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

[Fluty]

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?

I tried Tidal Connect with my iFi Zen streamer, but didn't hear any difference at all in sound quality. I prefer the mconnect app on my iphone so that's the one I use. However, my overall preference for sound quality is silver disc from a good quality CD transport via glass (very much better than standard fibre) toslink connection to the R26.

 

[REXNFX]

I tried Tidal Connect with my iFi Zen streamer, but didn't hear any difference at all in sound quality. I prefer the mconnect app on my iphone so that's the one I use. However, my overall preference for sound quality is silver disc from a good quality CD transport via glass (very much better than standard fibre) toslink connection to the R26.

If you don't hear a drop in quality that may suggest you need a better streamer that competes with your CD Transport.

 

[Fluty]

If you don't hear a drop in quality that may suggest you need a better streamer that competes with your CD Transport.

My iFi streamer beats the R26 (using inbuilt streamer) by a significant margin. I'd suggest the reverse - that a good CD transport will beat the streamer! Has anyone else here used a decent CD transport with glass optical toslink and heard the superb result? Of course this presumes that the CD itself is a high quality recording, there are countless of poor quality. Some of the best are from companies like "Reference Recordings" and "Telarc", both from USA, as well as Chandos, Bis and many (but not all) from Decca.

 

[REXNFX]

My iFi streamer beats the R26 (using inbuilt streamer) by a significant margin. I'd suggest the reverse - that a good CD transport will beat the streamer! Has anyone else here used a decent CD transport with glass optical toslink and heard the superb result? Of course this presumes that the CD itself is a high quality recording, there are countless of poor quality. Some of the best are from companies like "Reference Recordings" and "Telarc", both from USA, as well as Chandos, Bis and many (but not all) from Decca.

Good CD transports sound similar to good Streamers but with a Streamer one has hi-res too, so the only reason to use a CD transport is if the mastering you prefer is only available on CD.

 

[mmwwmm]

For all those who hear a high pitch noise coming from the R26 when turning off the unit with the power button on the front panel, I have noticed that, when I hear the noise, it disappears completely by turning the control wheel one step/click, and it appears again If I turn another step/click and so on cyclically

 

[Fluty]

Good CD transports sound similar to good Streamers but with a Streamer one has hi-res too, so the only reason to use a CD transport is if the mastering you prefer is only available on CD.

Have you actually tried / heard and compared? So many say that hi-res / streamer is better when they have not even heard a good quality CD transport via glass optical connection to R26! With all due respect, only if you've actually heard and compared both for yourself, then your opinion would be valid.

 

[BShaw]

Have you actually tried / heard and compared? So many say that hi-res / streamer is better when they have not even heard a good quality CD transport via glass optical connection to R26! With all due respect, only if you've actually heard and compared both for yourself, then your opinion would be valid.

I’ve got the same transport but connected via Neotech silver coax with KLEI Absolute Harmony RCAs. It’s great but streaming via Roon/FMC clearly bests it. However you’re not the first to make the claim about how good the toslink connection is, particularly with the Audiolab transport (I don’t know about others).
What fiber cable are you using Fluty?

 

[Fluty]

I’ve got the same transport but connected via Neotech silver coax with KLEI Absolute Harmony RCAs. It’s great but streaming via Roon/FMC clearly bests it. However you’re not the first to make the claim about how good the toslink connection is, particularly with the Audiolab transport (I don’t know about others).
What fiber cable are you using Fluty?

I'm using the Audiolab 9000 transport - the 6000 was good, 9 series quite a lot better. But you have to get a Glass Toslink which is vastly ahead of any coax (or plastic toslink cable). I'm using DH Labs Glass Master Toslink - https://silversonic.com/products/digital-cables/glass-master-toslink/ As I said, only then can you make a fair comparison.

 

[REXNFX]

Have you actually tried / heard and compared? So many say that hi-res / streamer is better when they have not even heard a good quality CD transport via glass optical connection to R26! With all due respect, only if you've actually heard and compared both for yourself, then your opinion would be valid.

I used to own a high end audio shop so yes I've played with many transports, not connected by glass toslink tho, so perhaps you've discovered something special. Playback Designs use a glass connector i think so owners may want to chime in.

 

[REXNFX]

I'm using the Audiolab 9000 transport - the 6000 was good, 9 series quite a lot better. But you have to get a Glass Toslink which is vastly ahead of any coax (or plastic toslink cable). I'm using DH Labs Glass Master Toslink - https://silversonic.com/products/digital-cables/glass-master-toslink/ As I said, only then can you make a fair comparison.

Btw what difference does your glass connector make with the Zen stream?

 

[LeonidK]

I just received my R26 today and I have no idea how to set LAN connection properly. I've tried BubbleUPnP and mconnect on Android. Both behave the same way - any local file stops after 2 sec, and some Tidal songs play longer, some stop after 5 sec. Don't really know why. Am I missing some configuration? It's connected directly to Netgear repeater.

 

[Fluty]

Btw what difference does your glass connector make with the Zen stream?

There is no possibility of using toslink / optical with Zen stream, is usb or coax only. I use a quality very short silver usb cable.

 

[Knobstler]

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?st...s5py5X9o96Xz5HWGl&id=100063769710781&sfnsn=mo
Uapp is finally capable of streaming to the gustard via upnp

 

[Jake2]

I used to own a high end audio shop so yes I've played with many transports, not connected by glass toslink tho, so perhaps you've discovered something special. Playback Designs use a glass connector i think so owners may want to chime in.

Always interesting to hear folk's backgrounds. There's certainly many different paths to a great sound I reckon. I used to work in a mid-upper tier hifi shop 20 odd years ago. Great fun - those were the days.

 

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

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?st...s5py5X9o96Xz5HWGl&id=100063769710781&sfnsn=mo
Uapp is finally capable of streaming to the gustard via upnp

Goody! Can't wait to try it out on my streamer...