Gustard DAC-X30

[Presence]

I just received this email communication pertaining to R30 from Gustard Customer Service -

The R30 is expected to be released in the second quarter of 2025.
The clock is a PLL synthesizer.
There will be two more channels compared to the R26, perhaps up to 26bit.
OCXO will be used.

I made a request to Gustard to add 75ohm ext clock input option to the R30 to expand the available choices for BNC cables...
I have a few extra Harmonic Technology Digital Silver III that I like a lot.
I have a 50 ohm Habst that I bought used for the SingXer SU-2 but it was still overpriced in my opinion.
I hope they will accommodate this.

 

[Stellabagpuss]

Personally l hope they stick 50ohms,secondly if you change the impedence, its not inline with there other items U18 C18 etc

 

[OhmsClaw]

I made a request to Gustard to add 75ohm ext clock input option to the R30 to expand the available choices for BNC cables...
I have a few extra Harmonic Technology Digital Silver III that I like a lot.
I have a 50 ohm Habst that I bought used for the SingXer SU-2 but it was still overpriced in my opinion.
I hope they will accommodate this.

50 Ohms is a standard TTL connection for BNC.
75 Ohms is the old standard for TV over BNC/Coaxial.
90 Ohms is a non-standard mismatch.
110 Is HDMI/I2S (within range of 90-110 as HDMI is non-standardized for impedance)

You can buy a termination mismatch feed through adapter for 75 to 50 Ohms.

 

[Presence]

Personally l hope they stick 50ohms,secondly if you change the impedence, its not inline with there other items U18 C18 etc

Understood.

 

[Presence]

50 Ohms is a standard TTL connection for BNC.
75 Ohms is the old standard for TV over BNC/Coaxial.
90 Ohms is a non-standard mismatch.
110 Is HDMI/I2S (within range of 90-110 as HDMI is non-standardized for impedance)

You can buy a termination mismatch feed through adapter for 75 to 50 Ohms.

https://www.pasternack.com/50-ohm-bnc-male-75-ohm-bnc-female-matching-pad-pe7006-p.aspx - $75
The Harmonic Technology BNCs in 2023 cost me $180 for the silver [purchased multiple] and $150 for the copper plus $62 shipping [fixed $ for one or multiple cables] from LabKable. The HT silver was clearly more resolving while sounding even more natural over the HT copper on both EtherRegen (75ohm) and AGD DAC (75ohm).
Admittedly, the DAC improvement was more marginal. With Freq Synthesizer doing the conversion from unknown[?] internal OCXO, vs. FPGA, chances are good that the best OCXO Ext. source could also be marginal. Still, the plethora of available 75ohm cables over 50ohm is significant.
https://audiobacon.net/2018/08/11/the-audiophiles-short-list-the-best-digital-coaxial-cables/
We could legitimately argue [either adversarially or just adding data points] all day over disparate issues on this topic.
Both Stellabagpuss and OhmsClaw points are valid, educational, appreciated and well taken.

 

[Presence]

One option for me would be to easily change out the terminating resistor and BNC on the SU-2 to 75 ohm and repurpose the Habst 50 ohm cable to the R30.

 

[MilitaryHifi]

I've been listening to my Gustard X30 non stop. This might be new toy syndrome, but this is becoming my favorite Dac. It just gets everything right. Vocals are the best I've heard in a while. This thing is made for vocals. The x30 beats all my dacs hand down with bass. The bass is the star of the show. The thump is there, the quality of the bass is there. I've never heard such authoritative bass from a dac before. When I wanted bass, I'd switch hp, grab my 1266, or I'd switch dac amp combo to my ragnarok stereo/hp amp and my yggy. With the X30, your given that top notch bass you want. Timbre is spot on. So accurate, that adds to its accomplishment of being a detail monster. Only thing it doesn't beat my other dacs is sound stage depth. That's me comparing to the staging masters of the Holo May, Terminator 2. These 2 are 3d kings

This is the first dac, I've heard where it blurs the line of R2R to Chip Dac. This has a lot of the qualities of the R2R dacs I own. Think thats why I love the Gustard x30 so much, it combines the traits from R2R to Chip dac. R2r is just the sound I prefer, reason I have so many r2r dacs. This takes the qualities of the R2R sound and adds the detail, timbre and bass of a Chip Dac. X30 gets rid of that sterile sound. That clean and clinical sound, which I don't like. I've heard plenty of ESS and AKM chip based dac, I didn't care for them. I haven't heard the multi kilo buck chip base dacs. Last I heard was my X26, Externally clocked, I2s to ddc. But, it still had that ESS sound. The old x26 is in the minor league compared to this. Even my Dmp-a8 with the ak4499 still has that chip sound, this x30 does not sound like that at all. X30 sounds like a R2R, but turned the bass and detail to max.


I hooked up my x30 multiple ways, hearing what sounded better to my ears. First hooked up straight usb to computer. Sounded amazing. The usb implementation is superb, carried no noise, I was impressed. I'd be content listening to it like this. No complaints, but as a audiophile, I know there is always room for improvement. Then I externally clocked it with my Lhy ock-2s 112db @1hz - 140db @10hz. That only improved the x30 a few percent points in sound quality. Not really worth externally clocking, that means the clock in the x30 is a superior clock. Unlike the x26, which was a major improvement with external clock, like it was a whole new dac.

Then I hooked my lhy uip usb reclocker to the x30, that improvement was worth it. Went deeper in that SQ realm of superior dacs. Deeper blacks, detail, bass. Then I hooked my x30 to my eversolo a8 i2s connection. That combination didn't sound as good as the lhy uip usb reclocker. Then I hooked the x30 to usb on the a8. That sounded better then the i2s. Meaning the x30 usb implementation is superior to the i2s. Added the lhy uip ontop of the x30 usb connected to dmp-a8 usb. This was the x30 final form. Sounds absolutely amazing in everyway. Making it my favorite dac.

I'm highly impressed with the x30 Usb, with my Holo May, which has one of the best usb in the business, I still preferred the May I2s to the eversolo a8. The Gustard x30, usb all the way.

Here's my chain. (Both Lps) Modem - router - sw-6 (fiber) - sw-6 - dmp-a8 - lhy uip usb reclocker - Gustard x30 - Holo Bliss. (Ock-2S Master clocked both Sw-6 & Lhy uip) Sound is subjective, but this is giving me the most enjoyable sound compared to my Dsdac 1.0, Terminator 2 12th-1, Holo May, Spring 3, Yggy.

It literally combines the superior detail of the dsdac 1.0, with the R2r sound of the May & Terminator, then the bass of the yggy. I'd say the Gustard is the dac to beat, because it doesn't leave you wanting for anything. The other dacs you have to pick and choose what sound quality you want superiority in. With the Gustard X30 you don't have to choose, it gives you everything you need.

Let me get back to being stuck listening to all my favorite songs, like I'm listening for the first time. What do the youtubers say, it hits way above its price.

My opinion, the Gustard X30 is the dac to beat regardless of price.

 

[Presence]

Nice.
Appreciate the detailed write up.

 

[Jake2]

I've been listening to my Gustard X30 non stop. This might be new toy syndrome, but this is becoming my favorite Dac. It just gets everything right. Vocals are the best I've heard in a while. This thing is made for vocals. The x30 beats all my dacs hand down with bass. The bass is the star of the show. The thump is there, the quality of the bass is there. I've never heard such automotive bass from a dac before. When I wanted bass, I'd switch hp, grab my 1266, or I'd switch dac amp combo to my ragnarok stereo/hp amp to my yggy. With the X30, your given that top notch bass you want. Timbre is spot on. So accurate, that adds to its accomplishment of being a detail monster. Only thing it doesn't beat my other dacs is sound stage depth. That's me comparing to the staging masters of the Holo May, Terminator 2. These 2 are 3d kings

This is the first dac, I've heard where it blurs the line of R2R to Chip Dac. This has a lot of the qualities of the R2R dacs I own. Think thats why I love the Gustard x30 so much, it combines the traits from R2R to Chip dac. R2r is just the sound I prefer, reason I have so many r2r dacs. This takes the qualities of the R2R sound and adds the detail, timbre and bass of a Chip Dac. X30 gets rid of that sterile sound. That clean and clinical sound, which I don't like. I've heard plenty of ESS and AKM chip based dac, I didn't care for them. I haven't heard the multi kilo buck chip base dacs. Last I heard was my X26, Externally clocked, I2s to ddc. But, it still had that ESS sound. The old x26 is in the minor league compared to this. Even my Dmp-a8 with the ak4499 still has that chip sound, this x30 does not sound like that at all. X30 sounds like a R2R, but turned the bass and detail to max.


I hooked up my x30 multiple ways, hearing what sounded better to my ears. First hooked up straight usb to computer. Sounded amazing. The usb implementation is superb, carried no noise, I was impressed. I'd be content listening to it like this. No complaints, but as a audiophile, I know there is always room for improvement. Then I externally clocked it with my Lhy ock-2s 112db @1hz - 140db @10hz. That only improved the x30 a few percent points in sound quality. Not really worth externally clocking, that means the clock in the x30 is a superior clock. Unlike the x26, which was a major improvement with external clock, like it was a whole new dac.

Then I hooked my lhy uip usb reclocker to the x30, that improvement was worth it. Went deeper in that SQ realm of superior dacs. Deeper blacks, detail, bass. Then I hooked my x30 to my eversolo a8 i2s connection. That combination didn't sound as good as the lhy uip usb reclocker. Then I hooked the x30 to usb on the a8. That sounded better then the i2s. Meaning the x30 usb implementation is superior to the i2s. Added the lhy uip ontop of the x30 usb connected to dmp-a8 usb. This was the x30 final form. Sounds absolutely amazing in everyway. Making it my favorite dac.

I'm highly impressed with the x30 Usb, with my Holo May, which has one of the best usb in the business, I still preferred the May I2s to the eversolo a8. The Gustard x30, usb all the way.

Here's my chain. (Both Lps) Modem - router - sw-6 (fiber) - sw-6 - dmp-a8 - lhy uip usb reclocker - Gustard x30 - Holo Bliss. (Ock-2S Master clocked both Sw-6 & Lhy uip) Sound is subjective, but this is giving me the most enjoyable sound compared to my Dsdac 1.0, Terminator 2 12th-1, Holo May, Spring 3, Yggy.

It literally combines the superior detail of the dsdac 1.0, with the R2r sound of the May & Terminator, then the bass of the yggy. I'd say the Gustard is the dac to beat, because it doesn't leave you wanting for anything. The other dacs you have to pick and choose what sound quality you want superiority in. With the Gustard X30 you don't have to choose, it gives you everything you need.


Let me get back to being stuck listening to all my favorite songs, like I'm listening for the first time. What do the youtubers say, it hits way about its price.

My opinion, the Gustard X30 is the dac to beat regardless of price.

Great write-up thanks, covered all the bases and that’s some high praise indeed for the X30. I do appreciate your UIP call out too.. I’ve been singing its (and high quality USB generally) praises for a while now as you know, as many folk tend to make the seemingly reasonable assumption that I2S is inherently superior to USB.

 

[OhmsClaw]

https://www.pasternack.com/50-ohm-bnc-male-75-ohm-bnc-female-matching-pad-pe7006-p.aspx - $75
The Harmonic Technology BNCs in 2023 cost me $180 for the silver [purchased multiple] and $150 for the copper plus $62 shipping [fixed $ for one or multiple cables] from LabKable. The HT silver was clearly more resolving while sounding even more natural over the HT copper on both EtherRegen (75ohm) and AGD DAC (75ohm).
Admittedly, the DAC improvement was more marginal. With Freq Synthesizer doing the conversion from unknown[?] internal OCXO, vs. FPGA, chances are good that the best OCXO Ext. source could also be marginal. Still, the plethora of available 75ohm cables over 50ohm is significant.
https://audiobacon.net/2018/08/11/the-audiophiles-short-list-the-best-digital-coaxial-cables/
We could legitimately argue [either adversarially or just adding data points] all day over disparate issues on this topic.
Both Stellabagpuss and OhmsClaw points are valid, educational, appreciated and well taken.

The only thing that matters is not having reflections by terminating the impedance properly. That's it. Whatever subjective opinions you have aren't my matter.

 

[bluenight]

Only thing it doesn't beat my other dacs is sound stage depth. That's me comparing to the staging masters of the Holo May, Terminator 2. These 2 are 3d kings

Does it at least equal them? It still has good enough depth so that it does not sound flat?

The Gustard x30, usb all the way.

Thats good to know. My A6 dont have I2S anyway, so i know what high quality cable to put my money on. And it suits it.

Added the lhy uip ontop of the x30 usb connected to dmp-a8 usb. This was the x30 final form. Sounds absolutely amazing in everyway. Making it my favorite dac.

But you would need two Usb cables for this right, In and out?

Did you try the internal streamer with Ethernet cable to compare vs Usb A8?

Also i dont get it why use external clocking(Ock2) with same type of clock OCXO as the internal allready have. How could external clocking with same OCXO clock improve things?

 

[Jake2]

But you would need two Usb cables for this right, In and out?

Yep. IMO you’d be better off putting money for a USB cable upgrade - at least initially - towards a HQ USB regen like the UIP instead. Though yes cables do still matter on both sides of the regen. Wish they didn’t but they do. True for the UIP, true for the Innuous PhoenixUSB. There’s good number of Eversolo users who’ve added an LHY UIP USB isolator and regenerator to satisfying effect. See for eg here (Cyan 2) and here (X26 Pro).

Also i dont get it why use external clocking(Ock2) with same type of clock OCXO as the internal allready have. How could external clocking with same OCXO clock improve things?

Innocent question but a can of worms. There’s an Audiogon thread you can find on google where this this has already been debated to death, but no consensus reached between the folk observing differences and the sceptics who can think of no mechanism by which more accurate clocking of an asynchronous data stream can impact a downstream D/A conversion. My suggestion - let’s take those same differences as read here and not go there.

 

[bluenight]

Yep. IMO you’d be better off putting money for a USB cable upgrade - at least initially - towards a HQ USB regen like the UIP instead. Though yes cables do still matter on both sides of the regen.

Thanks for advice. To get the benefit with the LHY UIP you dont need to use the EXT in with master clock? Just USB in and out will do good? I dont have a computer in my chain either.

My suggestion - let’s take those same differences as read here and not go there.

Ha. Maybe thats for the better then to not open that can.

 

[Jake2]

Just USB in and out will do good?

Yes, it’s very good, most people just use the UIP by itself. Getting a bit OT here - PM me if you need more info.

But your question about the X30’s internal streamer is a good one as it has the potential to sound very good indeed.

 

[OhmsClaw]

Thanks for advice. To get the benefit with the LHY UIP you dont need to use the EXT in with master clock? Just USB in and out will do good? I dont have a computer in my chain either.

Ha. Maybe thats for the better then to not open that can.

You don't need external clocking with the oven controlled oscillator over USB for asynchronous connections. That LHY UIP looks like an end game USB solution!