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

[cobrabucket]

You guys!

To temporarily dampen down the temptation to seriously overcapitalise on clocks & switches, I just pulled the trigger on the Netflix switch. It's been in my shopping cart for a while, just needed a push. Will power with a spare Ifi Power X. FMCs next...

Netgear??

 

[Jake2]

Netgear??

Doh, yes, fixed!

 

[Odezra]

I don't need a switch as the R26 is my only end point on the FMC/Ethernet line. However, if i had my time again, I think i would skip the ock-1, and just go straight to the SW-8, use it's clock out, and just buy the finisair cable and 1 FMC box. I think it's 1) a neater solution (less devices and cabling wise), and 2) would have a superior clock plus FMC capability with the ability to add more devices if be over time.

Also - I also just did the streamer upgrade, and works like a charm. @Dandoudou thanks so much for the step by step instructions. It was awesome and made the process super easy.

 

[THUB]

Ok, I'm here to start some trouble...

I have been reading this thread for weeks, but hesitated to get involved until my R26 arrived. It's here now, just arriving today.

I only listen to speakers in a dedicated, and acoustically treated listening room (not a headphone person). I've spent years tweaking every aspect of my system. I currently have a Sabre DAC that I have not been able to find a better replacement, but the R26 already seems it's going to be staying. I will work my way through break-in, but it has already impressed me. The last DAC I tried was a Holo Spring KTE, but I found my DAC to be mostly better in many ways, but it was close.

My setup: Gaming PC (i5-10600k) running HQPlayer with an UP Board NAA feeding my DAC via a Phasure Lush 3 USB cable. I run a Tortuga LDR V2 passive preamp, and an IceEdge 1200AS-2 based amplifier. My speakers are Salk Sound HT3's. I am VERY happy with the sound prior to the R26. I'm not even certain why I purchased the R26 other than to see if it was "better" and some of the features like the internal streamer and Bluetooth for my occasional Spotify listening.

First, my home network consists of (4) Plume Super Pods for mesh wireless, and my wired network starts at the main pod to a 5 port switch, then to another 8 port switch in my basement where both the PC and NAA are wired with CAT 6.

While waiting for delivery of the R26, I decided to try a FMC setup. The FMC setup arrived last week Friday, and it consists of 2 FMC modules and the Finisar AOC cable. I tried the FMC's powered by various power supplies, but the clean side was always powered by a linear power supply. The FMC setup sounds terrible. Yes that's right, I'm probably the only person you will find that HATES the sound of FMC's in my system. To simply sum things up, the FMC's gave me what seemed like a blacker background that also put a blackness on everything else. Upper treble was very faint and it felt like a lot detail was just gone. I tried everything I could including alternative SFP's and cable, which did sound worse as far as clarity. I listened to the FMC setup for a few days, and I could hear more issues as I listened to broader set of music tracks. So I removed the FMC's yesterday.

So here is where it gets strange. Removing the FMC's from my setup and going back to just the normal wired network made my system sound bright, when for years I've been wanting a touch more treble energy and extension. So I guess this was just my brain starting to get reprogrammed. BUT, it trying to figure out what may be wrong with my FMC setup, I saw a post by a network engineer that suggested someone try a wireless extender that had a RJ45 port on it to attach to the NAA. Since I have a Plume pod right next to my equipment rack, I attached a cable from the wireless pod to my NAA.

This proved amazing! The change in sound is exactly what you all have been describing in this thread about FMC's. The increase in clarity is very noticable, and my upper treble is more clear and sweeter sounding. Basically anything you could associate with an increase in clarity was now better. I have not been able to find any issues with the change in sound. It's just better overall by a good margin (at least according to an audiophile).

As for the R26, I really expected to *need* break-in, but to my surprise, the DAC sounds really very good. A lot like my DAC, but just more. The most obvious thing is an increase in detail retrieval. My DAC sounds slightly more analog and has a better sense of depth and dimension, but I'm hoping the R26 will catch it, or even best it in these areas.

For now, I'm testing PCM while breaking the DAC in. I've tried Jussi's (from HQPlayer) recommendation of 16-768, but I've tried some higher DAC bits without hearing anything horrible in the sound. This surprises me as every other DAC I've tried seems to sound bad without finding the best DAC bits and sample rates.

Those running HQPlayer, what are your best settings?

 

[duffer5]

Ok, I'm here to start some trouble...

I have been reading this thread for weeks, but hesitated to get involved until my R26 arrived. It's here now, just arriving today.

I only listen to speakers in a dedicated, and acoustically treated listening room (not a headphone person). I've spent years tweaking every aspect of my system. I currently have a Sabre DAC that I have not been able to find a better replacement, but the R26 already seems it's going to be staying. I will work my way through break-in, but it has already impressed me. The last DAC I tried was a Holo Spring KTE, but I found my DAC to be mostly better in many ways, but it was close.

My setup: Gaming PC (i5-10600k) running HQPlayer with an UP Board NAA feeding my DAC via a Phasure Lush 3 USB cable. I run a Tortuga LDR V2 passive preamp, and an IceEdge 1200AS-2 based amplifier. My speakers are Salk Sound HT3's. I am VERY happy with the sound prior to the R26. I'm not even certain why I purchased the R26 other than to see if it was "better" and some of the features like the internal streamer and Bluetooth for my occasional Spotify listening.

First, my home network consists of (4) Plume Super Pods for mesh wireless, and my wired network starts at the main pod to a 5 port switch, then to another 8 port switch in my basement where both the PC and NAA are wired with CAT 6.

While waiting for delivery of the R26, I decided to try a FMC setup. The FMC setup arrived last week Friday, and it consists of 2 FMC modules and the Finisar AOC cable. I tried the FMC's powered by various power supplies, but the clean side was always powered by a linear power supply. The FMC setup sounds terrible. Yes that's right, I'm probably the only person you will find that HATES the sound of FMC's in my system. To simply sum things up, the FMC's gave me what seemed like a blacker background that also put a blackness on everything else. Upper treble was very faint and it felt like a lot detail was just gone. I tried everything I could including alternative SFP's and cable, which did sound worse as far as clarity. I listened to the FMC setup for a few days, and I could hear more issues as I listened to broader set of music tracks. So I removed the FMC's yesterday.

So here is where it gets strange. Removing the FMC's from my setup and going back to just the normal wired network made my system sound bright, when for years I've been wanting a touch more treble energy and extension. So I guess this was just my brain starting to get reprogrammed. BUT, it trying to figure out what may be wrong with my FMC setup, I saw a post by a network engineer that suggested someone try a wireless extender that had a RJ45 port on it to attach to the NAA. Since I have a Plume pod right next to my equipment rack, I attached a cable from the wireless pod to my NAA.

This proved amazing! The change in sound is exactly what you all have been describing in this thread about FMC's. The increase in clarity is very noticable, and my upper treble is more clear and sweeter sounding. Basically anything you could associate with an increase in clarity was now better. I have not been able to find any issues with the change in sound. It's just better overall by a good margin (at least according to an audiophile).

As for the R26, I really expected to *need* break-in, but to my surprise, the DAC sounds really very good. A lot like my DAC, but just more. The most obvious thing is an increase in detail retrieval. My DAC sounds slightly more analog and has a better sense of depth and dimension, but I'm hoping the R26 will catch it, or even best it in these areas.

For now, I'm testing PCM while breaking the DAC in. I've tried Jussi's (from HQPlayer) recommendation of 16-768, but I've tried some higher DAC bits without hearing anything horrible in the sound. This surprises me as every other DAC I've tried seems to sound bad without finding the best DAC bits and sample rates.

Those running HQPlayer, what are your best settings?

Curious is your Internet provider Verizon FIOS?

 

[THUB]

Curious is your Internet provider Verizon FIOS?

No. I have Xfinity cable. I have an Arris Surfboard modem feeding the main Plume pod acting as the router.

 

[Odezra]

Ok, I'm here to start some trouble...

I have been reading this thread for weeks, but hesitated to get involved until my R26 arrived. It's here now, just arriving today.

I only listen to speakers in a dedicated, and acoustically treated listening room (not a headphone person). I've spent years tweaking every aspect of my system. I currently have a Sabre DAC that I have not been able to find a better replacement, but the R26 already seems it's going to be staying. I will work my way through break-in, but it has already impressed me. The last DAC I tried was a Holo Spring KTE, but I found my DAC to be mostly better in many ways, but it was close.

My setup: Gaming PC (i5-10600k) running HQPlayer with an UP Board NAA feeding my DAC via a Phasure Lush 3 USB cable. I run a Tortuga LDR V2 passive preamp, and an IceEdge 1200AS-2 based amplifier. My speakers are Salk Sound HT3's. I am VERY happy with the sound prior to the R26. I'm not even certain why I purchased the R26 other than to see if it was "better" and some of the features like the internal streamer and Bluetooth for my occasional Spotify listening.

First, my home network consists of (4) Plume Super Pods for mesh wireless, and my wired network starts at the main pod to a 5 port switch, then to another 8 port switch in my basement where both the PC and NAA are wired with CAT 6.

While waiting for delivery of the R26, I decided to try a FMC setup. The FMC setup arrived last week Friday, and it consists of 2 FMC modules and the Finisar AOC cable. I tried the FMC's powered by various power supplies, but the clean side was always powered by a linear power supply. The FMC setup sounds terrible. Yes that's right, I'm probably the only person you will find that HATES the sound of FMC's in my system. To simply sum things up, the FMC's gave me what seemed like a blacker background that also put a blackness on everything else. Upper treble was very faint and it felt like a lot detail was just gone. I tried everything I could including alternative SFP's and cable, which did sound worse as far as clarity. I listened to the FMC setup for a few days, and I could hear more issues as I listened to broader set of music tracks. So I removed the FMC's yesterday.

So here is where it gets strange. Removing the FMC's from my setup and going back to just the normal wired network made my system sound bright, when for years I've been wanting a touch more treble energy and extension. So I guess this was just my brain starting to get reprogrammed. BUT, it trying to figure out what may be wrong with my FMC setup, I saw a post by a network engineer that suggested someone try a wireless extender that had a RJ45 port on it to attach to the NAA. Since I have a Plume pod right next to my equipment rack, I attached a cable from the wireless pod to my NAA.

This proved amazing! The change in sound is exactly what you all have been describing in this thread about FMC's. The increase in clarity is very noticable, and my upper treble is more clear and sweeter sounding. Basically anything you could associate with an increase in clarity was now better. I have not been able to find any issues with the change in sound. It's just better overall by a good margin (at least according to an audiophile).

As for the R26, I really expected to *need* break-in, but to my surprise, the DAC sounds really very good. A lot like my DAC, but just more. The most obvious thing is an increase in detail retrieval. My DAC sounds slightly more analog and has a better sense of depth and dimension, but I'm hoping the R26 will catch it, or even best it in these areas.

For now, I'm testing PCM while breaking the DAC in. I've tried Jussi's (from HQPlayer) recommendation of 16-768, but I've tried some higher DAC bits without hearing anything horrible in the sound. This surprises me as every other DAC I've tried seems to sound bad without finding the best DAC bits and sample rates.

Those running HQPlayer, what are your best settings?

If I have understood you correctly, i think you have had a similar journey to me. Which is - if you use a wifi extender / mesh extender, you see reduced noise. if you add an FMC between that extender / R26 it improves again. that's been my journey. Going via my mac mini via ddc , and / or via the main router, has been good but not as good as LAN direct via a seperate extender. That said, I saw @Dandoudou on another thread now thinks he has beaten LAN via DDC with some other upgrades he has done on his chain.

My HQP settings are still to fully settle down, I have settled on DSD upsampling for the moment - it seems to remove some background noise and help create a black background. The music feels like it's more in the room with me (R26 is on my speaker system). PCM native or upsampled is excellent but there's a slight veil on the music that DSD just doesn't have. After doing some room correction, i have been retesting my HQ settings and it's a bit of a toss between DSD direct on (which goes to the 1 bit multichip dac) and DSD direct off (which goes to the R2R ladder) when upsampling to 44 x 512.

This are my current set ups for PCM / DSD:

DSD: Poly sinc gauss long, poly sinc gauss hires ip, asdm7, 44.1 X 512
PCM: poly sinc gauss long, poly sinc gauss hires ip, lns515, 768

 

[Dandoudou]

What SW-10? Buyin two, syncing? Let Alvin explain...

I'll wait for Alvin to offer us buy one and get two.

 

[THUB]

If I have understood you correctly, i think you have had a similar journey to me. Which is - if you use a wifi extender / mesh extender, you see reduced noise. if you add an FMC between that extender / R26 it improves again. that's been my journey. Going via my mac mini via ddc , and / or via the main router, has been good but not as good as LAN direct via a seperate extender. That said, I saw @Dandoudou on another thread now thinks he has beaten LAN via DDC with some other upgrades he has done on his chain.

My HQP settings are still to fully settle down, I have settled on DSD upsampling for the moment - it seems to remove the noise and help create a black background. The music feels like it's more in the room with me (R26 is on my speaker system). PCM native or upsampled is excellent but there's a slight veil on the music that DSD just doesn't have. After doing some room correction, i have been retesting my HQ settings and it's a bit of a toss between DSD direct on (which goes to the 1 bit multichip dac) and DSD direct off (which goes to the R2R ladder) when upsampling to 44 x 512.

This are my current set ups for PCM / DSD:

DSD: Poly sinc gauss long, poly sinc gauss hires ip, asdm7, 44.1 X 512
PCM: poly sinc gauss long, poly sinc gauss hires ip, lns515, 768

I quickly tested DSD 256 and 512 to make sure it worked, but that was all for now.

What is your DAC bit setting for PCM? If it's too high, you might get that slightly veiled sound. Try 16 bit and see if you still feel the same.

 

[Dandoudou]

This are my current set ups for PCM / DSD:

DSD: Poly sinc gauss long, poly sinc gauss hires ip, asdm7, 44.1 X 512
PCM: poly sinc gauss long, poly sinc gauss hires ip, lns515, 768

I suggest you to set DSD in HQP 48 x512.
This way, HQP will automatically upsample your 44.1 multipliers tracks to DSD (44.1), and it will upsample your 48 multipliers tracks to DSD (48).

 

[Dandoudou]

I quickly tested DSD 256 and 512 to make sure it worked, but that was all for now.

What is your DAC bit setting for PCM? If it's too high, you might get that slightly veiled sound. Try 16 bit and see if you still feel the same.

For me, too, DSD512 upsampling sounds better with this DAC than PCM 16-768 upsampling. But the difference is small.

 

[Jake2]

Ok, I'm here to start some trouble...

I have been reading this thread for weeks, but hesitated to get involved until my R26 arrived. It's here now, just arriving today.

I only listen to speakers in a dedicated, and acoustically treated listening room (not a headphone person). I've spent years tweaking every aspect of my system. I currently have a Sabre DAC that I have not been able to find a better replacement, but the R26 already seems it's going to be staying. I will work my way through break-in, but it has already impressed me. The last DAC I tried was a Holo Spring KTE, but I found my DAC to be mostly better in many ways, but it was close.

My setup: Gaming PC (i5-10600k) running HQPlayer with an UP Board NAA feeding my DAC via a Phasure Lush 3 USB cable. I run a Tortuga LDR V2 passive preamp, and an IceEdge 1200AS-2 based amplifier. My speakers are Salk Sound HT3's. I am VERY happy with the sound prior to the R26. I'm not even certain why I purchased the R26 other than to see if it was "better" and some of the features like the internal streamer and Bluetooth for my occasional Spotify listening.

First, my home network consists of (4) Plume Super Pods for mesh wireless, and my wired network starts at the main pod to a 5 port switch, then to another 8 port switch in my basement where both the PC and NAA are wired with CAT 6.

While waiting for delivery of the R26, I decided to try a FMC setup. The FMC setup arrived last week Friday, and it consists of 2 FMC modules and the Finisar AOC cable. I tried the FMC's powered by various power supplies, but the clean side was always powered by a linear power supply. The FMC setup sounds terrible. Yes that's right, I'm probably the only person you will find that HATES the sound of FMC's in my system. To simply sum things up, the FMC's gave me what seemed like a blacker background that also put a blackness on everything else. Upper treble was very faint and it felt like a lot detail was just gone. I tried everything I could including alternative SFP's and cable, which did sound worse as far as clarity. I listened to the FMC setup for a few days, and I could hear more issues as I listened to broader set of music tracks. So I removed the FMC's yesterday.

So here is where it gets strange. Removing the FMC's from my setup and going back to just the normal wired network made my system sound bright, when for years I've been wanting a touch more treble energy and extension. So I guess this was just my brain starting to get reprogrammed. BUT, it trying to figure out what may be wrong with my FMC setup, I saw a post by a network engineer that suggested someone try a wireless extender that had a RJ45 port on it to attach to the NAA. Since I have a Plume pod right next to my equipment rack, I attached a cable from the wireless pod to my NAA.

This proved amazing! The change in sound is exactly what you all have been describing in this thread about FMC's. The increase in clarity is very noticable, and my upper treble is more clear and sweeter sounding. Basically anything you could associate with an increase in clarity was now better. I have not been able to find any issues with the change in sound. It's just better overall by a good margin (at least according to an audiophile).

As for the R26, I really expected to *need* break-in, but to my surprise, the DAC sounds really very good. A lot like my DAC, but just more. The most obvious thing is an increase in detail retrieval. My DAC sounds slightly more analog and has a better sense of depth and dimension, but I'm hoping the R26 will catch it, or even best it in these areas.

For now, I'm testing PCM while breaking the DAC in. I've tried Jussi's (from HQPlayer) recommendation of 16-768, but I've tried some higher DAC bits without hearing anything horrible in the sound. This surprises me as every other DAC I've tried seems to sound bad without finding the best DAC bits and sample rates.

Those running HQPlayer, what are your best settings?

Welcome and great first post! Glad you like the R26.

Can we extrapolate that you prefer the R26 so far to what you recall of the Spring KTE, as if so, you'd be the first on this thread to have both I think. That'd be high praise. (There's a few folk who had the May KTE and understandably preferred it)

I tried various HQP PCM bit rates and settled on 18-768, though any sonic differences were super subtle. I've been using ext2 and ext3 for both PCM and DSD512, but can't recall exact details off hand (away from PC).

Your feedback on FMCs is interesting, I've not tried em yet, will shortly.

 

[Odezra]

I quickly tested DSD 256 and 512 to make sure it worked, but that was all for now.

What is your DAC bit setting for PCM? If it's too high, you might get that slightly veiled sound. Try 16 bit and see if you still feel the same.

Yep - have tried along the bit range and there's always been that slight veil.

I suggest you to set DSD in HQP 48 x512.
This way, HQP will automatically upsample your 44.1 multipliers tracks to DSD (44.1), and it will upsample your 48 multipliers tracks to DSD (48).

Thanks - I was doing this but I was getting some stuttering, but back on it after you suggested it and no problems so far.

 

[duffer5]

No. I have Xfinity cable. I have an Arris Surfboard modem feeding the main Plume pod acting as the router.

The reason I ask, I have FIOS BTW, about FIOS is that it is fiber optic coming into the house via fins is converted into ethernet through copper when the signal hits the interior of the home, but many of those FIOS signals came into residential homes too hot and as a result there were packet errors which required service calls to have a regulator put in-between the hot fiber signal and the copper cable. I don't think Infinity is fiber so it can't be that.

 

[Jake2]

I will try to do small writeup by this weekend but I dont have another FMC-FMC with LPS to compare against so all I can say is about this TeraDak device. But I feel it has everything in it. LPS, OCXO to reduce jitter and clock phase noise and hence I decided to go with it.

Hi Kumar, are you in a position to give an update on your impressions with the TeraDak FMCs, even just a few brief comments? Did you get a pair of the OCXO ones?