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

[George Hincapie]

Still not clear whether I2S still reclocks or not. Thanks though!

Anyway, I sold my Ares II and now got a Singxer SDA-6 PRO with clocks that are very hard to beat. Quite different from R2R, I know, but I do like the sound of this AKM4499 with Mundorf tuning caps and an OCXO!

I'd like to listen to high end AKM TBH.

 

[Palyodgree]

I'd like to listen to high end AKM TBH.

I was once hard core ladder dac all the way using Rockna and Holo Audio over the past five years however all that changed listening to front ends with Weiss 502 , DCS Bartok with clock my own WarWick Acoustic system including other chip base dacs some out of reach , it’s all in the implementation.

 

[mantraone]

I was once hard core ladder dac all the way using Rockna and Holo Audio over the past five years however all that changed listening to front ends with Weiss 502 , DCS Bartok with clock my own WarWick Acoustic system including other chip base dacs some out of reach , it’s all in the implementation.

I can agree, but I never listen a Sabre or AK DAC at the price point of Gustard R26 sound so good, with full body sound presentation as the Ladder DAC sound around 3-5K Euro price range. You need to jump on price range close to 10-15 KEuro for the DS DAC, as the Weiss 502 you mentioned.

 

[migo]

I can agree, but I never listen a Sabre or AK DAC at the price point of Gustard R26 sound so good, with full body sound presentation as the Ladder DAC sound around 3-5K Euro price range. You need to jump on price range close to 10-15 KEuro for the DS DAC, as the Weiss 502 you mentioned.

Cant agree, Gustard X26PRO is really good DS implementation and sounds great in my setup.

 

[rsbrsvp]

I have had my R26 for a few days. I feed it HDMI from audio-gd DI-20HE.

I have an high quality external 10mhz clock at -113 dcb. IMHO it does improve things on the DDC but using it as the clock for the Gustard- things seem overly solidified and round (a wetter sound perhaps); with a loss of airiness and crispness. At least that is my initial impression.... Have others found similar results? I will let the clock input and new clock cable burn in for 48 hours before coming to a conclusion as sometimes a new input needs a day or so to open up even if the unit is burned in... and in my case even the dac itself needs some time.

 

[rodthebod]

I have had my R26 for a few days. I feed it HDMI from audio-gd DI-20HE.

I have an high quality external 10mhz clock at -113 dcb. IMHO it does improve things on the DDC but using it as the clock for the Gustard- things seem overly solidified and round (a wetter sound perhaps); with a loss of airiness and crispness. At least that is my initial impression.... Have others found similar results? I will let the clock input and new clock cable burn in for 48 hours before coming to a conclusion as sometimes a new input needs a day or so to open up even if the unit is burned in... and in my case even the dac itself needs some time.

The R26 really needs burn in time to show its best, I would say a couple of weeks worth continuous use. Perhaps due to the type of capacitors used and/or the nature of the resistors in the R2R.

 

[Ichos]

The R26 really needs burn in time to show its best, I would say a couple of weeks worth continuous use. Perhaps due to the type of capacitors used and/or the nature of the resistors in the R2R.

And it should be always on and not into standby mode.

 

[565321]

And it should be always on and not into standby mode.

How come? You have two units and made a A-B comparision?

 

[Fluty]

And it should be always on and not into standby mode.

Mine continues to improve with over 200 hours running now. I agree it should always be left on - it definitely needs to be warmed up, but I worry about the service life of the display if left on all the time, even though dimmed. Can anyone comment on that aspect?

 

[Palyodgree]

I can agree, but I never listen a Sabre or AK DAC at the price point of Gustard R26 sound so good, with full body sound presentation as the Ladder DAC sound around 3-5K Euro price range. You need to jump on price range close to 10-15 KEuro for the DS DAC, as the Weiss 502 you mentioned.

Yes however the chip based WarWick for 6K you get high performing musical sounding dac ,amplifier with exceptionally good headphones, the leaps and bounds of audio components just in the past couple years is a boon for us consumers Im mating the X26 with a Accuphase 280 intregrate and TeKton Lore speakers granted the Accuphase is not anywhere near the price categories of the X26 and TeKton speakers what I’m hearing playback is way beyond my expectations , chalk one up for the Gustard .

 

[Ichos]

How come? You have two units and made a A-B comparision?

No, all R2R DACs benefit from thermal stability due to design principle.
All manufacturers, from Schiit to Denafrips and Musician Audio, to name a few, suggest that you have their R2R/multibit DACs always on.
So you either power the unit quite long before listening to music or leave it always on as I do.

 

[Kaere]

My Pontus and R26 are always on.
I do it since I bought a Audio GD R2R

 

[BShaw]

Just want to chime in here and give a little update to all those who have been experiencing the mysterious R26 hum.
Gustard has been very responsive and I've just replied to their latest email. In an almost comical way, they have asked me to keep our correspondence private until we achieve some results, and then "slowly introduce others as we proceed". On top of that, the Gustard representative identifies him/herself as "representative 05".
I hope I don't get arrested by the FBI, but it's worth the risk if the buzz disappears. At least I won't have to cook anymore.

I'll keep people posted, from what 05 says it sounds like they have some solutions. For sure they want to keep a lid on it because they don't want any more exposure of this issue than necessary, understandable.

So now that I have promised to join the CCP and keep state secrets, if anyone wants to know what's going on PM me and I'll do my best to share their correspondence with you.

The good news is, they're sending me on a free vacation to California to go visit Schiit and take Mike Moffat out to dinner and buy him as many drinks as he wants, I think that's very generous!

 

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

Wholly molly! I might be charged too...Gave you the email...

Nice that it is being looked at to.

 

[snico]

Just want to chime in here and give a little update to all those who have been experiencing the mysterious R26 hum.
Gustard has been very responsive and I've just replied to their latest email. In an almost comical way, they have asked me to keep our correspondence private until we achieve some results, and then "slowly introduce others as we proceed". On top of that, the Gustard representative identifies him/herself as "representative 05".
I hope I don't get arrested by the FBI, but it's worth the risk if the buzz disappears. At least I won't have to cook anymore.

I'll keep people posted, from what 05 says it sounds like they have some solutions. For sure they want to keep a lid on it because they don't want any more exposure of this issue than necessary, understandable.

So now that I have promised to join the CCP and keep state secrets, if anyone wants to know what's going on PM me and I'll do my best to share their correspondence with you.

The good news is, they're sending me on a free vacation to California to go visit Schiit and take Mike Moffat out to dinner and buy him as many drinks as he wants, I think that's very generous!

I want the trip too !