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

[sajunky]

My streamer is the Hifi Rose RS130, which has pure fiber going into the unit via SFP so no ethernet copper is in the RS130, which is great. But the two i2s profiles on the streamer are not compatible with the R26 thus my search for potentially something else. For now I use the Gustard U18 which is feed by the RS130 via USB, even though the RS130 is being fed by pure fiber, and then I output from the U18 via i2s into the R26. I was thinking a direct i2s connection from the RS130 would be best.

Sorry, I can't answer this question. Personally (despite of various suggestions on this forum), I don't think SFP is a solution for ground loops, as it use pulse modulation, like early 2G phones. It put stress on the power supply. I suggest to try a WiFi extender ($15) on the short (few meters) UTP cable. As usual there is no guarantee for a success, but at such price is worth to try. Separate traffic on this connection is a key, so you may need a pair of extenders.

 

[Jake2]

@duffer5

On a quick note:
The Gustard R26 is not an upgrade to my Audio GD R28.
The R26 is going back to its owner, I think my next DAC will be an R7-HE MK3.
The R26 has a slightly wider and deeper stage, but the R28 sounds so natural and alive, the R26 doesn't come close.
I have tested all connections, including the FCM mod.

Cheers for sharing your impressions. Given the passionate advocacy of Audio-Gd owners on these forums (which I in no way doubt) it is surprising that, the Stereophile review apart, there's not more good press on em. Anyway this is getting OTT on a Gustard thread sorry so will leave it there.

 

[camrector]

I’ve looked far and wide and the only thing close to an upgrade I’ve found under $8k is the TEAC ud701n.

 

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

again...

 

[camrector]

again...

 

[JackJohnson316]

Just got the LHY OCK-2 in the mail today. Also got two different 50ohm bnc cables to compare: the LHY 50ohm and the Habst 50ohm. I'm super curious to see how the clock affects the R26 and the Etherregen. I primarily use the LAN input and streamer on the R26, so the external master clock should help with an increase in sound quality. I'll report back in a few days on what I hear.

On a similar note. LHY told me I got the last unit and that they are searching for more ocxo's to make more. I did see them on AliExpress for much less, but I don't know if those are legit, so I ordered from LHY directly. They got it to me about 8 days after ordering and were quick to reply to my inquiries and questions. Good service.

 

[LarsHP]

If possible, try listening without knowing whether the external clock is engaged or it's the internal which is in use.

 

[BShaw]

If possible, try listening without knowing whether the external clock is engaged or it's the internal which is in use.

Easy to do with the remote, toggling back and forth between the two settings, especially if you have a helper. I did a version where I just kept toggling off/on without counting then did a listen. I guess I'm about ready to start a review channel with skills like that

 

[dacwizard]

Greetings - First Post so be gentle.

I bought a r26 3 months ago now, and have to say the sound is quite magnificent. I am completely new to streaming having been a Vinyl and CD user for years (I have a couple of thousand of each format). I am not a headphone user (sorry) but this forum seems quite active with r26 users.

My initial impression of the r26 was mixed. The midrange/soundstage/naturalness were superb and a match for my CD and vinyl sources (something I dared not believe possible at this price). However I was not happy with the bass weight or (in particular) the bass precision, it was also lacking top end detail but this didn’t bother me so much. After a week things had improved a bit but I still wasn’t happy, so I ended up picking up a second hand x26pro at a decent price. This immediately solved the bass precision and detail issues and I enjoyed it for a week, but I missed that natural fluid midrange and soundstage. Fortunately I had left the r26 powered up on repeat. So after a week with the x26 I tried the r26 again and you know what, the bass precision had improved massively such the the gap between the x26 and r26 in this area was marginal, but that r26 midrange and soundstage had improved even more, wow!

Over the next month I swapped back and forth a couple of times but the r26 continued (more marginally) improving. It still can’t quite compete with the CD and vinyl sources (which are particularly strong here) in the bass precision and weight but is only a hair behind, but that midrange easily matches those sources and beats them in some respects. So I’m a very happy user.

QUESTION- I have pretty much exclusively been using Oversampling mode using PCM (Qobuz hi and CD res) via toslink. If I engage NOS this bypasses the FIR filters, are these the same filters that you choose (fast, med, slow) on the front panel? Wouldn’t this just allow distortion into the Audio band…..sorry for a noob question I just don’t understand what the FIR filters are doing or what you miss by bypassing them.



Note I’ve spent a week or so skim reading most of this thread and will comment on some aspects later….

 

[camrector]

Greetings - First Post so be gentle.

I bought a r26 3 months ago now, and have to say the sound is quite magnificent. I am completely new to streaming having been a Vinyl and CD user for years (I have a couple of thousand of each format). I am not a headphone user (sorry) but this forum seems quite active with r26 users.

My initial impression of the r26 was mixed. The midrange/soundstage/naturalness were superb and a match for my CD and vinyl sources (something I dared not believe possible at this price). However I was not happy with the bass weight or (in particular) the bass precision, it was also lacking top end detail but this didn’t bother me so much. After a week things had improved a bit but I still wasn’t happy, so I ended up picking up a second hand x26pro at a decent price. This immediately solved the bass precision and detail issues and I enjoyed it for a week, but I missed that natural fluid midrange and soundstage. Fortunately I had left the r26 powered up on repeat. So after a week with the x26 I tried the r26 again and you know what, the bass precision had improved massively such the the gap between the x26 and r26 in this area was marginal, but that r26 midrange and soundstage had improved even more, wow!

Over the next month I swapped back and forth a couple of times but the r26 continued (more marginally) improving. It still can’t quite compete with the CD and vinyl sources (which are particularly strong here) in the bass precision and weight but is only a hair behind, but that midrange easily matches those sources and beats them in some respects. So I’m a very happy user.

QUESTION- I have pretty much exclusively been using Oversampling mode using PCM (Qobuz hi and CD res) via toslink. If I engage NOS this bypasses the FIR filters, are these the same filters that you choose (fast, med, slow) on the front panel? Wouldn’t this just allow distortion into the Audio band…..sorry for a noob question I just don’t understand what the FIR filters are doing or what you miss by bypassing them.



Note I’ve spent a week or so skim reading most of this thread and will comment on some aspects later….

Welcome
One of the main things that’s separated the R26 from my Pontus 2 was the R26 had better bass weight. Using the LAN input, and having FMCs is a l game changer with this DAC, you’ll notice an immediate improvement.
I too used Qobuz for streaming then added Roon at a later date. Sound quality was slightly improved. The real shocker was that Roon seemed to completely changed the Qobuz service. I was hearing the most amazing tracks that Qobuz alone was never playing or recommending. The Roon AI is just different and well worth the extra $12 a month.

To answer your question Yes, putting the R26 into NOS mode will also completely bypass the fast, mid, slow fir filters. Surface level explanation-
FIR filters essentially blend a long history of audio samples to cause level and phase changes at different frequencies in controlled ways. It’s not noise you’re filtering out (although that can happen) it’s the signal your are shaping.

 

[dacwizard]

answer your question Yes, putting the R26 into NOS mode will also completely bypass the fast, mid, slow fir filters. Surface level explanation-
FIR filters essential blend a long history of audio samples to cause level and phase changes at different frequencies in controlled ways. It’s not noise you’re filtering out (although that can happen) it’s the signal your are shaping.

So if I’m just using a direct feed from Qobuz and not doing any external filtering or upsampling (eg via hQplayer or similar) then surely this is a bad idea as aren’t these filters needed for the reconstruction of the waveform.?


My setup does not currently support any way of using Roon (or similar). I am streaming from a WIIM currently ( remember this was all only started a few months ago), but it sounds fantastic. I don’t feel I need Roon to suggest music, plenty of ways of discovering music, and I already feel like a kid in a sweetshop with access to so much, I’ve tried hundreds of things I would never have considered buying and some have been huge successes (Infected Mushroom anyone…brilliant)

 

[camrector]

So if I’m just using a direct feed from Qobuz and not doing any external filtering or upsampling (eg via hQplayer or similar) then surely this is a bad idea as aren’t these filters needed for the reconstruction of the waveform.?

Nope the reconstruction filter and antialiasing filters occur later in the signal path. Those you can’t escape.
You can think of fir filters as a type of EQ in a way. They are shaping the waveform by passing certain frequencies through(pass band), attenuating certain frequencies, stopping certain frequencies(stop band)
NOS mode on its own isn’t detrimental to the signal, the sound quality of using it is subjective. It’s a must if using HQplayer or other external filters.
I felt the same way about not needed Roon. Then once I tried I was hooked.

 

[dacwizard]

Nope the reconstruction filter and antialiasing filters occur later in the signal path. Those you can’t escape.

Right ….thats the info I was missing, thanks.

You can think of fir filters as a type of EQ in a way. They are shaping the waveform by passing certain frequencies through(pass band), attenuating certain frequencies, stopping certain frequencies(stop band)

Doesn’t explain why you wouldn’t want them in NOS mode though?!



Roon…maybe something for the future, but without using equalisation features etc it seems like a lot of cash for little benefit…I could subscribe to 3 music mags a months for similar (currently do 1)

 

[duffer5]

Roon is well worth it one you try it and in combo with HQ Player as @camrector shared your R26 becomes top tier for sure. The streamer in the R26 is capable of using Roon as of today (and since day one, sorta) so you could get a trial of 30 days or so free and see if you like it. Filters can not be used in NOS mode. Even though they can be selected via the R26's menu they are effectively bypassed and there is no filter aka equalization aka sound manipulation applied to the signal. What you hear is what is being fed directly into the R26. I prefer NOS mode for that reason alone.

 

[dacwizard]

Even though they can be selected via the R26's menu they are effectively bypassed and there is no filter aka equalization aka sound manipulation applied to the signal.

But why? This is what I am missing? What are the filters doing that has to be done for OS but doesn’t need doing for NOS?