Gustard U18

[milkdudd]

Reading these forums and hoping not to buy something, is like jumping in a pool and hoping not to get wet haha

Or vacationing in Florida in August and hoping not to sweat

 

[sbgk]

just got a jdslabs synapse which has the TI ISOUSB chip, cleans up the sound and with the adum 4160 device can hear every nuance, remarkable

best and most live sound is laptop>adum 4160 with external power>synapse>U18>I2S
the external power to the adum then powers the synapse giving the sound a real live feel, without it the music sounds flat, sounds better than synapse then adum, but then the synapse is using 5v from usb.

I've just put a WIMA MKS 4 0.1 micro F 630 V capacitor across the legs of the nichicon finegold power supply capacitor and am getting better drive and rhythm.
Didn't know what to expect, but that seems to be the result, so I'll keep it there.
Gustard have the same implementation on the analogue power supplies for their dacs, but not on the U18 for some reason, maybe because it's digital and they thought it wouldn't matter.
Wonder if the digital power supply caps in their dacs would also benefit from such a mod.

 

[mooncrikit]

HELP!!!...I just received my U-18...My Roon core resides on a Baetis Prodigy II Ethernet networked computer. I connected the U-18 USB input to the output of my UltraRendu ("uR"). Then I took the I2S output from the U-18 and connected via an AudioQuest Vodka V1 HDMI cable to my LAiV Harmony DAC's I2S input. I immediately lose the uR icon source/end point? in Roon. I tried all four I2S mode settings but still no uR icon in Roon. When I bypass the U-18 and plug the uR USB output directly to the USB on the Harmony DAC, the uR icon re-appears in Roon and music is heard. Anyone have similar issues that can guide me to a positive result? Could the issue be the AQ Vodka cable? Greatly appreciate any input..Thanx! MoonCrikit

 

[ray12345]

HELP!!!...I just received my U-18...My Roon core resides on a Baetis Prodigy II Ethernet networked computer. I connected the U-18 USB input to the output of my UltraRendu ("uR"). Then I took the I2S output from the U-18 and connected via an AudioQuest Vodka V1 HDMI cable to my LAiV Harmony DAC's I2S input. I immediately lose the uR icon source/end point? in Roon. I tried all four I2S mode settings but still no uR icon in Roon. When I bypass the U-18 and plug the uR USB output directly to the USB on the Harmony DAC, the uR icon re-appears in Roon and music is heard. Anyone have similar issues that can guide me to a positive result? Could the issue be the AQ Vodka cable? Greatly appreciate any input..Thanx! MoonCrikit

Do you mean that Roon is able to find your UltraRendu when it first connect to U18, but as long as U18 is connected via I2S to the DAC then the connection disappeared?

From Roon endpoint perspective, as long as the UltraRendu USB is connected to a valid device, the UltraRendu should show up in Roon, whether U18 is connected via I2S or coaxial to DAC should not even matter. Are you sure your U18 is working properly?

 

[mooncrikit]

@ray12345...Your first sentence is incorrect...
Roon finds/sees the LAiV DAC when it is NOT connected through the U-18. As stated, once the uR via its USB output is routed through the U-18, the U-18 via i2s and SP/DIF outputs to the DAC are not seen which are the only two U-18 outputs previously tested. And yes, my U-18 is working perfectly as far as passing signal. How do I know??? I was instructed/reminded to power cycle (unplug AC cord-wait 30 seconds /reconnect AC cord) to the U-18 and BINGO, Roon sees the LAiV DAC through the U-18.

This simple and commonly forgotten power cycling remedy is a normal troubleshooting excercise that I am guilty of forgetting about myself in this instance and in the past too. My hats off with "bottoms-up" to Jesus Rodriquez of Sonore for reminding me of this remedy. I guess this is a "handshake" issue similar to what occurs with USB and HDMI signal connectivity issues as I, in the past, have had to unplug/re-plug in various equipments USB or HDMI cables to re-establish connections....but thanx for your input, Ray....MoonCrikit

 

[BillHart]

I'm a relative neophyte in digital playback, though an old analog hand. I have a Gustard X26Pro and just bought their DDC, a U-18, which should arrive tomorrow. My question is which clock controls when using I2S connection between those units? I am not using an external clock presently. Cable will be a DH Labs 2.1 Silversonic, which I understand will work without reconfiguring the pinout settings. Thanks in advance. I'm a relative newcomer here and apologies for not reading this entire thread-- it's a long one!
Bill

 

[jsiets4]

I'm a relative neophyte in digital playback, though an old analog hand. I have a Gustard X26Pro and just bought their DDC, a U-18, which should arrive tomorrow. My question is which clock controls when using I2S connection between those units? I am not using an external clock presently. Cable will be a DH Labs 2.1 Silversonic, which I understand will work without reconfiguring the pinout settings. Thanks in advance. I'm a relative newcomer here and apologies for not reading this entire thread-- it's a long one!
Bill

U18

 

[mooncrikit]

Bill...
Internal/external clock control button has nothing to do with your I2s connection...In order to hear your music signal, your only option when not using an external clock is to use the internal clock which is accessed by pushing the left silver round button on the face which must correctly read/display "REF: INT"...Then when you get an external clock, utilize the other setting with the same silver button that displays "REF: EXT"..Enjoy your new toy! Mooncrikit

 

[BillHart]

Bill...
Internal/external clock control button has nothing to do with your I2s connection...In order to hear your music signal, your only option when not using an external clock is to use the internal clock which is accessed by pushing the left silver round button on the face which must correctly read/display "REF: INT"...Then when you get an external clock, utilize the other setting with the same silver button that displays "REF: EXT"..Enjoy your new toy! Mooncrikit

Jeff- 10-4. Did not mean to conflate clock question with the I2S cable connection. I have been trying out the Shanling ET-3, have a CEC TL5 CD transport and was utilizing the USB player on the Shanling with an external SSD to play local files, but cannot get a pin match on the I2S between Shanling and Gustard. Figured I'd try the u-18 going USB in to the DDC, and I2S out to the X26Pro, thus I loaded the question with more than necessary. Yes, fun to fool around with gear as long as it works! Thanks.

 

[mooncrikit]

Bill...Does the Shanlig ET-3 play SACD's? Would like to try one if my tired feet feels that spinning chrome discs is a viable option and getting up continously to do so is a viable option soundwise...Thanx...Jeff

 

[BillHart]

Bill...Does the Shanlig ET-3 play SACD's? Would like to try one if my tired feet feels that spinning chrome discs is a viable option and getting up continously to do so is a viable option soundwise...Thanx...Jeff

Nope, redbook only on the disc spinner but it can play external drives via usb and has some facilities for wireless (which I don't use) and up-rezing (but not via the usb input). It also has a usb output. I bought it when my CEC went to the US distributor as a stop gap; I rather like it- small form factor, nicely made. I had some difficulty connecting with the app (which you don't need to spin CDs) until Shanling set me straight. Now, the app is a snap.
Feb. 18 update re DDC and USB/nasty snap sound between tracks:
Gustard U-18 here and operating. I usually withhold judgment on gear changes but I could tell immediately that this made a difference because I've been pretty actively playing around with the digital front end for more than a week. Even standard redbook resolution off the hard drive sounds good if the recording is good. So, the chain is currently Shanling ET3 outputting usb>Gustard U18 usb input and outputting via its I2S, which follows a standard HDMI protocol into the Gustard X26Pro.
Native 512 DSD sounds fabulous, but there are clicks between each track. I figure it has something to do with the digital front end losing track for that few moments and then seeing a new package of content. Is there any way to ameliorate this? Hi-rez PCM files do not seem to suffer from this problem.
I gather than the Shanling folks are all at Can-Jam, based on sending them a note. They have been excellent in responding to my emails when I was first sorting the ET3 and trying to get the app to connect. Thoughts invited. As mentioned, I'm an old analog hand, but consider me the village idiot if needed on things digital. TIA.

 

[blackromek]

Hello, I bought G x30, currently playing Lumin u2 -usb-Matrix spdif 2 - i2s - X30, I wanted to change ddc to something better, the natural choice is U 18 (i2s Gustard Mode compatibility), will u18 improve x30, look for something else, or connect via usb e.g. via Lhy Uip or cascade Lhy-u18
Second question, when connecting u18 - i2s- X30 should I use the x30 clock (which is very good) or the u18 clock. Thanks in advance for your help, sorry for my poor English

 

[Rontoolsie]

I am a little late getting into this long thread-but here it goes!
I have a Gustard R16/U18 fronted by a Lumin U2 Mini, powered via the DC input jack (it was modded) by an iFi Elite.
The Elite and R26 have fake Audioquest Dragon power cords, while the U18 has a Pangea AC14XL PC (for now),
The R26 has the upgraded Gustard fuse while the U18 had the stock supplied 500mA fuse.

I do use the LHY OCK-2 10MHz clock that feeds both the R26 and the U18 with separate clock cables. In addition both switches in the LAN path also receive their 10MHz signal from the same clock-so in total I have four devices slaved to the same high quality clock. The clock's supplied fuse was replaced by a pure silver 5x20mm machined fuse-shaped slug. And the clock also has its own Dragon power cord.

This combination has given me some of the finest sound I have ever experienced. The R26 does NOT lack bass extension or clarity, and its imaging is spectacular. Neither of these were true until Dragon interconnects went to the preamp and a Dragon power cord replaced the previous Pangea one. Yes, the R26 is extremely sensitive to the qualtity of the interconnects and PC. Previously I had used interconnects from Anticables, Chord (the Anthem), pure silver Xangsane-which comes highly rated-, fake Nordost Odin and Pangea. While they all gave slightly different sounds, NONE of the can come even remotely close to what the fake Dragons can do.

I was curious about what the SR Purple fuse could do for the U-18, so I ordered one, and got it a few days ago. It apparently is quite directional, but I had no idea WHICH direction was the correct one in the U18, so I just randomly inserted it, hoping that the 50-50 chance would work in my favor. I should note that the SR fuse I got is a 2.5A one, instead of the 0.5A. In my previous experience, higher amperage fuses sound better than lower amperage ones-to a point where I had all fuses replaced with 20A ones. But here I chose to go for a slightly safer 2.5A version.

I then had it constantly running in for 2 full days 24/7, following which I gave it a good listen. And I was not happy with what I was hearing. The midrange became thick and colored and the bass precision was lost, and replaced by a loose, boomy quality, which greatly reduced the enjoyment I had when using the standard fuse. So maybe it needed more run in time, or maybe the fuse was in the incorrect direction. I could change the direction immediately, while it would take several hundred more hours to reach the accepted 400 hour run in.

So I changed the direction and gave it another 24 hours of 24/7 power on.

Now the misgivings I had a day ago have been entirely eliminated. And instead of being worse than the standard fuse,the SR is now better in ways that are difficult to describe, but very easy to hear. Sure the bass is again tight and rhythmic-perhaps even more so than it was with the stock fuse. But there is something surreal about the presentation. It sort of reminds me what happened when I inserted the first network switch into the LAN pathway. It was easier to follow the shape of musical notes, which also had an increased sense of space and quiet around them. But the sound also became more relaxed. MUCH more relaxed-but NOT in a boring way. It sounds like the musical notes are less hurried and coming to you slower, but with more security and intent. I told you it is difficult to describe, but I find it much easier to connect with the music and the musicians, and can appreciate the nuances of slight timing variations, different pressures on the keys or small vocal phrasings.

And at the end of many songs, I can hear the instruments fade out to silence with a ton of space and air around their decaying notes.

In a few days, the iFi Elite on the Lumin will be replaced by a Farad3, and I hope the fuse benefits will be even more impressive and meaningful.
$135 is a LOT to pay for a fuse....even $35 is REALLY expensive. But when the rest of the system is behaving itself, it can produce suprisingly large benefits, even in non-critical applications such as the U18 DDC. Plus there is a 30-day return period from many vendors. After having it backwards, I came very close to sending it back-but chose to flip direction as that was easier to do than take a trip to UPS.

My next change will not be more Purple fuses, but replacing the Pangea PC on the U18 with a Dragon one.

I also wonder how the silver slug fuse blanks would compare with the SR fuse. Certainly they are much cheaper at around $30 each. I have another one of these on order, so I may well try comparing it with the SR Purple within the U18.

 

[Turbo2288]

I am a little late getting into this long thread-but here it goes!
I have a Gustard R16/U18 fronted by a Lumin U2 Mini, powered via the DC input jack (it was modded) by an iFi Elite.
The Elite and R26 have a fake Audioquest Dragon power cords, while the U18 has a Pangea AC14XL PC (for now),
The R26 has the Gustard fuse while the U18 had the stock supplied 500mA fuse.

I do use the LHY OCK-2 10MHz clock that feeds both the R26 and the U18 with separate clock cables. In addition both switches in the LAN path also receive their 10MHz signal from the same clock-so in total I have four devices slaved to the same high quality clock. The clock's supplied fuse was replace by a pure silver 5x20mm machined fuse-shaped slug.

This combination has given me some of the finest sound I have ever experienced. The R26 does NOT lack bass extension or clarity, and its imaging is spectacular. Neither of these were true until Dragon interconnects went to the preamp and a Dragon power cord replaced the previous Pangea one. Yes, the R26 is extremely sensitive to the qualtity of the interconnects and PC. Previously I had used interconnects from Anticables, Chord (the Anthem), pure silver Xangsane-which comes highly rated-, fake Nordost Odin and Pangea. While they all gave slightly different sounds, NONE of the can come even remotely close to what the fake Dragons can do.

I was curious about what the SR Purple fuse could do for the U-18, so I ordered on, and got it a few days ago. It apparently is quite directional, but I had no idea WHICH direction was the correct one in the U18, so I just randomly inserted it, hoping that the 50-50 chance would work in my favor.

I then had it constantly running in for 2 full days 24/7, following which I gave it a good listen. And I was not happy with what I was hearing. The midrange became thick and colored and the bass precision was lost, and replaced by a loose, boomy quality, which greatly reduced the enjoyment I had when using the standard fuse. So maybe it needed more run in time, or maybe the fuse was in the incorrect direction. I could change the direction immediatey, while it would take several hundred more hours to reach the accepted 400 hour run in.

So I changed the direction and gave it another 24 hours of 24/7 power on.

Now the misgivings I had a day ago have been entirely eliminated. And instead of being worse than the standard fuse, it is now better in ways that are difficult to describe, but very easy to hear. Sure the bass is again tight and rhythmic-perhaps even more so than it was with the stock fuse. But there is something surreal about the presentation. It sort of reminds me what happened when I inserted the first network switch into the LAN pathway. It was easier to follow the shape of musical notes, which also had an increased sense of space and quiet around them. But the sound also became more relaxed. MUCH more relaxed-but NOT in a boring way. It sounds like the musical notes are less hurried and coming to your slower, but with more security and intent. I told you it is difficult to describe, but I find it much easier to connect with the music and the musicians, and can appreciate the nuances of slight timing variations, different pressures on the keys or small vocal phrasings.

And at the end of many songs, I can hear the instruments fade out to silence with a ton of space and air around their decaying notes.

In a few days, the iFi Elite on the Lumin will be replaced by a Farad3, and I hope the fuse benefits will be even more impressive and meaningful.
$135 is a LOT to pay for a fuse....even $35 is REALLY expensive. But when the rest of the system is behaving itself, it can produce suprisingly large benefits, even in non-critical applications such as the U18 DDC. Plus there is a 30-day return period from many vendors. After having it backwards, I came very close to sending it back-but chose to flip direction as that was easier to do than take a trip to UPS.

My next change will not be more Purple fuses, but replacing the Pangea PC on the U18 with a Dragon one.

I also wonder how the silver slug fuse blanks would compare with the SR fuse. Certainly they are much cheaper at around $30 each. I have another one of these on order, so I may well try comparing it with the SR Purple within the U18.

Where did you buy the Dragon power cord?

 

[Rontoolsie]

Where did you buy the Dragon power cord?

From the Audioson store at Ali Express. It was $415 for the 2m length I got. But sometimes, you do get what you pay for!