Pretty sure it's 100mbps based on the experience of a few users (hard to find a published spec), a number of manufacturers have found it is easier to manage ethernet related noise at lower speeds (less drain on power supply for processing, error correction etc), including Uptone with the OG EtherRegen, though they have 'solved' the 1Gbs challenge for their V2.
GUSTARD DAC-R26 Balanced Decoder R2R+1Bit Dual Native Decoding Music Bridge
- Thread starter m-i-c-k-e-y
- Start date
A bit more vibration damping fun... this time with Tungsten cubes. A 2cm cube on the K2 and a 1.5cm cube on what I believe is the FPGA chip by the R2R ladder. A few sheets of damping material under each cube.
Brings a bit more refinement, less grain in upper mid-range, female vocals a little smoother and more delicate. Subtle but satisfying.
Tungsten has exactly the same density as gold as a bit of random trivia, almost 50% more dense than lead...
Brings a bit more refinement, less grain in upper mid-range, female vocals a little smoother and more delicate. Subtle but satisfying.
Tungsten has exactly the same density as gold as a bit of random trivia, almost 50% more dense than lead...
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JackJohnson316
Head-Fier
Anybody know if the upcoming Gustard N18 Switch will have a master clock input? I was really hoping to get the next gen EtherRegen, but it’s been delayed until January or later.
Gary M
New Head-Fier
I saw an image on line listing a Pro N18 version as well.
Attachments
m-i-c-k-e-y
Headphoneus Supremus
Maybe with upgraded clock.
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Update - there's such a thing as overdamping.A bit more vibration damping fun... this time with Tungsten cubes. A 2cm cube on the K2 and a 1.5cm cube on what I believe is the FPGA chip by the R2R ladder. A few sheets of damping material under each cube.
Brings a bit more refinement, less grain in upper mid-range, female vocals a little smoother and more delicate. Subtle but satisfying.
Tungsten has exactly the same density as gold as a bit of random trivia, almost 50% more dense than lead...
I also upgrade my take on the scale of improvements now it's more dialled in as below...
After going back and forth removing, then progressively re-adding sheets and cubes I found:
- either cube overdamps the K2, thinning the sounds slightly but undesirably. Sweet spot for the K2 is just one damping sheet, adding a touch of refinement without overdoing it as the cubes did i e. I removed the tungsten cube
- the R2R FPGA chip responded positively to each sheet (I think I got to maybe 5) I added - more refinement and silkiness to the mid-range, more focussed soundstage and on sheets 3-5 more palpable too. The 65gm smaller cube was positive, tightening the sound but not unduly thinning it. The 150 gram 2cm cube was too much, the sound thinned and lost some weight and texture.
Btw the character of the sonic improvements by damping the FPGA chip was slightly different to my master clock OCXO damping experiences... with the FPGA the changes seemed focussed on refinement and purity of midrange tone, along with L-R soundstage clarity.. maybe a little greater dynamics incl in the bass but that wasn't as obvious. With clocks improvements in bass weight, texture and overall decay is more prominent.
So I'd recommend experimenting with damping the FPGA, but do so at your own risk and carefully to avoid any shorting of the circuit board and chip connectors.
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sbgk
100+ Head-Fier
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using kernel streaming (ks) via usb, only 32 bit seems to work and safe mode off seems to sound better more relaxed sound
Update #3 just hit HQP PCM linearity (incl dynamic range) paydirt
So see this this rather unassuming and precarious pile of tweaky DIY OCD sitting on top of the FPGA, the chip that does its best to correct for the errors from the R2R ladders.
Well you know what it also represents - 2 whole bits of additionaldynamic range linearity* for the R26 when fed HQP upsampled 705/768 PCM when in NOS mode.
(*EDIT - according to Jussi, creator of HQP, linearity does not directly equate to dynamic range, especially for R2R Dacs. But I stand by my observations below re the more dynamic and punchy sound, so seems to me there’s definitely some correlation with the R26 at least!)
I'm sitting here listening to the R26 at a lower volume than I normally would as it's got that much more punch and PRaT now.
Result!
Background
I've had my PCM ‘DAC Bits’dynamic range set at 15 bits in HQP for some time now after @camrector mentioned about the need to set this at the right level... set too high, beyond the DAC's dynamic linearity range then your resolution and dynamic range drops off fast. Easy to hear. So from trial and error I landed on 15 bits.
I've been doing heaps of tweaking in recent times (power, grounding, chassis damping) since I last tested the optimal HQP bit setting. Just remembered about the HQP setting which I haven’t thought about in months. Checking this again just now (before adding any damping materials on the FPGA itself) I found it has gone up 1 bit to 16 bits as a new baseline, which is nice. It tells me those tweaks have made the ladder and FPGA's lives a little easier. Nice validation but I already knew it was sounding better in recent months.
The really cool bit though, the punchline to this story, is when I added back the damping sheets and tungsten block to the FPGA and retested with HQP I found I could comfortably get to 18 bits ofdynamic range linearity ... A juicer, more resolving and expansive sound than the baseline at 16 bits. I did of course try setting HQP to 19 and 20 bits, but at 19 bits the sound got muddied and less dynamic, the classic sign of exceeding the linearity limit.
So see this this rather unassuming and precarious pile of tweaky DIY OCD sitting on top of the FPGA, the chip that does its best to correct for the errors from the R2R ladders.
Well you know what it also represents - 2 whole bits of additional
(*EDIT - according to Jussi, creator of HQP, linearity does not directly equate to dynamic range, especially for R2R Dacs. But I stand by my observations below re the more dynamic and punchy sound, so seems to me there’s definitely some correlation with the R26 at least!)
I'm sitting here listening to the R26 at a lower volume than I normally would as it's got that much more punch and PRaT now.
Result!
Background
I've had my PCM ‘DAC Bits’
I've been doing heaps of tweaking in recent times (power, grounding, chassis damping) since I last tested the optimal HQP bit setting. Just remembered about the HQP setting which I haven’t thought about in months. Checking this again just now (before adding any damping materials on the FPGA itself) I found it has gone up 1 bit to 16 bits as a new baseline, which is nice. It tells me those tweaks have made the ladder and FPGA's lives a little easier. Nice validation but I already knew it was sounding better in recent months.
The really cool bit though, the punchline to this story, is when I added back the damping sheets and tungsten block to the FPGA and retested with HQP I found I could comfortably get to 18 bits of
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Stellabagpuss
100+ Head-Fier
Many thanks Jake, looks like you have done a lot of Donkey work for us.
l did try using some EMF 3M on the FPGA, but l abandoned it, as l simply couldn't hear a difference on it's own.
However I have tried damping on Crystals to good effect, using sorbathane sheets l have kicking around.
So l have to ask, how are you fixing your sheets and Tungsten cube to the FPGA ?
And what is the dimensions of your smaller tungsten cube?
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My pleasure Damian.
Damping efficacy - in terms of having an audible and desirable effect - seems to be super dependent on the particular material used and the circuit or substrate being damped. Fo.Q (and I apologise for going on about a near unobtainium product) seems to be particularly wide bandwidth in its damping so is almost always audible, mostly but not always, beneficially. In this case I suspect the damping effect is going beyond the FPGA to the nearby resistor array in the ladder, reducing their micro resonance and perhaps also increasing their precision a touch.
I am currently - whilst in test mode - relying on gravity and a residual amount of (very) light tack spray on some sheets to hold my Leaning Tower of Tungsten in place. A risky business in our shaky Isles (we have a mild shake every month or two) as that super dense cube could wreak sharp edged and conductice havoc on the ladder..
1.5cm cubed is the smaller cube. The density is 19.3grams per cm3. I took it to the pub last night for show and tell.. it is a curiousity as it feels unnaturally dense and heavy in hand, hard to put down. (Thankfully it survived the pub)
Stellabagpuss
100+ Head-Fier
Thanks JakeMy pleasure Damian.
Damping efficacy - in terms of having an audible and desirable effect - seems to be super dependent on the particular material used and the circuit or substrate being damped. Fo.Q (and I apologise for going on about a near unobtainium product) seems to be particularly wide bandwidth in its damping so is almost always audible, mostly but not always, beneficially. In this case I suspect the damping effect is going beyond the FPGA to the nearby resistor array in the ladder, reducing their micro resonance and perhaps also increasing their precision a touch.
I am currently - whilst in test mode - relying on gravity and a residual amount of (very) light tack spray on some sheets to hold my Leaning Tower of Tungsten in place. A risky business in our shaky Isles (we have a mild shake every month or two) as that super dense cube could wreak sharp edged and conductice havoc on the ladder..
1.5cm cubed is the smaller cube. The density is 19.3grams per cm3. I took it to the pub last night for show and tell.. it is a curiousity as it feels unnaturally dense and heavy in hand, hard to put down. (Thankfully it survived the pub)
Just a thought you could cover the cube with some insulation tape,to avoid contact, if it does break free.
l going to give this try, l also plan to see if a similar thing can be done inside the cheap FMC, I know the damping can be done, but l doubt there is,enough space for tungsten in the case.
Damien
JackJohnson316
Head-Fier
I’m about to order a LHY OCK-2 master clock for the R26. Do I order the 75ohm or 50ohm? I seem to remember some controversy regarding the external master clock connector. Is it 75 or 50 ohm? Thanks for the input?
BShaw
1000+ Head-Fier
The R26 clock input is 50ohm, not as many cable options but there’s been plenty written about that. I’m using a Harmonic Technology DC-III, on Jake’s recommendation and it’s a great cable, but there are others, some quite inexpensive
Of note: LHY uses 75ohm connectors even on their 50ohm clocks.
MartinWT
1000+ Head-Fier
50 ohm, and use an HT DC III 50 ohm clock cable which sounds excellent.
