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

[REXNFX]

Asking respectfully - what do mean by "playback software"? My R26 is connected directly to the internet via LAN - there's no computer or other appliance in the loop, just the mconnect control app. I've tried Roon which made no difference. My separate iFi Zen streamer works perfectly connected to the R26. There are plenty comments in this thread from others with the same issue when streaming HiRes or MQA files. I love the DAC function, playing mainly from CD which gives me the best quality via a glass optical cable, but have given up using the R26 as a streamer.

So you use Tidal Connect?

 

[LeonidK]

I'm awaiting R26 and plan to use its streaming functionality. I use wifi extender Netgear Nighthawk EX7300 in my room and have my PC connected to it, but this repeater only has one RJ45 output. Will RJ45 splitter (male to extender-2x female) work in my case? I wonder if it will slow my network or cause any lags/ping. I also play video games a lot so it's important to me.

 

[sajunky]

I'm awaiting R26 and plan to use its streaming functionality. I use wifi extender Netgear Nighthawk EX7300 in my room and have my PC connected to it, but this repeater only has one RJ45 output. Will RJ45 splitter (male to extender-2x female) work in my case? I wonder if it will slow my network or cause any lags/ping. I also play video games a lot so it's important to me.

Not, such splitters are good for the telephone line, not Ethernet connection. Or other special non-Ethernet application using the same connector.

You need Ethernet hub or more current devices like a switch. Not very expensive. 100Mbps is fine for audio, but for PC, get a Gigabit switch.

 

[sajunky]

Thanks @Jake2 for the link. The response from Gustard seems to make it more complex than "I2S = not reclocked" and appears to depend on other settings on the R26 such as whether PCM NOS is on or off. Interesting.

Can you repost their reply?

Thanks.

 

[LeonidK]

Not, such splitters are good for the telephone line, not Ethernet connection. Or other special non-Ethernet application using the same connector.

You need Ethernet hub or more current devices like a switch. Not very expensive. 100Mbps is fine for audio, but for PC, get a Gigabit switch.

Thanks, do you think it's worth it regarding sound quality over USB straight from PC? I don't really need a 'remote player' as I use desktop speaker setup so I sit in a nearfield anyway so I can control music from my PC.

Some people reported LAN input is the best but I never really understood how one kind of connection can be better than the other (for example I could never hear any differences between $10 and $200 USB cables and USB filters are also non audible to me).

 

[camrector]

Thanks, do you think it's worth it regarding sound quality over USB straight from PC? I don't really need a 'remote player' as I use desktop speaker setup so I sit in a nearfield anyway so I can control music from my PC.

Some people reported LAN input is the best but I never really understood how one kind of connection can be better than the other (for example I could never hear any differences between $10 and $200 USB cables and USB filters are also non audible to me).

Lan is definitely worth it.

All you will need is this:

NETGEAR 5-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch (GS105NA) - Desktop or Wall Mount, https://a.co/d/jkbLMlK

 

[LarsHP]

Thanks, do you think it's worth it regarding sound quality over USB straight from PC? I don't really need a 'remote player' as I use desktop speaker setup so I sit in a nearfield anyway so I can control music from my PC.

Some people reported LAN input is the best but I never really understood how one kind of connection can be better than the other (for example I could never hear any differences between $10 and $200 USB cables and USB filters are also non audible to me).

From what I have gathered, USB isn't a very good way to feed a DAC. The standard was designed for data, not digital audio, although it is possible. LAN / ethernet is also not designed for audio, but - AFAIK - it's much less noisy, and digital audio (and all other data) is delivered in a way were timing has practically no importance. This is quite unlike how S/PDIF works, for example.

The R26 is not just a DAC, via LAN it's also a renderer (or a kind of "streamer" if you will) as well, which is one of its strengths compared to the competition. In other words, using the LAN instead of USB or S/PDIF has technical merit (unlike snake oil stuff).

 

[sajunky]

NETGEAR 5-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch (GS105NA) - Desktop or Wall Mount, https://a.co/d/jkbLMlK

Money making link. A clean one is:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000BVYT3

 

[dacwizard]

From what I have gathered, USB isn't a very good way to feed a DAC.

It’s not quite as cut and dried as that.

In theory USB can be a great way to feed a dac, it is asynchronous and allows the DAC to do the clocking thus minimising jitter, the problem is that what is often on the other end of that USB is a very noisy computer which can induce noise into the DAC. The best method is often dependent on the particular DAC and streamer/computer implementation.

 

[LeonidK]

Thank you guys, I found this cheap switch (https://www.x-kom.pl/p/519238-switche-tp-link-5p-ls1005g-5x10-100-1000mbit.html) so I might buy it and I will give R26 a try first with direct connection to my router. I just downloaded BubbleUPnP on my phone and it seems like app from 10 years ago... doesn't seem very convenient to use. I have no idea how this thing works but I will learn. Is it functional enough for daily use or did you end up with an external streamer anyway?

 

[sa3999]

Can you repost their reply?

Thanks.

Hello @sajunky :

This is what I asked Gustard:

"I own the R26 DAC and have a technical question which I would be very grateful if you can answer.
If I use the I2S input on the R26, will the R26 re-clock the data coming into the I2S input please? Or does the R26 use the clock information coming in via the I2S input?"

This is the cut and paste of their very brief reply:

"In most cases, R26 will retime.
When nos is enabled, the IIS clock will be used in pcm.
Enabling dsd direct will use IIS clock in dsd."

Based on the Gustard response, I would expect the I2S input on the Gustard to sound the best when PCM NOS is enabled. My experience (in the context of my system) is different in that the AES/EBU connection sounds appreciably better than I2S. But I am probably not comparing "apples with apples" in that I have a very good AES/EBU cable but have only tried a very basic HDMI cable for the I2S connection.

 

[Jake2]

Hello @sajunky :

This is what I asked Gustard:

"I own the R26 DAC and have a technical question which I would be very grateful if you can answer.
If I use the I2S input on the R26, will the R26 re-clock the data coming into the I2S input please? Or does the R26 use the clock information coming in via the I2S input?"

This is the cut and paste of their very brief reply:

"In most cases, R26 will retime.
When nos is enabled, the IIS clock will be used in pcm.
Enabling dsd direct will use IIS clock in dsd."

Based on the Gustard response, I would expect the I2S input on the Gustard to sound the best when PCM NOS is enabled. My experience (in the context of my system) is different in that the AES/EBU connection sounds appreciably better than I2S. But I am probably not comparing "apples with apples" in that I have a very good AES/EBU cable but have only tried a very basic HDMI cable for the I2S connection.

That is consistent with the email response they previously provided to another member (to which I linked above) around when an external clock is referred. However as I noted in my linked post, when I carefully AB'd external clock vs not on all inputs and PCM NOS/DSD Direct settings I still found an audible delta of setting Ext Clock ON even when synchronous inputs were used with DSD Direct and PCM NOS ON. This suggested to me the K2/R26 does still refer the external clock (and/or by extension the internal oscillator if Ext Clock OFF) for some of its processes/functions, even if it is still 'using' the clock signal provided by the synchronous input. Certainly the delta was not as great as for asynchronous inputs like USB and ethernet, it was more subtle, but it was there.

 

[Fluty]

So you use Tidal Connect?

The R26 does not work witth Tidal connect, but I've used it via the iFi Streamer, which works pefectly. Everything is absolutely straightforward usuin this external streamer so I've given up on the streamer function in the R26

 

[REXNFX]

The R26 does not work witth Tidal connect, but I've used it via the iFi Streamer, which works pefectly. Everything is absolutely straightforward usuin this external streamer so I've given up on the streamer function in the R26

The reason I asked is I've tried Tidal Connect with a few streamers, including the IFI Zen Stream, and didn't like the sound. Have you tried the IFI app or others?

 

[St12]

1v43 Version 1.43
Added mainstream protocols.