richie60
500+ Head-Fier
I'd love to see a shootout between the Denafrips Iris + Pontus II vs the Gustard U18 + R26. Holding off upgrading until more reviews surface!
GUSTARD DAC-R26 Balanced Decoder R2R+1Bit Dual Native Decoding Music Bridge
- Thread starter m-i-c-k-e-y
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rdbogdan
Head-Fier
Hello, I made an alternate setup based on the R26 and I am very happy with the sound. My impressions so far reflect those on the soundnews review, it is an excellent dac. Using Singxer SU-6 (I2s), feeding a Ferrum stack and Susvara/Abyss AB.
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rdbogdan
Head-Fier
It depends on your taste, for me it is a subtle difference, for acoustic tracks (classical, jazz) more authentic, a bit raw, unfiltered and i really like the sound. For synthesized music not so much. No idea if it's pure NOS or not.
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comzee
500+ Head-Fier
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I've owned the X26 for about 6 months now. Really like it.
It's one weakness is soundstage, it's not bad, but it's not expansive. Best heard on speakers.
Wasn't clued in on this product until just today, once I was I instantly bought it.
I'm hoping this can deliver close to the same technical performance as X26, while gaining better soundstage and timbre.
I have DI-20HE / Hydra-Z+ZPM / SU-6 / U18 (and a few others) DDC to try with it.
Can directly compare to my X26 / Zodiac Gold / Ear 192 Dacute DACs.
Will post back here once it arrives.
It's one weakness is soundstage, it's not bad, but it's not expansive. Best heard on speakers.
Wasn't clued in on this product until just today, once I was I instantly bought it.
I'm hoping this can deliver close to the same technical performance as X26, while gaining better soundstage and timbre.
I have DI-20HE / Hydra-Z+ZPM / SU-6 / U18 (and a few others) DDC to try with it.
Can directly compare to my X26 / Zodiac Gold / Ear 192 Dacute DACs.
Will post back here once it arrives.
rdbogdan
Head-Fier
soundnews does a pretty comprehensive comparison between x26 and r26
comzee
500+ Head-Fier
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I don't really trust his reviews, he seems to repeat many things, like he has a script for R2R DACs, and another script for D/S DACs.
Also what he said has already contradicted what some reviews have said here. I'll let me ears decide.
rdbogdan
Head-Fier
Yup, listening with own ears is mandatory. So far my impressions on R26 are very similar with those of the reviewer.
And I do know the reviewer, a very honest and passionate man who works hard for the reviews, sometimes 1-2 weeks for a single review. He really don't use any kind of script for the reviews, I have a huge respect for the work he is doing and I really trust his impressions (in this very subjective hobby, hard to come by).
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bodiebill2
100+ Head-Fier
I am very interested to hear whether DSD over I2S works for you from the DI-20HE to the R26, if you get a chance to try that. I could not make that work with an SMSL VMV D2, and am now considering the R26.
bodiebill2
100+ Head-Fier
Apparently the R26 will not play DSD via I2S from a DI-20HE, see:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/audio-gd-di-20.918123/page-266#post-17128073
I read the other 3D, sound strange, if you use the same I2S Pinout setting have to works with DSD. For sure will works with Gustard U18 DDC, did you cosider that?
rdbogdan
Head-Fier
Just found this on Gustard site
http://www.gustard.cn/?p=16393
I thought it won't render MQA ....scratching head...
Also, I asked if NOS is pure or not, via email, waiting for the answer (I play it now exclusively in NOS, enjoying it very much)
http://www.gustard.cn/?p=16393
I thought it won't render MQA ....scratching head...
Also, I asked if NOS is pure or not, via email, waiting for the answer (I play it now exclusively in NOS, enjoying it very much)
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m-i-c-k-e-y
Headphoneus Supremus
MQA capabilities is there on the chinese product page.
bodiebill2
100+ Head-Fier
And neither will an SMSL VMV D2 according to SMSL's response: "Confirmed with engineer, it is not suitable with D2. And we suggest you use with USB input."
I think a future update will be available to enable mqa full decoding capabilities but imho only on usb cmos xu216 and not ethernet, i2s or others
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rdbogdan
Head-Fier
Theoretically the XMOS inside Singxer SU-6 or other DDC's could be upgraded to unfold MQA before feeding to DAC via I2s but I wouldn't bet on it
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