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

[EMINENT]

Has anyone tested up to what maximum resolution PCM and DSD work on the ethernet input?

I have, it's 768/512.

 

[Forgisound]

It works fine, no problems?

 

[EMINENT]

It works fine, no problems?

None at all through NAA short of pc limitations and certain filters.

 

[Forgisound]

Uopće ništa kroz NAA osim ograničenja računala i određenih filtara.

Great, thank you

 

[Nada]

In terms of data type and rate there is often a drift to more must be better. This influence comes from marketing and general technology trends. Better PCs have faster CPU's etc.

With R2R DACs this is a trap. DSD is one bit. DSD is usually created in a studio from PCM. So DSD is stripped down PCM in terms of bit depth.

Its irrational to buy a multibit R2R and then run DSD on it. The measurements of PCM vs DSD on this DAC and others proves the point.

With PCM its possible to oversample to extreme rates eg 768k Why? Does faster mean better? Faster means less settling time between samples.

Many R2R have a sweet performance spot at 88.2 - 192k. Higher rates and the distortion increases. Lower rates in NOS mode and noise increases a little but is likely under the noise floor and many prefer 44.1 NOS

Summary:
use PCM
try up-sampling to 88.2 - 192k in NOS mode with different software filters

 

[comzee]

Its irrational to buy a multibit R2R and then run DSD on it.

Catching up on the thread, was going to post saying something like this, but I'll quote you to reiterate it.

Even though I think DSD is goofball stuff, I accept people will use it.
But as Nada said, literally the entire idea of R2R ladders, is for PCM. It's extremely silly to try to maximum DSD using R26.

It's like buying a monster truck, and wanting to go to a track and race it. Even tho you can race a monster truck, it just doesn't make sense.
Buy a race car.

Take that example over to DSD. Why in the world would somebody buy an R2R built from the ground up for PCM, to fret over DSD...

Guys, if you want max DSD quality, want to play DSD1024, buy a dac that was purpose built for DSD.......

 

[cglin222]

So I have the U18 and C18, I am planning to get the r26, how should I connect my clock? Should I connect one to each devices ie. u18 and r26?
Planning to us pc->u18 i2s -> r26
Thanks

 

[raps1514]

#1 With Roon, you need to go to Settings -> Audio -> (you might need to scroll down) -> Click "enable" on Gustarender-1v3
Roon will not automatically enable it, you need to manually enable it, for it to show up as an endpoint for Roon to play to.
(this isn't just R26 thing, this is just how Roon works)

#2 Audirvana only way to send audio to R26 LAN is UPNP, which out of the box works.
In Audirvana, lower right, there is the endpoint selection area. Click into it, you should see the UPNP Gustarender to select.

I own both Roon and Audirvana (In fact I own Audirvana 3.5 old version, and the new Audirvana Studio).

I've gotten them all to work with R26 LAN effortlessly, providing you fallow the instructions above.

Hope that helps!

suppose if it says "Gustarender-1v3" in Roon that means I am on the (latest) firmware currently on the Gustard site?
Version: 1.3
Model: R26

Thanks

 

[raps1514]

#1 With Roon, you need to go to Settings -> Audio -> (you might need to scroll down) -> Click "enable" on Gustarender-1v3
Roon will not automatically enable it, you need to manually enable it, for it to show up as an endpoint for Roon to play to.
(this isn't just R26 thing, this is just how Roon works)

#2 Audirvana only way to send audio to R26 LAN is UPNP, which out of the box works.
In Audirvana, lower right, there is the endpoint selection area. Click into it, you should see the UPNP Gustarender to select.

I own both Roon and Audirvana (In fact I own Audirvana 3.5 old version, and the new Audirvana Studio).

I've gotten them all to work with R26 LAN effortlessly, providing you fallow the instructions above.

Hope that helps!

Looks like Roon only sees it as an "Airplay" streaming device?

EDIT: unplug/plug - found it as ALSA

 

[Forgisound]

Catching up on the thread, was going to post saying something like this, but I'll quote you to reiterate it.

Even though I think DSD is goofball stuff, I accept people will use it.
But as Nada said, literally the entire idea of R2R ladders, is for PCM. It's extremely silly to try to maximum DSD using R26.

It's like buying a monster truck, and wanting to go to a track and race it. Even tho you can race a monster truck, it just doesn't make sense.
Buy a race car.

Take that example over to DSD. Why in the world would somebody buy an R2R built from the ground up for PCM, to fret over DSD...

Guys, if you want max DSD quality, want to play DSD1024, buy a dac that was purpose built for DSD.......

I have most of the PCM material, but also some DSD. I hope the DSD won't sound bad either?
As I've written before, I don't believe in oversampling via a computer application. Either HQP or Roon.
But I have PCM material 192/24 and 176/24. I hope the R26 will work optimally with those resolutions?

 

[Deleeh]

Great explanation @Nada.
I see it similarly with the sweet spot.
Personally, I prefer 32/96 if possible and I'm happy with 24/96.

I read at Dsd that the principle is as follows.
The Cd has 16/44 and DSD is basically "better" depending on the resolution rate, i.e. 32, 64, 128 etc., depending on what the Dac offers.
Whether you need it is, of course, another matter.

Mostly you need software to tell the Dac that it is a DSD format like Roon,Hq Player, Audirvana ect....

How you like it soundwise is something you have to decide for yourself.

 

[Nada]

I have most of the PCM material, but also some DSD. I hope the DSD won't sound bad either?

If you already have DSD and PCM and are getting the R26 it would be fun to try both PCM and DSD If you can get the same recording in 92/24 PCM and in DSD that would make for an interesting comparison. The R26 has dedicated conversion resistor pathways for PCM and DSD. Some may even prefer the DSD sound.

For other folk who only like DSD, buying a DAC featuring a 24bit discrete R2R like the R26 doesn't make much sense. DSD is like deltalsigma 1bit processing in a file. The logical match is a 1bit DS DAC.

As I've written before, I don't believe in oversampling via a computer application. Either HQP or Roon.

Thats fine choosing NOS. Plenty prefer NOS as they hear it sounding better for them. There are few OS filters that improve NOS so its understandable. The R26 looks from measurements, to have a pure NOS mode, so if you like NOS PCM its a good match.

But I have PCM material 192/24 and 176/24. I hope the R26 will work optimally with those resolutions?

They should sound fine playing on the R26 in NOS mode. Try and compare with the 44.1/16 tracks. The HD may well sound better in NOS mode. The HD arent inherently better - its just in NOS mode the HD rates push US way out from the audio band.

 

[markkpa]

So I have the U18 and C18, I am planning to get the r26, how should I connect my clock? Should I connect one to each devices ie. u18 and r26?
Planning to us pc->u18 i2s -> r26
Thanks

Last week I connected an off-brand 10Mhz master clock to my U18/R26. As someone else here suggested, it sounds better connecting the U18 only using the sine-wave connection and not connecting the R26. I am using I2S between the U18 & R26. I am also using the Gustard brand 50 ohm coaxial cable which sounds better than the cheap off brand I had.

 

[cglin222]

Last week I connected an off-brand 10Mhz master clock to my U18/R26. As someone else here suggested, it sounds better connecting the U18 only using the sine-wave connection and not connecting the R26. I am using I2S between the U18 & R26. I am also using the Gustard brand 50 ohm coaxial cable which sounds better than the cheap off brand I had.

Cool thanks once I get r26 I’ll try it out

 

[shogo33]

T

Last week I connected an off-brand 10Mhz master clock to my U18/R26. As someone else here suggested, it sounds better connecting the U18 only using the sine-wave connection and not connecting the R26. I am using I2S between the U18 & R26. I am also using the Gustard brand 50 ohm coaxial cable which sounds better than the cheap off brand I had.

Thats interesting...as the whole point of the 10Mhz clock input on both the R26 and U18 was to allow the K2 clock synth to generate a sync clock signal for both units and therefore increase fidelity.