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

[sbgk]

the R2R board is plugged into the main board with 2 connectors and held with screws, that might be the only physical connections that have become bad over time and would be simple to remove and reset.

 

[lexx21]

Getting it to a professional repair tech is the correct choice. I say that as someone who knows... I graduated with a degree in electrical engineering back in 1985. Things have only gotten more complex since then. You dont want to take the chance and hose something up by mistake.

 

[mimas2]

My R26 clicks when I choose another song on the tablet. When I listen to the entire album, the following songs do not click. I uploaded the previous software from 2022 and it didn't help. I'm listening to Qoubuz from M1T via i2s . But I use JPlay on a tablet. Is it just me that clicks? What to do? Do you have any idea?

 

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

Try the clicking sound fix on page 1 post #1.

 

[Deleeh]

Unfortunately, I keep reading that some people here have problems with the R26 when the tablet is used as a streamer. Especially with Android-based tablets and smartphones.
To put it bluntly, even if some people have no problems with it, it should be avoided.
If you connect it via USB or DDC and then via I2S.
It's obviously not a good option.
There are probably fewer problems if you use the tablet with the Gustard via Bluetooth.

Unfortunately I don't know 100% what the main reason is why it doesn't work.
Except that mostly Android based devices with Android are simply not tailored for audio anymore.
You notice and recognise it when you use an Android-based Dap, the R26 works completely differently and also plays at a different level, even via Bluetooth alone.
Apple is generally more friendly and delivers good performance in comparison.

These clicks also indicate that if the problem on page 1 cannot be fixed, the source file of Qubozz is different when changing songs and is scaled by the R26.
You should therefore check the settings of Qubozz and Jplay.
And in Jplay correct the upsampling downwards if possible and perhaps also set it.

 

[wikaudio]

My R26 clicks when I choose another song on the tablet. When I listen to the entire album, the following songs do not click. I uploaded the previous software from 2022 and it didn't help. I'm listening to Qoubuz from M1T via i2s . But I use JPlay on a tablet. Is it just me that clicks? What to do? Do you have any idea?

Have you tried controlling the M1T using the dedicated VitOS Orbiter app? It has Quoboz support so you can compare and see if the reason is the tablet with JPlay or something else.
JPlay works as a streamer and VitOS Orbiter works as a control point and any problems with the tablet do not affect the signal being played. I know you don't like this app but please try it.

 

[mimas2]

Have you tried controlling the M1T using the dedicated VitOS Orbiter app? It has Quoboz support so you can compare and see if the reason is the tablet with JPlay or something else.
JPlay works as a streamer and VitOS Orbiter works as a control point and any problems with the tablet do not affect the signal being played. I know you don't like this app but please try it.

Have you tried controlling the M1T using the dedicated VitOS Orbiter app? It has Quoboz support so you can compare and see if the reason is the tablet with JPlay or something else.
JPlay works as a streamer and VitOS Orbiter works as a control point and any problems with the tablet do not affect the signal being played. I know you don't like this app but please try it.

 

[mpino61]

Hi. I already use a couple of Finisar FTLX1475D3BTL SFPs , one inside a PA1 media converter from AfterDark, the other one inside a PC.
For that purpose I installed inside the pc a relatively cheap PCI SFP card I bought from Amazon (was an experiment and then it apparently was running fine so I kept it).
Could you please recommend a good PCI SFP card for this purpose? I think it's not god to spend money on an expensive SFP module and then probably compromise it's performance with a cheap card.
Thank u!!

 

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

AfterDark Project Constellation SFP Network Card

Or another PA1 media converter? PC(RJ45) -> PA1 (SFP) -> PA1(RJ45) -> Streamer.
or any audiophile FMC like: LHY Audio FMC, Sonore OpticalModule Deluxe

Don't know your budget.

 

[mpino61]

the point is : what is a reasonable budget?
I've seen in AfterDark website a lot of possible solutions with very variable prices, which can become very high.
I think that a good point is the possibility to connect an external 10MHz oscillator (I have one).
At the moment I'm using a very standard HP desktop i5 based pc as a Roon server, it's powered by its standard switching psu. It runs on a very light Win10 OS with a very low number of running services , optimized also by Fidelizer.
The rest of the system is at a relatively high level , so the feeling is that the computer could be the bottle neck from the sound performance standpoint.
But is it worth to spend 6-700 euro or even more on a network card to be installed on a similar pc?
The alternative could be to buy a good streamer (I'm thinking to an Innuos Pulse) and keep the pc as it is just to run Roon

 

[SpursForEver]

Or install LMS and run Qobuz without trouble

 

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

A while back we had this discussion. IME, the real question is NOT about budget BUT what PATH do you want to go? LAN? I2S? USB? etc...and once convinced, build your equpment from there. You might end up later wasting your money to find out that you prefer the other interface.

 

[Deleeh]

der Punkt ist: Was ist ein angemessenes Budget?
Ich habe auf der AfterDark-Website viele mögliche Lösungen mit sehr unterschiedlichen Preisen gesehen, die sehr hoch ausfallen können.
Ein guter Punkt ist meiner Meinung nach die Möglichkeit, einen externen 10-MHz-Oszillator anzuschließen (ich habe einen).
Im Moment verwende ich einen ganz normalen HP Desktop i5-basierten PC als Roon-Server, der von seinem Standard-Switch-Netzteil mit Strom versorgt wird. Er läuft auf einem sehr leichten Win10-Betriebssystem mit einer sehr geringen Anzahl laufender Dienste, das ebenfalls von Fidelizer optimiert wurde.
Das restliche System ist auf einem relativ hohen Niveau angesiedelt, sodass man das Gefühl hat, dass der Computer hinsichtlich der Klangleistung der Flaschenhals sein könnte.
Aber lohnt es sich, 600 bis 700 Euro oder sogar mehr für eine Netzwerkkarte auszugeben, die auf einem ähnlichen PC installiert werden soll?
Die Alternative könnte sein, einen guten Streamer zu kaufen (ich denke an einen Innuos Pulse) und den PC so zu lassen, wie er ist, nur um Roon auszuführen

Hello,
I took a discarded PC on which Diet Pi was installed as the operating system.
Roon is then installed on it from Dietpi and that's it.
Roon is also installed on the main PC, which is running Windows 10, and the connection to the kernel is established.
This is because the Roon core is already present on the discarded PC and is therefore functional.
This means that the entire CPU load of the discarded PC is now present, while I use Roon normally on the main PC to run it.
Finally, I have connected the FMC boxes from the router to the discarded PC so that the connection is visually connected to the internet.
And it works comparatively well, reliably and stably.
The sound performance has also improved significantly here, better than before when the main PC was still being operated entirely as a core with Roon.
The DAC is connected to the DDC on the main PC and this also works perfectly.
At this point, it has made audiophile network cards and everything else superfluous.

Yes, a streamer with lower power consumption would be even better here, but I don't think the power consumption of the discarded PC is high when switched on, also because the operating system is relatively small and the CPU is not heavily utilised.

If this is too complicated, you can also use a discarded PC or a computer of the same design, install Gentooplayer on it, buy the licence for it once and set up the rest on it.
It's very lean with very low CPU utilisation and all that stuff.

If you're still looking for alternatives.
Lhy Audio has released a Lhy Audio Raspberry with a very good power supply and a clock.
https://www.vinshine.audio/product-page/lhy-audio-rpi-roonbridge
You are free to choose the operating system other than Windows or Linux.
It should work fine and provide good performance for audio streaming.

But how they go into the entrance later is up to them.
Whether coax, Usb via I2S, Usb alone or 10mhz.

 

[Gibs]

Hello everyone,
Has anyone paired the r26 with their preamp/headamp H26 yet??
If yes, do they synergies well together or is there even better pairing with another preamp/headamp you've heard?

 

[easylive]

Hello everyone,
Has anyone paired the r26 with their preamp/headamp H26 yet??
If yes, do they synergies well together or is there even better pairing with another preamp/headamp you've heard?

Hi I have this combo.. I think its great.. Before H26 I paired the R26 with S17pro - less air, space and holography and with Mentor - it seemed to me too bright with my Arya Organics, but the Mentor is really great amp too... With Aryas it works great to my ears...