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

[Dandoudou]

Thank you, @rodthebod , for the detailed explanation.
Up to now, I was configuring the BL, and putting it to sleep, without letting the GPS lock first.

 

[DeckHiFi]

I'd be interested in what the inside of it looks like, Amazon reviews (the 3 star one) shows the case surrounding it isn't shielded at all, even though they say it is. That's odd, but fixable. What's the device doing exactly? Hm. Ordered to find out.

Cool. Please share what you think when you get it. If you like it too, that might sell me. I already was sold on the Fiber solution. I might as well consider another thing, ha.

 

[Dandoudou]

I want to share feedback about a cheap tweak that is of a great value. It's not related to the R26, but I don't know where to speak about it, so I'll do it here.
It's about a model of super tweeters from Taket.
@bodiebill2 made me discover a model named BatPure, and the French site that sells it. BatPure costs only €55.
I received the supertweeters today, and hurried to install them.

This is my quickly-made temporary installation:

The result is surprising. More micro details, separation between instruments, a huge sound stage (though mine was already impressive thankfully to my LessLoss Firewalls)… It's a big upgrade for a mini prize.
This is a review in English about the BatPure, and I fully back what the reviewer says:

https://www.remusic.it/EN/TakeT-Batpure-supertweeter-9dde2d00

There are others, more expensive models of Taket supertweeters on this site, but the €55 BatPure gives an amazing result.
And this model is so small that it can be used with headphones!

The site is in French, but the owner, Christian, speaks English, and is a nice guy:

http://www.ceresaudio.fr/ceres_audio_006.htm

 

[BShaw]

I want to post feedback about a cheap tweak that is of a great value. It's not related to the R26, but I don't know where to speak about it, so I'll do it here.
It's about a model of super tweeters from Taket.
@bodiebill2 made me discover a model named BatPro, and the French site that sells it. BatPro cost only €55.
I received the supertweeters today, and hurried to install them.



This is my quickly-made temporary installation:



The result is surprising. More micro details, separation between instruments, a huge sound stage (though mine was already impressive thankfully to my LessLoss Firewalls)… It's a big upgrade for a mini prize.
This is a review in English about the BatPro, and I fully back what the reviewer says:

https://www.remusic.it/EN/TakeT-Batpure-supertweeter-9dde2d00

There are others, more expensive models of Taket supertweeters on this site, but the €55 BatPro give an amazing result.
And this model is so small that it can be used with headphones!

The site is in French, but the owner, Christian, speaks English, and is a nice guy:

http://www.ceresaudio.fr/ceres_audio_006.htm

That’s great Dan! I have a pair on my bench right now awaiting a speaker build, very much like these:
https://static.wixstatic.com/media/c07cf8_865740ae390e46b390c4b37f7fc930fb~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_640,h_968,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/c07cf8_865740ae390e46b390c4b37f7fc930fb~mv2.jpg

Hmmm that was supposed to be a photo of the Coherent 10” model….

 

[Dandoudou]

That’s great Dan! I have a pair on my bench right now awaiting a speaker build, very much like these:
https://static.wixstatic.com/media/...7cf8_865740ae390e46b390c4b37f7fc930fb~mv2.jpg

Beautiful!

 

[BShaw]

Beautiful!

They sure are, and Frank uses that exact Taket super tweeter in all his speakers. I wonder what the top shelf Takets sound like, they’re beautiful

 

[camrector]

Beautiful!

Reading our minds Dan!! Helping Bshaw with his speakers and we found those!
I’m looking at these.
https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/bullet-tweeters/fostex-t900a-top-mount-horn-super-tweeter/

 

[DeckHiFi]

I got the full FMC set-up going. Loving it! The Topping p50 is just a cool looking product in general. I like the look and feel of it...they do a good job.

I figured since I had the ideal or near ideal Lan port set-up finally going with this Dac, I might as well go back to the basics and try to hear what this dac actually sounds like without HQP. Verdict: It sounds amazing. I am really loving the mid filter with NOS off for PCM music through Roon. Especially with live/Orchestra music. It's almost like no HQP set-up captures the orchestra/live feel for dynamics/sound as natural.

For studio recorded music, I do think the right HQP filter/modulator set-up can give you more of a WOW factor. So there is a place for it, and I might go back to it for studio music. However, it's also just nice to let this dac do it's thing. There is a reason why so many people had a great reaction to it. Perhaps just letting the R26 do its natural thing, sounds ya know, the most natural. Thanks again all.

 

[m-i-c-k-e-y]

Nice to hear!

 

[St12]

Here is my version of EMI shields.
3 layers - 2 copper and 1 amorphous metal.
Great results - more tranparent sound and detailed timbre.

 

[BShaw]

Industrious.
I’m playing with the idea of lead-coated copper flashing material, very easy to work with. It’s on the thin side but I don’t need a bomb shelter.

 

[Jake2]

Here is my version of EMI shields.
3 layers - 2 copper and 1 amorphous metal.
Great results - more tranparent sound and detailed timbre.

Nice work. Great to see it done with positive feedback. A couple of questions. What is the role of amorphous metal vs copper here? And did you ground the shielding to the chassis and/or AC ground or for now is it just floatong.?

 

[bden59]

Here is my version of EMI shields.
3 layers - 2 copper and 1 amorphous metal.
Great results - more tranparent sound and detailed timbre.

Is amorphous metal better than permalloy?

 

[St12]

Is amorphous metal better than permalloy?

Yes, it is better.

Nice work. Great to see it done with positive feedback. A couple of questions. What is the role of amorphous metal vs copper here? And did you ground the shielding to the chassis and/or AC ground or for now is it just floatong.?

Copper and amorphous metal are different types of shielding. Blue wire on photo connects shields to the ground.

 

[DeckHiFi]

So perhaps this is fitting and maybe a sign that this product is a little buggy in areas (I still love it). I got the full FMC set-up working this week. I went to change some cabling around to make sure everything was the way I wanted it. I turned off the Gustard first before doing so. I turn it back on and now the Lan connection no longer works. I also can't find the device in balena to re-install the gustarender. That always fixed any issues in the past, but now that no longer works. I tried my Mac and a windows computer, and no matter what I do...I can't find the Gustard device (and yes I do turn off the back button and keep the power cord connected). So basically USB works fine, the dac is still working great just not with Lan or the USC-C to install firmware. So the 2 most important things in that department. Luckily I do think the USB still sounds great on this device, but it would be nice to be able to use Lan if I want especially since I went through the effort to try to maximize it.

So yeah, does anyone have any ideas? It's almost like I need to completely reformat or flash the device and unfortunately the re-install isn't working. Or maybe someone that came across a similar problem and found a fix? I already tried 3 different USB to USB-C cables that normally worked before and none of them can find the device on a Mac or a windows computer.