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

[Stellabagpuss]

l believe using the accuracy of the GPS satellite clock comes into play.
l too have had a few clocks, where l have found that they brought improvements, the LB clock paired with a R26 brings an improvement that you wouldn't think is possible.

l recommend you should try one out, you could always return it for a refund,if you don't like it, but so far...l am not aware aware of anyone who has returned there LB

 

[Johnjc1]

Do you use the R26 with Ethernet/LAN connection and the internal renderer/streamer? That is supposed to yield the best sound quality.

I find it odd that you hear an improvement in jitter when using the Leo Bodnar GPS clock, which has sub-picosecond (1x10-12) RMS jitter. The internal clock is a femtosecond (1x10-15) clock. That means the internal clock should be about 1000 times more accurate... With the built-in clock, jitter should be below the threshold of human hearing AFAIK.

I do not use the LAN but another guy does and the clock a lot bigger upgrade for him

 

[DeckHiFi]

In the comments section to the (US$11,000) Chord DAVE review at Sound News, there is this interesting dialog:

Guest: Hi, How far different between Dave and R26? Thank you.

Sandu Vitalie: Hi, Honestly, not that much in its stock configuration (without the MScaler). Dave is slightly faster, more detailed and holographic, while R26 is a little smoother and sweeter sounding. With Mscaler, the difference is growing larger and Dave is no longer losing in the "sweetness" department.

So, while the reviewer says the A26 is closer to the wildly expensive Chord DAVE DAC, the difference between the two is still "not that much", and the DAVE is "slightly" better and lesser respectively, regarding detail retrieval and smoothness. That's quite a statement from a man who owns both DAC's.

That's awesome to hear! I would also love to hear comparisons between R26 with HQPlayer newest modulator vs Dave with MScaler. I can't imagine it sounding better than my setup other than better headphones, but would love to hear about differences or if possibly the HQPlayer option is actually better. IF it's close or on par, it would be an incredible value compared to the Dave and MScaler. We already have Passion for Sound saying this dac is on par with Yggy which is already a great value.

 

[rodthebod]

I like to share about the way to get the maximum out of the Gustard R26.
Unfortunately the last time I shared this I got shot down and only one person responded to my suggestion and like everyone else who has done this have got positive results.
So I have been using the Leo Bodnar Precision Clock. I have had in my system for about 6 months and still rate it as high as I did when I first heard the Clock.
I will talk about my experience and a few other peoples experience with using this clock.
So I bought this on a recommendation from Tony S of Coherent Systems who told me he had to go up to the Mutec Reference clock to find a clock that could beat it. Not bad when you consider the price difference and Tony would not get anything from me purchasing the clock.
My own experience
You need to set up the GPS and best used in sleep mode, once you have GPS signal set up/ Also you need to reset every to 4 weeks. The process is simple.

I bought the clock, not really expecting to much. I was using a cheap Ali Express cable and a Chinese PSU. What I heard surprised me. It had a lot more impact and weight, electric guitar sounded more realistic giving that grunt I was hoping for, in the past it was had a sense of warmth that masked this. This is not a subtle difference and takes the DAC into DACs costing 3 times or more. Going back to the just hearing the R26 without the clock it sounds more congested like a blanket has been just put over the speakers.
I told a few people I know who got the R26 about the clock.
My friend Damien sold his AfterDark Giesemann Project Emperor (with an AD power supply) and the Audio Gd DI20HE. He also had used the Gustard U18 with the Giesemann after getting the Leo Bodnar as performed better than them combined.
A reviewer who reviews for Enjoy the music sometimes reported the following. "I fully concur with John about what the Leo Bodnar clock brings to the R26. I use an Oscar Peterson track to test double bass reproduction, the detail I’m hearing is sublime. Overall there is a considerable performance lift".

This is from a friend of a friend

"Anyway, I must say it's a nicely made piece of kit with machined engraved legends on each end, a touch of quality. I used the Mac app on my MacBook to configure and everything is there, including the sleep function button, once you have a GPS signal locked on and set the 10Mhz clock (default). I used the recommended Drive: 16mA and Bandwidth: 9 settings. The Mac app even has a graphic showing where you are on Google Earth and a graph of signal strength.... slick. I placed the unit into sleep mode straight away as this reaps the best results according to this thread.

Sound....... I've never come across an upgrade that completely alters the presentation of a system like this does, it is not subtle.

Everything now seems to have time to be heard or is that timing to be heard!

There is much more depth and width to the soundstage it's all around you. There is more impact as if your power amps have been uprated.

There is a level of detail and threads of sound that makes the music sound just right. Taking the clock out, to compare, makes things mush together and you loose so much. I'm only on my 16-17th track and the system isn't fully warmed up yet. I know that the clock cable from the Gustard R26 to the LB clock can be much improved so I'm reallllly looking forward to that little journey."

I had a LHY clock in my system that costs a good bit more and just not even close to the Leo Bodnar

Anyway just thought I share

So pleased you have posted here John, and I want to endorse these comments about the Leo Bodnar clock, I happen to be the friend of a friend who is using the LB! I use the name rodders on the other forum not rodthebod. I think rodders wasn't available on this forum.

I am totally blown away by the difference in sound quality with using the LB and if you check the The Audio Standard thread "Leo Bodnar GPS Precision Clock" you will see I am only beginning the journey with this superb device. This difference is larger than placing FMC modules into the chain and changing from USB/Optical or I2S to internal LAN streamer (using the latest v1.42 firmware), to try to gauge the level of change when using the LB. You will see from my signature that I use all these tweaks already having followed this thread avidly since the start.

I have RF clock cables on order (RG-402, RG-405 suitable for a 10Mhz signal RG-400 has been reported to work well - see other thread, it takes an age being in Gozo, Malta) and plan to try the clock cable from the LB directly connected to the R26 motherboard as the umbilical lead is a generic RG-316U from the MCX to BNC chassis connector and can hopefully be improved on. I do not believe this has been tried yet. This 'direct connect' approach may reap improvements or it may not, I have seen many comments on how the interconnect cable can make a real difference to the presentation of the sound. Taking out the umbilical from the motherboard and directly connecting seems sensible for a sensitive RF clock connection. Or it may be better to have a change of RF cable to tailor different music tastes and keep the BNC chassis connector.....

It is interesting from the TAS thread that other users with similar level DACs such as the Topping D90 with Audio GD DDC's have reported that the LB clock doesn't seem to make much of a difference, but all the R26 users report a major improvement........ there seems to be a synergy between the R26 and perhaps other Gustrad 26 series DACs that have a special relationship to deliver the goods.

Anyone have an idea why this should be the case?

 

[Dandoudou]

So pleased you have posted here John, and I want to endorse these comments about the Leo Bodnar clock, I happen to be the friend of a friend who is using the LB! I use the name rodders on the other forum not rodthebod. I think rodders wasn't available on this forum.

I am totally blown away by the difference in sound quality with using the LB and if you check the The Audio Standard thread "Leo Bodnar GPS Precision Clock" you will see I am only beginning the journey with this superb device. This difference is larger than placing FMC modules into the chain and changing from USB/Optical or I2S to internal LAN streamer (using the latest v1.42 firmware), to try to gauge the level of change when using the LB. You will see from my signature that I use all these tweaks already having followed this thread avidly since the start.

I have RF clock cables on order (RG-402, RG-405 suitable for a 10Mhz signal RG-400 has been reported to work well - see other thread, it takes an age being in Gozo, Malta) and plan to try the clock cable from the LB directly connected to the R26 motherboard as the umbilical lead is a generic RG-316U from the MCX to BNC chassis connector and can hopefully be improved on. I do not believe this has been tried yet. This 'direct connect' approach may reap improvements or it may not, I have seen many comments on how the interconnect cable can make a real difference to the presentation of the sound. Taking out the umbilical from the motherboard and directly connecting seems sensible for a sensitive RF clock connection. Or it may be better to have a change of RF cable to tailor different music tastes and keep the BNC chassis connector.....

It is interesting from the TAS thread that other users with similar level DACs such as the Topping D90 with Audio GD DDC's have reported that the LB clock doesn't seem to make much of a difference, but all the R26 users report a major improvement........ there seems to be a synergy between the R26 and perhaps other Gustrad 26 series DACs that have a special relationship to deliver the goods.

Anyone have an idea why this should be the case?

Hi @rodthebod ,
Where did you order your clock?
Can you post a link?

 

[Fluty]

I like to share about the way to get the maximum out of the Gustard R26.
Unfortunately the last time I shared this I got shot down and only one person responded to my suggestion and like everyone else who has done this have got positive results.
So I have been using the Leo Bodnar Precision Clock. I have had in my system for about 6 months and still rate it as high as I did when I first heard the Clock.
I will talk about my experience and a few other peoples experience with using this clock.
So I bought this on a recommendation from Tony S of Coherent Systems who told me he had to go up to the Mutec Reference clock to find a clock that could beat it. Not bad when you consider the price difference and Tony would not get anything from me purchasing the clock.
My own experience
You need to set up the GPS and best used in sleep mode, once you have GPS signal set up/ Also you need to reset every to 4 weeks. The process is simple.

I bought the clock, not really expecting to much. I was using a cheap Ali Express cable and a Chinese PSU. What I heard surprised me. It had a lot more impact and weight, electric guitar sounded more realistic giving that grunt I was hoping for, in the past it was had a sense of warmth that masked this. This is not a subtle difference and takes the DAC into DACs costing 3 times or more. Going back to the just hearing the R26 without the clock it sounds more congested like a blanket has been just put over the speakers.
I told a few people I know who got the R26 about the clock.
My friend Damien sold his AfterDark Giesemann Project Emperor (with an AD power supply) and the Audio Gd DI20HE. He also had used the Gustard U18 with the Giesemann after getting the Leo Bodnar as performed better than them combined.
A reviewer who reviews for Enjoy the music sometimes reported the following. "I fully concur with John about what the Leo Bodnar clock brings to the R26. I use an Oscar Peterson track to test double bass reproduction, the detail I’m hearing is sublime. Overall there is a considerable performance lift".

This is from a friend of a friend

"Anyway, I must say it's a nicely made piece of kit with machined engraved legends on each end, a touch of quality. I used the Mac app on my MacBook to configure and everything is there, including the sleep function button, once you have a GPS signal locked on and set the 10Mhz clock (default). I used the recommended Drive: 16mA and Bandwidth: 9 settings. The Mac app even has a graphic showing where you are on Google Earth and a graph of signal strength.... slick. I placed the unit into sleep mode straight away as this reaps the best results according to this thread.

Sound....... I've never come across an upgrade that completely alters the presentation of a system like this does, it is not subtle.

Everything now seems to have time to be heard or is that timing to be heard!

There is much more depth and width to the soundstage it's all around you. There is more impact as if your power amps have been uprated.

There is a level of detail and threads of sound that makes the music sound just right. Taking the clock out, to compare, makes things mush together and you loose so much. I'm only on my 16-17th track and the system isn't fully warmed up yet. I know that the clock cable from the Gustard R26 to the LB clock can be much improved so I'm reallllly looking forward to that little journey."

I had a LHY clock in my system that costs a good bit more and just not even close to the Leo Bodnar

Anyway just thought I share

I bought the Leo Bodmar clock after reading Johnjc1's original post here, and I've found it to be absolutely superb. It's based on the GPS which uses an atomic clock - there can't be anything more precise than that! I can endorse everything written above, agreeing that the difference it makes is, as johnjc says, not subtle. Thanks for bringing it to our attention!

 

[Stellabagpuss]

You can purchase directly from Leo Bodnar
http://www.leobodnar.com/shop/index...id=234&zenid=38351eeae53c5df4a19c8b3306d1aa13

 

[camrector]

-70 dBc @1Hz phase noise is absolutely atrocious. No thank you.

 

[Dandoudou]

You can purchase directly from Leo Bodnar
http://www.leobodnar.com/shop/index...id=234&zenid=38351eeae53c5df4a19c8b3306d1aa13

On his site the FEDEX delivery fee to France is £36.

 

[Johnjc1]

-70 dBc @1Hz phase noise is absolutely atrocious. No thank you.

You not hearing any noise in fact quite the opposite
I am not going to go down a subjective vs objective but if not for you then no issues

 

[camrector]

You not hearing any noise in fact quite the opposite
I am not going to go down a subjective vs objective but if not for you then no issues

Why would someone hook up an external clock with worse performance than the one built into their dac?

 

[Clivem2]

It’s important to understand that the external clock on the R26 works in a PLL in conjunction with the internal clock. It does not replace the internal clock’s function. We don’t don’t know the exact implementation but the external clock assists the internal one in some way. It could be that for the implementation of the R26 “clock assist” that phase noise is largely irrelevant.

 

[Johnjc1]

Why would someone hook up an external clock with worse performance than the one built into their dac?

Because it's not doing that. No one has this experience with the clock
Have a read of Clive response above

 

[rodthebod]

Why would someone hook up an external clock with worse performance than the one built into their dac?

It’s important to understand that the external clock on the R26 works in a PLL in conjunction with the internal clock. It does not replace the internal clock’s function. We don’t don’t know the exact implementation but the external clock assists the internal one in some way. It could be that for the implementation of the R26 that phase noise is largely irrelevant.

It's certainly transformative the difference between using the LB and using just the internal clock. In hi-fi there's sometimes a discrepancy between what measures the best and what sounds the best. If led by measurements then there is a fair chance that you might be missing out on when some special combination works musically.

Always believe your ears they are the best judge, no sucking eggs intended!

FYI The guy behind the clock Leo Bodnar is something of a guru in his field by all accounts Some nice insight into Leo Bodnar, this company works in Silverstone UK in the Formula One industry with world leading tech. The LB clock is used to aid monitoring of the timing of Formula One cars I believe. Another industry to ours but the principles are the same I guess, you need an accurate clock. When others are stating that the LB is comparable to a Mutec reference clock when used for hi-fi then that was good enough for me to try it along with all the glowing recommendations, I'm so pleased I did. I also take the opinions of the guys on the TAS forum seriously.

 

[dsyzling]

Always believe your ears they are the best judge, no sucking eggs intended!

Whilst I can accept that you have to enjoy what you're listening to with music first and foremost - what would be the point otherwise, you also have to accept that measurements can objectively demonstrate distortion and people can prefer some levels of distortion. Noise can equally impart an artificial sense of improved detail or air in music - I'm not saying that's the case here, just something to be conscious or wary of - there are many complicating factors both in the objective and subjective sides of these debates.