[Stellabagpuss]

Seems like after leaving it on over night with the GPS near my window, I do have a signal now? Both the red lights are solid now instead of blinking. I'm not entirely confident, as I can't tell the difference between internal vs external clock on either my R26 or U18. I have the GPS Clock Config app screenshot (Windows) below. Let me know if anything looks different from your setups.

When A/Bing the internal and external clock, are you able to tell an obvious difference when switching between them?

If important, my power supply is an IFI iPowerX and my BNC cables are these Eightwood RG400 cables - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08ZXV3PZ4

I would think I have a pretty high end setup with a Susvara paired with an iFi Pro iCan to detect even subtle changes.

A,Few points .. Change the settings...
Use output 2, turn off output 1
Change Output drive strength from 32ma to 16ma
Change BW setting from 15 to 9
Once you have done that press Sleep...Thats it, disconnect your USB lead.
l can't stress enough how using a quality clock cable effects the R26. My personal favourite TFLEX 405 which l DIYed and is superior to your RG type cables.

 

[pbarata]

Currently I' ve R26 with render firmware v1.4 together with the Display FW CT m2.1 (March 01, 2023) upgrade installed.

My doubt is if I can simple add the fix for Clicking Sound, on top the the Display FW firmware? (https://www.head-fi.org/threads/gus...ng-music-bridge.963630/page-150#post-17276213).

Kind regards
Pedro

 

[Fluty]

Odd, the Zen Stream was the go to streamer at the beginning of this post many moons ago but was soon eclipsed by the performance of the R26 internal Lan streamer when compared.
People seemed to prefer the R26 Lan. Has the Zen Stream been improved?

No question here, the Gustard streamer despite the varous upgrades continues to be stuttery on Hi Res files, so is simply unacceptable. The iFi unit is solid as a rock, never drops a beat, also sounds better to my ears.

 

[Fluty]

I read that too but the only thing is I've been reading a lot of comments about how the software is very glitchy (those seem to constitute a lot of comments on amazon). Have you noticed anything about that? This is a concern of mine since I use an iphone. Here is one of the comments on Amazon:

The interface has proven quite buggy. Connection to iOS devices (Apple) has been more problematic than with Android devices.

Absolutely no software or any other problems at all. Totally reliable using either mconnect or Tidal Direct via iphone.

 

[BShaw]

I owned a ZenStream prior to buying my R26 and I was glad to be rid of it. Connection issues constantly, buggy as all hell. I can't tell you if it sounded better or not. Maybe they're just inconsistent, I don't know, iFi seems to make solid gear otherwise.

 

[sajunky]

No question here, the Gustard streamer despite the varous upgrades continues to be stuttery on Hi Res files, so is simply unacceptable.

I don't understand why there is a tendency blaming DAC's for clicking during sample rate change, while it is a responsibility of a source to create clean datastream. I talk about synchronous sources like S/PDIF an I2S, as USB is different.

It is not only Gustard blamed, but other brands too, while many streamers show the same behaviour due to sharing the same open source code, still immature.

 

[Nuge]

I owned a ZenStream prior to buying my R26 and I was glad to be rid of it. Connection issues constantly, buggy as all hell. I can't tell you if it sounded better or not. Maybe they're just inconsistent, I don't know, iFi seems to make solid gear otherwise.

This is what I am afraid of. The actual sound quality sounds like an improvement but it sounds like a nightmare in other ways. This looks like another good option at the 500 price point.

https://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-Au...mzn1.fos.ac2169a1-b668-44b9-8bd0-5ec63b24bcb5

 

[BShaw]

This is what I am afraid of. The actual sound quality sounds like an improvement but it sounds like a nightmare in other ways. This looks like another good option at the 500 price point.

https://www.amazon.com/Cambridge-Audio-MXN10-Network-Player/dp/B0BVWJCL5M/ref=sr_1_4?crid=33C3SJYXXLE0J&keywords=cambridge+streamer&qid=1702768453&sprefix=cambridge+streamer,aps,233&sr=8-4&ufe=app_do:amzn1.fos.ac2169a1-b668-44b9-8bd0-5ec63b24bcb5

That Cambridge looks like a contender. Have you looked into the WiiM Pro Plus? Gets a lot of love in the review-o-sphere but I don't know if it's any better then the Gustard.

 

[Nuge]

That Cambridge looks like a contender. Have you looked into the WiiM Pro Plus? Gets a lot of love in the review-o-sphere but I don't know if it's any better then the Gustard.

I heard about that one too, apparently it's glitchy as well. Which is a shame.

 

[Fluty]

I don't understand why there is a tendency blaming DAC's for clicking during sample rate change, while it is a responsibility of a source to create clean datastream. I talk about synchronous sources like S/PDIF an I2S, as USB is different.

It is not only Gustard blamed, but other brands too, while many streamers show the same behaviour due to sharing the same open source code, still immature.

The issue with R26 streamer is not "clicking during sampling rate change". It is stuttering (stop - startting) during playback of HiRes files. Happens mostly at the beginning but sometimes at random points. Similar to a lack of adequate buffering, but apparently it is not that. Of those with this problem, to my knowledge no one has found a cure!

 

[BShaw]

The issue with R26 streamer is not "clicking during sampling rate change". It is stuttering (stop - startting) during playback of HiRes files. Happens mostly at the beginning but sometimes at random points. Similar to a lack of adequate buffering, but apparently it is not that. Of those with this problem, to my knowledge no one has found a cure!

Roon. Flawless performance, whereas Bubble and MConnect, much less so Jplay, all stuttered.

 

[Fluty]

Roon. Flawless performance, whereas Bubble and MConnect, much less so Jplay, all stuttered.

I tried Roon - no improvement sadly, still had the same issues, so I stick with the iFi Zen!

 

[rodthebod]

Seems like after leaving it on over night with the GPS near my window, I do have a signal now? Both the red lights are solid now instead of blinking. I'm not entirely confident, as I can't tell the difference between internal vs external clock on either my R26 or U18. I have the GPS Clock Config app screenshot (Windows) below. Let me know if anything looks different from your setups.

When A/Bing the internal and external clock, are you able to tell an obvious difference when switching between them?

If important, my power supply is an IFI iPowerX and my BNC cables are these Eightwood RG400 cables - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08ZXV3PZ4

I would think I have a pretty high end setup with a Susvara paired with an iFi Pro iCan to detect even subtle changes.

Hi Wen, these are the settings from earlier in the thread from a windows user (I use the Mac version) it's important to get the output drive strength levels correct. Just copy these settings. The difference between using the LB clock and the internal which is easily switched using the remote on the R26 or the fascia controls is subtle at first it takes playing a known track to start to appreciate the timing difference. It's not the same level of difference as replacing a power supply from say a switched mode to a linear power supply. I think Stellabagpuss has covered this whilst I was posting! He is soooo right about the cable used (and short length of cable) to connect the clock to the R26.

 

[rodthebod]

No question here, the Gustard streamer despite the varous upgrades continues to be stuttery on Hi Res files, so is simply unacceptable. The iFi unit is solid as a rock, never drops a beat, also sounds better to my ears.

I'm a red book fan so stick to 16/44.1, so no issues with the R26 Lan and DNLA playback using Jplay. Red book just sounds more realistic and enjoyable to me on my system. I've tried HQPlayer and high res files, to hear what all the fuss is about, but I tend to start listening for the 'sounds' and the subtle differences rather than the music itself.
I get too distracted, when I go back to good old 16/44.1 I find I can enjoy the music more.

 

[solid12345]

I don't understand why there is a tendency blaming DAC's for clicking during sample rate change, while it is a responsibility of a source to create clean datastream. I talk about synchronous sources like S/PDIF an I2S, as USB is different.

It is not only Gustard blamed, but other brands too, while many streamers show the same behaviour due to sharing the same open source code, still immature.

Personally I do not know why anyone would be schizophrenic enough to build playlists with constantly changing sample rate changes to where repeated clicking would even be a daily annoyance. It’s a good thing I can’t really tell the difference from high-res, 44khz is good enough for me. I think if someone is really concerned get a mscaler or use hq player to output everything upsampled at the same rate.