[mtoc]

this gear looks pretty promising, I mean better than their previous need-to-be-first-release-in-market ones (not so good in THD+n), and they fixed it

I hope they could keep updating fw and usb drive but that might be not happening

 

[peteg]

this gear looks pretty promising, I mean better than their previous need-to-be-first-release-in-market ones (not so good in THD+n), and they fixed it

I hope they could keep updating fw and usb drive but that might be not happening

Link or more info.

 

[Utopia]

I found this:
https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a21wu.10013406.0.0.6bd95ce1dJJfLV&id=586482347218

 

[rafabro]

Very interesting indeed. Gustard is obviously learning and we see results. More advanced output stage, better voltage regulation on transistors, new clock.

 

[artpiggo]

@Whitigir You probably like this one.

 

[spacequeen7]

Great ,two days ago I order X20 Pro

 

[Whitigir]

@Whitigir You probably like this one.

My lks004 is already been using this 9038pro for a while with my tinkering on top but thanks for the attentions, more gears are always welcome kaka

 

[Alcophone]

Can anyone translate this accurately? From Gustards Facebook page:

▼ DAC「X26」優惠預購 ▼

各位支持或關注歌詩德的朋友們大家好

近日我們最新款DAC「X26」已經在大陸上市，日前也剛結束了預購，許多新朋友及老用家持續關注這部分，詢問台灣這邊是否也能有預購優惠以及時間? 答案是有的! 請各位放心，這邊特別跟大家說明一下:

➠ 預購填單時間:
預計春節以後，二月中旬左右開放填單預購，預購期間約為1-2週(視預購名額剩餘情形，可能提早截止)。出貨時間目前尚未能確認，最快2月底，有較確切的時間會持續跟大家報告

➠ 預購價格: 一如往常，我們不在原價格上調漲價格，且比照大陸的預購優惠

➀ 老朋友預購價: 這次特別回饋給支持我們的用家們，凡是曾經向粉絲團訂購過商品，或參與過我們提供的機器巡迴試聽的朋友，私訊粉絲團都可享有原價85折的優惠價: 28000元(帶USB版本) / 26500元(不帶USB版本)，含運費，此價格比對岸的預購88折還划算!

➁ 新朋友預購價: 若是第一次向粉絲團訂購，也能享有同大陸預購88折的優惠價格: 29000元(帶USB版本) / 27500元(不帶USB版本)，含運費

※若有其他問題，請點選「發送訊息」私訊我們

祝福各位
新年快樂，一切順心

(https://www.facebook.com/GustardAudio/)

Edit: From Gustard:

Sorry, the discount is only for Taiwanese old customers who bought products from the FB page.

 

[spacequeen7]

Full Description from the other website


Digital filters are an inseparable part of the design of modern high-performance audio DAC systems. The most critical design goal is to reduce aliasing noise in the digital domain audio band by upscaling and noiseing the original digital audio stream signal. Shaping to achieve better sound quality. Modern audio

DAC chips are generally integrated with digital filter algorithms, and their audio objective performance has reached a low level. However, the DAC on-chip digital filter is limited by various aspects such as cost and computing power, and its sound quality performance can no longer meet our pursuit of higher

sound quality. Therefore, we have developed our own high-performance digital filter solution on the Analog Device SHARC digital audio dedicated DSP platform. The solution is equipped with a self-developed high-performance anti-aliasing noise algorithm, and the key digital signal processing link uses high-

precision floating-point 64-bit computing.

The GPLL-M1 high-precision phase-locked loop has ultra-low phase noise and the recovered clock reaches femtoseconds. Thanks to the complex algorithm, the jitter suppression performance is excellent and can be easily solved. The main clock of the ES9038 chip is also supplied by the GPLL high-precision

phase-locked loop. It works directly in synchronous mode to bypass the internal ASRC resampling and no longer relies on ASRC guarantee. Performance (no longer need 100M clock);


The X26 uses a self-developed digital filter and a GPLL-M1 high-precision phase-locked loop to achieve a new peak in sound quality in the Costa DAC product line.

Costa DAC-X26 technical features:


• Two ESS company's flagship chip ES9038PRO for decoding, one left and right channels , completely independent power supply, independent grounding, to get the best performance;
• GPLL-M1 high-precision phase-locked loop with ultra-low phase noise and recovered clocks in femtoseconds. Thanks to complex algorithms, jitter suppression performance is excellent and can be easily solved;

• Audio digital signal processing is realized by Analog Device SHARC digital audio dedicated DSP processor, equipped with self-developed high-performance anti-aliasing noise algorithm, and the key digital signal processing link uses high-precision floating-point 64bit operation, which is optimized for ESS

Technology DAC. Ensure high sound quality;
• CPLD programmable logic chip, digital integrated circuit with its own logic function, clock management, 2nd PLL digital shaping, DOP demodulation, PCM/DSD depop switch and other exclusive technologies, laying a solid foundation for excellent sound quality;

• Two high-quality audio special toroidal transformers are used to supply digital and analog power respectively, so that completely independent power supply does not interfere with each other;
• Native full-balanced architecture, without any conversion, complete four-way output;
• The analog LPF circuit uses self-developed discrete lines to carefully adjust the parameters of each stage to achieve the best working condition;
• Supports 0dB~-90dB total 90-speed digital volume, and is convenient to adjust the volume with the supplied high-quality remote control;
• Full interface supports DSD hard solution:
IIS supports DDS64, DSD128, DSD256, DSD512 hard solutions;
SPDIF, AES/EBU support DSD64, DSD128 (DOP mode)
Optical support supports DSD64 hard solution (DOP mode);
USB supports DDS64, DSD128, DSD256 hard solutions;
• Self-developed digital filtering
PCM: VIVID (recommended) / COMPOSITE/GENTLE;
NOS mode (only 176.4K and above), no digital oversampling, direct conversion of the original signal;
DSD: 47K/50K/60K/70K;
• USB uses ESS's USBAUDIO solution to support PCM768K DSD512;
• The screen brightness is adjustable, it will be automatically remembered after 10 seconds of operation, and the last time it is turned on to keep the last setting, humanized operation control;
• All-aluminum chassis, brushed surface, all silver (white) and all black colors;
• Machine size: width 330* depth 260* height 65MM (excluding protruding parts);
• Package size: length 420* width 360* height 175MM;
• Packing weight: 7KG;
• 115V version, 230V version (manual switching);
• Frequency response:
• Line output:
• XLR interface definition: US standard (1 ground, 2 hot, 3 cold)
Black/White: without USB input

Black/White: with USB input

Rigorous design, reasonable layout, neat workmanship, solid materials
It uses two ESS company's flagship chip ES9038PRO to decode, each of the left and right channels, completely independent power supply, independent grounding, to obtain the best performance
The GPLL-M1 high-precision phase-locked loop has ultra-low phase noise and the recovered clock reaches femtoseconds. Thanks to complex algorithms, jitter suppression performance is excellent and can be easily solved;

The main clock of the ES9038 chip is also supplied by the GPLL high-precision phase-locked loop. It works directly in synchronous mode to bypass internal ASRC resampling and no longer relies on ASRC to guarantee performance (no need for 100M clock)
The newly designed 8-channel hybrid discrete IV conversion circuit and independent adder circuit fully meet the requirements of 9038 high current, and guarantee from the source
Each group of independent power sources is full of energy and does not interfere with each other
The analog LPF circuit is a fully discrete Class A line that is specifically debugged for the 9038 chip. Each discrete device only needs to consider its own performance separately, so there is a lot of application limitations for this device alone, so the performance of individual components can be fully utilized.

Because it is not integrated and can not be separated and changed in the chip like an integrated circuit, the use of discrete devices is more flexible, and the parameters of each level can be freely adjusted to achieve the best working condition, and because it is more developable. Strong, and also relatively

controllable for the distortion part, can bring a more variable sound style to different decoding architecture.
The disadvantage of discrete devices is that the distribution parameters have a great influence, and it becomes very difficult to design and debug. It requires certain technical experience and a long debugging process. It is also relatively weak in terms of consistency, so it is very important to use materials.

Independent voltage regulation, multi-stage filtering, separation from left to right, without mutual interference

Two high-quality audio special toroidal transformers supply power to digital and analog respectively, so that completely independent power supply does not interfere with each other

USB module uses ESS's USBAUDIO solution and supports PCM768K DSD512 (no USB input without this module)

The full interface supports DSD decoding.

IIS, USB support: DSD64, DSD128, DSD256, DSD512 hard solution;

Coaxial (RCA), AES/EBU support: DSD64, DSD128 hard solution (DOP mode);

Fiber support: DSD64 hard solution (DOP mode)

• Digital input:

• IIS and USB support PCM format: 16-32bit/44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8, 384, 768kHz; DSD64, DSD128, DSD256, DSD512;

Coaxial supports PCM format: 16-24bit / 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 384 kHz; DOP64, DOP128

Optical, AES/EBU support PCM format: 16-24bit / 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz; DOP64

•QQ exchange group 247095406

• Chinese manual:

•English manual:

• Plugin download address: http://pan.baidu.com/s/1kTtk9sb

• Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10 systems require a dedicated driver:



• No additional drivers are required for Mac OS X 10.6.4 and above

• FOOBAR2000 Chinese version DSD set: http://pan.baidu.com/s/1bnwGCiF

•All products in this store support 7 days unconditional return (listen 7 days), buyers are responsible for return postage.

• X26 free warranty for 2 years (failure in seven days free replacement machine back and forth postage seller responsible, more than seven days postage AA). Overseas (including Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan) postage and the tax generated by the buyer is responsible for
all the repairs only accept express / postal delivery, no open reception

• The machine in the picture is a prototype, which is slightly different from the production model. The picture is for reference only. The final interpretation of this product is available.

 

[Alcophone]

we have developed our own high-performance digital filter solution on the Analog Device SHARC digital audio dedicated DSP platform. The solution is equipped with a self-developed high-performance anti-aliasing noise algorithm

How schiity of them :-D

 

[spacequeen7]

How schiity of them :-D

It's hard to tell if this is good or bad ,next batch will be available by the end of Feb. so hopefully someone can post some impressions ,have my X20 Pro on the way and will prolly pass on this X26,pretty sure it will be north of $1200

 

[Alcophone]

It's hard to tell if this is good or bad ,next batch will be available by the end of Feb. so hopefully someone can post some impressions ,have my X20 Pro on the way and will prolly pass on this X26,pretty sure it will be north of $1200

No judgement implied - it's just that Schiit does the same. From the Yggdrasil product page:

Digital Filter: proprietary Schiit bitperfect closed-form digital filter implemented on Analog Devices SHARC DSP processor

I love that DAC, but there's no NOS mode, so I don't know how much the filter is responsible for what I hear, and Gustard's filter is probably different anyway.

 

[Dreamer79]

It makes sense to use the Gustard U16 with this new DAC X26?

 

[rafabro]

It makes sense to use the Gustard U16 with this new DAC X26?

If you are interested the best sound quality - definitely.
Just compare whole U16 to this card:

 

[Whitigir]

Wow, I like that module looking