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

[bluex]

it’s just possible you have a cable that’s not passing the signal correctly.

What exactly happens when the signal is not passing correctly, actually?
I'm trying to describe exactly what / when the issue occurs, in my case
I'm watching some video, YouTube or other platforms. I pause the video and play again, signal gone
Or, i just stop the video, select another one, signal gone
It happens randomly.
I turn off and on the R26 and it's working, but sometimes I have to turn it off and on 4-5 times
It might be some Android USB issue, I don't know. But as I said, with iBasso D16 Taipan there is no such a problem
USB C to USB C.
I really like the R26, I'd be very disappointed if I can find a way to fix this.
Couple of hours ago I switched back to iBasso D16, it's great but R26 much better.

 

[BShaw]

Trying to follow all this so I apologize if I missed something. It’s definitely an odd situation. Have you tried a different cable with an adapter, ie an A-B with a converter on the A end (to C)? That’s a $5 way to test if it’s the cable.

 

[bluex]

No, didn't try it
Something like this one?

https://www.amazon.de/SUPERNIGHT-Connector-Kompatibel-Synthesizern-unterstützt/dp/B0BB7CG79N

Thank you
I disabled Developer Options. Since I'm using Android, started about 15 years ago, I never disabled Developer Options.
Now I tried to play some videos.
Played 4-5 seconds, stopped or paused, played another one, few seconds, and so on.
About 20 times, no issues
I refuse to believe, the Developer Options was the culprit
I'll keep testing.

 

[BShaw]

No, didn't try it
Something like this one?

https://www.amazon.de/SUPERNIGHT-Connector-Kompatibel-Synthesizern-unterstützt/dp/B0BB7CG79N

Thank you
I disabled Developer Options. Since I'm using Android, started about 15 years ago, I never disabled Developer Options.
Now I tried to play some videos.
Played 4-5 seconds, stopped or paused, played another one, few seconds, and so on.
About 20 times, no issues
I refuse to believe, the Developer Options was the culprit
I'll keep testing.

Yes that would work if you have a C-C cable on hand. I thought earlier you mentioned you had an A-B cable, so that’s why I suggested an A-C converter. Those little buggers have saved the day many times. Thank God we’re not dealing with lightning connectors at least. I was so glad to see Apple finally ditch them.

 

[bluex]

Thank you, I'll keep testing it with the Developer Options disabled.
I'll report back no matter what.

 

[Patlezinc]

Hi guys.
I would like to step up my listening experience with my headphones. I like the DAC implemented in my Violectric but maybe I can have better stuff
A lot of poeple use the R26 on speakers system and I am not sure headphones are so DAC sensitive.
So, I ask first to headphones users : does your R26 make your headphones sing better (compared to cheaper DACs)?
Thanks.

 

[Deleeh]

What exactly happens when the signal is not passing correctly, actually?
I'm trying to describe exactly what / when the issue occurs, in my case
I'm watching some video, YouTube or other platforms. I pause the video and play again, signal gone
Or, i just stop the video, select another one, signal gone
It happens randomly.
I turn off and on the R26 and it's working, but sometimes I have to turn it off and on 4-5 times
It might be some Android USB issue, I don't know. But as I said, with iBasso D16 Taipan there is no such a problem
USB C to USB C.
I really like the R26, I'd be very disappointed if I can find a way to fix this.
Couple of hours ago I switched back to iBasso D16, it's great but R26 much better.

Now that you mention it, I just remembered something.
You say it cancels 20 times a day.
Could it be that your tablet has the screen timeout set?
I had that with my smartphone and ifi hip dac when I was travelling across Germany by train.
It always cancelled after 10 minutes, so about 3 songs.
I switched off the screen timeout and was still able to switch off the screen manually and it worked.
Do you know why, because when the timeout is set, the smartphone also goes into sleep mode including the USB C connection.
This means that the USB C port disconnects.

Try this in the settings under Display, Screen should be adjustable there.
Set it to off and test it.

With the Apple tablet, you need the camera adapter to prevent it from switching to exclusive mode.
Then the volume can also be adjusted.
It's an Apple thing, but at least it works.
It's necessary anyway if you still have the Lightning connection on your tablet.
I don't know how Apple has managed this with the Usb C, I don't have a new tablet at the moment.
It's not a must but it's better to think about whether you want to switch to Tidal once you've sorted things out.
Also because the streaming quality of the audio files is better than with Spotify.
But one thing after another.

 

[Deleeh]

Hi guys.
I would like to step up my listening experience with my headphones. I like the DAC implemented in my Violectric but maybe I can have better stuff
A lot of poeple use the R26 on speakers system and I am not sure headphones are so DAC sensitive.
So, I ask first to headphones users : does your R26 make your headphones sing better (compared to cheaper DACs)?
Thanks.

Hello,
for me yes, I had previously had the Singxer Sda 2 as a Dac on the Feliks Euforia in combination.
The R26 was an enrichment together with the Feliks Euforia amplifier and Zmf headphones.
And I'm still very happy with it today.
I've never regretted buying it and I also use it with speakers and it's heavenly.
Couldn't be happier with it.

 

[LarsHP]

I will order the cable, and see how it works.
Can send it back if the issue occurs
Off topic, it has nothing to do with the R26
Just wanted to test some older ( 2020) iPad Pro.
I gave up before I even listened some music. Can't control the volum on iPad. It's all the way up
I removed the USB cable, reduced the volume on iPad but as soon as I plugged in the USB cable, the volume went back all the way up and from there, not a chance to reduce it.
Maybe it's some iPadOS limitations, I don't know.

I think the reason volume goes back to 100% and stay there could be settings, again. If you have R26 set to fixed, then perhaps may explain it? Or that there is a fixed to 100% setting in the iPad for USB DACs?

I can adjust volume as I please on my laptop (speakers output), but not in LMS / Squeezebox, because in LMS, I have set volume to fixed.

 

[LarsHP]

Hi guys.
I would like to step up my listening experience with my headphones. I like the DAC implemented in my Violectric but maybe I can have better stuff
A lot of poeple use the R26 on speakers system and I am not sure headphones are so DAC sensitive.
So, I ask first to headphones users : does your R26 make your headphones sing better (compared to cheaper DACs)?
Thanks.

In my opinion, yes, the R26 sounds "better" with headphones. I have actually never heard the R26 through loudspeakers. Vitalie Sandu at Sound News bought R26 and specifically use it in his headphone setup.

Comparing R26 to other excellent DACs that use Sigma-Delta DAC chips (like Topping D90LE), the R26 sounds smoother and has more soundstage depth (when it is present in the recording) which in my opinion is very nice when listening to headphones.

The D90LE has a more upfront presentation of details, what some describe as sharper leading edges, compared to R26. The details are still there with the R26, but they are presented in a more natural and smooth manner. That said, if you only or mostly listen to close-mic'ed and electronic music, then the advantages of the R26 probably won't be worth it and Gustard A26 would be better for you.

 

[Deleeh]

I think the reason volume goes back to 100% and stay there could be settings, again. If you have R26 set to fixed, then perhaps may explain it? Or that there is a fixed to 100% setting in the iPad for USB DACs?

I can adjust volume as I please on my laptop (speakers output), but not in LMS / Squeezebox, because in LMS, I have set volume to fixed.

Conversely, the Ipad goes into exclusive mode and the rest goes via the amplifier.
As the R26 has a variable preamp, the volume must be adjusted from there if necessary.
If the R26 is plugged into the amplifier anyway, I would leave it that way and do the rest on the amplifier.
This way Apple guarantees full power when connected via the Lightning or Usb C port without any loss of dynamics ect.
I ran the Ipad mini 4 on the Hip dac and it was the same.

 

[LarsHP]

Conversely, the Ipad goes into exclusive mode and the rest goes via the amplifier.
As the R26 has a variable preamp, the volume must be adjusted from there if necessary.
If the R26 is plugged into the amplifier anyway, I would leave it that way and do the rest on the amplifier.
This way Apple guarantees full power when connected via the Lightning or Usb C port without any loss of dynamics ect.
I ran the Ipad mini 4 on the Hip dac and it was the same.

I should perhaps keep my mouth shut regarding Apple devices since it's decades ago since I used one of their products.

Regarding the "pre-amp" function in the R26, my understanding is that it's a digital volume control, except for the fixed 40dB reduction. However, that probably can't be controlled by the source anyway.

The source should ideally output volume at 100% in order to minimize SQ loss.

 

[Deleeh]

I should perhaps keep my mouth shut regarding Apple devices since it's decades ago since I used one of their products.

Regarding the "pre-amp" function in the R26, my understanding is that it's a digital volume control, except for the fixed 40dB reduction. However, that probably can't be controlled by the source anyway.

The source should ideally output volume at 100% in order to minimize SQ loss.

As long as you are using a headphone amplifier, it doesn't really matter, as you are controlling the volume there.
Of course, it's a different matter if you're listening via your tablet or iPhone.
Ultimately, no audiophile does that, not even if they have to.
The problem with the Apple is that the Lightning connection was not intended for this purpose, but to transfer data.
Music, pictures, video, etc., audio was a separate system with the software available at the time, so you had to transfer the MP3, for example, to the device and play it back later in the music app.
These were 2 separate things where Apple was simply asleep compared to today.

 

[bluex]

Now that you mention it, I just remembered something.
You say it cancels 20 times a day.
Could it be that your tablet has the screen timeout set?
I had that with my smartphone and ifi hip dac when I was travelling across Germany by train.
It always cancelled after 10 minutes, so about 3 songs.
I switched off the screen timeout and was still able to switch off the screen manually and it worked.
Do you know why, because when the timeout is set, the smartphone also goes into sleep mode including the USB C connection.
This means that the USB C port disconnects.

Try this in the settings under Display, Screen should be adjustable there.
Set it to off and test it.

With the Apple tablet, you need the camera adapter to prevent it from switching to exclusive mode.
Then the volume can also be adjusted.
It's an Apple thing, but at least it works.
It's necessary anyway if you still have the Lightning connection on your tablet.
I don't know how Apple has managed this with the Usb C, I don't have a new tablet at the moment.
It's not a must but it's better to think about whether you want to switch to Tidal once you've sorted things out.
Also because the streaming quality of the audio files is better than with Spotify.
But one thing after another.

It's not the screen timeout. By the way, I don't think it's possible to have it to " OFF "
I did testing more today, even with the Developer Options disabled, the issue is there.
It could be the cable, who knows

 

[Deleeh]

It's not the screen timeout. By the way, I don't think it's possible to have it to " OFF "
I did testing more today, even with the Developer Options disabled, the issue is there.
It could be the cable, who knows

If the standby mode has been timed, the device goes into standby after the elapsed time.
This means that the Android device switches to standby and then also disconnects the USB C connection.
However, the Internet connection remains active, such as downloads, etc.
With Apple, it goes directly into standby when you press the sleep button, which means that downloads ect are paused or stopped until it is reactivated.
When I make app updates on the Android phone and activate the sleep button, it loads the downloads and makes the updates and only then goes into standby.
With Apple, when I update the Tidal playlist, the tablet has to be fully active because it doesn't do the updates.

With the developer options, it is possible that when it is active, the Usb C connection remains activated so that the signal is transported.
If it is switched off, it goes into standby mode after a certain time.
So you must also have the option Standby in the screen timout in the settings, if so then deactivate it.
If you do not have it, try it with the screen timout, because it is possible that it has been integrated into the programme and is therefore running together.
This in turn means that when the screen goes into sleep mode, the rest is in standby and also disconnects the Usb C connection.