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

[Rockitman]

Greetings all,

I have a question regarding the merit of adding a preamplifier to my chain.

Current setup is the R26 connected directly via XLR to a class A tube amp and to floorstanders.

I use Qobuz via Bubble upnp to Lan.
If I want to use NOS I have to get down on all fours and reach behind a hot amp to make volume adjustments using the amp's controls.

I would be grateful to those who use a preamplifier for their impressions regarding how it impacts on the sound of the R26.

 

[Odezra]

Greetings all,

I have a question regarding the merit of adding a preamplifier to my chain.

Current setup is the R26 connected directly via XLR to a class A tube amp and to floorstanders.

I use Qobuz via Bubble upnp to Lan.
If I want to use NOS I have to get down on all fours and reach behind a hot amp to make volume adjustments using the amp's controls.

I would be grateful to those who use a preamplifier for their impressions regarding how it impacts on the sound of the R26.

Sounds like a preamp is a must for you if you want to use NOS and avoid getting off your chair.

You have two choices - get a good passive preamp (which shouldn't change the sound if you buy a good one) or buy an active preamp (whether tube or solid state) which can change the sound (for better or worse, depending on your tastes).

Whether you go active or passive is down to your system and your tastes. I have an R8 tube amp fed by the R26 and I'll be getting a preamp. Am just deciding which gear to demo. As an example, as the R8 is a push pull tube amp, many say that a single ended tube amp ahead of it in the chain is good, as some of the harmonics that a push pull amp kill off can still be fed from an upstream single ended tube preamplifier.

I have put some preamps in front of the tube amp already with the R26. I had a burson preamp which did not add anything into the mix. I have had a DIY preamp from a friend and it was lovely - really brought out some nice tonality and improved bass presentation just a tad.

 

[cobrabucket]

When the wife is happy, life is good.

Happy Wife, Happy Life!

 

[cobrabucket]

Greetings all,

I have a question regarding the merit of adding a preamplifier to my chain.

Current setup is the R26 connected directly via XLR to a class A tube amp and to floorstanders.

I use Qobuz via Bubble upnp to Lan.
If I want to use NOS I have to get down on all fours and reach behind a hot amp to make volume adjustments using the amp's controls.

I would be grateful to those who use a preamplifier for their impressions regarding how it impacts on the sound of the R26.

Sounds like a preamp would definitely benefit your configuration. I previously had a Topping Pre90, which is quite decent for a mid-tier Solid-State pre but prefer the tube flavor that my Schiit Freya + Noval brings to the table. Couldn't go wrong with either of these, IMHO. Adding one of these to the mix should only enhance your ability to tweak the music to your liking and shouldn't take anything away from the experience.
Also, everything that @Odezra said about this above is spot on.
Hope this helps!

 

[Rockitman]

Sounds like a preamp is a must for you if you want to use NOS and avoid getting off your chair.

You have two choices - get a good passive preamp (which shouldn't change the sound if you buy a good one) or buy an active preamp (whether tube or solid state) which can change the sound (for better or worse, depending on your tastes).

Whether you go active or passive is down to your system and your tastes. I have an R8 tube amp fed by the R26 and I'll be getting a preamp. Am just deciding which gear to demo. As an example, as the R8 is a push pull tube amp, many say that a single ended tube amp ahead of it in the chain is good, as some of the harmonics that a push pull amp kill off can still be fed from an upstream single ended tube preamplifier.

I have put some preamps in front of the tube amp already with the R26. I had a burson preamp which did not add anything into the mix. I have had a DIY preamp from a friend and it was lovely - really brought out some nice tonality and improved bass presentation just a tad.

Thanks for the really informative response Odezra!

I too have an R8 which isn't currently in use. I've tried a Freya + and an aged Sonic Frontiers tube pre with it but the SQ improvements were incremental at best.
That said I'm not intending to move the Willsenton on anytime soon.

Currently I'm using an EAR890 which has a bit more oomph and refinement. The preamps I've been considering are the Monoceros/Hestia, Gustard's pre or the Doge8 Clarity.
I'd welcome any other suggestions.

 

[Rockitman]

Sounds like a preamp would definitely benefit your configuration. I previously had a Topping Pre90, which is quite decent for a mid-tier Solid-State pre but prefer the tube flavor that my Schiit Freya + Noval brings to the table. Couldn't go wrong with either of these, IMHO. Adding one of these to the mix should only enhance your ability to tweak the music to your liking and shouldn't take anything away from the experience.
Also, everything that @Odezra said about this above is spot on.
Hope this helps!

Awesome thanks Cobrabucket! A friend owns the Freya+. I'll borrow it for another trial. It sounds great in his system.

 

[Odezra]

Thanks for the really informative response Odezra!

I too have an R8 which isn't currently in use. I've tried a Freya + and an aged Sonic Frontiers tube pre with it but the SQ improvements were incremental at best.
That said I'm not intending to move the Willsenton on anytime soon.

Currently I'm using an EAR890 which has a bit more oomph and refinement. The preamps I've been considering are the Monoceros/Hestia, Gustard's pre or the Doge8 Clarity.
I'd welcome any other suggestions.

Pleasure - I found the biggest change in the R8 was getting good tubes first that lowered the noise floor, and also putting some isolation feet on it (and my speakers). Then i noticed that the preamp (and some of the other R26 tweaks in this thread) made sense.

i'll be modding the R8 soon to further lower the noise floor but that's another thread / topic entirely. Overall - it partners really well with the Gustard and it will benefit from a good active preamp if you can find the right one. The guys at Mellowtone kits claim one of their DIY tube amps is a good partner for the R8. I have also heard the Schiit Freya + is a good partner and the benefit with the Freya + is that it has passive, solid state, tube mode all in one. Demo if you can.

 

[Rockitman]

Pleasure - I found the biggest change in the R8 was getting good tubes first that lowered the noise floor, and also putting some isolation feet on it (and my speakers). Then i noticed that the preamp (and some of the other R26 tweaks in this thread) made sense.

i'll be modding the R8 soon to further lower the noise floor but that's another thread / topic entirely. Overall - it partners really well with the Gustard and it will benefit from a good active preamp if you can find the right one. The guys at Mellowtone kits claim one of their DIY tube amps is a good partner for the R8. I have also heard the Schiit Freya + is a good partner and the benefit with the Freya + is that it has passive, solid state, tube mode all in one. Demo if you can.

Thanks....I'll check the Mellowtone out.

I've had the R8 modded with most of Fruit's suggestions with the exception of the GFNB mod and have a good selection of CV181s, 6sn7s, 6f8gs, 6c8gs and Melz metal bases.
Now there's another raft of mods appearing for it!

Lol! When will it end?

 

[Odezra]

Thanks....I'll check the Mellowtone out.

I've had the R8 modded with most of Fruit's suggestions with the exception of the GFNB mod and have a good selection of CV181s, 6sn7s, 6f8gs, 6c8gs and Melz metal bases.
Now there's another raft of mods appearing for it!

Lol! When will it end?

I know - i saw Fruit's mods. I am waiting for Steph to post her BOM and I'll do them all back to back. I can't recommend enough keeping the R8 on kt-88s (SED Svet NOS). The Gustard partnered with the R8 on those NOS KT88s vs on EL34's is quite substantial to my ears. Am using CV181s also and some new stock tung sol 6sl7s. With the combo i have right now, am getting far greater clarity and detail, with amazing bass impact / extension, all with a very low noise floor. For my tastes, it brings out the R26's strengths

 

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

What? No DOGE love?

 

[Rockitman]

I know - i saw Fruit's mods. I am waiting for Steph to post her BOM and I'll do them all back to back. I can't recommend enough keeping the R8 on kt-88s (SED Svet NOS). The Gustard partnered with the R8 on those NOS KT88s vs on EL34's is quite substantial to my ears. Am using CV181s also and some new stock tung sol 6sl7s. With the combo i have right now, am getting far greater clarity and detail, with amazing bass impact / extension, all with a very low noise floor. For my tastes, it brings out the R26's strengths

Thanks. I do prefer the KT88s for my musical taste. Currently using Groove Tube KT88 C which I prefer to the Svet 6550c.
I've resisted more tube purchases since the insane price hikes recently.

I guess I'll have to check Steph's mods too eventually.

Meantime just trying to optimize the R26.

I may try the fibre tweak if I ever manage to fully understand it.

 

[Odezra]

Thanks. I do prefer the KT88s for my musical taste. Currently using Groove Tube KT88 C which I prefer to the Svet 6550c.
I've resisted more tube purchases since the insane price hikes recently.

I guess I'll have to check Steph's mods too eventually.

Meantime just trying to optimize the R26.

I may try the fibre tweak if I ever manage to fully understand it.

The fiber tweak is relatively simple once you get your head around it. It's simply router to an ethernet cable to a fiber box to a fiber cable to another fiber box and back to ethernet. The fiber boxes in the middle galvanically isolate the signal. It's a super cheap tweak and all the details are on the first page.

I use two 10gtek boxes and the finisar cable posted by @duffer5 and it made a big difference over feeding a google mesh router straight into the R26 via an ethernet cable. I use a power board that strips out RFI/EM where all the audio gear lives. i use a cheap power board where the router / 1st fiber box live. The fiber box closest to the R26 is fed by a linear power supply which sits on the 'audio' power board. That just keeps everything nice and clean.

 

[nicks25]

Thanks....I'll check the Mellowtone out.

I've had the R8 modded with most of Fruit's suggestions with the exception of the GFNB mod and have a good selection of CV181s, 6sn7s, 6f8gs, 6c8gs and Melz metal bases.
Now there's another raft of mods appearing for it!

Lol! When will it end?

I see you are in New Zealand. You might want to check out Supratek pre-amps. Mick Maloney is the owner and hand builds all of his pre-amps. He is in Australia. I have had the Chardonnay for 2+ years now and really love it. That being said, I have always had a pre-amp in my system as it is strictly speaker based. I do not own the R26 but rather the A26. Good luck in your search.

 

[Rockitman]

I see you are in New Zealand. You might want to check out Supratek pre-amps. Mick Maloney is the owner and hand builds all of his pre-amps. He is in Australia. I have had the Chardonnay for 2+ years now and really love it. That being said, I have always had a pre-amp in my system as it is strictly speaker based. I do not own the R26 but rather the A26. Good luck in your search.

Thanks for the heads up Nicks. I'd forgotten about Supratek. Hope you're enjoying the A26!

 

[Rockitman]

The fiber tweak is relatively simple once you get your head around it. It's simply router to an ethernet cable to a fiber box to a fiber cable to another fiber box and back to ethernet. The fiber boxes in the middle galvanically isolate the signal. It's a super cheap tweak and all the details are on the first page.

I use two 10gtek boxes and the finisar cable posted by @duffer5 and it made a big difference over feeding a google mesh router straight into the R26 via an ethernet cable. I use a power board that strips out RFI/EM where all the audio gear lives. i use a cheap power board where the router / 1st fiber box live. The fiber box closest to the R26 is fed by a linear power supply which sits on the 'audio' power board. That just keeps everything nice and clean.

Awesome thanks! This is starting to feel like Xmas all over again.