Gustard DAC-X30

[sbgk]

I've been researching some DACS. Gustard X30 and X26 III included.
How hot does the X30 get? Is it worth basically Twice the cost of its little brother the X26 III?

it has heat sinks on the 4 analogue linear regulators, also heat sinks on the 2 digital linear regulators (X26 iii doesnt have linear regs for the digital PS and doesnt have heat sinks on the analogue linear regulators)
it has twice as many transistors as the X26iii for the IV stage 32 instead of 16, so twice the power requirements of the X26 iii
and then you've got the transformers supplying more power to feed these components
there's slightly larger side vents, so expect the case to do the heat dissipation, have seen other dacs with holes in top and bottom to aid cooling
potentially it could get warm or even hot
there seem to be holes drilled on the circuit board between the power stage and the ES9039 chips, presumably to stop heat travelling to the chip
so while the ES9039 chips run cooler than the ES9038 ones there's still heat generated by the doubling up of power conversion components

 

[JackJohnson316]

Gustard X30 with preamp or HQPlayer digital volume control and no preamp?

So I'm trying to decide if I even need a preamp with the Gustard X30. I recently read that you can use the digital volume control of HQPlayer, leave the dac at "Fixed" volume, and eliminate the preamp. Anybody try this or have any suggestions? I'm not sure if the X30 has enough volume output or the correct ohms for this to work? The specs state for the xlr output, which I use, is: (XLR level：5.1Vrms (VOLUME FIXED) XLR output Impedance：100Ω).

Bottom line is if I can use the HQPlayer digital volume, leave the X30 on Fixed volume output, and sell my preamp I could save a lot of money.

Thanks for any input.

BTW, I currently connect my X30 to my Burson Audio Voyager preamp, which then connects to my speaker amp.

 

[slas111]

IV'e just received my Gustard x30 today and straight out of the box its exactly to my tastes
incredible resolution running of my Burson voyager elite
just comparing the Gustard now to my audial s5 and the are very different
audial s5 sounds more 3d with layers of music popping out of no where
where the Gustard has more resolution and sharper edges with no digital glare, I would say it doesn't have the 3d warmth I get with the audial.

 

[sbgk]

IV'e just received my Gustard x30 today and straight out of the box its exactly to my tastes
incredible resolution running of my Burson voyager elite
just comparing the Gustard now to my audial s5 and the are very different
audial s5 sounds more 3d with layers of music popping out of no where
where the Gustard has more resolution and sharper edges with no digital glare, I would say it doesn't have the 3d warmth I get with the audial.

300 hour burn in required

 

[slas111]

Can't imagine it sounding better
So exciting times

 

[sbgk]

Can't imagine it sounding better
So exciting times

the better you can get the signal going in the better it will sound as well.
are you going to keep the Audial S5 ? What were you looking to improve ?

 

[slas111]

Yes I'm keeping both at the moment
they compliment each other and will choose which one I will use depending on my mood.
I think I'm done I feel ive got everything I need.

 

[dnnaudio]

Apart from the X30 there has also been quite some hype over Musetec 005 and new model 006. Both X30 and 005/006 had been compared favourably to the Harmony. The two seem a lot in common ESS chip based all out design and high res detailed voicing but w/o the ESS glare. The Musetec seem to not have pro reviews unlike the Gustard so tough to assess. Has anyone compared?

 

[OhmsClaw]

Apart from the X30 there has also been quite some hype over Musetec 005 and new model 006. Both X30 and 005/006 had been compared favourably to the Harmony. The two seem a lot in common ESS chip based all out design and high res detailed voicing but w/o the ESS glare. The Musetec seem to not have pro reviews unlike the Gustard so tough to assess. Has anyone compared?

I don't think there's been ESS glare for a few years now. This space is a game of inches at this point. (will also say, the IMD hump has been eliminated for quite some time too making AKM VS ESS less the factory fire way more of an implementation game than a team-sport as it were)

 

[sbgk]

Apart from the X30 there has also been quite some hype over Musetec 005 and new model 006. Both X30 and 005/006 had been compared favourably to the Harmony. The two seem a lot in common ESS chip based all out design and high res detailed voicing but w/o the ESS glare. The Musetec seem to not have pro reviews unlike the Gustard so tough to assess. Has anyone compared?

006 is more like a souped up version of the X26iii just having 2 ES9039PRO chips, they also have a flawed idea of placing the 5 toroid transformers under the circuit board so magnetic spike will induce EMF in the sensitive components

 

[sling5s]

Mine does not get hot either. Warm but not hot.

 

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

Happy Chinese New Year!

Gustard X30 Firmware Update (System only, NOT Streamer): X30 mcu Upgrade Kit 224b

Change log:
- Addresses the issue of the bright logo. Users can now go to the 9.Display menu and select the AUTO OFF option, which will automatically turn off both the OLED screen and the button backlight.
- Fixed some bugs related to the power-on trigger
- Some other suggestions and improvements.

EDIT: Update Instructions:
Unzip the kit and
Run the "X30_mcu_xxx_customer.exe" on your windows PC first. Then:
1. Turn off the power switch on the Rear of X30 first (but keep the power cord plugged in)
2. Then connect the TYPE-C port of X30 to the computer
3. Wait for the COMxx number with the "CH340" field to appear in the serial port number list (If not, install the included ch341ser driver)
4. Click the button in the upper left corner of this program interface (This instruction disappears after clicking the button, please take a screenshot for reference)
5. Then turn on the power switch on the Rear of X30
6. Wait for the green progress bar at the bottom of the program window to finish ==== Upgrade successful!
8. Disconnect the connection between X30 TYPE-C and the computer
7. Turn off the power on the Rear of X30 and wait for 10 seconds before starting and using it normally

 

[bluenight]

Happy Chinese New Year!

Gustard X30 Firmware Update: X30 mcu Upgrade Kit 224b

Change log:
- Addresses the issue of the bright logo. Users can now go to the 9.Display menu and select the AUTO OFF option, which will automatically turn off both the OLED screen and the button backlight.
- Fixed some bugs related to the power-on trigger
- Some other suggestions and improvements.

Neat.
Can i uppgrade the FW via the http://x30.local page or when typing in its ip adress?
I have it Rj45 Ethernet wired.

Or anyway via Android smartphone and wifi?

 

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

Actually don't haved an X30, posted it as a service for X30 users.
See your manual. Thx!

 

[bluenight]

Yes I'm keeping both at the moment
they compliment each other and will choose which one I will use depending on my mood.
I think I'm done I feel ive got everything I need.

Yeah i feel also no need to be chasing dacs for at least 10 years hopefully.

I found a used Siltech Explorer 270P power cord for half the price that i have ordered. I hope it will deliver.

Otherwise ice age audio seems like great everything for cables. Bang for buck type of company suitable for High end systems.
https://iceageaudio.com/ice-age-audio-store/ols/products/ofc-power-cable

Check there costumer reviews.