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

[sbgk]

I tried this twice but got the same "an error has occurred. The internal error description is: initialize: update devices -> 0xEE000060" error and a black driver panel, as soon as I copy back the old files it works instantly. Is there something else I'm missing?

can't seem to access the site, maybe they've changed something

 

[REXNFX]

Cam wants a killer DAC + Streamer <= 5K. The DAC brand who had always streamer integration for sometime now is Matrix Audio. Don't know if it's killer.
Don't know what's in me that I gave them always doubts of their price/performance....

Cambridge Audio Edge NQ

 

[LeonidK]

Has anyone compared R26 to Chord Qutest in terms of soundstage, PRAT, sound body?

 

[LarsHP]

Has anyone compared R26 to Chord Qutest in terms of soundstage, PRAT, sound body?

I remember seeing that the reviewer at soundnews.net had compared the two directly and there was no contest. The R26 was clearly better.

 

[duffer5]

Hey Gents, anyone having issues with getting hold of Gustard customer support. I am having an ongoing issue with my U18 DDC but as of yet (two weeks now) the normally responsive Gustard team has been non-responsive. I know that China was on holiday but that ended over a week ago? Anyone have any inside contacts I could use?

 

[rockcity007]

Hey Gents, anyone having issues with getting hold of Gustard customer support. I am having an ongoing issue with my U18 DDC but as of yet (two weeks now) the normally responsive Gustard team has been non-responsive. I know that China was on holiday but that ended over a week ago? Anyone have any inside contacts I could use?

Looks like most here are on holidays as well duffer5. Sorry I can't be of more assistance. Hopfully, someone will chime in soon.

 

[rockcity007]

I have a question. I would like to upgrade from my R26. It's seems the benchmark (in many circles) is the Holo Audo May Dac. If that's the case, then why are there so many for sale it seems? What are the sellers of the May DAC moving on to?

 

[sajunky]

I have a question. I would like to upgrade from my R26. It's seems the benchmark (in many circles) is the Holo Audo May Dac. If that's the case, then why are there so many for sale it seems? What are the sellers of the May DAC moving on to?

Benchmark for measurements, made for measurements, sounds like Delta-Sigma, fatiguing.

 

[camrector]

Benchmark for measurements, made for measurements, sounds like Delta-Sigma, fatiguing.

You mean Benchmark DACs or the Holo DACs?

 

[camrector]

I have a question. I would like to upgrade from my R26. It's seems the benchmark (in many circles) is the Holo Audo May Dac. If that's the case, then why are there so many for sale it seems? What are the sellers of the May DAC moving on to?

Same boat Rock!
Must also have a streamer and do DSD really well.
Ifi pro iDSD signature is all I’m finding under $5k.

 

[rockcity007]

@sajunky @camrector OPPS! Bad play on words. I meant by saying that the Holo DAC is the go to DAC, the one that people aspire to( a benchmark of sorts) not Benchmark Audio's DAC. So what DAC are the May DAC sellers moving too?

 

[REXNFX]

I have a question. I would like to upgrade from my R26. It's seems the benchmark (in many circles) is the Holo Audo May Dac. If that's the case, then why are there so many for sale it seems? What are the sellers of the May DAC moving on to?

 

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

Well here's my $4K Audiobyte against APL Hifi and Playback Designs..see description to cycle time tags.

 

[REXNFX]

Well here's my $4K Audiobyte against APL Hifi and Playback Designs..see description to cycle time tags.

The APL sounds significantly better, i believe they do a cheaper model.

 

[Currawong]

Has anyone compared R26 to Chord Qutest in terms of soundstage, PRAT, sound body?

The Qutest is closer to an Yggdrasil, and both are a noticeable degree more resolving than the R26. If you want a more "full" sounding DAC, then you'd want to consider one from Audio-gd.

Benchmark for measurements, made for measurements, sounds like Delta-Sigma, fatiguing.

Nope. I've auditioned my friend's May. It's closer to the sound from an Audio-gd DAC, especially in NOS mode. Absolutely NOTHING like a Benchmark DAC.