[Cortes]

I bought a Gustard U16 interface, and the construciton is very good. This DAC looks very well made as well. But in same price range we have the RME ADI-2 DAC which has solid measurements behind, and this X26 must have something to offset the risk of purchasing from HK with respect to Europe/US.

 

[spacequeen7]

Here she is ..(US$1,169.00~ $1,269.00)
https://www.shenzhenaudio.com/gustard-dac-x26-dual-es9038pro-dsp-pll-native-balanced-decoder.html

 

[thomaspf]

Here she is ..(US$1,169.00~ $1,269.00)
https://www.shenzhenaudio.com/gustard-dac-x26-dual-es9038pro-dsp-pll-native-balanced-decoder.html

Not a hint of any technical specification with regards to FR response, THD, IMD, etc...

 

[rafabro]

These tells nothing so what's the point?..

 

[spacequeen7]

Not a hint of any technical specification with regards to FR response, THD, IMD, etc...

You can roll opamp with this DAC so it depends what's in it ,THD+N should be in 0.000x % ballpark

 

[peteg]

You can roll opamp with this DAC so it depends what's in it ,THD+N should be in 0.000x % ballpark

Can you?

 

[spacequeen7]

Can you?

 

[peteg]

Good, man they look close together.

 

[Xymordos]

Don't think they're DIP 8 opamps - from this photo it looks like some transistors
https://img.alicdn.com/imgextra/i2/125808208/O1CN01DpAXic2AVJP0gwb4P_!!125808208.jpg

Also, if you download the manual from their Taobao page, it shows the specs inside:

模拟输出：(Analog output)
频率响应：20-20kHz /+-0.1dB (Frequency Response)
动态范围： 125dB (Dynamic Range)
声道串扰：-137dB @ 1kHz (Channel Separation)
THD+N：<0.0006% 20-20kHz
IMD：<0.0006%
RCA 输出电平：2.5Vrms (VOLUME 00dB)
XLR 输出电平：5.0Vrms (VOLUME 00dB)

 

[allhifi]

Here she is ..(US$1,169.00~ $1,269.00)
https://www.shenzhenaudio.com/gustard-dac-x26-dual-es9038pro-dsp-pll-native-balanced-decoder.html

Gustard X-26: Interesting. Technically sophisticated -perhaps too much so; "messing" around with 'in-house' digital filtering could prove disappointing.

I suspect it takes some serious engineering 'chops' to design a world-class digital filter that performs better than ESS 9038's built-in Options ????
That may be a tricky proposition by itself. I just don't see how Gustard has the engineering prowess to pull that off (successfully)? Better than ESS Corp?

The (very) nice feature of the X20PRO (I use) and X-22? is that user can choose dig. filter of choice; a few Linear, a few Apodizing, etc. And, to excellent effect.

On the X-26, I'd caution all (except those who have lots of spare cash) to trek carefully with this one. A fuller, complete interior photo would serve Gustard better -in fact all of us better.

What is the consensus of the X-22 ? (Peteg -here's looking at you kid ! lol)

I believe much greater information is required (from Gustard) with respect to X-26's digital filtering -and whether ESS's (filter) options remain available ?

pj
(You can't beat the construction/build quality of it -or so it appears, nor the very sensible/affordable price.
I know the X-20PRO is beautifully put together.)

 

[spacequeen7]

Don't think they're DIP 8 opamps - from this photo it looks like some transistors
https://img.alicdn.com/imgextra/i2/125808208/O1CN01DpAXic2AVJP0gwb4P_!!125808208.jpg

Also, if you download the manual from their Taobao page, it shows the specs inside:

Good pick ,you might be right ..someone have to take one for the team ..please ..can't wait for some first hand impressions
I'm out till then

 

[allhifi]

Great ,two days ago I order X20 Pro

Count your blessings -the X20PRO is an excellent DAC ! It is better than 90% of available DAC's; it uses (and has used (for near two-years) the excellent, next-gen ESS chips (9028pro) that the likes of Mytek have just recently implemented in their $2K+ Brooklyn + DAC !
It remains a beautifully built, flexible and great-sounding DAC. Have you seen the interior pic's/layout ? Very nice. And those digital inputs -including i2S !! (a input to crave/die for).

And how much was your investment? $2K (US$), $3K (US$) ?

There's no reason to doubt X-26 should be excellent -a step up. BUT, maybe not? The X20 has a history/long-list of very satisfied users -including myself !

If I decide to 'upgrade' my DAC, the X-20 shall remain.
Good luck finding anything that approaches its quality/sophistication -and sound of this awesome sub $1K DAC -if not for Gustard's higher offerings, I'd extend that to $2-$3K !.

You'll love it !

Enjoy ....

pj

 

[MLGrado]

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);

This is BIG. Most ESS solutions are happy to use the ASRC and its accompanying PLL for jitter reduction. BUT... if you can use a buffer and re-clock the audio after the I2S output of the USB chip with an excellent clock, and use an identical clock as master for the ESS ASRC system, THE ASRC will act synchronously, as long as the clocks and accompanying jitter stay identical or within tolerance.

Not that letting the anti-jitter system as built into the chip isn't great... it does a KILLER job of eliminating any jitter left remaining on the audio clock output from the Asych. USB receiver. But in my book, extra isolation with a buffer, and cleaning up the input signal to the point little to no jitter reduction is required (and less DSP on the signal) is a good thing.

I may be incorrect, but I think the late Charlie Hansen was a proponent of this way. And others.

 

[allhifi]

This is BIG. Most ESS solutions are happy to use the ASRC and its accompanying PLL for jitter reduction. BUT... if you can use a buffer and re-clock the audio after the I2S output of the USB chip with an excellent clock, and use an identical clock as master for the ESS ASRC system, THE ASRC will act synchronously, as long as the clocks and accompanying jitter stay identical or within tolerance.

Not that letting the anti-jitter system as built into the chip isn't great... it does a KILLER job of eliminating any jitter left remaining on the audio clock output from the Asych. USB receiver. But in my book, extra isolation with a buffer, and cleaning up the input signal to the point little to no jitter reduction is required (and less DSP on the signal) is a good thing.

I may be incorrect, but I think the late Charlie Hansen was a proponent of this way. And others.

SQ: A bit different to the topic you bring forth, but wold you know if the X-26 DAC (Gustard) has user selectable Digital Filter options (aka ESS 'filter's; 7 or so) or whether one must select one of Gustard's (3) proprietary filter choices ?

pj

 

[Xymordos]

SQ: A bit different to the topic you bring forth, but wold you know if the X-26 DAC (Gustard) has user selectable Digital Filter options (aka ESS 'filter's; 7 or so) or whether one must select one of Gustard's (3) proprietary filter choices ?

pj

Their Taobao page says it bypasses the inbuilt filters and can only select from their new filters.