GUSTARD DAC-R26 Balanced Decoder R2R+1Bit Dual Native Decoding Music Bridge
- Thread starter m-i-c-k-e-y
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BShaw
1000+ Head-Fier
I bet you’ve already guessed Mickey; it’s a Holo Cyan2. With HQP and Jussi’s model-specific dac correction, I’m just playing song after song and shaking my head.
jsiets4
Head-Fier
Just hooked up a U18 between my node and R26 using IIS and all I can say right now is..... WOW
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jsiets4
Head-Fier
LAN to the node, usb from the node to R26. Now LAN to the node, USB from the node to the U18, IIS from the U18 to the R26.
Ok. I run LAN from laptop to router and LAN from router to R26. This sounds better than just using a Supra Excalibur from the laptop to the R26
R26 can sound superb via USB with a sufficiently high quality USB source e.g. LHY UIP, Innuous PhoenixUSB.
jsiets4
Head-Fier
I also run LAN to the R26 for roon. I have done the FMC mod really does improve the LAN connection
I have been looking to order the parts for the fiber media conversion mod. Is there a list of recommended parts from Amazon or BestBuy in the USA? I am also going
to order the $90 Ali external clock and $4 cable. Even though I also just ordered a Holo Cyan which doesn't have a LAN input.
rfgdelion
New Head-Fier
Which LPS did you go for? And only a proper one on the last FMC or also the first one (and even the router)?
If you tried multiple, did you notice improvements?
jsiets4
Head-Fier
Aune XP2 LPS has two outputs to power both TP-Link MC220L FMCs I use a Furman SS-B6 RFI/EMI power filter for the modem and router which are in a different location
jsiets4
Head-Fier
So this is my setup. Aune XP2 LPS which will properly power both TP-Link MC220L FMCs. A TP-Link TL-SM321A-2 SFP and a TP-Link TL-SM321B-2 SFP. A 0.5m OS2 LC to LC single mode duplex Fiber Patch cable (you will need to separate these and just use one) and a 6in Cat6A ethernet patch cable. All purchased from Amazon USA.
Buckminster
New Head-Fier
I had dropped about $200 on two Gtek FMCs with Single mode bidi SFP modules, powered with a Topping P50 LPS and I enjoyed it in my system for several months. That is until I replaced it with the Gustard N18 Pro a couple of weeks ago. I learned in this process that while the FMCs absolutely cleaned up the ethernet signal direct from the router, it actually made the sound a bit thin, bright, and brittle (in my system). The N18 is really quite a revelation and a great complement to the R26's strengths. It's a very full, fast sound that is super smooth and musical, with fantastic detail and better imaging than just the FMCs. I really had no idea a simple tweak to just the ethernet signal could make such a dramatic difference, and as a bonus, the effects extend to all the other devices you plug into it, which in my case includes a TV and some Sonos products. Compressed streamed audio through the TV even sounds better and smoother.
The cherry on top is that the switch is now fed from an FMC using a Cisco SFP-10G-AOC cable which has a very warm and analog sound all its own. All that is to say that if you're able to stretch your budget a bit, I think you'll be happy with an audiophile switch, but if you want to try out the cheaper FMCs first, I'd skip the budget SFPs that ship with them and look for a good deal on the aforementioned Cisco cable (but watch out for ebay counterfeits).
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TherealJohnD
New Head-Fier
Thanks for the update. I was curious if the N18 Pro was compatible with the Cisco AOC. I'm assuming the Gtek FMC is feeding Cisco-AOC to the N18? I was planning on doing a cheap FMC shoot out (Gtek included) for the Cisco-AOC to Ether Regen chain.
Buckminster
New Head-Fier
Yep that's it, and I was also not sure if it would work but there was nothing to worry about in the end. I think the ports on both sides of the cable just need to be the same 1G speed.
I'd be curious to hear if the dirty-side FMCs make much of a difference in your chain, let us know what you find.
My brief notes about the options I have are:
30 ft ethernet cable straight from router to R26: Truly awful. Foggy, dull sound and dynamics with soft attacks and leading edges. I can't believe this used to pass as a baseline not that long ago.
Router > 10Gtek FMC boxes > R26: Clean and clear, but bright and thin. The edges of notes and voices have over-sharpened digital fuzz around them. I enjoyed this when it was all I had but I don't care for it now.
Router > N18 > R26: Gorgeous. Neutral, loads of detail and grunt. Powerful bass and dynamics. Ghostlike center image. It was fatiguing the first few days but settled down.
Router > FMC > Cisco AOC > N18 > R26: This is the way. Noticeably warm but nicely so. Further uptick in detail. Smooth as butter.
I used to not understand when people said CDs sounded better than streaming or digital files because 1s and 0s blah blah blah. But this experience has made me realize that a lot is riding on the quality of that connection into the streamer. My thought is that these audiophile switches prepare the signal in such a way that streaming can rival a physical format. The R26+C18+N18 is an awesome stack which seems to be greater than the sum of its parts.
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