Gustard U12 USB Interface 8 Core XMOS chip

[phile1]

i finally ordered mine this morning. I'll give my feedback compared to my interface from diyinhk
I ordered especially because my interface is for sure the weak point of my system. So if it's far better for 143eur... oups ! Bargain!

 

[rb2013]

   
using a spare trichord power lead I had
 
don't know about smooth - that indicates loss of detail to me, whereas I am hearing more detail, I would say it just sounds effortless which allows the music to be enjoyed more.
 
what has changed from the u10, is the xmos chip different in the u12 ?
 
would be interested in more details about what components to remove/upgrade to improve the ps, have a teradak 9 v supply which could be used and have swapped capacitors before.

Well when I say 'smooth' it implies warmth and effortlessness, no loss of detail - I've experienced greater detail fortunately!  It's like some form of distortion has been lifted.

 

[soundify]

Can I please check if anyone knows if the digital coaxial output can do dsd 64 and dsd128 over coaxial through DOP?

 

[Benny-x]

Can I please check if anyone knows if the digital coaxial output can do dsd 64 and dsd128 over coaxial through DOP?

Yes, the U12 convertor can, but that's only a piece of what needs to be considered. The software(player program) and your DAC are what really need to be able to accept DSD 64-128 via DoP. Players will need the appropriate plugin or native ability(which one are you using?). Since DSD64 can go in a 24/176.2 PCM container it shouldn't be too hard for an applicable DAC, but DSD128 is twice that bandwidth and I don't know any DAC that can take that via SPDIF. 

 

[sbgk]

Can I please check if anyone knows if the digital coaxial output can do dsd 64 and dsd128 over coaxial through DOP?

this from the x12 specs
 
Digital Input Format Support：

Coaxial：

PCM：16-24bit /44.1、48、88.2、96、176.4、192 kHz

DOP：DOP64

 

optical:  

PCM:16-24bit /44.1、48、88.2、96、176.4、192 kHz

DOPOP64


AES/EBU：

PCM:16-24bit /44.1、48、88.2、96、176.4、192 kHz

DOPOP64

 

IIS:

PCM:16-32bit /44.1、48、88.2、96、176.4、192 、352.8、384kHz

DSDSD64、DSD128

DOPOP64、DOP128
 

USB： 16-32bit / 44.1、48、88.2、96、176.4、192、352.8、384 kHz
DSDx64(2.8224MHz)、DSDx128(5.6448MHz)

 

[soundify]

Yes, the U12 convertor can, but that's only a piece of what needs to be considered. The software(player program) and your DAC are what really need to be able to accept DSD 64-128 via DoP. Players will need the appropriate plugin or native ability(which one are you using?). Since DSD64 can go in a 24/176.2 PCM container it shouldn't be too hard for an applicable DAC, but DSD128 is twice that bandwidth and I don't know any DAC that can take that via SPDIF. 

Thanks for your response. I'm using chord Hugo which based on my knowledge, should accept dsd 128 over DOP. As for software, I'm using windows 8, can I ask what is the best player to use? I also have JPLAY.

 

[Benny-x]

Copied from the Audio-gd Master 7 thread, as it's relevant here too.
 
Quote:

 
Both SDATA and LRCLK are inverted at the U12 HDMI output.  You could try to find a HDMI cable with removable connector headshells and reverse the SDATA and LRCLK connections on one side to correct.  I found this pinout from an Ebay offer for the U12.

Either that pin-out sheet is wrong or it doesn't mater. I have found the same one in all the Gustard U12 listings, but I also own the Gustard and just tried it out :-D
 
I've got the U12 and finally found my HDMI-I2s cable and hooked it up to my PWD Mkii and it worked fine. No static, no noise, black background, music sounded clean and clear. I was listening via AES last night and it shared all the same stability. My first impression in just A/B'ing them now is that I2s sounds clearer and blacker, but the bass was still really nice. It's BRAAAAND new and my system is in no state for any information beyond that, but I'm happy that it works. 
 
I was pissed after reading the pin-out sheet a couple days ago as I bought the U12 basically just for its I2s connection to my PWD Mkii. I have no idea what the effect of mismatched pins would be, like as long as it wasn't the pins all over the place and just different polarity like it's saying we have here, but I can say that it's functioning fine. 
 
So, on that note, can anyone here share what would happen if the SDATA and LRCLK pinouts had reverse polarity on the sending and receiving ends? Would it play at all?
 
And since according to DACLadder the Audio-gd HDMI-I2s pinout is the same as PS-Audio's, we've got another player in the USB->I2s category now

 

[Benny-x]

Thanks for your response. I'm using chord Hugo which based on my knowledge, should accept dsd 128 over DOP. As for software, I'm using windows 8, can I ask what is the best player to use? I also have JPLAY.

Lots of different players and approaches, no real "best one" unfortunately.
 
I've got WS2012 R2 on 2 computers in a Dual Jplay PC setup; so a processor(ControlPC) and a streamer(AudioPC). For the setup they're both running AudiophileOptimizer, Jplay, and JRiver. You've got to do some tweeks to get JRiver to play nicely with Jplay, but it works. Admittedly though, that system is in piece right now as I'm overhauling components and making dedicated computerts for each role; so I'm now running off a W7 laptop when I want to check anything out.
 
And I took a look at the specs page for the Hugo and you're absolutely right, it says it can take DSD64 and DSD128 via DoP over SPDIF. First I've ever seen where an SPDIF input can go up to 384KHz! Nice!

 

[sbgk]

Thanks for your response. I'm using chord Hugo which based on my knowledge, should accept dsd 128 over DOP. As for software, I'm using windows 8, can I ask what is the best player to use? I also have JPLAY.

 
I posted the X12 formats above and it has dop 128 only available via IIS, presumably the same chip is used in the x12 and u12, I can't see why they would have given u12 dop 128 capability over coax when it's not available in the x12. perhaps need to ask them directly, or someone can try it.

 

[soundify]

I posted the X12 formats above and it has dop 128 only available via IIS, presumably the same chip is used in the x12 and u12, I can't see why they would have given u12 dop 128 capability over coax when it's not available in the x12. perhaps need to ask them directly, or someone can try it.

Thanks for the info. It seems that you are right. Sounded too good to be true initially.

 

[sbgk]

is it usual to have all outputs on all the time, would it benefit the sq if the ones not required were removed/switched off ?

 

[natra084]

Hi guys U12 does it eliminate usb noise.

 

[Sajk]

Tried to run U12 with Daphile (www.daphile.com). I see in Audio device "xCORE USB Audio 2.0", screen display show correct sampling rate ... but no sound at all.
If somebody use Linux, please share your experience.

 

[Anda]

  Tried to run U12 with Daphile (www.daphile.com). I see in Audio device "xCORE USB Audio 2.0", screen display show correct sampling rate ... but no sound at all.
If somebody use Linux, please share your experience.

 
The sound device is probably muted. Can you run alsamixer in terminal? If you can, press F6, choose the xCORE and make sure it's unmuted. You do this with the m key.

 

[antbom]

I'm using U12 with Daphile, it works fine.
In Daphile -> Settings -> Audio Devices -> xCORE USB Audio 2.0 enable both mixer hw 0 and mixer hw 1 , than save and restart.