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

[Louisiana]

This is a big reason why you aren’t hearing a big difference from LAN.
26m Ethernet cable snaking through your home is not good for SQ.

Please don't misunderstand, but what about the hundreds of meters of cable running through the street into your house?
Those are ok, but the last 26 meters are disturbing?

I haven't had a meter of cable to the R26, and couldn't hear any difference between USB, RJ45 or I2s, even with FCM mod.

I am happy every day because of my „Holzohren“

 

[dacwizard]

Again with a properly set up system for LAN streaming, you would clearly see/hear the difference and understand why the LAN input is preferred for SQ without spending thousands on a DDC.

Well possibly…..but you can’t possibly know. Any improvements brought about by these type of isolation methods must be hugely dependent on your local network and environment how many ‘dirty RF emitters‘ are around, city/rural. Heck I’m not even in the same country as you.

What I do know is I am very happy with the sound I’m getting (via optical) whereas most people on here don’t seem to be happy with their (primirarly LAN and USB), sound, and for some reason seem to be obsessed by continual fiddling. That’s up to them, it’s their time and money but Id rather spend the time listening to music.

 

[camrector]

Please don't misunderstand, but what about the hundreds of meters of cable running through the street into your house?
Those are ok, but the last 26 meters are disturbing?

I haven't had a meter of cable to the R26, and couldn't hear any difference between USB, RJ45 or I2s, even with FCM mod.

I am happy every day because of my „Holzohren“

How the signal is treated at any stage of its journey is important. FMCs with a linear power supply can help clean up any noise picked up along the way. I can tell you for certain it’s not an Amazon Cat 6 cable running from the street to your house.

 

[duffer5]

How the signal is treated at any stage of its journey is important. FMCs with a linear power supply can help clean up any noise picked up along the way. I can tell you for certain it’s not an Amazon Cat 6 cable running from the street to your house.

What @camrector said 100%. The whole reason the FMC mod works is because of the "crappy," cable that leads into your home. Optical does not transmit noise, with FMC you are 100% eliminating traditional ethernet noise. With anything running over 1+ feet of ethernet cable you have basically created an antenna to transmit noise. FMC takes the transmission of noise out of the equation. The best mod for the lowest cost. Trust me I was doubtful until I heard it and I felt like my setup was all new to me post FMC.

 

[camrector]

Well possibly…..but you can’t possibly know.

Actually yes we can know. It’s the clear science on RFI/EMI not being able to travel over fiber optic. It’s clear as well that optic toslink produces mountains of jitter as well as caps resolution at 96khz on audio signals. No matter the country you’re in.

whereas most people on here don’t seem to be happy with their (primirarly LAN and USB), sound, and for some reason seem to be obsessed by continual fiddling

I think you’re mistaken here as well. LAN has been qualified as the best sounding input by many many many people on here over the past 500 pages. Only made better by the addition of a $150 foundational network “tweek”of adding FMCs.
Can’t knock it till you try it.
Glad optical is working out for you now.

 

[Dandoudou]

I don't think so Dan they're both here: http://jplay.eu/

JPlay Femto is a player for Windows that exists for many years. I used it for a while a few years ago.
JPlay for iOS is a new product that was released last year.

 

[sajunky]

Please don't misunderstand, but what about the hundreds of meters of cable running through the street into your house?
Those are ok, but the last 26 meters are disturbing?

I haven't had a meter of cable to the R26, and couldn't hear any difference between USB, RJ45 or I2s, even with FCM mod.

I am happy every day because of my „Holzohren“

Right, 100 meters max according to the standard. There is a lot of confusion among audiophiles. People think, oh, "I must have shielded cable". But a shield transfer ground loops between two devices. Unshielded twisted pair is much better in this regard, as it blocks common mode noise.

Now those who chose shielded cable are unaware of two things. (1) not all network devices have shielded connectors, but a socket looks the same. It means, one (or even two) ends of cable may be left floating. It creates antennae from the shield picking up EMI from surrounding. (2) A presence of shielded sockets doesn't mean a shield is properly referenced to the common ground. If not, shield (again) works as an antennae. Very few consumer switches/routers use three-prong power plug with earth wire. Without ground wire there is no reference.

In result of a general preference for STP cable, a demand for fiber converters is created. It blocks ground loops (common noise). But pulse modulation of the light put a stress on the receiver's power supply and a noise propagate through the power cable on the 'clean' side.

Bottom of line, there is no ideal solution that can be recommended for everyone. Every system is subject to a different harmful interference. My suggestion is always a $15 WiFi N300 extender (or a pair) pluggable to a wall socket (no power cord) on a short UTP cable to the streamer.

 

[dacwizard]

It’s clear as well that optic toslink produces mountains of jitter as well as caps resolution at 96khz on audio signals.

Factually untrue, maybe you should try toslink you might find it’s an improvement for you. Guaranteed no RFI/EMI, 192khz no problem, jitter at levels proven well below the R26 dynamic range..

LAN has been qualified as the best sounding input by many many many people on here over the past 500 pages

To be fair a bunch of forumites agreeing on something doesn’t make it anywhere near being true, I’ve not seen anyone doing any sort of blind test, in fact I don’t think anyone has even compared LAN to toslink (all seems to be USB ), so in fact 100% of people on here that have compared toslink to LAN (I.e me) think there is no differance.

Can’t knock it till you try it.

I did try it…just not with FMC.

Anyway it’s all good, I’m glad you think your System is working at its best. But next time you don’t and fancy : trying an external clock (bonkers idea); spending a silly amount on a fuse; changing your mains lead; adding random weights on top; preparing the r26 for thanksgiving with bacofoil; etc etc. maybe try toslink and see the light.

Hey I know people are just trying to maximise their system potential, so all good.

 

[camrector]

Factually untrue, maybe you should try toslink you might find it’s an improvement for you. Guaranteed no RFI/EMI, 192khz no problem, jitter at levels proven well below the R26 dynamic range..



To be fair a bunch of forumites agreeing on something doesn’t make it anywhere near being true, I’ve not seen anyone doing any sort of blind test, in fact I don’t think anyone has even compared LAN to toslink (all seems to be USB ), so in fact 100% of people on here that have compared toslink to LAN (I.e me) think there is no differance.


I did try it…just not with FMC.

Anyway it’s all good, I’m glad you think your System is working at its best. But next time you don’t and fancy : trying an external clock (bonkers idea); spending a silly amount on a fuse; changing your mains lead; adding random weights on top; preparing the r26 for thanksgiving with bacofoil; etc etc. maybe try toslink and see the light.

Hey I know people are just trying to maximise their system potential, so all good.

*Hears popping and crackling from system
Dacwizard guy- Can’t be from pushing 192k through toslink optical with its mountains of jitter!!

Amazing to see someone using a 26m Ethernet cable attempt to add anything of value to a conversation.
You do you guy!

 

[mgsu]

Factually untrue, maybe you should try toslink you might find it’s an improvement for you. Guaranteed no RFI/EMI, 192khz no problem, jitter at levels proven well below the R26 dynamic range..

This is not a reason for dispute!
The best connection for R26 depends on the source and the implementation of the connection type.
I have tried all sorts of connection with all sorts of sources. Toslink is favorable, but depending of the source device, maybe not the best for everyone.
I liked Toslink for a while, then I2S and USB and ended up with LAN to be the best (connected to a sNH-10G with Master Clock input).



May i ask what kind of streamer do you use?

 

[dacwizard]

Hears popping and crackling from system
Dacwizard guy- Can’t be from pushing 192k through toslink optical with its mountains of jitter!!

Where do you get this rubbish from? I have no such issue from toslink and never have And can play 192khz files with no problem or jitter. The only people having issues with stuttering (which is what I said about LAN) are those using LAN, read back in the thread, dozens of users have had stuttering issues using LAN.

This is not a reason for dispute!

When someone says something verifiable factually untrue {toslink…caps resolution at 96khz on audio signals}, and then deliberately tries to misrepresent what I said, then it is a reason for dispute and shows said person doesn’t know what they are talking about.


@camrector How come you aren’t using an external clock? There are dozens on this thread that seem to think it’s a huge improvement, surely that proves it must be?

 

[Dandoudou]

I tried all the inputs of the R26, Toslink included, with my three DDCs. An AGD DI-20HE, a Holo Red, and a PI2AES.
For all the tests, I proceeded in the following setup for best results: LAN > Optical isolation > External Streamer > DDC > R26.

The Toslink input of the R26 is very good indeed, but for all my tests, I2S was the best input.
Since I carried these tests, my setup evolved with an additional, optical USB isolation, between the external streamer and the DDC.
My DDC is permanently connected to the Toslink, AES, and I2S inputs of the R26, and I can switch between them on the fly. I2S still sounds best.

 

[dacwizard]

a Holo Red,

Did you have any issues with the PCM/DSD pin on the I2S? Did you have a special cable made? Are you using PCM or DSD? Any idea what the R26 defaults to if you leave this pin floating?

 

[Dandoudou]

Did you have any issues with the PCM/DSD pin on the I2S? Did you have a special cable made? Are you using PCM or DSD? Any idea what the R26 defaults to if you leave this pin floating?

I had an issue with the I2S connection between the AGD DI-20HE, and the R26. I could only stream PCM to the R26, but not DSD.
A special cable could not fix this issue, because for DSD, the R26 needs to receive a 5V flag on pin15, and the DI-20HE does not emit such flag on any pin.
This was the reason for which I bought the Red. One of the presets of the Red works perfectly with the R26 both for PCM and DSD.

 

[dacwizard]

This was the reason for which I bought the Red. One of the presets of the Red works perfectly with the R26 both for PCM and DSD.

That’s interesting, because the Holo Red manual doesn’t suggest that pin 15 is controlled on any of it’s preset pin outs.?