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

[Stellabagpuss]

My experience was the same using the fibre link on my two N18Pro, it was unbelievably hot,and harsh, l was using a Cisco DAC. Anyway l reverted back to LAN using a Ugreen CAT 8 Gaming cable... Your experience mirrors mine.

 

[Fluty]

My experience was the same using the fibre link on my two N18Pro, it was unbelievably hot,and harsh, l was using a Cisco DAC. Anyway l reverted back to LAN using a Ugreen CAT 8 Gaming cable... Your experience mirrors mine.

How does this compare with a Wireless connection?

 

[gryphon1972]

My experience was the same using the fibre link on my two N18Pro, it was unbelievably hot,and harsh, l was using a Cisco DAC. Anyway l reverted back to LAN using a Ugreen CAT 8 Gaming cable... Your experience mirrors mine.

Interestingly my experience was the reverse. Only used N18 non pro version on the clean side. I am using Finisar AOC though. The digital harshness was quite bad when i was connecting via lan.

 

[LucianoBadoe]

Here R26 LAN through SW6 -> fiber (Finisar) is my best result at now.

 

[m-i-c-k-e-y]

You should try the Amphenol DAC cable at the end of my POST. The pair cost only about half of one of your modules.

 

[gryphon1972]

This hobby is really interesting. The custom cable that i had connecting from R26 to pre. I made another pair this time round with a different plug. It was some kind of brass plated with red copper. And the sound...suddenly the brightness was very much gone, the sound became more 3D, darker backgrounds, more inner details.

Really suprised by a change in just the plugs . Wasnt expecting it to have such a big difference.

 

[m-i-c-k-e-y]

A user from the A26 thread had problems with its unit of which had occassional dropouts using its built in streamer. Here is Gustards?s reply. Think some of use will find it useful: POST

Last night Gustard replied to my inquiry of 23 Sept:

"After thorough research, we have identified a limitation with the A26 device concerning playback of compressed FLAC formats via the UPnP protocol. Unfortunately, the handling capabilities of the A26 seem insufficient for this purpose.

To address this issue, we recommend using foobar2000 for UPnP streaming, as it will convert all audio tracks to WAV format before transmission. This workaround should help mitigate the problem.

We also want to express our sincerest apologies for the challenges faced during the initial product development. As this was our first experience with streaming technology, we acknowledge our lack of expertise at that time.

Furthermore, while trying to implement additional protocols, we encountered numerous obstacles, many of which were beyond our control. These include unresponsiveness from the protocol owners and automated replies to our inquiries.

Looking ahead, we are collaborating with a well-known company in China for our second-generation streaming solution, implemented in the X30 decoder. We are also planning to release a standalone streamer at an affordable price point, as significant upgrades to the A26's streaming capabilities are not feasible due to its hardware limitations.

Once again, we deeply apologize for any inconvenience this has caused."

 

[BShaw]

What a refreshingly honest and informative response, kudos to Gustard!
I wonder who they’re working with regarding the streaming tech?

 

[Stellabagpuss]

You should try the Amphenol DAC cable at the end of my POST. The pair cost only about half of one of your modules.

On route to me... l'll report back.

 

[BShaw]

You should try the Amphenol DAC cable at the end of my POST. The pair cost only about half of one of your modules.

Just a bit of info about the Amphenol DAC cable-I was very interested in trying this or another similar cable, but being that they are passive, it’s not recommended to use longer than 2-3 meters without signal degradation. I need 10m so it was out of the question.

 

[SpursForEver]

Looking ahead, we are collaborating with a well-known company in China for our second-generation streaming solution, implemented in the X30 decoder. We are also planning to release a standalone streamer at an affordable price point, as significant upgrades to the A26's streaming capabilities are not feasible due to its hardware limitations.

All they had to do was to implement the open source Squeezebox system...

 

[SpursForEver]

more inner details.

How does more "inner details" manifest itself?

 

[gryphon1972]

How does more "inner details" manifest itself?

http://www.integracoustics.com/MUG/MUG/bbs/stereophile_audio-glossary.html

Pardon me. Read too many Stereophile reviews.

Could hear more reverb decay of the vocals and instruments although it was added reverb.

 

[SpursForEver]

http://www.integracoustics.com/MUG/MUG/bbs/stereophile_audio-glossary.html

Pardon me. Read too many Stereophile reviews.

Could hear more reverb decay of the vocals and instruments although it was added reverb.

So the connectors added smth that wasn't there with the previous connectors? Did you compare to the previous connectord side by side?

 

[gryphon1972]

So the connectors added smth that wasn't there with the previous connectors? Did you compare to the previous connectord side by side?

Not sure if changing out the cables from the original to the one with the new plugs and listening to songs that I have been listening daily for months from my playlist would be considered as comparing side by side. This is what I usually do when inserting a new component into the system and decide whether or not to keep the new component.

Actually was skeptic bout these copper plugs. Was complaining to my custom builder that my system sounds bright occasionally and he recommended me copper plugs instead of my original silver as copper are supposed to sound warmer and less bright. I was expecting it to sound less bright and lose details. Told my custom builder that in case I do not like the sound, I will change it back to the silver plugs. Told myself that if it sounded warmer with a slight loss of details, think I still can accept that.
But I was wrong. It sounded warmer and had more details.
I think the main issue is with the Thiel speakers that I have. They are too revealing of the upstream equipment and I had changed every component in my system except the speakers trying to get to the sound that I like. But the bigger problem is I like the Thiel sound.

Just to add, was hearing more difference in the softness and loudness in the music. Eg was hearing 1 2 3 4, now can hear 1 1.5 2 2.5 3...dont know what u call that.

No maybe its just all in my head