Gustard U16 - the first USB Interface featuring ESS USB chip

[rafabro]

After all those days I am generally happy to swap SU-1 to U16. It's not perfect but of the shelf it sounds better then modified SU-1 which is impressive.

Build quality pretty good and like design as well.

 

[Whitigir]

I thought this used ess sabres DSP ? But it is Xmos ?

 

[rafabro]

I thought this used ess sabres DSP ? But it is Xmos ?

No XMOS in it. It is some new ESS controller.

 

[Whitigir]

No XMOS in it. It is some new ESS controller.

Isn’t it XMOS XU-208 ?

 

[rafabro]

No. For 100% there is no XMOS chip in it. I've checked

The USB part is built completely different way then other solutions I've seen.

 

[Whitigir]

No. For 100% there is no XMOS chip in it. I've checked

Care to take me a picture of the internal ?

This is from Shenzhen

 

[rafabro]

Care to take me a picture of the internal ?

This is from Shenzhen

It's Gustard U12 picture

 

[rafabro]

And this is U16

 

[Whitigir]

Oh, You are right !

Can this ES sabres do DSD1024 ? Lol

 

[rafabro]

I have no way to check it. I have literally only few songs in 256 and few in 128. Majorty DSD music in 64. And JRiver can upsample up to 512 max.

I've tried up-sampling in past and definitely prefer play native.

 

[Whitigir]

I have no way to check it. I have literally only few songs in 256 and few in 128. Majorty DSD music in 64. And JRiver can upsample up to 512 max.

I've tried up-sampling in past and definitely prefer play native.

Upsampling will only work when you have a very beefy and dedicated PC, otherwise it will be just all negatives

 

[rafabro]

I have dedicated PC, optimised for audio with LPS, SOTM card, changed motherboard oscillator etc..

 

[Whitigir]

I have dedicated PC, optimised for audio with LPS, SOTM card, changed motherboard oscillator etc..

Then you need to try the HQPlayer.

What exactly is your detailed PC build ? What oscilliators on your MB ?

 

[rafabro]

Low power 4 core i5 CPU (previously 2 core pentium) + 8GB ram + SOTM USB card + SOTM SATA power filter for SSD + win10 + audiofidelizer

Currently Abracon oscillator with Pulsar power VR with pre regulation on Dexa VR. Sourced on separated transformer 12V line.

But we making OT here

 

[Whitigir]

Low power 4 core i5 CPU (previously 2 core pentium) + 8GB ram + SOTM USB card + SOTM SATA power filter for SSD + win10 + audiofidelizer

Currently Abracon oscillator with Pulsar power VR with pre regulation on Dexa VR. Sourced on separated transformer 12V line.

But we making OT here

Nothing is OT if it is all related to one another. May I know where you source and buy your Abracon ? Source is even more important than the Bridge and the DAC itself. When the source is not up to Par, regardless of what you throw at it, it would sound like ....

You know, chicken poop in = chicken poop out....there is no chicken poop in and chicken soup out...Nope!

Anyways, try the HQPlayer. I had purchased most software and I can say that Jriver is pretty bad at Upsampling ...only so so in playing back Native DSD. There is also another saying, hardware is only the bone and the body, software is the soul of it. So, without a good program, it will be just...souless