40th anniversary
Gustar R26
Phasure Lush3 USB cable

Hey there

Give your dac 200 hours of burn in. There will be a change in bass presentation over that time. Your amp does not need to be on but the dac needs to be on the whole time, playing music and connected to the amp.

Internet could still be an option for you. I use google nest wifi (there are other brands too) which is a mesh network that’s connected to my main router. It’s v easy. I have one router connected to my main router, and another router plugged in beside my hifi system and Ethernet running from there (currently I am passing it through the fmc solution discussed on this thread).

You could alternatively consider a DDC and i2s cable if you don’t want to go LAN.

Ultimately, I can’t comment on whether the r26 will best your current dac but I can say it performs v well in my set up and should improve as is, and can improve even further with some tweaking of cables / equipment.

 

[Sound Eq]

Hey there

Give your dac 200 hours of burn in. There will be a change in bass presentation over that time. Your amp does not need to be on but the dac needs to be on the whole time, playing music and connected to the amp.

Internet could still be an option for you. I use google nest wifi (there are other brands too) which is a mesh network that’s connected to my main router. It’s v easy. I have one router connected to my main router, and another router plugged in beside my hifi system and Ethernet running from there (currently I am passing it through the fmc solution discussed on this thread).

You could alternatively consider a DDC and i2s cable if you don’t want to go LAN.

Ultimately, I can’t comment on whether the r26 will best your current dac but I can say it performs v well in my set up and should improve as is, and can improve even further with some tweaking of cables / equipment.

can u please send me links what to buy exactly from amazon or ebay to use Internet or DDC and i2s cable, I am a bit lost in all the tech talk, I use tidal from roon using an intel nuc

I would like to try a solution that avoids me buying a 5 meter ethernet cable as my home system is far away from my router and sockets

whatever is the better option please send me links of what to buy

 

[BShaw]

Ok friends let's start from the beginning because I m go crazy.
I change the optical fiber cable with the new one multi mode
Here is


Guess.. same results.
So I post pictures with all the possible (4) combinations and the results is the same





And below the specs of every unit ... I don't know if I bought something wrong.




Please help....!!!!!!!

Isn’t there any way to have both “A” legs inserted on the right side of both FMC’s? Seems like you’re crossing channels in all photos.
EDIT: or left side, actually….

 

[houdini06]

Ok friends let's start from the beginning because I m go crazy.
I change the optical fiber cable with the new one multi mode
Here is


Guess.. same results.
So I post pictures with all the possible (4) combinations and the results is the same





And below the specs of every unit ... I don't know if I bought something wrong.




Please help....!!!!!!!

You have to connect the lan cable from the fmc to the r26 in the back and the second media converter lan cable coming from the router. It seems you are not connected to the r26. Is there something I am missing

 

[Deleeh]

@Sound Eq

try setting ATTENUATION to On.
Then you should have a little more leeway on your system.
Mine was set to Off and now I had too much of everything, even for the headphone amplifier in terms of gain.
This gave me a little more leeway on the headphone amplifier at the potentiometer.
In terms of sound, it should be a little smoother in all areas.
ATTENUATION works according to the instructions:

If there is no independent preamplifier, the DAC is connected directly to high-gain amplifiers or high-gain active loudspeakers, so it is very likely that a big
digital volume attenuation (e.g. -40dB) will be used to
order to hear music at a reasonable volume, which will severely degrade the sound quality.

This function is designed for this type of application.
When this function is activated, a very good analogue attenuator provides a gain of -
30 dB.
With a total gain of -40 dB, only -10 dB of digital attenuation is required when
this function is used. This gives much better DNR performance.

The first cheap DDc with decent quality would be Singxer Su 2,Matrix Audio Spidf 2 or 3.(3 has just been released).
With HDMI it should not be longer than 1 metre,the shorter the better.
Audioquest Pearl is okay, as are Supra and Panega.
Stellen Sie sicher, dass es EMI / HF-geschützt ist, das ist wichtiger.
For Europe: https://magnahifi.com/de/singxer-su-2-usb-digital-interface-768khz-dsd1024-spdif-aes-ebu-i2s-hdmi/
For US: https://www.kitsunehifi.com/product...gital-interface-femto-second-clock-interface/

@pankar0

In one of the pictures you have to connect the free Rj45 port from the box to the R26 via Lan cable.
Switch to Lan on the R26, open Roon and wait a while until it is recognised.

 

[pankar0]

You have to connect the lan cable from the fmc to the r26 in the back and the second media converter lan cable coming from the router. It seems you are not connected to the r26. Is there something I am missing

The problem is that the fiber lights don't activated... there is no connection between the two fmc modules

 

[Nada]

I have an EC design fractal dac and I feel that its truer to an R2R sound than the R26 in terms of richness and fullness.

No surprise there. Dont expect that to change with "burn-in". Think about returning the R26 if you can get a refund.

 

[duffer5]

So my Fmc's boxes are running.
This cable also worked straight away:
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B09C22FPPK?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1&language=en_GB

As a direct Lan/Fmc comparison, something has changed.
FMC: Bass is definitely a good deal more powerful, deeper and more defined, mid-range more pronounced, I didn't notice anything in the treble.
Vocals are also clearly more pronounced, nice instrument reproduction, the details can be lacking now and then, I think.
And in general it seems a bit brighter and less warm than directly over Lan.
But from the music point of view it sounds more thrilling.
I have an album that I know very well on vinyl and when I run the songs through the stream it is almost close to it in terms of presentation.
What's missing is a little bit more of the impact and the analogue that you just can't beat from vinyl.

There are still a few factors to consider.
My R26 unit has only 90 hours on it since I got it.
So it will take a while until the R26 is fully there and can still do something.

The whole thing runs through the Feliks Euforia tube amp, so I could still play with the driver tube.

The fibre optic cable is certainly not over the top and I am very curious about the Finisar, which will certainly be more balanced.
Setup is next to the Fmc boxes, Zmf Auteur Og, Roon player, Fixed mode on the R26.
I have connected the "dirty side" via Usb to the Powerquest 3, which Cat cable I have, I can't say exactly (not ideal yet, I know, it's just a test for now).
The "good side" runs via the powerbank with a new Cat 8 cable.

@Sound Eq
I noticed today when I was using the usb port and everything was running through the amp Denon 800Ne was a bit sharp with fixed output.
I haven't had much time to use the preamp but it's getting to the point that you have to.
I could barely turn up the volume control on the amp without it getting enormously loud straight away.
I will test this when I get the chance.

Nicely done and congrats on the setup. I will be curious of your impressions / thoughts when the Finisar AOC arrives.

 

[duffer5]

The problem is that the fiber lights don't activated... there is no connection between the two fmc modules

You need to connect the "clean," FMC directly to the R26 with a ethernet cable and the lights should work as the lights you need to work / operate as normal are related to data transmission. At the same time you need to have a ethernet cable connected from your router to the dirty FMC with a ethernet. So you have a complete connection.

 

[camrector]

can u please send me links what to buy exactly from amazon or ebay to use Internet or DDC and i2s cable, I am a bit lost in all the tech talk, I use tidal from roon using an intel nuc

I would like to try a solution that avoids me buying a 5 meter ethernet cable as my home system is far away from my router and sockets

whatever is the better option please send me links of what to buy

Just get a wifi extender with a Lan port.
Like this https://a.co/d/5hYa8xm
Plug it near your audio system.
You can turn off the transceiver functions so that all it’s doing is recieving wifi for the LAN ports only
Then get the Fiber media convertors

 

[Deleeh]

The problem is that the fiber lights don't activated... there is no connection between the two fmc modules

Hmm strange.
I bought these on Amazon
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B08G4BJY6K?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1&language=en_GB

Compare your units with the one in the link.

If it is correct and now that you have the right cable, it should fit.
If not, you may have a defect in one of the units maybe.

I have connected my units as follows.
Removed the dust cap from the unit box and the SFT cable and plugged it in.
The cables are directionally tied.
(You can only plug them in one way).

Which box you use for the "dirty/clean" side doesn't matter, just slide the Cat cable in knowing that this is the dirty box and the other is the clean box.
The dirty box is the one coming from the router.
The clean box goes to the R26.
And only then do you power the boxes.

Then everything should actually light up as it should.
Like here in the picture:

If it does not work, switch on the R26 and change the setting to Lan and check again.
Theoretically, only then will a data transfer/connection take place.
Give the boxes and the R26 a moment.
The R26 needs some time until it is recognised in the music player services.

Hope I was able to help, please let me know .
Otherwise, describe how you connected it.
Maybe you connected something wrong somewhere.
How do you supply your units with power?