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

[incredulousity]

I did the FMC+Finisar mod a month back. Me and my wife then did some A/B testing with and without the FMCs and both felt the FMCs improved the sound a bit. I subsequently got a Soncoz LP1 liniear power supply. I am using all three outputs of it. One 5v is feeding the clean side FMC, the other 5v is feeding a Luster MoCA 2.5 adapter (I have old coaxial wiring in the walls and use that for internet throughout the house) and the 12v feeds my Netgear GS108E switch. Haven't found the time to test if the lps brings any benefits to sq, simply went with what many people were advising. All my ethernet cables are cheap and cheerful cat5 and cat6 affairs. I have only one cat8 which is also a 10 euro piece and I have put that on the clean side going to the R26.

I see that many of the aftermarket ethernet cables have silver either on the connectors or on the conductor itself. Since silver is generally associated with emphasising the higher frequencies I am bit reluctant to go that route. I feel that the R26 with my setup is airy enough and body is generally leaner than what I have experienced with some other dacs so I do not want to push further in that direction. Maybe someone can recommend a mid tier ethernet cable that is all copper.

These nice Cat8 cables from Amazon…

https://a.co/d/1Q1VxZL

 

[sajunky]

These nice Cat8 cables from Amazon…

https://a.co/d/1Q1VxZL

Why you use affiliate links? It should be banned on the forum.

 

[incredulousity]

Why you use affiliate links? It should be banned on the forum.

It’s the shortcut that is generated from the product page when I click on share. If it offends you, well…

TBH I actually have no idea what an affiliate link even is, or why should anyone other than you care.

So I’m happy to be educated in this regard.

 

[sapkan]

These nice Cat8 cables from Amazon…

https://a.co/d/1Q1VxZL

Thanks. Looks impressively well made.

 

[milkdudd]

I did the FMC+Finisar mod a month back. Me and my wife then did some A/B testing with and without the FMCs and both felt the FMCs improved the sound a bit. I subsequently got a Soncoz LP1 liniear power supply. I am using all three outputs of it. One 5v is feeding the clean side FMC, the other 5v is feeding a Luster MoCA 2.5 adapter (I have old coaxial wiring in the walls and use that for internet throughout the house) and the 12v feeds my Netgear GS108E switch. Haven't found the time to test if the lps brings any benefits to sq, simply went with what many people were advising. All my ethernet cables are cheap and cheerful cat5 and cat6 affairs. I have only one cat8 which is also a 10 euro piece and I have put that on the clean side going to the R26.

I see that many of the aftermarket ethernet cables have silver either on the connectors or on the conductor itself. Since silver is generally associated with emphasising the higher frequencies I am bit reluctant to go that route. I feel that the R26 with my setup is airy enough and body is generally leaner than what I have experienced with some other dacs so I do not want to push further in that direction. Maybe someone can recommend a mid tier ethernet cable that is all copper.

I personally use silver (or at minimum silver plated) cables everywhere when possible. What some describe as lean or over emphasizing the highs, I call highly resolving. I listen mostly in a stereo system rather than headphones, although I do both. As I buy better equipment over the years I notice the higher frequencies don't bother my ears like they used to. So I think the quality of equipment makes a big difference. I suggest trying silver, just make sure you buy from a retailer with a refund policy. That way you have nothing to lose by trying it

 

[sajunky]

TBH I actually have no idea what an affiliate link even is, or why should anyone other than you care.

So I’m happy to be educated in this regard.

It is either affiliate link (benefiting a particular user of Amazon, instruction how to do it is found on the website) or Amazon has signed a deal with third-party spying service benefiting only Amazon.

There is a link on the address bar you can copy/paste:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VVFB8VX?ref_=cm_sw_r_mwn_dp_5KMTT1FRNZZEZYJ5BFXP&tag=headfi-20

It also has spying code and a referal to a source "headfi". The best practice is to cut everything starting from a question mark. It goes like this (visually when typing):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VVFB8VX

A board software will convert it to clickable link when posting.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VVFB8VX

 

[incredulousity]

It is either affiliate link (benefiting a particular user of Amazon, instruction how to do it is found on the website) or Amazon has signed a deal with third-party spying service benefiting only Amazon.

There is a link on the address bar you can copy/paste:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VVFB8VX?ref_=cm_sw_r_mwn_dp_5KMTT1FRNZZEZYJ5BFXP&tag=headfi-20

It also has spying code and a referal to a source "headfi". The best practice is to cut everything starting from a question mark. It goes like this (visually when typing):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VVFB8VX

A board software will convert it to clickable link when posting.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VVFB8VX

That’s simple enough. Thanks.

 

[Davidv100]

FWIW, I think it might not be a super wise or valuable long time investment to pour tons of cash it the internet connection cables and infrastructure (FMC and others),
At some point Wi-Fi will be the best connection, as it also solves all the other power related issues discussed in the earlier pages (wifi providing galvanic isolation by design). I know R26 or main streamers do not have native wifi yet. But next generation might have built-in wifi everywhere. It seems the natural, obvious and best performing solution overall, actually.

 

[Odezra]

FWIW, I think it might not be a super wise or valuable long time investment to pour tons of cash it the internet connection cables and infrastructure (FMC and others),
At some point Wi-Fi will be the best connection, as it also solves all the other power related issues discussed in the earlier pages as wifi provides galvanic isolation by design. I know R26 or main streamers do not have native wifi yet. But, next generation might have built-in wifi everywhere. It seems the natural, obvious and best performing solution overall, actually.

Wifi is certainly better in my view than direct from pc / router (but can come with stability issues for some) but means you are physically disconnected from the pc if that matters to you (it doesn’t for me but hqp changes can sometimes be annoying). You are right also that it provides isolation

I had a google wifi mesh router and there was still a benefit going from that to fmc. The wifi router / extender still uses a fairly cheap power supply and was directly feeding my r26 via lan via 2.5 metre cable. I found isolating that mesh router helpful (remembering the last jump to from fmc to r26 is a short .5m cable, minimising emi/rfi interference). From memory - i a/b tested the fiber solution (with lpsu) vs the google router (going via the routers native power supply into wall and by placing the native power supply on a good emi/rfi rejection board).

i am not deep on the theory behind galvanic isolation. I know that usb / iis can offer excellent isolated pathways if implemented well (eg holo may usb input has a high quality isolated input). In the end it boils down to implementation.

Fiber, in my view, is cheap (mine cost 250 aud for cable, boxes and lpsu) and is one several effective ways to improve source devices which do not have the highest quality implementations on digital inputs. Bang for buck is excellent

 

[duffer5]

I sold my Pontus2 and didn’t buy the Venus2 I was auditioning. The R26 beat them both.
My Pontus2 was great, but did not have the level of detail, bass weight and clarity, air and transparency. Maybe the Pontus had a bit wider soundstage but it wasn’t as accurate of a sound stage.
The Venus2 was very very close but I felt that R26 had a bit more bass weight.
The Venus 2 was $1500 more expensive and didn’t have a streamer.
The R26 became a value proposition for me at that point. It was too close to justify the expense of the Venus2 and also allowed for a nice streamer to exit my system.

My A/B test sources had the Pontus and Venus connected by i2s (Ricable Supreme) directly to a Silent Angel M1T streamer.
The R26 was connected via its LAN input and internal streamer.
( same network using fiber media convertors and linear power supplies on switch, FMCs, and Silent Angel streamer).
That last part is important. The R26 LAN input is amazing.
All the reviews I’ve seen are not basing their SQ impressions off this input, which imho and many people here is the best input for the R26.(maybe some high end DDCs challenge that)
Amp is a Yamaha AS2200 all DACs were connected by balanced XLR.
Speakers used were Css audio 1TDX and Elac Unifi reference.

I personally like how the Denafrips DACs process DSD as compared to the R26. Even with a pretty large DSD collection that is not enough to change my opinion in anyway. I’m happy to convert to PCM.
If DSD was super important to me or I upsampled everything to DSD I would look elsewhere and not get a R2R dac period.

I will say that my DAC search is over for a long time. For me the DAC upgrade path from the R26 starts at $6000. I feel that all other components in my system would need to be upgraded first to see the benefit of a more expensive DAC.
Hope I helped and sorry for the rant.

Excellent comparison. Curious if you use NOS with the R26, it is my understanding that DenaFrips plays fast and loose with the 'NOS," terminology and that Denafrips DAC's are always oversampling, which for some is no big deal. I run my R26 in NOS and really enjoy the clarity and overall sound signature (for my ears and setup).

 

[camrector]

Excellent comparison. Curious if you use NOS with the R26, it is my understanding that DenaFrips plays fast and loose with the 'NOS," terminology and that Denafrips DAC's are always oversampling, which for some is no big deal. I run my R26 in NOS and really enjoy the clarity and overall sound signature (for my ears and setup).

I still keep the OS and mid filter on for the R26. Once I get HQP I’ll play around with the NOS, so I can hear what their digital filters can do.
The digital fir filters I use for room correction, correct both in the frequency and time domain. Any pre and post ringing from oversampling is eliminated.
Oversampling for some reason gets a bad wrap.
The DSD function of the R26 has shown us that the higher sample rates sound better. One reason is because with the image frequencies moved higher, the analog output filter isn’t so sharp and steep.
Same thing happens with PCM. Oversampling relaxes the requirements on the analog output filter and spreads the quantization noise over a wider region.
Playing higher sample rates is essentially the same thing as oversampling.

 

[DeckHiFi]

Recently purchased this Dac. I made the huge jump from Modius to Gustard R26 based on all the positive reviews online and wanting to jump to a possible end game Dac. I'm running this in a headphone setup. MacBook Air->Gustard R26->SA-1->HD 600. Fully balanced. USB input on Dac. High Gain on Amp. No EQ. My thoughts are based on the fast filter vs NOS. No HQplayer which I don't want to deal with. Using Amazon Music HD and UHD PCM. I change my Audio Midi Setup setting based on the song I'm playing to match it for the workaround bit perfect setup.

Thoughts on NOS vs Fast Filter. Disclaimer, I didn't spend enough time on Medium and Slow Filter options as I didn't think they offered the greatness of the other 2 with limited testing. Also, please apologize my poor choice of audiophile terms as I'm new to the hobby. I'm trying to explain my thoughts even if I'm using the wrong terms...

NOS - Instruments when they start playing jump out of the soundstage more. The highs of the treble don’t seem as rounded off in a natural sounding way. Which in some ways seems more natural because they can go high, BUT…In some ways it’s more natural on Fast Filter because you feel like you hear the timbre as instruments should sound. They are each better in different scenarios. On NOS, you feel like you are getting the full power of the instrument pushing through the mix. Fast filter blows me away more from I can’t believe how good this sounds perspective regarding Timbre - good example: Jazz music. The timbre is more immediately impressive with the Fast filter, but the dynamics of the voice and instrument in the mix can make NOS seem more realistic.

Going back to NOS - Orchestra music is very enjoyable for me. I like how the instruments pop out of the mix and you feel the dynamics of the individual instruments and emotion of the piece. It’s also easier to listen to NOS (most genres of music) just feels like everything is at the right volume in the mix for enjoying music - disclaimer: just need to be careful on music that has a ton of high treble or might have to turn it down a tad.

In conclusion - NOS I think brings out the emotion in the listener more, something about just relaxing and not trying to hear every part of the mix perfectly/more focus on midrange brings you closer to the music. It also seems to linger longer on notes and voices which puts you in more of an analogue state of mind. Voices and instruments really dance up and down dynamically in a realistic way. I’ve had some of the most emotional reactions to songs with this DAC in NOS mode. And I’ve had the most impressive musical I can’t believe how good/realistic this sounds reaction from the Fast filter. Basically both are amazing in their own ways and so easy to listen to for hours on end. NOS I seem to keep going back to. I'm so happy I found a R2R Dac with NOS as I never knew how much I would love it before now.

 

[labeelen]

I still keep the OS and mid filter on for the R26. Once I get HQP I’ll play around with the NOS, so I can hear what their digital filters can do.
The digital fir filters I use for room correction, correct both in the frequency and time domain. Any pre and post ringing from oversampling is eliminated.
Oversampling for some reason gets a bad wrap.
The DSD function of the R26 has shown us that the higher sample rates sound better. One reason is because with the image frequencies moved higher, the analog output filter isn’t so sharp and steep.
Same thing happens with PCM. Oversampling relaxes the requirements on the analog output filter and spreads the quantization noise over a wider region.
Playing higher sample rates is essentially the same thing as oversampling.

With respect to HQPlayer I’ve come to learn that the choice of filters has more impact than weither you upsample to DSD256 or DSD512 for the R26.
Also checking the 48K DSD option in HQPlayer solves the ‘noise’ issue some of us have experienced BUT be aware that enabling this option puts a much higher load on your HQPlayer … in my case (NUC12-i5) I had to switch back from DSD512 to DSD256 because of cpu throttling. Fortunately as mentioned before DSD512 and DSD256 both sound fine when you select the proper filter(s).
With the R26 I, for most music, stil prefer PCM over DSD upsampling but it’s nice to have both options.

 

[sajunky]

The DSD function of the R26 has shown us that the higher sample rates sound better. One reason is because with the image frequencies moved higher, the analog output filter isn’t so sharp and steep.

A main reason is because it is bitstream decoding (old method, as in first Sony players marketed under a Bitstream name), not a Multibit DSD which is used in all current Delta-Sigma chip-DACs.

 

[sajunky]

Wifi is certainly better in my view than direct from pc / router (but can come with stability issues for some) but means you are physically disconnected from the pc if that matters to you (it doesn’t for me but hqp changes can sometimes be annoying). You are right also that it provides isolation

I had a google wifi mesh router and there was still a benefit going from that to fmc. The wifi router / extender still uses a fairly cheap power supply and was directly feeding my r26 via lan via 2.5 metre cable. I found isolating that mesh router helpful (remembering the last jump to from fmc to r26 is a short .5m cable, minimising emi/rfi interference). From memory - i a/b tested the fiber solution (with lpsu

Good post, I only add few comments. Network congestion can be avoided by creating VLAN. It works through the both cable and Wi-Fi sections (but router and WiFi access point must support this feature), traffic on this VLAN can be prioritised on the router and switches. When congestion is only observed on WiFi, creating a secondary dedicated access point should cure a problem. Very easy to enable.

However problem of disconnecting is different, related most probably to the assigning a different IP address by DHCP server on reconnecting. Solution is assigning static IP address from a reserved space on the router. I always do it with printers on the LAN. Some people resort to IPv6, this is much simpler. The same with NAS devices.

I do recommend to chose WiFi extender with built-in power plug. EMI is reduced as there is no power cord when plugged to the HiFi power extension box. N300 extenders can be found from $15, use no fancy UTP Cat5e to connect a streamer.