Gustard X26III Dual ES9039SPRO DAC, Network Streamer

[milkdudd]

Manufacturing defect, for sure. Painful but you should request a replacement and send that one back.

I suspect Shenzenaudio will make everything right, but please keep us informed on how their support is when things don't go quite right

 

[Tom Schultz]

I suspect Shenzenaudio will make everything right, but please keep us informed on how their support is when things don't go quite right

I returned a Topping amp to them once. Very responsive, no questions asked. Immediate refund.

 

[maszynista1987]

I hope they will solve my problem, for now I got the information to send the video. It's hard to record a slight crackle in the headphones.
At most I will return the equipment, it cost me a lot in customs fees. I will probably be at a loss.

But as for the sound itself, it is great ( not counting the problem).

 

[kandamrgam]

If anyone wants a dual ES9039 chip DAC, there is also

SMSL RAW-MDA1 (just 280 USD, has an amp too)
Musical Paradise MP-DX (tube DAC, high-end)
Fiio K19 (has an amp too)
xDuoo XD05T (with a hybrid tube amp)
Matrix Audio X2 Pure (streamer + pure DAC)

Not a comprehensive list. Just something from memory, notes.

 

[maszynista1987]

Unfortunately, I rather do not recommend shopping at shenzhenaudio. I thought I would save some money, and the situation is as follows:

I received information to send back by mail a broken Gustard x26 and a declaration of $ 80. I wrote back that I can not by mail, because I do not use it.... I chose feddex, paid more than $100 for shipping. But this is not the end of the problems. Today I got the information that I have to go to the fedex office and return the package from China, because they can't accept it back because of the customs declaration (which they asked me for).

And I have to mail again, which I wrote to shenzhenaudio that I don't use and can't.

I've done a lot of audio shopping, from stores and forums, sold a lot of equipment and never had any trouble, until now.

I think I'm just unlucky to have come across faulty equipment, but exchanges/returns shouldn't be like this.

However, I hope that shenzhenaudio will end the matter fairly.

Because I paid my hard-earned money and got a non-functioning dac.

I now had a topping d90 iii for testing for a few days and it is also good. Admittedly, my X26 was not fully operational, but it is slightly better than the Topping. Stronger bass impact and a wider stage. The difference is not big.

 

[Arnaud 18]

Malheureusement, je déconseille fortement d'acheter chez shenzhenaudio. Je pensais économiser, et voici la situation :

J'ai reçu des informations pour renvoyer par la poste un Gustard x26 cassé et une déclaration de 80 $. J'ai répondu que je ne pouvais pas le faire, car je ne l'utilise pas… J'ai choisi FedEx et payé plus de 100 $ de frais de port. Mais les problèmes ne sont pas terminés. Aujourd'hui, j'ai appris que je devais me rendre au bureau FedEx pour retourner le colis depuis la Chine, car ils ne peuvent pas l'accepter à cause de la déclaration douanière (qu'ils m'ont demandée).

Et je dois envoyer à nouveau un e-mail, que j'ai écrit à shenzhenaudio que je n'utilise pas et que je ne peux pas.

J'ai fait beaucoup d'achats audio, dans des magasins et sur des forums, j'ai vendu beaucoup d'équipements et je n'ai jamais eu de problèmes, jusqu'à maintenant.

Je pense que je n'ai pas eu de chance de tomber sur du matériel défectueux, mais les échanges/retours ne devraient pas être comme ça.

J’espère cependant que ShenzhenAudio mettra un terme à cette affaire de manière équitable.

Parce que j'ai payé mon argent durement gagné et j'ai obtenu un DAC qui ne fonctionne pas.

J'ai maintenant testé un Topping D90 III pendant quelques jours et il est également bon. Certes, mon X26 n'était pas pleinement opérationnel, mais il est légèrement meilleur que le Topping. Des basses plus puissantes et une scène plus large. La différence n'est pas énorme.

Salut

Le Topping D90 discret nécessite une combustion longue.

Good listening

 

[trent999]

Hello guys, considering Gustard x26 III, could you pls advise:
1) is there available custom firmware supporting Tidal Connect, same as for Gustard R26?
2) is it feasible to use x26 III as a pre-amp with poweramp? Have purifi class D on radar for some time.. Currently I use Topping D70S with integrated Arcam SA 20.
Thanks a lot for any suggestions.

 

[Tom Schultz]

There i

Hello guys, considering Gustard x26 III, could you pls advise:
1) is there available custom firmware supporting Tidal Connect, same as for Gustard R26?
2) is it feasible to use x26 III as a pre-amp with poweramp? Have purifi class D on radar for some time.. Currently I use Topping D70S with integrated Arcam SA 20.
Thanks a lot for any suggestions.

There is no custom firmware available or announced yet.

The X26III could be used as a pre-amp as long as you don’t need analogue inputs. Volume control works with the supplied remote or via the touch front panel.

It has to be said, though, using it that way makes for a rather basic experience. The remote is a cheap plastic thing I wouldn‘t want to use frequently.

 

[trent999]

There i

There is no custom firmware available or announced yet.

The X26III could be used as a pre-amp as long as you don’t need analogue inputs. Volume control works with the supplied remote or via the touch front panel.

It has to be said, though, using it that way makes for a rather basic experience. The remote is a cheap plastic thing I wouldn‘t want to use frequently.

Thanks Tom, I assume remote would be similar to the Topping one No need for analogue in, just digital. Currently I have too many boxes in my setup, linear PSU feeding Zen Stream, Topping DAC..would love to replace those 3 with Gustard and use it's own renderer. Tidal Connect is nice to have, but Bubbleupnp integration works for me as well.
However my main concern is that Gustard in preamp mode woukd degrade SQ (comparing to pure DAC mode).

 

[MartinWT]

The digital volume control works very well into power amplifiers, it's highly transparent sounding and the remote control and display size are fine for volume adjustment.

The ESS chipset uses 32-bit words for volume adjustment so there is zero resolution loss until silly low volume settings below -70dB. For comparison, I listen at -12dB.

 

[trent999]

The digital volume control works very well into power amplifiers, it's highly transparent sounding and the remote control and display size are fine for volume adjustment.

The ESS chipset uses 32-bit words for volume adjustment so there is zero resolution loss until silly low volume settings below -70dB. For comparison, I listen at -12dB.

Thank you Martin, much appreciated..

 

[sendler2112]

I find the X26III to be Best price/ performance DAC on the market. There is so much hype on the Cyan2 thread, which I wouldn't like if not for upsampling with HQ Player. I actually prefer the R26. The X26III is better yet. Very underrated.

 

[Tom Traubert]

Hi everyone.

I am contemplating the x26 iii, as my next step towards audiobliss. Currently I am using the allo USBridge powered by the allo shanti lps feeding a Topping E70 dac feeding an Audiophonics LPA-S400ET purifi based. As streaming software I use moodeaudio. I mainly playback from usb-storrage, but occasionally I listen to radio or connect phone via Bluetooth - for ease, not for sound quality.

I want to simplify my setup with fewer boxes, and hopefully easier use including simpler streaming software and improved sound quality.

My concern is mainly the streamer-functionality: Now for the questions.
1. are you satisfied with the Gustard as a streamer?
2. is it possible to set-up radio channels like on moode audio?
3. I guess I have to connect til USB-storage to the router?

Answers and any advice are highly appreciated.

 

[lexx21]

Hi everyone.

I am contemplating the x26 iii, as my next step towards audiobliss. Currently I am using the allo USBridge powered by the allo shanti lps feeding a Topping E70 dac feeding an Audiophonics LPA-S400ET purifi based. As streaming software I use moodeaudio. I mainly playback from usb-storrage, but occasionally I listen to radio or connect phone via Bluetooth - for ease, not for sound quality.

I want to simplify my setup with fewer boxes, and hopefully easier use including simpler streaming software and improved sound quality.

My concern is mainly the streamer-functionality: Now for the questions.
1. are you satisfied with the Gustard as a streamer?
2. is it possible to set-up radio channels like on moode audio?
3. I guess I have to connect til USB-storage to the router?

Answers and any advice are highly appreciated.

I can answer question 2 for you.... you don't setup streaming services on the dac itself. It only has a renderer, not a full featured streamer per se. You would have to setup something like roon or volumio or the like. It uses the same type of renderer that I have on my r26.

I plan to also get a x26 iii next month.

I guess I can also answer question 3 as well.... you would need to hook your usb storage to your streaming solution. I have a 2tb ssd plugged into a nuc running roon rock. I upload my ripped cds to the drive through roon and use roon to stream out to the gustard renderer.

 

[sendler2112]

HQ Player also has a Network Audio output. I have a wireless mesh router meshed to my main wifi and runs CAT cables from the laptop to the router and from the router to the Gustard DACs. I am still having unresolved disconnects though. The USB always plays fine but the NAA stream sounds better.