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

[Deleeh]

The streamer is not the last word on SQ imo. As you know ive tried the streamer from external clocked sotm switch and preferred i2s from SU-6, 5% improvement. You still have the SU-2? Get a used SU-6 and go over I2S. I spoke to Jos from Magna Hifi, he confirmed that without external clocking, between SU-6, SU-2 and DI20HE, the SU-6 is the winner. With external clocking DI20HE is better.
I dont recal if you have the Puritan PSM 156, if not get one and hook up your DAC and other gear and you get 10-20% improvement.

Thanks for your answer, it helps to back the right horse.
The Su 6 has always been a memory play so far as I have the Su 2.
It might be worth getting the Su 6 home and comparing the two.
Also via the optical Toslink connection.

I also saw a good Su 2 upgrade on Magnahifi with a Farad power supply and a few small mods internally on the Su 2.

The power strip looks crazy my wife probably wouldn't be able to handle it.
Only got her to agree to the Zmf Atrium.
Which I'm glad about, even though I'm paying for it.

For a start I got myself a standard Cat 6 cable which is shielded and made of 100% copper. Let's see if it changes things.
Since I don't know what kind of Cat X cable I have.
Yesterday, my Refine fuse arrived in a stronger 3.15a.
I will let it play in for a while and then compare it to the standard value that Gustard has installed.
I think with 3.15 the bass is subtly better and the midrange slightly sweeter.
But don't pin me down.

 

[vvume]

I've been considering a clock. I think I saw a bit ago someone talking about using a clock and MQA. Does streaming MQA still hit the same data rate or does it cap out?

Not sure what an external clock has to do with MQA or data rates in general. All the external clock is doing is acting as the source of timing for the DAC, substituting the cheaper clock inside it. Whether it affects PCM only or also impacts DSD is something I haven't been able to test. Since unfolded MQA is PCM(?), I suspect it will benefit from the clock if your DAC/system generally benefits from a high quality external clock.

 

[Alenotta]

Not sure what an external clock has to do with MQA or data rates in general. All the external clock is doing is acting as the source of timing for the DAC, substituting the cheaper clock inside it. Whether it affects PCM only or also impacts DSD is something I haven't been able to test. Since unfolded MQA is PCM(?), I suspect it will benefit from the clock if your DAC/system generally benefits from a high quality external clock.

Yeah I have no clue that is why I asked. I figured someone on here will have more knowledge than me about the situation. I know MQA has a lot of strict requirements on the hardware side, and touts itself as reducing time smearing. Wasn't sure if they would be ok with an external clock / have any say in the matter. I thought I remembered reading some comments about some setting capping out the data rate to CD quality. I was skimming and not absorbing info.

 

[milkdudd]

Question for those on this thread… has anyone added a dedicated pre-amp (curious to tube specifically) to the R26 in a speaker setup and what was observed when comparing to the R26s digital preamp section?

I don't have the R26. I have the A22 dac but I can tell you in my case using a preamp was a big upgrade. I will tell you however that the quality of the interconnect cables you use between these components will make as big or bigger difference, at least it did in my case. When I first started using my Vioelectric V281 preamp function it actually decreased sound quality compared to running directly from the A22 to my power amp. To such an extent that I stopped using it for a while. What I didn't know at the time was that my XLR interconnects we're good but not great. Keep in mind when you add a preamp you're also adding an extra set of cables. So however much sound quality you lose by using inferior cables is multiplied by however many sets of cables are in the chain. Now that I'm using pure silver conductor interconnects the V281 is back in my system and I really don't think I will ever change it. Ever! Many preamps have a great headphone amp built in so even if you're not using that right away it will be there if you have a change in plans. And at least in the case of my preamp the included remote is light years ahead of what comes with the dac. I'm OCD about my volume and there is no push of the volume control that doesn't get through. As fast as I can humanly push and release the volume button it will change the volume I hear

 

[milkdudd]

Yeah I have no clue that is why I asked. I figured someone on here will have more knowledge than me about the situation. I know MQA has a lot of strict requirements on the hardware side, and touts itself as reducing time smearing. Wasn't sure if they would be ok with an external clock / have any say in the matter. I thought I remembered reading some comments about some setting capping out the data rate to CD quality. I was skimming and not absorbing info.

You might be remembering people talking about a DDC like the U18. Unless I'm doing something wrong, in my chain it limits me to 96/24 even if incoming from Tidal is 192. I think it has something to do with unfolding of MQA or some other nonsense. If someone knows a way around this I'm all ears

 

[mgsu]

Thanks for your answer, it helps to back the right horse.
The Su 6 has always been a memory play so far as I have the Su 2.
It might be worth getting the Su 6 home and comparing the two.
Also via the optical Toslink connection.

I also saw a good Su 2 upgrade on Magnahifi with a Farad power supply and a few small mods internally on the Su 2.

The power strip looks crazy my wife probably wouldn't be able to handle it.
Only got her to agree to the Zmf Atrium.
Which I'm glad about, even though I'm paying for it.

For a start I got myself a standard Cat 6 cable which is shielded and made of 100% copper. Let's see if it changes things.
Since I don't know what kind of Cat X cable I have.
Yesterday, my Refine fuse arrived in a stronger 3.15a.
I will let it play in for a while and then compare it to the standard value that Gustard has installed.
I think with 3.15 the bass is subtly better and the midrange slightly sweeter.
But don't pin me down.

I asked Jos, he told me that the Su-6 is better than the Magnafi SU2
One that is close to SU-6 is the SU-2 Kitsune Editition.

 

[OhHeyItsLou]

You might be remembering people talking about a DDC like the U18. Unless I'm doing something wrong, in my chain it limits me to 96/24 even if incoming from Tidal is 192. I think it has something to do with unfolding of MQA or some other nonsense. If someone knows a way around this I'm all ears

Sharing this from another thread....

"1. When U18 is transmitting MQA signals, U18 will expand the mqa core layer. The core sample rate is always 88.2khz or 96khz. The core signal also contains information about the actual sampling rate of the MQA. The core signal is a package, and the rate of this package is always 88.2khz or 96khz.

2. When r26 receives the MQA core signal, it will perform a fully expanded operation, and the final expanded sampling rate is the sampling rate information after OFS. This sampling rate prevails.

When playing MQA. OFS is displayed on the R26 oled, it is the full expansion of the MQA."

 

[Alenotta]

You might be remembering people talking about a DDC like the U18. Unless I'm doing something wrong, in my chain it limits me to 96/24 even if incoming from Tidal is 192. I think it has something to do with unfolding of MQA or some other nonsense. If someone knows a way around this I'm all ears

Yes this is what I was remembering!

Sharing this from another thread....

"1. When U18 is transmitting MQA signals, U18 will expand the mqa core layer. The core sample rate is always 88.2khz or 96khz. The core signal also contains information about the actual sampling rate of the MQA. The core signal is a package, and the rate of this package is always 88.2khz or 96khz.

2. When r26 receives the MQA core signal, it will perform a fully expanded operation, and the final expanded sampling rate is the sampling rate information after OFS. This sampling rate prevails.

When playing MQA. OFS is displayed on the R26 oled, it is the full expansion of the MQA."

Ahhh interesting.

Thanks for the info!

 

[SiamXIII]

Question for those on this thread… has anyone added a dedicated pre-amp (curious to tube specifically) to the R26 in a speaker setup and what was observed when comparing to the R26s digital preamp section?

I ordered P26 to accompany my R26, as this is the way in my case to enable NOS and DSD Direct.

 

[Davidv100]

Hi everyone,
I have a super dumb question and it is not even related to Gustard.

But still I will post it here since it should use less than 5 sec of your time.

So, my DAC is feeding my Plinius M8 Preamp via XLRs (balanced interconnects). From there, it is XLRs again to my Plinius SA 201 Power Amp…

I have this set up for over 15 years, and for the first time I am trying to use the “balance” control of the pre-amp to push the center a little bit (25 cm) to the right (due to room reverb).

But the “balance” control of the preamp, from max left to max right changes absolutely nothing to the sound distribution. Nothing happens at all.

Is this because “obviously, this is to be expected by design when using balanced inputs/outputs (XLR interconnects)” ???
Or is this not related, and I should look into other explanations ?

Thanks a lot

 

[BShaw]

Hi everyone,
I have a super dumb question and it is not even related to Gustard.

But still I will post it here since it should use less than 5 sec of your time.

So, my DAC is feeding my Plinius M8 Preamp via XLRs (balanced interconnects). From there, it is XLRs again to my Plinius SA 201 Power Amp…

I have this set up for over 15 years, and for the first time I am trying to use the “balance” control of the pre-amp to push the center a little bit (25 cm) to the right (due to room reverb).

But the “balance” control of the preamp, from max left to max right changes absolutely nothing to the sound distribution. Nothing happens at all.

Is this because “obviously, this is to be expected by design when using balanced inputs/outputs (XLR interconnects)” ???
Or is this not related, and I should look into other explanations ?

Thanks a lot

The balance function should work the same whether xlr or SE. Since there’s no physical balance pot on the M8, there’s something going on internally. Can you contact the company? Nice gear by the way!
Edit: do you have some RCAs you can swap in and try? It might even be the remote, which I gather is the only way to execute the balance function….

 

[Davidv100]

The balance function should work the same whether xlr or SE. Since there’s no physical balance pot on the M8, there’s something going on internally. Can you contact the company? Nice gear by the way!
Edit: do you have some RCAs you can swap in and try? It might even be the remote, which I gather is the only way to execute the balance function….

Yes you are right, you have to use the remote. And the screen of the preamp shows that it is receiving the command and indeed moving the balance accordingly.

But nothing changes to the sound distribution, as heard out of the speakers.

Thank you for your reply… I will investigate further.

 

[Davidv100]

The balance function should work the same whether xlr or SE. Since there’s no physical balance pot on the M8, there’s something going on internally. Can you contact the company? Nice gear by the way!
Edit: do you have some RCAs you can swap in and try? It might even be the remote, which I gather is the only way to execute the balance function….

BShaw,
I found the explanation. There is a separate option in the menu to bypass the balance wish I had previously activated (so the balance was deactivated, even though I could still change the balance L/R settings - but to no effect obviously).

I feel even dumber now.
By still very happy that it is solved.

Thank you !

 

[milkdudd]

BShaw,
I found the explanation. There is a separate option in the menu to bypass the balance wish I had previously activated (so the balance was deactivated, even though I could still change the balance L/R settings - but to no effect obviously).

I feel even dumber now.
By still very happy that it is solved.

Thank you !

In my experience it's much better to feel "dumber" with the problem fixed, then brilliant with the problem remaining

 

[Deleeh]

I asked Jos, he told me that the Su-6 is better than the Magnafi SU2
One that is close to SU-6 is the SU-2 Kitsune Editition.

Okay,
Thank you for the info.
I'll keep my eyes open for a Su 6.
I didn't think the Su 6 was actually as advanced as the Su 2, despite the fashion ratings.

When the Singxer came into question, the Su 6 was still new.
And many said that the Su2 was still a bit better than the Su6 in terms of sound.

Because of the fuse, I have almost 50 hours on it.
The 3.15 delivers a bit more bass and sweeter mids and a more tender low end.
Today I could perceive it well without having changed anything in the chain.
The fuse is from the same manufacturer.
The extra price was probably not worth it, only if you want to swap would I go to Gustard's recommendations and buy a 3,15.