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

[BShaw]

I've left my R26 turned on 24/7 believing this to contribute to the best sound quality. Yesterday, for the first time, it started to drop out momentarily every few minutes until I rebooted it, since when it has been fine again. Any suggestions about what could have caused the dropouts, and do others here leave it constantly on or do you turn off between listening sessions?

Sorry to hear you've had an issue Fluty. FWIW, I've left mine on continuously for 18 months or so and haven't had any issues. Maybe it was just a buffering issue somewhere along the line?

 

[martin778]

Not sure how important the micro SD card is when the unit is running and not using the LAN input but microSD's occassionaly 'die'. If it's doing lots of R/W you can try replacing it if it happens again.

 

[2bxfile]

Hello:

Going through this thread - extensive.

I'm very interested in purchasing the R26 and I have a query regarding its i2s port.

I have the Douk Audio U2 Pro (poor man's DDC) connected from my PC with an LPS going into the U2 Pro via the DC 5V port. I was using the U2 Pro's I2s port to connect to a Musician dac and all was fine. Does anyone know from first hand knowledge or educated opinion whether or not I could have a conflict using the i2s from the U2 Pro to the R26 port? Has anyone heard of any compatibility difficulties in this area with the R26's i2s? Can anyone foresee a problem here?

I want to keep working with the Douk and LPS for a while via i2s and not go to optical or coax,

Below I've attached an image of the U2 Pro if indeed this helps.

Thank you very much for anyone that can give me some information or opinion in regards to the above.

Thank you.

 

[andkel]

Hey everybody, just got my R26 demo unit for testing in my system (want to choose between ponthus 2 and R26). It has 1.43 FW onboard. I’ve noticed when playing files via Tidal connect there are some cracking noices when changing the tracks. Those are really annoying…do you have the same issues?
As this is a completely new unit with no burn in, it sounds very wide and detailed, but very thin on vocals…how much time it needs to burn in? Thanks

 

[SoundStageHunter]

Whew just finished reading the whole thread!
Got a few questions for my new R26:

1. How do I know what firmware and renderer versions I have? R115_130_236 shown is which version? Is that the renderer or firmware?

2. It's my first time streaming music via LAN, I'm not sure how to make it work. Spotify Connect is not seeing the R26. Switch -> R26. Also switch -> wifi router -> Win laptop and Android phone. Must the laptop be connected to the same switch or router as the R26?

3. Does the LAN port at the back of the R26 light up when a cable is connected? Mine doesn't. Does it mean the microSD card is corrupted as per a few others' experience? I tried installing gustarenderer 1.43 and the write process finishes without any problems though.

Appreciate any advice. Thanks!

 

[camrector]

Whew just finished reading the whole thread!
Got a few questions for my new R26:

1. How do I know what firmware and renderer versions I have? R115_130_236 shown is which version? Is that the renderer or firmware?

2. It's my first time streaming music via LAN, I'm not sure how to make it work. Spotify Connect is not seeing the R26. Switch -> R26. Also switch -> wifi router -> Win laptop and Android phone. Must the laptop be connected to the same switch or router as the R26?

3. Does the LAN port at the back of the R26 light up when a cable is connected? Mine doesn't. Does it mean the microSD card is corrupted as per a few others' experience? I tried installing gustarenderer 1.43 and the write process finishes without any problems though.

Appreciate any advice. Thanks!

1. That is the system firmware. Renderer firmware is will say 1v43(most up to date)
2.Yes R26 must be connected to the same network. I’m not sure if Spotify connect is a recognized service.
You need a player like Roon, Mconnect, Jplay etc etc
3. No light on the LAN

 

[SoundStageHunter]

1. That is the system firmware. Renderer firmware is will say 1v43(most up to date)
2.Yes R26 must be connected to the same network. I’m not sure if Spotify connect is a recognized service.
You need a player like Roon, Mconnect, Jplay etc etc
3. No light on the LAN

Thanks!
1. Is the 236 is the latest system firmware? The latest I saw in this thread's gallery is 136, and I thought that was the bigger display firmware (supposedly latest).
2. Spotify Connect was said to be a compatible service (as per page 1 and also Gustard's website)...

Hmmm I wonder what I'm doing wrong. I will try downloading trial version of JPlay or MConnect...

 

[camrector]

Thanks!
1. Is the 236 is the latest system firmware? The latest I saw in this thread's gallery is 136, and I thought that was the bigger display firmware (supposedly latest).
2. Spotify Connect was said to be a compatible service (as per page 1 and also Gustard's website)...

Hmmm I wonder what I'm doing wrong. I will try downloading trial version of JPlay or MConnect...

1. The larger display firmware is on page one.
once the R26 is connected to the same network, it will show in the devices of your player.

 

[SoundStageHunter]

The newest system firmware update is CT m2.1, this changes font size, ect.
Check the system fw on the R26. R115_130_116

1. The larger display firmware is on page one.
once the R26 is connected to the same network, it will show in the devices of your player.

It seems like there is a firmware newer than the CT m2.1. According to @MickelJam his R26 has the CT m2.1 firmware and it displays R115_130_116. Mine says R115_130_236

Anyway, I tried Mconnect and BubbleUPnP. Both do not see my R26 My 15 year old WDTV is visible though

 

[camrector]

It seems like there is a firmware newer than the CT m2.1. According to @MickelJam his R26 has the CT m2.1 firmware and it displays R115_130_116. Mine says R115_130_236

Anyway, I tried Mconnect and BubbleUPnP. Both do not see my R26 My 15 year old WDTV is visible though

The CT m2.1 is the larger font firmware.

Are you on the LAN setting on the R26? And connected to your network?

 

[SoundStageHunter]

The CT m2.1 is the larger font firmware.

Mine also display larger fonts in the settings menu, but the firmware version is different. That's why I'm suggesting that there could be a newer FW. I mean my R26 was just delivered today.

Are you on the LAN setting on the R26? And connected to your network?

Yes on LAN, it just cycles through 44.1, 48, and DSD as I assume there is no stream.
And also yes, should be connected to network, I connected the same LAN cable that was connected to my laptop.

Appreciate your assistance!

 

[camrector]

Mine also display larger fonts in the settings menu, but the firmware version is different. That's why I'm suggesting that there could be a newer FW. I mean my R26 was just delivered today.


Yes on LAN, it just cycles through 44.1, 48, and DSD as I assume there is no stream.
And also yes, should be connected to network, I connected the same LAN cable that was connected to my laptop.

Appreciate your assistance!

I would restart the R26 and the cpu They should be on the same network
R26 and CPU connected to switch is how I had mine. R26 on LAN input
Not sure if Jplay/Mconnect have any settings. Roon it just is recognized automatically

 

[TheRealDz]

For those of you in the US who have been lurking on this thread like I have been, Amazon has a sale on the R26 (and A26).

I bought one and will report back on what I hear. The question for me now becomes whether it will reside permanently in my living room, or in my desktop system. My living room system prioritizes sounstaging and desktop prioritizes resolution, so I think it will end up in the living room. But I am curious how much soundstaging and resolution it will have over my Gustard X18 in my desktop system.

 

[SoundStageHunter]

I would restart the R26 and the cpu They should be on the same network
R26 and CPU connected to switch is how I had mine. R26 on LAN input
Not sure if Jplay/Mconnect have any settings. Roon it just is recognized automatically

Thanks, it's working now. The PC and R26 must be connected in the same network. As in, no router in between. Thanks again, appreciate your effort.

Anyone tried network bridging? As in PC gets internet from wifi, then the PC is connected to thr R26 via LAN? I will try this later.

 

[SoundStageHunter]

For those of you in the US who have been lurking on this thread like I have been, Amazon has a sale on the R26 (and A26).

I bought one and will report back on what I hear. The question for me now becomes whether it will reside permanently in my living room, or in my desktop system. My living room system prioritizes sounstaging and desktop prioritizes resolution, so I think it will end up in the living room. But I am curious how much soundstaging and resolution it will have over my Gustard X18 in my desktop system.

Also got mine from Amazon (Japan) where it's also on sale. I only have like 15 hours on mine as it just arrived yesterday.

If you can, could you give your impressions on the R26 via LAN vs via U18? Thank you.