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

[ali4ek]

Maybe you like the sound of increased jitter

Totally, so many lovers of the sound of increased jitter if you spend 15 sec to google

"I just got the LHY OCK-2 yesterday. I am using it with the R26 with the Sine wave output and 50 ohm cable and with the EtherREGEN with the Square wave output and a 75 ohm cable. It is still early but I am blown away by what a significant difference the OCK-2 is making. There are greater dynamics as well as a sense of air and separation and better placement in the soundstage. The top end is also more pronounced and detailed. Obviously, I am still in the honeymoon period and perhaps I'll find the greater level of detail fatiguing but right now I am loving it."

"When I owned the R26 I found the LHY OCK-2 external clock with a LMR400 cable made a significant difference in how it sounded. Amazingly, cables do matter and the do require quite a bit of burn in. I though it added tonal density and presence. I don't believe I noticed any change in the soundstage. I felt the improvement was easily noticeable and since you can switch in and out of using the external clock with the remote it is easy to verify. The R26 should have a very nice, wide, well placed and defined soundstage but it isn't as deep as some more expensive DACs."

"I've had the R26, the Ock-1, Zen Stream, U18 & SU6 for 6 months, and more recently got the Ock-2 and LHY SW-8 switch.

The Ock-2 is a clear step up over the Ock-1, in resolution and refinement, though the Ock-1 is warmer, smoother and perhaps more forgiving of average sources as a result. Still, the OCK-2 is the new incumbent.

My DDCs and Zen have been collecting dust for a while now TBC, I much prefer Roon/HQP via the R26's internal renderer... particularly since I've progressively improved my upstream network path. I do dust the DDCs off every now and then to recheck with new USB or power cables for eg, but there's no question in my system the internal streamer remains so much more musically engaging - more dynamic, weighty and resolving with a broader, deeper and taller soundstage and a calmer background.

So for the R26 rather than DDCs I'd recommend an OCK-2 and a good switch like the LHY or Fibre Media convertors. "

 

[ali4ek]

Not withstanding the placebo effect and expectations in the air, I just connected the LAN cable to the R26 (renderer 1.43) and tried comparing LAN/Tidal Connect with PC-->USB-->U18-->(IIS) R26.
An OCK-2 is connected to both the U18 and the R26, both use the square wave outs (there are 3 square and 3 sine).
Weird, I like the latter better than the internal LAN streamer - more transparent, cleaner, more fluid (possibly the positive U18 effect / resampling?).

Go figure.

 

[sendler2112]

All maybe true in theory, however look at measurements of DACs with standard crystals and many (most) have excellent jitter performance, in most cases you cannot distinguish any better performance from the measurements for DACs with OCXO than those without. In either case for modern DACs any issues are way below audible threshold.

Also for those considering external clocks, the only measurement tests I’ve seen show worse jitter performance with external clock than using the internal, even when external close is theoretically a higher spec.

Have you posted this comment the the external clock thread with 3,400 posts here. Maybe they can give you some objective evidence of how these modern oven controlled clocks are better than the stock clocks in the DACs.

 

[mikeypas]

I’ve said the same early on in this thread, after comparing lan with fiber, I preferred the ock-2 with the u18.

I still find it funny when people get their panties in a bunch trying to convince us what sounds better! You like lan and fiber? Good! So do many people. I like the ext clock and ddc combo

 

[TherealJohnD]

Totally, so many lovers of the sound of increased jitter if you spend 15 sec to google

"I just got the LHY OCK-2 yesterday. I am using it with the R26 with the Sine wave output and 50 ohm cable and with the EtherREGEN with the Square wave output and a 75 ohm cable. It is still early but I am blown away by what a significant difference the OCK-2 is making. There are greater dynamics as well as a sense of air and separation and better placement in the soundstage. The top end is also more pronounced and detailed. Obviously, I am still in the honeymoon period and perhaps I'll find the greater level of detail fatiguing but right now I am loving it."

"When I owned the R26 I found the LHY OCK-2 external clock with a LMR400 cable made a significant difference in how it sounded. Amazingly, cables do matter and the do require quite a bit of burn in. I though it added tonal density and presence. I don't believe I noticed any change in the soundstage. I felt the improvement was easily noticeable and since you can switch in and out of using the external clock with the remote it is easy to verify. The R26 should have a very nice, wide, well placed and defined soundstage but it isn't as deep as some more expensive DACs."

"I've had the R26, the Ock-1, Zen Stream, U18 & SU6 for 6 months, and more recently got the Ock-2 and LHY SW-8 switch.

The Ock-2 is a clear step up over the Ock-1, in resolution and refinement, though the Ock-1 is warmer, smoother and perhaps more forgiving of average sources as a result. Still, the OCK-2 is the new incumbent.

My DDCs and Zen have been collecting dust for a while now TBC, I much prefer Roon/HQP via the R26's internal renderer... particularly since I've progressively improved my upstream network path. I do dust the DDCs off every now and then to recheck with new USB or power cables for eg, but there's no question in my system the internal streamer remains so much more musically engaging - more dynamic, weighty and resolving with a broader, deeper and taller soundstage and a calmer background.

So for the R26 rather than DDCs I'd recommend an OCK-2 and a good switch like the LHY or Fibre Media convertors. "

I have the OCK-1 w. Harmonic Tech cable and luv it. Maybe just lucky or maybe they're just good. I listen mostly to non audiophile approved music although appreciate & seek out well recorded and mastered recordings so I appreciate the OCK-1's slight forgiveness.

 

[ali4ek]

I’ve said the same early on in this thread, after comparing lan with fiber, I preferred the ock-2 with the u18.

I still find it funny when people get their panties in a bunch trying to convince us what sounds better! You like lan and fiber? Good! So do many people. I like the ext clock and ddc combo

Didn't see your original post, this is great, gives me hope that maybe I am not completely crazy yet.

 

[LeonidK]

How does R26 perform as preamp when connected straight to active speakers? Any hiss, noise?

 

[Gymboy]

So, I am between R26 and Holo Audio Cyan 2. My primary setup will be laptop (Tidal)-> usb DAC -> XLR Aune S17 Pro. Running in NOS mode and no other trickery (UPNP, Roon,HQplayer) what would be recommended DAC?
Maybe someone had them A/B-ed, that would be nice to hear.

What I know Holo is just a DAC and does only one job very good and has no OS mode sounding top for a price.

R26 more massive per some giving 3k sound () but also addidng many stuff I will not need such as OS, Roon end point, etc etc.

 

[sendler2112]

So, I am between R26 and Holo Audio Cyan 2. My primary setup will be laptop (Tidal)-> usb DAC -> XLR Aune S17 Pro. Running in NOS mode and no other trickery (UPNP, Roon,HQplayer) what would be recommended DAC?
Maybe someone had them A/B-ed, that would be nice to hear.

What I know Holo is just a DAC and does only one job very good and has no OS mode sounding top for a price.

R26 more massive per some giving 3k sound () but also addidng many stuff I will not need such as OS, Roon end point, etc etc.

I am not a fan of NOS sound so I find that high rates of upsampling with HQ Player or Roon sound better. I have a new amp so was comparing my R26 to the Cyan2 side by side again last night. My comparisons are done with both DACs receiving the best signal I can send. Which is 22/ 768 Sinc Long LNS15 via LAN for the R26, and SDM256 ASDM7EC-super poly-sinc-gauss xla (best I can do with my laptop) with DAC correction on via USB for the Cyan2.

They are very close in these (nearly for the case of the Cyan) maxed out settings. I actually ended up leaving the R26 on for the night's listening. But might go back the other way tonight. We will see as I spend more time with my Burson Soloist 3X GT.

The brief times I tried plain NOS with either DAC I felt like they were missing detail. But if you prefer USB with a high end cable like the Supra Excalibur, the Cyan has the better receiver. The R26 sounds its best via LAN with a cheap cable.

 

[rfgdelion]

So, I am between R26 and Holo Audio Cyan 2. My primary setup will be laptop (Tidal)-> usb DAC -> XLR Aune S17 Pro. Running in NOS mode and no other trickery (UPNP, Roon,HQplayer) what would be recommended DAC?
Maybe someone had them A/B-ed, that would be nice to hear.

What I know Holo is just a DAC and does only one job very good and has no OS mode sounding top for a price.

R26 more massive per some giving 3k sound () but also addidng many stuff I will not need such as OS, Roon end point, etc etc.

Why not try the internal streamer of the R26 and scrap the laptop? Streamer is highly regarded by many and allows easy ‘casting’ via your Tidal app on your phone or computer.

 

[Gymboy]

Why not try the internal streamer of the R26 and scrap the laptop? Streamer is highly regarded by many and allows easy ‘casting’ via your Tidal app on your phone or computer.

Does is support Tidal Connect and do I require ethernet cable?

 

[rfgdelion]

Does is support Tidal Connect and do I require ethernet cable?

Support: yes
Cable: yes

Last could maybe be fixed with an access point if not available.

 

[sendler2112]

Why not try the internal streamer of the R26 and scrap the laptop? Streamer is highly regarded by many and allows easy ‘casting’ via your Tidal app on your phone or computer.

I using the internal streamer of the R26. LAN input. The laptop is the source of my stream for audio files on my harddrive or Qobuz from the internet (harddrive sounds better of course). But you can't just connect a LAN cable from the laptop to the R26. I couldn't get the systems to accept each other's protections. So I had to buy a cheap Netgear mesh router to go in between. And 2 Cat6 cables for $10 each. This meshes to the main wireless router for the house that I was using for the laptop and allows the laptop and the R26 to be hardwired into and out of it to eliminate the need for security protocals and also isolates any wired internet connection to the street.

 

[Gymboy]

I using the internal streamer of the R26. LAN input. The laptop is the source of my stream for audio files on my harddrive or Qobuz from the internet (harddrive sounds better of course). But you can't just connect a LAN cable from the laptop to the R26. I couldn't get the systems to accept each other's protections. So I had to buy a cheap Netgear mesh router to go in between. And 2 Cat6 cables for $10 each. This meshes to the main wireless router for the house that I was using for the laptop and allows the laptop and the R26 to be hardwired into and out of it to eliminate the need for security protocals and also isolates any wired internet connection to the street.

Yeah, I think I will end with Holo Cyan 2, plug and play, galvanized usb, no mess. when a time comes might purchase separate streamer only. Thanks for advices.

 

[sendler2112]

Yeah, I think I will end with Holo Cyan 2, plug and play, galvanized usb, no mess. when a time comes might purchase separate streamer only. Thanks for advices.

Let me check tonight to see which one sounds better just playing 16/44 files via USB. The R26 with its normal internal oversampling and filters, or the Cyan with its nothing.