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

[BShaw]

But funny thing is it does mqa, so i don´t understand why it wont do the "Connect"

here is a quote from another forum:
"It's not a streamer. A streamer is able to play files on its own (from a NAS or connected USB drive or internal drive) or play Qobuz, Tidal, or Deezer on their own without any additional computer. And the Gustard R26 doesn't do that.

What the R26 has is an ethernet input that supports being a Roon endpoint or a UPnP MediaRenderer. It's just an additional digital input to the DAC. Just in this case it is an ethernet input."

Good point. But then again, aren't spotify/tidal connect also UPnP renderers? When I had the Zen Stream and used Tidal Connect, the functions of the ZS and my ipad were exactly what they are now. I'm just using Bubble UPnP (on a cheapo Android tablet) instead of Tidal Connect UPnP, where the ipad was just a controller.

 

[rodthebod]

That should be a piece of cake, not a gimmick at all, this streamer is very good.The upnp apps can find your local files easily and display your library.

I've been using Audirvana on my MacBook into the R26 streamer via the 1v3 renderer option and I think it's slightly better than Bubbleupnp using android, needs more A/B testing though. A difference isn't always better in this game... needs plenty of time to enjoy the music and digest.

Audirvana has a much nicer interface supports all the sample rates and doesn't drop audio on some HD tracks as it does on Bubble, most frustrating. Using the MacBook you also have Airplay too for Amazon Music albeit at the downsampled 44.1 rate but it still sounds impressive. Tried the recommended Delock Lan filter after listening for a few hours without it. Must say that it cleans things up and gives better, more defined detail, less noise to the music.
I was using a very short 100mm Cat6e from the filter to R26 Lan port to start with then tried a Cat8, smallest length I could get was 0.5m but I swear it sounded more open and detailed on first listen with the Cat8. I'll try Mconnect too, but I don't like the interface much.

One thing though this DAC is very enjoyable to listen to and get immersed very quickly into the music, even without all the tweaks. It plays music.

 

[domiji]

Hello R26 Lovers,

my unit arrived today and I beak it in at the moment

What I noticed is that my Roon Core can’t find the R26 as a Roon Ready Endpoint?

It finds the R26 Shareport Sync but not the „real“ Roon Endpoint.

I turned the unit into „LAN“ Input - should I do something more?

Thanks for your help

Best
Dominik

 

[BShaw]

@NoaHimesaka - when I run the diskutil list, the R26 isn't showing up. I have it plugged in via usb-c, and the unit is turned on. Any clues or another way to search for it?

 

[565321]

I turned the unit into „LAN“ Input - should I do something more?

Play music you like and chill.

 

[rsbrsvp]

After a full week of break in, I confidently say the R26 is not hype. It is superb.... My external ultra low phase noise clock IMHO makes it even better.

Just excellent in every way.. My Hibiki SDS dac is still a bit ahead in my system,- for $3,700. Just more saturated and layered, but the R26 is a bit better in technicalities and still quite saturated as well. Soundnews is spot on... R26 is a winner and perhaps approaches dac's costing triple and even more... Diminishing returns kick in big time after this point. If you don't have a lot of money to burn on the chance you may get something 5% better= go R26....

 

[rsbrsvp]

I like the compact size to. Many of the very best dacs out there are often huge because of large power supplies.... I love how moderate the size is.

 

[camrector]

Hey whew this post was a great read. Took a bit tho.
Patiently waiting for my R26 to arrive. I see people mentioning the LAN isolators but is anyone using Fiber media converters?
Converting the Ethernet signal to optical, would completely eliminate any electrical noise from the signal path.
I plan on incorporating these into my set up, and then connect directly to the R26 LAN input.
Should I also grab a LAN isolator too?

 

[snico]

Hello R26 Lovers,

my unit arrived today and I beak it in at the moment

What I noticed is that my Roon Core can’t find the R26 as a Roon Ready Endpoint?

It finds the R26 Shareport Sync but not the „real“ Roon Endpoint.

I turned the unit into „LAN“ Input - should I do something more?

Thanks for your help

Best
Dominik

It's not a Roon Ready device, it's a linux streamer which acts as a Roon Bridge.
But this doesn't change anything to the fact that Roon should see it. It should show an Airplay device (do not use) and a Roon Usb Alac device (that's the one to use) when it is on, on lan output and correctly connected to the same lan as your roon core.

 

[565321]

Hey whew this post was a great read. Took a bit tho.
Patiently waiting for my R26 to arrive. I see people mentioning the LAN isolators but is anyone using Fiber media converters?
Converting the Ethernet signal to optical, would completely eliminate any electrical noise from the signal path.
I plan on incorporating these into my set up, and then connect directly to the R26 LAN input.
Should I also grab a LAN isolator too?

Save your money and listen to the player in stock form first. I bought an isolator for fun and applied it to my tv Ethernet (which is more complicated than sound) - no difference. Then applied it to the R26. No difference. Lucky it was so cheap.
And what says the noise won't come in to the optical signal during conversion?
My 2 cents: Plug in the R26, play your favourite music, tap your feet and chill out.

 

[camrector]

Save your money and listen to the player in stock form first. I bought an isolator for fun and applied it to my tv Ethernet (which is more complicated than sound) - no difference. Then applied it to the R26. No difference. Lucky it was so cheap.
And what says the noise won't come in to the optical signal during conversion?
My 2 cents: Plug in the R26, play your favourite music, tap your feet and chill out.

Linear power supply and 1ft cat8 to minimize any noise during conversion.

 

[565321]

Linear power supply and 1ft cat8 to minimize any noise during conversion.

Have you compared the noise levels on the digital signal for the different combinations?

 

[camrector]

Have you compared the noise levels on the digital signal for the different combinations?

Not sure what you mean.
Network switch and fiber convertors are all connected to linear power supply’s, which are connected to a Puritan 156. R26 will also be plugged into the Puritan 156.

 

[domiji]

It's not a Roon Ready device, it's a linux streamer which act as a Roon Bridge.
But this doesn't change anything to the fact that Roon should see it. It should show an Airplay device (do not use) and a Roon Usb Alac device (that's the one to use) when it is on, on lan output and correctly connected to the same lan as your roon core.

Thanks for your help

Everything is setup as needed but the Core don’t find the R26. Every Raspi or other type of Roon Endpoint works perfectly.

That is a bit frustrating… maybe I should reflash the Renderer Image but I don’t know if this is possible

 

[565321]

Thanks for your help

Everything is setup as needed but the Core don’t find the R26. Every Raspi or other type of Roon Endpoint works perfectly.

That is a bit frustrating… maybe I should reflash the Renderer Image but I don’t know if this is possible

Have you tried a restart, waiting 10 secs to switch on again with the switch at the back and then wait a little?