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

[Dandoudou]

Does anyone know if the I2S output of the Holo Red is compatible with the Gustard R26 both for PCM and DSD?

 

[darcman]

Happy fathers day...I have been thinking about another DAC for a while now. I was thinking Holo May KTE or Terminator Plus, but dont want to spend that kind of money now. I like the Musetec MH-DA005 too. The two that really intrigue me, especially at their prospective price points are Gustard A26 & R26. Now I like detail and soundstage so making a decision for A26 or R26 is a tuff choice. Coming from the 9038s in the Musical Paradise MP-D2 MK3 deluxe I am kinda leaning towards the A26. I also like the looks and a couple of the features of the A26. I am sure I could live with either, but I am not sure if the R26 would do it for me. I also use the Innuos Phoenix USB enhanser/decrapifier so I am not sure how the would play with the Gustards. ....or would the Gustards not really be a big jump in performance???

 

[Brummle]

Does anyone know if the I2S output of the Holo Red is compatible with the Gustard R26 both for PCM and DSD?

I'll think you'll need a 'custom' HDMI...

 

[Dandoudou]

I'll think you'll need a 'custom' HDMI...

Custom cable won't help, if the I2S output of the Red works like the output of the DI-20HE.
The R26 needs to receive an archaic signal on Pin 15 with DSD.

 

[LarsHP]

Happy fathers day...I have been thinking about another DAC for a while now. I was thinking Holo May KTE or Terminator Plus, but dont want to spend that kind of money now. I like the Musetec MH-DA005 too. The two that really intrigue me, especially at their prospective price points are Gustard A26 & R26. Now I like detail and soundstage so making a decision for A26 or R26 is a tuff choice. Coming from the 9038s in the Musical Paradise MP-D2 MK3 deluxe I am kinda leaning towards the A26. I also like the looks and a couple of the features of the A26. I am sure I could live with either, but I am not sure if the R26 would do it for me. I also use the Innuos Phoenix USB enhanser/decrapifier so I am not sure how the would play with the Gustards. ....or would the Gustards not really be a big jump in performance???

Did you see this compilation of comparisons of the A26 and R26? If not, I suggest checking it out.

Regarding features, as far as I know, the only difference between the A26 and R26 is that the A26 lacks Bluetooth. Or am I missing something?

 

[DeckHiFi]

I got the FMC Mod setup. The only thing I don't have yet is the Cat8 cable (using Cat6 for now, but it's short) at the end of the chain or the Linear power supply. Should get those soon...so far my impressions are blown away. I am absolutely loving this. I don't even have a great amp (decent mid tier under 1k) and I am loving this setup. It's crazy how clear everything is the layering of sounds is just really bringing out the emotion. I feel like DSD upscaling from PCM with HQPlayer is still a very important part and my preference towards Hi-Z with my high impedance headphones. But still...the clarity is so important and I'm a believer in this now. Thanks guys for continuing to harp on this till I finally went with it. I think the person that finally sold me was the person that said this is what you would do with any internal or external streamer setup.

 

[camrector]

I got the FMC Mod setup. The only thing I don't have yet is the Cat8 cable (using Cat6 for now, but it's short) at the end of the chain or the Linear power supply. Should get those soon...so far my impressions are blown away. I am absolutely loving this. I don't even have a great amp (decent mid tier under 1k) and I am loving this setup. It's crazy how clear everything is the layering of sounds is just really bringing out the emotion. I feel like DSD upscaling from PCM with HQPlayer is still a very important part and my preference towards Hi-Z with my high impedance headphones. But still...the clarity is so important and I'm a believer in this now. Thanks guys for continuing to harp on this till I finally went with it. I think the person that finally sold me was the person that said this is what you would do with any internal or external streamer setup.

Great to hear!

 

[Jake2]

Yes, I really like him. He's leaning heavily towards the Eversolo DMP-A6 (as are many other reviewers these days). With his recently reviewed Innuos Pulse Mini running close behind.

Thanks for the head's up re the Eversolo, I see what you mean by it being favoured by a number of reviewers - just caught up with a few others incl Steve Huff's review where he reckons it matches the Lumin U2 Mini and not far behind his Lumin U2 (non-mini). So there's no shame in a $1.5k DAC's inbuilt streamer being bettered (in Srbo's system, to his ears) by a $900 standalone streamer that punches well above its weight into the $2k plus range. I wonder how it compares to the Holo May Red, that'll be an interesting comparison. Talk about a fast changing space...

Not that I actually need a standalone streamer. I have an Afterdark Rosanna Diretta streamer I've had sitting here for a few weeks just demanding to be setup. finally getting onto it with @Dandoudou 's expert direction.

 

[Dandoudou]

Thanks for the head's up re the Eversolo, I see what you mean by it being favoured by a number of reviewers - just caught up with a few others incl Steve Huff's review where he reckons it matches the Lumin U2 Mini and not far behind his Lumin U2 (non-mini). So there's no shame in a $1.5k DAC's inbuilt streamer being bettered (in Srbo's system, to his ears) by a $900 standalone streamer that punches well above its weight into the $2k plus range. I wonder how it compares to the Holo May Red, that'll be an interesting comparison. Talk about a fast changing space...

Not that I actually need a standalone streamer. I have an Afterdark Rosanna Diretta streamer I've had sitting here for a few weeks just demanding to be setup. finally getting onto it with @Dandoudou 's expert direction.

The Eversolo has a built-in DAC. It can be used as a standalone streamer, and a streamer/DAC, like the R26.

 

[rockcity007]

Happy fathers day...I have been thinking about another DAC for a while now. I was thinking Holo May KTE or Terminator Plus, but dont want to spend that kind of money now. I like the Musetec MH-DA005 too. The two that really intrigue me, especially at their prospective price points are Gustard A26 & R26. Now I like detail and soundstage so making a decision for A26 or R26 is a tuff choice. Coming from the 9038s in the Musical Paradise MP-D2 MK3 deluxe I am kinda leaning towards the A26. I also like the looks and a couple of the features of the A26. I am sure I could live with either, but I am not sure if the R26 would do it for me. I also use the Innuos Phoenix USB enhanser/decrapifier so I am not sure how the would play with the Gustards. ....or would the Gustards not really be a big jump in performance???

Hey darcman, sorry I can't advise your A/R26 condondrum. I have the R26 and feel maybe the A26 might be more my flavor as well.
I couldn't help notice your location. On such a worldly site such as this, we are almost neighbors! Born in New West, BC I now live in Ferndale WA.
to work daily to my job in south Surrey. Keep us posted on your quest for a new DAC!

Thanks for the head's up re the Eversolo, I see what you mean by it being favoured by a number of reviewers - just caught up with a few others incl Steve Huff's review where he reckons it matches the Lumin U2 Mini and not far behind his Lumin U2 (non-mini). So there's no shame in a $1.5k DAC's inbuilt streamer being bettered (in Srbo's system, to his ears) by a $900 standalone streamer that punches well above its weight into the $2k plus range. I wonder how it compares to the Holo May Red, that'll be an interesting comparison. Talk about a fast changing space...

Not that I actually need a standalone streamer. I have an Afterdark Rosanna Diretta streamer I've had sitting here for a few weeks just demanding to be setup. finally getting onto it with @Dandoudou 's expert direction.

 

[rockcity007]

Thanks for the head's up re the Eversolo, I see what you mean by it being favoured by a number of reviewers - just caught up with a few others incl Steve Huff's review where he reckons it matches the Lumin U2 Mini and not far behind his Lumin U2 (non-mini). So there's no shame in a $1.5k DAC's inbuilt streamer being bettered (in Srbo's system, to his ears) by a $900 standalone streamer that punches well above its weight into the $2k plus range. I wonder how it compares to the Holo May Red, that'll be an interesting comparison. Talk about a fast changing space...

Not that I actually need a standalone streamer. I have an Afterdark Rosanna Diretta streamer I've had sitting here for a few weeks just demanding to be setup. finally getting onto it with @Dandoudou 's expert direction.

Ya, things were so stagnant and expensive for so long, it's nice to see the competitive nature of the digital music scene finally take hold!
So, you don't use the R26 as a renderer?

 

[Jake2]

Ya, things were so stagnant and expensive for so long, it's nice to see the competitive nature of the digital music scene finally take hold!
So, you don't use the R26 as a renderer?

On the contrary I have been using the R26 internal HQP NAA renderer and have been very happy with it, has beaten any Zen Stream and/or U18/SU6/Holo Titanis DDC combo I've tried to date, especially after all the tweaks I've made, the margin seems to just get wider. But temptation got the better of me after hearing good things about Diretta and Afterdark gear so I couldn't resist the group buy at Audiophilestyle on the Rosanna Network bridge (renderer)...

 

[daronbirkholz]

I own a gustard a26 DAC and I was attempting to perform the firmware update and it did not work because i accidentally clicked one of the formatting prompts. I tried to format the device over usb to EXT4 and now its showing up as a USB device but not in the firmware update software. Does anyone know what to do or how to fix this? the streamer function does not work anymore.

 

[DivinesGaming]

try reformatting to fat32 and other types til it works how it should imo

 

[DeckHiFi]

On the contrary I have been using the R26 internal HQP NAA renderer and have been very happy with it, has beaten any Zen Stream and/or U18/SU6/Holo Titanis DDC combo I've tried to date, especially after all the tweaks I've made, the margin seems to just get wider. But temptation got the better of me after hearing good things about Diretta and Afterdark gear so I couldn't resist the group buy at Audiophilestyle on the Rosanna Network bridge (renderer)...

Good to know Jake that the R26 internal with HQP is a great sounding option. I'm definitely loving it. But I appreciate your search for perfection, so I'm sure you'll let us know (I hope) what is your ultimate setup when you find it. Will be interesting to hear if you find a streamer option that beats the R26 internal streamer.