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

[amrutmhatre90]

Hello all:
I have Gustard R26 and it's not being found on the network using jriver media center app on MACOS. I tried to update the firmward using the firmware USBC connector above the Ethernet connector and a windows 11 laptop with USB C to USB A adapter cable. It's not being seen on the Windows 11 laptop, is thar another way to update the firmware? This is working fine with a Bricasti M3 streamer DAC. I forgot to mention that my DHCP server is handing out a IP address and I can ssh into the R26. Anyone know the root password for ssh on the R26 or other credentials?

Thanks

Can you check this video out if it helps?

 

[amrutmhatre90]

To me it’s only short comings are the reasons I’m making this lateral move.
As someone who uses HQplayer, I want to convert and upsample to DSD. I personally do not like the 1bit DSD dac in the R26. As @BShaw can attest to, it was extremely noisy with a very audible “hiss” in my system.

I am upsampling using HQplayer, to R26 via LAN.
No hiss noticed, nor its noisy, was this related to specific batches?

 

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

There is a FW upgrade instruction on page 1 using Balena Etcher.

 

[adewolf2]

Can you check this video out if it helps?

Thank you. I did not update the firmware and all of a sudden the Gustard showed up as a render device in my jriver media player. It's working now streaming to it.

 

[amrutmhatre90]

Thank you. I did not update the firmware and all of a sudden the Gustard showed up as a render device in my jriver media player. It's working now streaming to it.

When you switch to the LAN input, you need to wait for sometime before the router assigns it an IP.

 

[camrector]

I am upsampling using HQplayer, to R26 via LAN.
No hiss noticed, nor it’s noisy, was this related to specific batches?

Or just my unit. I don’t know.
As soon as I switched it on to DSD direct the hiss began and increased as I turned up the volume dial on my Yamaha AS2200.

 

[amrutmhatre90]

Or just my unit. I don’t know.
As soon as I switched it on to DSD direct the hiss began and increased as I turned up the volume dial on my Yamaha AS2200.

I noticed if firmware is not flashed properly this may happen.

 

[camrector]

I noticed if firmware is not flashed properly this may happen.

No man firmware is solid and up to date.
This was happening since day one with the DAC (Nov 2022)

 

[dacwizard]

Ok it’s official I’ve sold my R26 and got a great deal on an A26 that includes a SR purple fuse. Thanks @ericx85 !!!

I have loved the R26 since day 1. It’s truly been a remarkable DAC, and with its feature set CAN NOT be touched for under $5000.
To me it’s only short comings are the reasons I’m making this lateral move.
As someone who uses HQplayer, I want to convert and upsample to DSD. I personally do not like the 1bit DSD dac in the R26. As @BShaw can attest to, it was extremely noisy with a very audible “hiss” in my system.
The A26 with the AKM chip provides a cleaner DSD256 implentation that I’m looking for as well as DSD direct.
I’ll still be here on this thread tho to help anyone. It has been an amazing journey with you all going deep with this DAC.
We took a very well designed product, deconstructed and studied every bit of it, came up with improvements and left this thing better than we found it.

Gustard should be very pleased with themselves not just for designing a well made product, but more importantly creating a bridge where life long friendships could be made.
Thank you all! And extra special thanks to @m-i-c-k-e-y for this amazing thread and organization.

As a R26 and x26pro owner I’ve also tried (a friends) A26, I guess in some ways it splits the difference and I don’t do HQplayer and DSD so obviously your experience is different. W.r.t PCM the aspects that the R26 excels at the A26 can’t really compete with IMO, though I can see some with different priorities preferring the A26 (or the x26pro for that matter). For me and how I listen the R26 is far preferred. Good luck with the A26.

 

[camrector]

As a R26 and x26pro owner I’ve also tried (a friends) A26, I guess in some ways it splits the difference and I don’t do HQplayer and DSD so obviously your experience is different. W.r.t PCM the aspects that the R26 excels at the A26 can’t really compete with IMO, though I can see some with different priorities preferring the A26 (or the x26pro for that matter). For me and how I listen the R26 is far preferred. Good luck with the A26.

You were exactly were I was a year ago with the R26. It was/is phenomenal.
Then I hopped on the HQplayer train. That opened up an entire different world.
Besides the upsampling abilities HQplayers many different filters and dither options and it’s ability to set the proper bit depth took this dac to another level completely.
No longer was I sonically stuck with the slow,mid,fast filters of the R26.
As I explored and found my favorite combos, and upped my cpu power, I hit a wall with the R26. The 1bit Dsd dac.
With so much DSD library content and HQplayers abilities, it was time to find another DAC.

That has been no easy task either.
There are only 5 network DACs that can do NAA and dsd direct(2 of which cost $20k)

 

[sajunky]

I was wondering all time why to play 1-bit DSD on the R2R DAC. Now it comes clear, @camrector is not R2R guy. I have number of SACD rips in my library and play it on my R2R-11 (which has a native - not the obsolete 1-bit, but multibit decoder) in a native form. Actually converted to the PCM-176k sounds slightly more dynamic, but it is not worth to bother with.

Not being fun of DSD after all, but most of DSD releases are mastered using a limited number of tools, less processing, more natural sound.

 

[DeckHiFi]

I’m the exact opposite of Cam. I was really into hqplayer stuff with this dac, and now I keep it simple with pcm and the filters with nos off. Loving it! Last night might have been my most appreciative time with this dac and setup using fast filter with high gain on my amp with my headphone setup. Absolutely sublime sound, hard to imagine it being any better with my relatively low cost setup (other than this dac, ha).

 

[camrector]

I was wondering all time why to play 1-bit DSD on the R2R DAC. Now it comes clear, @camrector is not R2R guy. I have number of SACD rips in my library and play it on my R2R-11 (which has a native - not the obsolete 1-bit, but multibit decoder) in a native form. Actually converted to the PCM-176k sounds slightly more dynamic, but it is not worth to bother with.

Not being fun of DSD after all, but most of DSD releases are mastered using a limited number of tools, less processing, more natural sound.

I’ve only been an R2R guy. The joys of HQplayer has converted me to DSD.

 

[camrector]

I’m the exact opposite of Cam. I was really into hqplayer stuff with this dac, and now I keep it simple with pcm and the filters with nos off. Loving it! Last night might have been my most appreciative time with this dac and setup using fast filter with high gain on my amp with my headphone setup. Absolutely sublime sound, hard to imagine it being any better with my relatively low cost setup (other than this dac, ha).

Yup PCM is the best for the R26.
That’s the reason for the change.

 

[Dandoudou]

The best way to increase the resolution is to reduce the noise of the system, not to upsample.
I was using HQPlayer for years, but stopped completely a few months ago. It was after upgrades of various aspects of my system. (Upgrade of the AC supply, upgrade of most LPS', grounding boxes…) Now, upsampling sounds artificial and flat, and the most resolving sound is in bit-perfect.

Anyway, the R26 became my secondary DAC.
My main DAC now is offically a 'Topping Octo by @FranckLeRouge' following an upgrade/overall/replacement of the internals of the beast by this genius in electronics.