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

[amrutmhatre90]

Added a Streamer to My R26 – Here’s Why

I had been using the LAN input on my Gustard R26 with Roon and HQPlayer for a year and a half, including an FMC powered by an LPS. I was quite happy with this setup.

Then, there was some discussion about Diretta in one of our audio groups, so I decided to experiment. I tried it using a basic Raspberry Pi 5 running a trial version of GentooPlayer with Diretta.

The improvement was immediate – the sound became more organic and musical. What struck me the most was the vast soundstage, extending well beyond the width of my speakers.

I was sold on Diretta's performance! But I wasn’t too keen on paying two separate license fees for GentooPlayer and Diretta.

That’s when a group member shared that SOtM had announced free Diretta Target support for all its devices.

I had seen a few SOtM units listed on Carousell, and I decided to go for it. I managed to get a great deal on the following:

• SOtM sMS-200 Neo Ultra with master clock input
• SOtM sPS-500 power supply
• LHY OCK-2 master clock
• BNC clock cables (Gustard and a generic one)

The sound now is incredibly refined. I’ve retained everything I loved about the RPi + Diretta setup, but with an even better sense of musicality and spot-on PRaT. It's so good that I’ve decided to re-rip my entire CD collection and will be selling off most of my CDs and vinyl records!

System Connections:

• The R26 and SOtM are synced via the LHY OCK-2 master clock using sine wave output.
• The R26 and SOtM are connected via USB.
• A Mac Mini M2 runs Roon Server.
• A Gaming PC hosts HQPlayer and Diretta Host.
• The PC connects to the internet via the router, and to the SOtM through an FMC and Ethernet.

Once you experience what Diretta can deliver, there’s no going back.

The clock also has made a significant difference, Switching back to the internal clock on the R26 now sounds muddy in comparison – the external clock brings an unmistakable level of precision and clarity.

 

[Turbo2288]

@Turbo2288 Just to add one small point for context:
When the R26 is in ATTENUATION ON mode, it always applies a fixed -30 dB analog cut, regardless of volume setting — there’s no gradual range. That caught me off guard the first time, too.

And yes — reaching 0 dB on the volume will always show “FIXED” on screen. It's not an error, just an indicator that you're at full-scale output.

In my own setup, I’m using the R26 in ATTENUATION OFF mode and controlling volume via a dedicated preamp. That way, I keep the full output level from the DAC and preserve dynamic range — works great in my chain.

Thanks to @Jake2 and @Deleeh — your explanation really helped clarify how this behaves in real setups with a Nilai Amp.

I fixed the "ATTENUATION OFF mode" at 45db and it is definitely louder then to fix at 50db.
What I don't understand is when increase volume from -45db to 0db, where does the -30 dB analog applied? from -45db to -15db? or -30 to 0db?
Sorry, I have no knowledge in these subjects. Thank you.
Thanks to @Jake2 and @Deleeh

 

[TherealJohnD]

Qobuz has a new connect feature, anybody give it try?
https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/connect

 

[mango lassi]

I fixed the "ATTENUATION OFF mode" at 45db and it is definitely louder then to fix at 50db.
What I don't understand is when increase volume from -45db to 0db, where does the -30 dB analog applied? from -45db to -15db? or -30 to 0db?

When ATTENUATION ON is enabled on the Gustard R26, the -30 dB analog attenuation is applied instantly and completely, regardless of the digital volume setting.
So, it’s not gradually applied over a range like -45 dB to -15 dB or -30 dB to 0 dB. Instead, the -30 dB analog cut is always active, it's a fixed hardware reduction.

For example:
If your screen shows -45 dB, that actually means: -30 dB analog plus -15 dB digital = -45 dB total attenuation
As you increase volume from -45 dB to 0 dB, only the digital part is reduced. The -30 dB analog attenuation stays constant the whole time.

Only when you switch to ATTENUATION OFF, the analog attenuation is removed, and you get full output level (e.g. 5 V RMS on XLR or 2.5 V RMS on RCA), with volume controlled purely in the digital domain.

 

[Jake2]

I 100% agree with you @mango lassi re the first para re the ATTENUATION setting (reduction in volume using analogue circuitry) being applied as a fixed hardware based -30dB attenuation (vol reduction), regardless of the (digital) volume setting via the remote keys, which is on top of this. Ditto re your last para re potential for full output level from the DAC only with ATTENUATION OFF.

However re your second para IIRC the display in normal operation (when not in the menu) shows only the digital volume setting so doesn’t reflect whether the analogue ATTENUATION is on or off. I.e. if digital volume is set to max, it will still show as FIXED, or if the volume is turned down 10 clicks it’ll display -10dB etc. This is regardless of whether Attenuation is set to ON or OFF.

So, combining this with your first para… if ATTENUATION is on, @turbo228 should mentally ‘add’ the -30dB analogue attenuation to whatever value (a -ve vs max vol line out at 0dB/Fixed) is being displayed. I.e.

• if Fixed (on display ie. -0db) + -30dB = -30dB
• If -15dB (on display) + -30dB = -45dB total attenuation.

If ATTENUATION is OFF, then the total attenuation/volume is whatever it says on the display.

 

[mango lassi]

Ah, sorry, my mistake! You're absolutely right: The display on the R26 only shows the digital volume level.

 

[dacwizard]

Qobuz has a new connect feature, anybody give it try?
https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/connect

Yes. I’ve been using Qobuz connect on an iPad to stream via a Rivo+ to the R26 (via. uSB), works well and I like the Qobuz app better than the Volumio app that I was using previously. There is no discernible sound quality difference between Volumio and Qobuz Connect - I only use standard PCM streams direct from Qobuz.

 

[TherealJohnD]

Yes. I’ve been using Qobuz connect on an iPad to stream via a Rivo+ to the R26 (via. uSB), works well and I like the Qobuz app better than the Volumio app that I was using previously. There is no discernible sound quality difference between Volumio and Qobuz Connect - I only use standard PCM streams direct from Qobuz.

Thanks, have you tried directly to the R-26 LAN streamer?

 

[dacwizard]

Thanks, have you tried directly to the R-26 LAN streamer?

I have not (because I use WiFi to my streamer), also Gustard does not appear in Qobuz’s list of compatible manufacturers so would be interesting to see if you can stream to the Gustardrenderer directly!?

 

[mango lassi]

As of now, the Gustard R26 only supports Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, DLNA/UPnP, and NAA (Network Audio Adapter for HQPlayer). Qobuz is not supported natively via the internal renderer.

 

[sendler2112]

HQ Player Client player does search and stream Qobuz on an NAA LAN output. I also feel that the user interface works better for search than the Qobuz app. I do get the best sound quality with my Gustard DACs via the streamer but it tends to suffer dropped connections so I connect this way when doing critical listening when something is new and just use USB for casual listening.

 

[lulucas]

Hi all,
Long time lurker, first time poster here, this is a great thread and thanks to all that contribute to this thread. Finally I got my R26 and I have a quick question if anyone can help. Does anyone experiencing with loose BNC jack? I have had test with 3 different cables with Bodnar LBE-1420 clock and all are very sensitive to light touch or movement of cable. I ended up purchase a SMA - MCX to replace the stock BNC - MCX.
Currently, I'm running FMC, internal streamer with Tidal Connect via Android and it works flawlessly. I did have issue with lags, frozen while using Tidal Connect on Android, but that is fixed by burning latest firmware image on to a microsd externally instead of connect R26 to laptop via usb type C.

 

[Stellabagpuss]

Hi all,
Long time lurker, first time poster here, this is a great thread and thanks to all that contribute to this thread. Finally I got my R26 and I have a quick question if anyone can help. Does anyone experiencing with loose BNC jack? I have had test with 3 different cables with Bodnar LBE-1420 clock and all are very sensitive to light touch or movement of cable. I ended up purchase a SMA - MCX to replace the stock BNC - MCX.
Currently, I'm running FMC, internal streamer with Tidal Connect via Android and it works flawlessly. I did have issue with lags, frozen while using Tidal Connect on Android, but that is fixed by burning latest firmware image on to a microsd externally instead of connect R26 to laptop via usb type C.

Hopefully l may be help, l've had lots of experience with the LB GPS precision clock and the R26.

You shouldn't really be having any issues BNC connectors, but l have experienced some SMA to BNC adapters being not the correct length on the positive pin, also if they not tight on to the LB, that could cause the issue you have mentioned.

l've tried lots of cables, but l found TFLEX 405 to be the best.
l've recently upgraded to there LBE-1610 10MHZ clock... Expensive yes... but brings a big jump in sound, and lowering of noise,to the point your actually hearing details that were simply not apparent before.

 

[sendler2112]

Does anyone experiencing with loose BNC jack?

I use the Aune external clock with a generic cable to good effect and have never had any issues.

 

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

Something dropped on my email today...OFFICIAL render of GUSTARD R30