I bought R26 after your review, I'm thinking if it wouldn't be a tip to get an A26, to keep them both:) You're doing an excellent job Sandu, things are becoming so clear, a real help!
This hobby is about listening to your recommendations , acknowledging your were right and being happy with it . Not a fanboy comment, IT'S LITERALLY MY STORY. While I'm happy with what I own now and not interested in this new Gustard release...DAMN, LOOKS GOOD! Thank you, Sandu, for your work, your efforts matter and are not unnoticed!
I'm dying to find out how much farther I can go based on what I'm hearing now. Given what I see inside the chassis, I have high hopes for some improvement. There seems to be no end to the level or clarity you can get if you chase down noise enough. I can't affect the internal of my DAC but everything I've done to the data leading up to it and shielding the thing itself has helped tremendously. So, looking at what Gustard has done internally, my current DAC shouldn't be able to compete, so looking for even more clarity and fullness. If Amazon hadn't put that item in front of me, I'd happily listen to my rig and would be continuing on with tuning my room. I'm at the point where I can play anything and it just sounds like the performance, things are balanced, depth, width, dynamics, very well textured bass, all the things that let you listen and not think about the equipment. A loud session doesn't leave me with that achy feeling in my ears. Others have commented the same that have listened. I won't be mad if I quickly return this thing (I'll let it run in for a couple of weeks first before I make my final decision of course).
I got my R26 a week ago. After reading the thoughts here I feel I made right decision. I prefer a bigger soundstage over slightly more focused imaging. I suppose it comes down to personal taste and associated equipment
I would love to know peoples opinion who have compared Chord Qutest with the Gustard offerings (A26/R26). I am about to upgrade from my Chord Mojo, and Qutest seemed the natural progression. Also much easier to buy from my local store in the UK with good warranty. However, i am extremely tempted with the Gustard A26, especially as most reviews suggest it is better than the Qutest by some margin. If it really is that good, i could put up with buying direct from China and hope there are no issues with the build quality and longevity of the DAC. Also the connectivity is much better than the Qutest.
Can I say Gustard has THE CLEANEST BEST LOOKING ARCHITECTURE of a dac I've seen? As a Gustard owner of a DAC Unit and a DDC unit I can only salute their craftsmanship and engineering prowess as I know how good those things sound. Love also the new outside design, GREAT TEAM! Almost as good as you🤗
After the SMSL D400EX I now own the A26 and this is the first DAC (number 6) where I don't feel immediately like modifying it. It is THAT GOOD. An endgame DAC, finally! Beware, it needs one week break-in, which is most likely due to the specific Nichicon UKW series caps they have used all over. Those are notorious for long break-in. A better fuse is welcome. My Mutec reclocker is useless for this DAC. The digital section is rock solid. My greatest surprise was that my modded dCS network bridge via AES outperformed the built-in steamer. Not by a huge margin, but noticeable. Neither does it make my HPA4 preamp redundant.
Sandu I would appreciate a comparison between the A26 and the X26Pro. I tried the R26 at my local HiFi store and quickly determined that it is not for me. The R2R sound is just not my cup of tea - it sounds a lot less detailed compared to chip-based DACs, and I don't like too much loss of detail, even if the soundstage improves slightly. With R2R, in my opinion, the sound is all jumbled up together, "muffled" almost... Detail is what makes music so engaging, at least for me. Hearing sounds in my music that I had never heard before. Although I do acknowledge that there is such a thing as too much detail (which can quickly become sharp, shrill, and fatiguing)... So yeah, hope you can do an A26 vs X26Pro video soon! I don't want to go wrong, especially at $1500! Cheers! PS: Gustard also just released an H26 headphone amp. I saw it on Aliexpress I think...
The ethernet streamer sounds better than the USB input is deal-breaker for me. For goodness sake, the Roon server costs more than the A26 itself, and you have to add the Roon core or software, whatever it is called into the mix as well. Oh, I forget, you have to have a dedicated preamp, as well, to get the best out of it. The list goes on...
I have the Enleum 23R and Susvaras and am looking for a DAC. So far my favorite the Chord Qutest but wouldn’t mind a little wider soundstage and a little more bass oomph. Do you think the a26 or r26 would be better?
Hi, I have that exact setup and I also tried the Qutest many times before. A26 would feel like a substantial improvement in naturalness, bass and midrange presence, plus it's even more technical than Qutest. If you need an ever deeper and wider sound, plus a fuller-bodied experience, then R26 would be that unit. Pick your poison
I didn't even know this was a thing. I've been too busy improving my rigs data situation and fine tuning the room (which brings tremendous gains). While looking for something entirely unrelated on Amazon, Amazon being Amazon is like "hey, Gustard A26 $1499, Get it by Tomorrow...". I'm already interested in the brand due to the R26 ,but the price caught my attention. Then I saw the internals and the component choices. Yeah, I hit Buy Now and read the reviews (your's in text form) afterwards. In a nutshell, I'm super excited -- the DAC should arrive today. The internal design hits most of the points that I need to consider it, it looks to be built so well for the money. That case looks pretty substantial for $1500 as well. I'm not surprised at the price. I'm just glad to read that the chips perform better than the discrete version of the ladder dac -- makes more sense (regardless of how anyone might prefer it). I also don't think ladder DACs are so magical because of the discrete logic components, except in the analog section, which I think is typically always discrete and biased more towards Class A operation. That last part makes a huge difference. Comparing any of the budget DACS that are not capable of swapping op-amps is not even fair. In my case it was easy to hear the difference between the Topping DAC with its TI op-amps and the SparkOS op-amps. You would think that you were hearing totally different devices between the two configurations.
Hi . Great video. I just got my A26 and have it hooked into a Shanling ET3 CD transport with Shanling I2S cable. It won't do DSD and it gives a feedback sound when i stop the song I'm playing XLR cables Sennheiser AMBEO MAX sound bar. I tried connecting with a Toslink but it says unlock underneath the OPT on the screen and won't do anything. Any ideas?
Well, a few minutes in with the A26 and it immediately stomps my PS Audio GainCell DAC. It further refines and expands on the sound I get currently with my Topping DX7-Pro with SparkOS op-amps, mostly wrapped in some folded up faraday material (helps a lot) and it's fed by I2S from a SMSL DDC. After about 20 minutes of listening to the A26 (using Roon over ethernet) I heard things expand a bit, more detail, a little smoother sounding. It never sounded etched, but it had that congested sound like most new things do. I don't know how long this thing needs to settle in, but Ill leave it running playing music for the next week or so. I really like what I'm hearing, very balanced, detailed, and the sound stage sounds a little further back than I'm used to, but everything is solid and so damn present. I guess this isn't going back.
@@georgescookie So to add to the original post, I thought I was crazy, but the sound changed within 5 minutes, like the usual new item sound "issues", then I started noticing more minor but consistent fluctuations in too many things to understand what it was, but my ears said "this is not normal". Then it just settled, opened up a bit, and just started getting clearer from there. It's been playing music for 3 days now and it feels way better on my ears, regardless of content -- you are not lying. In other news, I realize that my pre-amp is hindering the performance of the DAC. I run the DAC straight into my amps now. The sound is incredible, so silent in the background. Imaging is incredible. That -139db crosstalk spec has to have some truth to it, sure sounds like it. I have my A26 running straight into PS Audio M700 amps. My speakers are 98db sensitive. In my room, with spirited listening sessions I still have enough left on the volume to hurt myself when the "dial" runs out. Makes for a finer volume control, which by the why is balanced sounding -- I could not detect any issues with balance of any concern. I am going over my collection with this unit and hearing things for the first time, AGAIN.
@@tupuhumuhumunukunukuapuaa3093 Yep it's good..as a side note, I had the R26 and while it sounded good, it sounded a bit soft and a bit grainy for my liking, no doubt the R2R aspect at play..the A26 was clear, open, exciting, dynamic, just to my liking. I believe my search for the 'DAC for me' is now finally over.
@@georgescookie To me that kind of sound isn't committing any fouls really, however I prefer something a little more defined. This is what I've been after. Seems to me that ESS based products have this super clean sound to them that if not handled right on the analog side can sound way too analytical, and NOS (judging by the simulated filter on the A26) sounds sloppy in comparison but I hear why some might like or even prefer it. In the default mode I hear a combination of both. Clean, but nicely textured, deep and wide soundstage, precise location of elements within the recording, and on well mixed recordings you certainly feel like you're listening to music within a defined space, at a performance. I like that it sounds so full bodied and articulate without embellishing any aspect of the reproduction, doing so without sounding/feeling boring.
@@tupuhumuhumunukunukuapuaa3093 Yep totally agree, it combines the highlights of each, the main issue for me with R26 was the softness, the A26 can provide attack in a smooth way which is some trick to pull off, no doubt because of the AKM chip but still retain the openness and instrument sepearement in a clear, refined but exciting manner.
Man those Chord units on the picture in your review are just fabulous! They look like alien made technology. Chord for me has one of the best designs ever!
Hi there! thank you for the video!! I have been looking at the A26 but haven't pulled the trigger yet bc there is not much info on how to use an iOS or android devise to play music with it. Can you confirm if I could use either devise? Cheers from Mexico City!
You’re the dac king no doubt, trust this mans reviews he speaks the truth and his electronics tell him the truth. Happy I listened to you and am loving every day with my r26. So special!
@@rodrigoarias390 as far as audio source components go it was a lot better, not even close. The ares slower, more muted, bass is softer and highs kind of sound artificially tilted up. The gustard is far more spacious, precise and detailed. Still keep a magic midrange with gustard though, the r2r section is beautiful.
Great review. Seems like a great dac. I have a question. I have an Eversolo DMP-A8 streamer. The dac section of the A8 uses one ak4499 chip, while the Gustard A26 uses a pair of ak4499 chips into the ak4191. You mentioned that this configuration make the A26 a fully balanced dac. Does that mean the dac section of the DMP-A8 is not fully balanced? Thanks in advance for your time and insight.
The way I think the A8 is engineeed is 1 x AK4191EQ + 1 x AK4499EXEQ two-chip solution which i believe akm engineered to split a dac across 2 chips. The gustard A26 uses 1 x AK4191EQ + 2 x AK4499EXEQ . My question is, if the A26 is "fully balanced" does that mean the DMP-A8 is not fully balanced?
Доброго дня! Как Вы считаете какой ЦАП лучше подойдёт в систему.,использую интегральный усилитель denon pma sx11 , напольные колонки Yamaha NS 1000x, ( акустика достаточно звонкая и нейтральная, закрытого типа имеет не очень выраженные низкие частоты) ЦАП smsl su-1, слушаю файлы хорошего разрешения с жёсткого диска, который подсоединён к ноутбуку, преимущественно джаз,классику инструментальную музыку,вокал. Сравниваю gustard а26 и smsl d400ex.
Thanks for the review! I followed your advice I bought it and it's wonderful! only problem I can not find any difference on the filters! is it mine or can someone help me? on other dacs i always felt the differences between nos and others !!! Thanks in advance
I bought the R26 based on your review and so far, very good. What is the advantage of having a Roon Nucleus with Ethernet if I'm streaming fine with a USB into my MacBook Pro directly? How does it actually enhance the audio quality? My wifi connection is actually very fast! I have both Qobuz and Tidal.
Brian, I'm sorry but I can't juggle with your money. You need to decide which one is suitable for you. PS: I didn't try the La Scalla. PS2: maybe you should go with a Linn DAC instead?
If you are coming from Pontus 2, then check my Gustard R26 review, I left plenty of impressions versus Denafrips and Musician units. TLDR version is, that R26 sounded better to me.
The streamer capabilities seem to be an after thought in these Gustard devices. Skipping using the built in Roon bridge gets annoying. I feel the A26 has a nicer sound to me than the R26.
I use Chord Dacs(mojo2 and Hugo2 ) which is the standard for me in Timing and transient response, and PRAT. You think Gustard with this unit achieved the same fast sound like Chord dacs ?
Waited for this one :) You mentiond that the A26 has better sound stage than the VMV D2, what about the rest of performance? I suppose it would be better detail wise and low end impact. What about the tonality? And sound separation?
VMV D2 is still an amazing unit, the only thing that it lacks is "tightness/control" and ultimate detail retrieval. D2 can't do that very well, things that A26 is doing better. I recommend checking out the written article for an in-depth look at A26.
Hi Sandu, in your written review you list... "DDCs: Denafrips Gaia, Singxer SU-6, Matrix X-SPDIF 3" Which of these three is your best recommendation for A26? Thank you.
Good review, has anyone compared A26 to Topping D90SE which I own at the moment. I’m quite into clinical/flat sound, Topping is average on soundstage. Do you think A26 is an upgrade to D90SE?
I prefer 🍮 🍮 custard's 😋😋 yummy! Certainly one to consider in the future maybe. Good review, thanks. FN - Chord are a rip off 💲💲 I wonder how this compares to a Holomay 3 or a Schiit Yggy OG?
Thank you very much for this outstanding review. For convenience, I would like to know a bit more about the streamer capabilities since I tend to use Apple Music more and more. Is A26 airplay compatible ? This is not clear for me. Sometimes I see a "AirPlay" Sticker, sometimes not. And if it is Airplay compatible, what will A26 say as received sound quality ? 16/44 ? Have you tried this specifically ? Thank you very much.
Yes, there is something about this "velvet sound" by AKM. The A26 looks like a much more serious build than my D400EX, which sounds very nice after some modifications. And the Gustard must be the first DAC ever where I see Panasonic POSCAP capacitors (the black rectangles with the plus sign printed on them). I use those everywhere. Alas, the bigger ones don't sound that great. The only gripes with the A26 that I have is the electrolytic coupling caps between the IV stage and output stage. I hate coupling caps. They always distort the sound.
Hello, you seem expert! I don't, I read how Sandu confirmed that it's not total class A discrete like x26pro and R26 !! what do you think? Your smsl 400 ex before your changes would you recommend it? Thanks
@@221298ale The A26 is not fully discrete. I wouldn't worry about it. The D400 is a good DAC. As always it depends on your personal taste. For me, it sounded a little too soft in its original state. I modded mine to sound something in between the typical crispy ESS sound and the D400 original. I am in the AKM camp now!
@@hermannschmidt9788 Smsl 400 is beautiful soft and romantic and "perhaps" there is more air in the highs! Gustard A 26 more precise and performing but a bit more boring and gray! is it hard to edit like yours? Thank you, like many others, I rely on people like you and Sandu! thanks again for the support! have a good day
So, if Gustard X26 Pro and R26 had a baby...it would be the A26. Blend of the best of both and exceeding those in certain areas? The fact that Gustard is developing a Pre for these dacs only leaves one to choose a proper amp/s and speakers (and headphones) for ones needs. End game for a still "reasonable or achievable" cost in the world of audiophilia? No need to spend anymore if your only going after "very incremental" crumbs of improvement?
Hi, I tried to reply to to in my comment but it's seems that it vanished for some reason. I don't know what happened to 2 of the R26, but one was obviusly malfunction and the other my friend bought is dull and not so engaging. Maybe we both had bad luck...
@@ilandvash6746 QC has been an issue for me wanting to upgrade to more expensive dacs, particularly SMSL but also Gustard as I have been reading more issues online. If the A26 seems to hold up over the next several months with people who have purchased I might consider. Still have my Topping D70s with no issue in 2 years and also Aune X8 with Sparkos with no issues other than a couple of short blips/cutouts at first which never reappeared. Could have been the transport or the CD itself, power fluctuation, etc., but has been flawless since. To get better than either of those two, you would have to spend alot more but hesitant if there are QC issues. Where do you go to have a dac serviced if the manufacturer doesn't make service readily available or reasonable? Out of the Chinese dacs, Topping seems to have the best reputation for reliability and longevity with some reporting many years of perfect service. That counts for something.
@@nc3419 I think my friend make a big error buying Gustard R26. The sound is dull, sounds like an old radio and nothing as said on those videos. I think that my old Denon 8500 with internal DAC sounds more engaging and fun. For me, Gustard is a game of odds..
@@ilandvash6746 Thanks and sorry for your friend's experience. Also, does he keep it on all the time? R2Rs are known for having to remain on for a long period of time to sound their best. Hours may not do it, it needs to be left on all the time. One of the reasons I like Chip dacs more, they sound good even when turned on from standby and better within a short amount of time. That could be the issue if he is turning it off at night.
@@nc3419 thank you very much for your answer. Yes, it's on all the time and playing online radio, but the sound is dull and not engaging. Although I like it with good recorded songs, on high volume, to enjoy music, I would buy a chip dac (not gustard). It's incredible how my old denon 8500 receiver (on preamp mode) is so good, even better than the SMSL M400 that I had. But I believe that the newer chip dacs are excellent.
Witaj.interesuje mnie chord qutest bądź A26. Stanąłem przed wyborem i nie wiem który z nich bardziej będzie bliski brzmienia analogu. Coś do mojej lampy unison research s6 coś co poszerzy scenę i dorzuci detali. Jak myślisz chord czy gustard? Dzięki z góry
Hello, thanks for another great review :-) Is it possible to turn ON/OFF device via remote? I remember that previous models like A22 required push of physical button and it was not possible to control it via remote. Thanks in advance for your reply!
Hi mate, once your turn the switch on its back to ON position it will enter stand-by mode, after which you can turn it On or Off with the included remote control
Thank you for this review! I listen a lot of well-recorded electronic music, but also older stuff with poorer quality. I'm looking for the DAC that would give the best in both listening situations, whether it's good in electronics, pop, rock but also when it's older. My preamp and amps are Rotel, my HP Totem Forest. Which DAC do you think would be the best, A26 or R26? Thank you again
Hi, I wanted to ask you for your opinion. Since I'm not interested in streaming, are there other types of DACs that you could recommend with these chips without the streaming implementation? I'm a fan of upsampling listening to DSD 256 using HQPlayer as a player with a discontinued Topping D70S DAC. by changing DAC I could improve my listening even further and take a step forward. Thank you
Hello, My only audio source being Apple Music via IPad connected via USB to the DAC (so, Hi-Res, not airplay), Should I go for: - Gustard R26 (since Apple Music is PCM thus meant for R2R), - Gustard A26 (but then A26 (DS) will transform PCM in DSD). What is the most obvious choice in this situation according to you. Is R26 the natural choice for PCM files and A26 for DSD. Or is it… more complicated ? Thank you so much.
Hi, Which DAC to chose between R26 and A26 with a Technics SU-G700 m2? The Tecnics is a FDA so the R6 seems to be the best choice... Thanks for your advice 😅
Thank you for your excellent review. The video, but for sure the writer review is just great. I have a question: You use the Reference XLR 40 Analogue, did you try other interconnects?
Great seeing a shift in the design mentality of DSs. Could you include the HIFIMAN EF-400 DAC/AMP to your to-be-reviewed list? Bought it a few weeks ago and I'm mighty impressed with it's price to performance value. Would love to hear your take on it.
@Soundnews - Would connect Gustard A26 to SMSL AL200 or A300? What is the cheapest AMP you would recommend connecting this DAC to? I listen to vocals and classical music at lower volumes using LS50 meta. Thanks.
Yes, it's a chip based DAC. It will have a more impactful sound but less sound stage. The Gustard R26 is an R2R DAC like the Pegasus except a bit better.
Sounds like when you say Gustard you're saying Goose Turd. Okay maybe too much tweeds for me today. Thx for the review. I'm gonna go read a book w/ pictures now.
Never had English in school, nor in university and master degree years. Learned it from my tunes and movies, nothing I can do about my accent 😅 PS: "I'm gonna go read a book w/ pictures now." - too funny, should I make them shorter next time?
@Soundnews or anyone else - which amp (lower cost is preferred) would you pair it with? Listing to vocals and classical music using LS50 (RUclips music). Thanks.
Would really like it if you could review the topping e70 velvet dac. And maybe compare it to smsl m500 mkiii to see if it could be dethroned in that price range 😀
What about Gustard A26 vs Singxer SDA-6 pro ? They both have a great reviews and sound (i didnt hear both of them). I wish to know which of them is better? Anyone compare them?
I love your reviews and I hate to make this comment but I’m going to ask anyway. Please if possible, next investment you make on your channel to upgrade your microphone for audio vocal or some type of sound treatment to lower the echoey sound reflection from the room. It’s sometimes hard to hear what you say with your accent and I think it’s the microphone you’re using. I listen to your videos all the time and I have to constantly go back to try and understand well because the mix between accent and microphone isn’t in your favor. Your accent is fine but when paired with the microphone it isn’t. I’ve used multiple devices and it’s always the same issue. 🙏
@@Soundnews ahhhh okay. Thanks for letting me know. Really appreciate you doing that already. By the way I’ve been reading your articles on your website and I’m absolutely blown away at the thoroughly extensive and articulate written reviews you have on their! Absolutely amazing! Bravo sir!! First time I get a DAC and your material is really helping me make an informed decision. I’m looking at the Eversolo DMPA6 Gustard X18 or even the X26PRO. Decisions decisons. I only have JBL 4309 with Misocal Fidelity M2SI but the matching is perfect and for the cost it is very very good. I don’t want to overspend on a DAC but I want to squeeze every little ounce of the set up I have. Open to any suggestions if you have any. Thanks and keep up the great work. Seriously considering being a patreon.
Interesting, I’m time traveling through RUclips… As a headphone set user…( Audeze LCDX 2021 ) on a Bryston BHA-1 amplifier ..looking to upgrade my DAC . Moving from mid fi Topping DAC ..but something you said..caught my attention You don’t notice as much change in the DAC performance when using headphones..🤔 So how high can ( should) you go in a headphone system 🤷🏻♂️
With lcdx i wouldnt go with a dac that costs more than double the price you paid for it. Will it resolve the differences at that point? Yes but youre getting more value in the sub-$1500 price bracket. For totl stuff like utopia, susvara, higher end zmf, final d8kple etc, the skys the limit. I know people with $15k dacs with susvara that are still chasing upgrades. But below totl stuff id say the value is half the price of your headphones, double the price of your headphones is where you could probably get a bigger upgrade by just putting the money into upgrading your headphones
@@chunkycheesemonkey99Sering that LCDX is almost $2k cdn ..I went with the new Denafrips Ares 12-1 DAC ..and it’s a very good match for my set up. And yes, better headphones are always a good thing 👍
Great Review! If you Will Review smsl su9 pro, please compare ir with smsl vmv d1 se AND smsl do 200 mkii .Thanks. love your reviews, aré very insightfull AND just great!
I received mine 10 days ago. It is very good UNLESS your music contains guitars and kick drums lol. Mid base is barely there to a point that a kick drum is lost behind the bass guitar. One mostly hears the membranes without the case so basically it sounds kind of empty. Also the guitars sound ethereal and have no bite and dynamism as they should. It is unacceptable that my old Burson its clearly better in these regions. It does sound big and I was extremely happy in the beginning. Then I tried jazz and heavy metal and rock and basically everything that has some beat. The guitars are just there and then you forget they are there. The streamer has disconnections occasionally and the screen is too dim at the bright setting, even in the dark. So disappointed :''(
It’s your gear. Yes the streamer is not that great in the A26. I wish it was not even included as it’s apparent that they used minimal resources to support it. The Dac though is exceptional. Very dynamic sound.
@@TheAudioTimes It’s not the gear. How does complete about this character too. Who said anything about not being dynamic? There are other more important things missing.
Hello, which dac do you recommend for connecting to the integrated amplifier (Marantz pm 6006), and the speakers are Klipsch RP500. Budget around 300 euros. SMSL SU-9 N??? Thank you.
I bought R26 after your review, I'm thinking if it wouldn't be a tip to get an A26, to keep them both:) You're doing an excellent job Sandu, things are becoming so clear, a real help!
My pleasure
Great review as always, very in depth and interesting. The written one is awesone. Good job. And I'm looking forward to this new pre-amp from Gustard.
Thanks! I'm looking forward to that one as well
This hobby is about listening to your recommendations , acknowledging your were right and being happy with it . Not a fanboy comment, IT'S LITERALLY MY STORY. While I'm happy with what I own now and not interested in this new Gustard release...DAMN, LOOKS GOOD! Thank you, Sandu, for your work, your efforts matter and are not unnoticed!
I'm dying to find out how much farther I can go based on what I'm hearing now. Given what I see inside the chassis, I have high hopes for some improvement. There seems to be no end to the level or clarity you can get if you chase down noise enough. I can't affect the internal of my DAC but everything I've done to the data leading up to it and shielding the thing itself has helped tremendously. So, looking at what Gustard has done internally, my current DAC shouldn't be able to compete, so looking for even more clarity and fullness.
If Amazon hadn't put that item in front of me, I'd happily listen to my rig and would be continuing on with tuning my room. I'm at the point where I can play anything and it just sounds like the performance, things are balanced, depth, width, dynamics, very well textured bass, all the things that let you listen and not think about the equipment. A loud session doesn't leave me with that achy feeling in my ears. Others have commented the same that have listened. I won't be mad if I quickly return this thing (I'll let it run in for a couple of weeks first before I make my final decision of course).
Ordered R26 week ago. And judging by comparison made right choise. Cause I preferred SMSL D300 over more detailed D400ES (owned both).
Another great in-depth review by _the_ DACman. Thank you !
Haha, it's always funny reading that title.
Great review. You're getting better and better all the time--even as you were already excellent.
Thank you!
Was eagerly waiting for this review 🙌
I got my R26 a week ago. After reading the thoughts here I feel I made right decision. I prefer a bigger soundstage over slightly more focused imaging. I suppose it comes down to personal taste and associated equipment
@@alexh5343
lexterminator is that you?
I would love to know peoples opinion who have compared Chord Qutest with the Gustard offerings (A26/R26).
I am about to upgrade from my Chord Mojo, and Qutest seemed the natural progression. Also much easier to buy from my local store in the UK with good warranty.
However, i am extremely tempted with the Gustard A26, especially as most reviews suggest it is better than the Qutest by some margin. If it really is that good, i could put up with buying direct from China and hope there are no issues with the build quality and longevity of the DAC. Also the connectivity is much better than the Qutest.
Can I say Gustard has THE CLEANEST BEST LOOKING ARCHITECTURE of a dac I've seen? As a Gustard owner of a DAC Unit and a DDC unit I can only salute their craftsmanship and engineering prowess as I know how good those things sound. Love also the new outside design, GREAT TEAM! Almost as good as you🤗
Not really the cleanest looking! I guess you are not aware of Denafrips DAC's..?
Holo spring + Singxer su6 are a pretty competitive combo to gustard.
smsl and matrix look much cleaner.
I undertstand A26 is better in bass departement and R26 get better high but wich one is better in the midrange area?
After the SMSL D400EX I now own the A26 and this is the first DAC (number 6) where I don't feel immediately like modifying it. It is THAT GOOD. An endgame DAC, finally! Beware, it needs one week break-in, which is most likely due to the specific Nichicon UKW series caps they have used all over. Those are notorious for long break-in. A better fuse is welcome. My Mutec reclocker is useless for this DAC. The digital section is rock solid. My greatest surprise was that my modded dCS network bridge via AES outperformed the built-in steamer. Not by a huge margin, but noticeable. Neither does it make my HPA4 preamp redundant.
Now you understand why I'm recommending the A26 & R26 left and right.
@@Soundnews I am waiting for the matching preamplifier. 😁 I am sure it will be excellent.
Sandu I would appreciate a comparison between the A26 and the X26Pro.
I tried the R26 at my local HiFi store and quickly determined that it is not for me. The R2R sound is just not my cup of tea - it sounds a lot less detailed compared to chip-based DACs, and I don't like too much loss of detail, even if the soundstage improves slightly.
With R2R, in my opinion, the sound is all jumbled up together, "muffled" almost...
Detail is what makes music so engaging, at least for me. Hearing sounds in my music that I had never heard before.
Although I do acknowledge that there is such a thing as too much detail (which can quickly become sharp, shrill, and fatiguing)...
So yeah, hope you can do an A26 vs X26Pro video soon! I don't want to go wrong, especially at $1500!
Cheers!
PS: Gustard also just released an H26 headphone amp. I saw it on Aliexpress I think...
The ethernet streamer sounds better than the USB input is deal-breaker for me. For goodness sake, the Roon server costs more than the A26 itself, and you have to add the Roon core or software, whatever it is called into the mix as well. Oh, I forget, you have to have a dedicated preamp, as well, to get the best out of it. The list goes on...
Wow! Outstanding. The written review is so detail. 👏👍
I have the Enleum 23R and Susvaras and am looking for a DAC. So far my favorite the Chord Qutest but wouldn’t mind a little wider soundstage and a little more bass oomph. Do you think the a26 or r26 would be better?
Hi, I have that exact setup and I also tried the Qutest many times before. A26 would feel like a substantial improvement in naturalness, bass and midrange presence, plus it's even more technical than Qutest. If you need an ever deeper and wider sound, plus a fuller-bodied experience, then R26 would be that unit. Pick your poison
I didn't even know this was a thing. I've been too busy improving my rigs data situation and fine tuning the room (which brings tremendous gains). While looking for something entirely unrelated on Amazon, Amazon being Amazon is like "hey, Gustard A26 $1499, Get it by Tomorrow...". I'm already interested in the brand due to the R26 ,but the price caught my attention. Then I saw the internals and the component choices. Yeah, I hit Buy Now and read the reviews (your's in text form) afterwards. In a nutshell, I'm super excited -- the DAC should arrive today. The internal design hits most of the points that I need to consider it, it looks to be built so well for the money. That case looks pretty substantial for $1500 as well.
I'm not surprised at the price. I'm just glad to read that the chips perform better than the discrete version of the ladder dac -- makes more sense (regardless of how anyone might prefer it). I also don't think ladder DACs are so magical because of the discrete logic components, except in the analog section, which I think is typically always discrete and biased more towards Class A operation. That last part makes a huge difference. Comparing any of the budget DACS that are not capable of swapping op-amps is not even fair. In my case it was easy to hear the difference between the Topping DAC with its TI op-amps and the SparkOS op-amps. You would think that you were hearing totally different devices between the two configurations.
I am getting this R26 soon. May I ask if most of your listening was in NOS or OS mode ?
Hi . Great video. I just got my A26 and have it hooked into a Shanling ET3 CD transport with Shanling I2S cable. It won't do DSD and it gives a feedback sound when i stop the song I'm playing XLR cables Sennheiser AMBEO MAX sound bar. I tried connecting with a Toslink but it says unlock underneath the OPT on the screen and won't do anything. Any ideas?
Well, a few minutes in with the A26 and it immediately stomps my PS Audio GainCell DAC. It further refines and expands on the sound I get currently with my Topping DX7-Pro with SparkOS op-amps, mostly wrapped in some folded up faraday material (helps a lot) and it's fed by I2S from a SMSL DDC. After about 20 minutes of listening to the A26 (using Roon over ethernet) I heard things expand a bit, more detail, a little smoother sounding. It never sounded etched, but it had that congested sound like most new things do. I don't know how long this thing needs to settle in, but Ill leave it running playing music for the next week or so. I really like what I'm hearing, very balanced, detailed, and the sound stage sounds a little further back than I'm used to, but everything is solid and so damn present. I guess this isn't going back.
My A26 needed about 100 hours to start opening up and the sound is still changing..for the better
@@georgescookie So to add to the original post, I thought I was crazy, but the sound changed within 5 minutes, like the usual new item sound "issues", then I started noticing more minor but consistent fluctuations in too many things to understand what it was, but my ears said "this is not normal". Then it just settled, opened up a bit, and just started getting clearer from there. It's been playing music for 3 days now and it feels way better on my ears, regardless of content -- you are not lying.
In other news, I realize that my pre-amp is hindering the performance of the DAC. I run the DAC straight into my amps now. The sound is incredible, so silent in the background. Imaging is incredible. That -139db crosstalk spec has to have some truth to it, sure sounds like it. I have my A26 running straight into PS Audio M700 amps. My speakers are 98db sensitive. In my room, with spirited listening sessions I still have enough left on the volume to hurt myself when the "dial" runs out. Makes for a finer volume control, which by the why is balanced sounding -- I could not detect any issues with balance of any concern.
I am going over my collection with this unit and hearing things for the first time, AGAIN.
@@tupuhumuhumunukunukuapuaa3093 Yep it's good..as a side note, I had the R26 and while it sounded good, it sounded a bit soft and a bit grainy for my liking, no doubt the R2R aspect at play..the A26 was clear, open, exciting, dynamic, just to my liking. I believe my search for the 'DAC for me' is now finally over.
@@georgescookie To me that kind of sound isn't committing any fouls really, however I prefer something a little more defined. This is what I've been after. Seems to me that ESS based products have this super clean sound to them that if not handled right on the analog side can sound way too analytical, and NOS (judging by the simulated filter on the A26) sounds sloppy in comparison but I hear why some might like or even prefer it. In the default mode I hear a combination of both. Clean, but nicely textured, deep and wide soundstage, precise location of elements within the recording, and on well mixed recordings you certainly feel like you're listening to music within a defined space, at a performance. I like that it sounds so full bodied and articulate without embellishing any aspect of the reproduction, doing so without sounding/feeling boring.
@@tupuhumuhumunukunukuapuaa3093 Yep totally agree, it combines the highlights of each, the main issue for me with R26 was the softness, the A26 can provide attack in a smooth way which is some trick to pull off, no doubt because of the AKM chip but still retain the openness and instrument sepearement in a clear, refined but exciting manner.
Man those Chord units on the picture in your review are just fabulous! They look like alien made technology. Chord for me has one of the best designs ever!
Hi there! thank you for the video!! I have been looking at the A26 but haven't pulled the trigger yet bc there is not much info on how to use an iOS or android devise to play music with it. Can you confirm if I could use either devise? Cheers from Mexico City!
Love all the DAC reviews! Any chance you will review the geshelli labs j2 dac, akm version?
Would be nice to see a comparison video of A26 to Denafrips pontus 2.
Superior all around! Thank you!
Another great review...good job !!! ❤️
Thanks man
You’re the dac king no doubt, trust this mans reviews he speaks the truth and his electronics tell him the truth. Happy I listened to you and am loving every day with my r26. So special!
Before you chose R26 what other dacs have you tried?
@@klepp19 denafrips ares 2, topping d90 and benchmark dac1 👍
@@robk5745 Thanks for sharing your experience with me!😊
@@robk5745 Hey Rob! How much better would you say the R26 is to the Ares 2? Did you compared to the Pontus 2 also? Thanks!
@@rodrigoarias390 as far as audio source components go it was a lot better, not even close. The ares slower, more muted, bass is softer and highs kind of sound artificially tilted up. The gustard is far more spacious, precise and detailed. Still keep a magic midrange with gustard though, the r2r section is beautiful.
Sandu quick question, for tube amp would you take the r26 or a26? (I'm headphones listener only)
Great review. Seems like a great dac. I have a question. I have an Eversolo DMP-A8 streamer. The dac section of the A8 uses one ak4499 chip, while the Gustard A26 uses a pair of ak4499 chips into the ak4191. You mentioned that this configuration make the A26 a fully balanced dac. Does that mean the dac section of the DMP-A8 is not fully balanced? Thanks in advance for your time and insight.
The A8 has two Akm chips as well.
The way I think the A8 is engineeed is 1 x AK4191EQ + 1 x AK4499EXEQ two-chip solution which i believe akm engineered to split a dac across 2 chips. The gustard A26 uses 1 x AK4191EQ + 2 x AK4499EXEQ . My question is, if the A26 is "fully balanced" does that mean the DMP-A8 is not fully balanced?
I was thinking how this DAC could sound with I2S via DDC, and a Clock input signal.
Доброго дня! Как Вы считаете какой ЦАП лучше подойдёт в систему.,использую интегральный усилитель denon pma sx11 , напольные колонки Yamaha NS 1000x, ( акустика достаточно звонкая и нейтральная, закрытого типа имеет не очень выраженные низкие частоты) ЦАП smsl su-1, слушаю файлы хорошего разрешения с жёсткого диска, который подсоединён к ноутбуку, преимущественно джаз,классику инструментальную музыку,вокал. Сравниваю gustard а26 и smsl d400ex.
Thanks for the review! I followed your advice I bought it and it's wonderful! only problem I can not find any difference on the filters! is it mine or can someone help me? on other dacs i always felt the differences between nos and others !!! Thanks in advance
I bought the R26 based on your review and so far, very good. What is the advantage of having a Roon Nucleus with Ethernet if I'm streaming fine with a USB into my MacBook Pro directly? How does it actually enhance the audio quality? My wifi connection is actually very fast! I have both Qobuz and Tidal.
Better than R and X ? Looking forward to the written review
Gustard A26 or should I go all out for the Aqua La Scalla mkll❓this way i feed my Linn Klimax pre amp with some tubes before the Yamaha M2 amp🤔❓
Brian, I'm sorry but I can't juggle with your money. You need to decide which one is suitable for you. PS: I didn't try the La Scalla. PS2: maybe you should go with a Linn DAC instead?
Better than Pontus 2? (which would you personally prefer)
If you are coming from Pontus 2, then check my Gustard R26 review, I left plenty of impressions versus Denafrips and Musician units. TLDR version is, that R26 sounded better to me.
Great review and sharing. Thanks.
The streamer capabilities seem to be an after thought in these Gustard devices. Skipping using the built in Roon bridge gets annoying. I feel the A26 has a nicer sound to me than the R26.
I use Chord Dacs(mojo2 and Hugo2 ) which is the standard for me in Timing and transient response, and
PRAT. You think Gustard with this unit achieved the same fast sound like Chord dacs ?
not a26
I was hoping for a good sound from the coaxial input but seems this is not the case...
Great review, thanks. Is the A26 adequate as a preamplifier?
He states in the video, no.
Can anyone answer this.... Is the Gustard P26 pre amp matching product line of the R or A26?
Waited for this one :) You mentiond that the A26 has better sound stage than the VMV D2, what about the rest of performance? I suppose it would be better detail wise and low end impact. What about the tonality? And sound separation?
VMV D2 is still an amazing unit, the only thing that it lacks is "tightness/control" and ultimate detail retrieval. D2 can't do that very well, things that A26 is doing better. I recommend checking out the written article for an in-depth look at A26.
I'm glad you asked and Sandu replied :)
Hi Sandu, in your written review you list... "DDCs: Denafrips Gaia, Singxer SU-6, Matrix X-SPDIF 3"
Which of these three is your best recommendation for A26? Thank you.
i heard Auidogd Di20HE is the best DDC from these
Good review, has anyone compared A26 to Topping D90SE which I own at the moment. I’m quite into clinical/flat sound, Topping is average on soundstage. Do you think A26 is an upgrade to D90SE?
Yes it absolutely will be
I prefer 🍮 🍮 custard's 😋😋 yummy!
Certainly one to consider in the future maybe. Good review, thanks.
FN - Chord are a rip off 💲💲
I wonder how this compares to a Holomay 3 or a Schiit Yggy OG?
You are my brother in faith!😘
You prefer Custards. You tart lol 😂🤣
A 12 v trigger is missing.
How would this compare to Chord Qutest, I wonder.
X26 Pro easily beats Qutest so I bet this would too.
Thank you very much for this outstanding review. For convenience, I would like to know a bit more about the streamer capabilities since I tend to use Apple Music more and more. Is A26 airplay compatible ? This is not clear for me. Sometimes I see a "AirPlay" Sticker, sometimes not. And if it is Airplay compatible, what will A26 say as received sound quality ? 16/44 ? Have you tried this specifically ? Thank you very much.
No airplay
Yes, there is something about this "velvet sound" by AKM. The A26 looks like a much more serious build than my D400EX, which sounds very nice after some modifications. And the Gustard must be the first DAC ever where I see Panasonic POSCAP capacitors (the black rectangles with the plus sign printed on them). I use those everywhere. Alas, the bigger ones don't sound that great. The only gripes with the A26 that I have is the electrolytic coupling caps between the IV stage and output stage. I hate coupling caps. They always distort the sound.
Hello, you seem expert! I don't, I read how Sandu confirmed that it's not total class A discrete like x26pro and R26 !! what do you think?
Your smsl 400 ex before your changes would you recommend it? Thanks
@@221298ale The A26 is not fully discrete. I wouldn't worry about it. The D400 is a good DAC. As always it depends on your personal taste. For me, it sounded a little too soft in its original state. I modded mine to sound something in between the typical crispy ESS sound and the D400 original. I am in the AKM camp now!
@@hermannschmidt9788 Smsl 400 is beautiful soft and romantic and "perhaps" there is more air in the highs! Gustard A 26 more precise and performing but a bit more boring and gray! is it hard to edit like yours? Thank you, like many others, I rely on people like you and Sandu! thanks again for the support! have a good day
@@221298ale Which dac would you prefer for rock/metal and jazz.
Hello, Would you be able to help if R26 vs A26, which one is better for HE1000V2
"flying earlobe's" Love it, lol! Cheers!
나이쓰 형님 ^^
So, if Gustard X26 Pro and R26 had a baby...it would be the A26. Blend of the best of both and exceeding those in certain areas? The fact that Gustard is developing a Pre for these dacs only leaves one to choose a proper amp/s and speakers (and headphones) for ones needs.
End game for a still "reasonable or achievable" cost in the world of audiophilia? No need to spend anymore if your only going after "very incremental" crumbs of improvement?
Hi, I tried to reply to to in my comment but it's seems that it vanished for some reason.
I don't know what happened to 2 of the R26, but one was obviusly malfunction and the other my friend bought is dull and not so engaging.
Maybe we both had bad luck...
@@ilandvash6746 QC has been an issue for me wanting to upgrade to more expensive dacs, particularly SMSL but also Gustard as I have been reading more issues online. If the A26 seems to hold up over the next several months with people who have purchased I might consider.
Still have my Topping D70s with no issue in 2 years and also Aune X8 with Sparkos with no issues other than a couple of short blips/cutouts at first which never reappeared. Could have been the transport or the CD itself, power fluctuation, etc., but has been flawless since. To get better than either of those two, you would have to spend alot more but hesitant if there are QC issues. Where do you go to have a dac serviced if the manufacturer doesn't make service readily available or reasonable?
Out of the Chinese dacs, Topping seems to have the best reputation for reliability and longevity with some reporting many years of perfect service. That counts for something.
@@nc3419 I think my friend make a big error buying Gustard R26.
The sound is dull, sounds like an old radio and nothing as said on those videos.
I think that my old Denon 8500 with internal DAC sounds more engaging and fun.
For me, Gustard is a game of odds..
@@ilandvash6746 Thanks and sorry for your friend's experience. Also, does he keep it on all the time? R2Rs are known for having to remain on for a long period of time to sound their best. Hours may not do it, it needs to be left on all the time. One of the reasons I like Chip dacs more, they sound good even when turned on from standby and better within a short amount of time. That could be the issue if he is turning it off at night.
@@nc3419 thank you very much for your answer.
Yes, it's on all the time and playing online radio, but the sound is dull and not engaging.
Although I like it with good recorded songs, on high volume, to enjoy music, I would buy a chip dac (not gustard).
It's incredible how my old denon 8500 receiver (on preamp mode) is so good, even better than the SMSL M400 that I had.
But I believe that the newer chip dacs are excellent.
I returned mine. Soundstage was intially 'wow', but overall I thought it was tonally thin. Maybe the R26 will be more to my taste 🤞
how long did you let in run in? What dac did you have previously , or right now?
Witaj.interesuje mnie chord qutest bądź A26. Stanąłem przed wyborem i nie wiem który z nich bardziej będzie bliski brzmienia analogu.
Coś do mojej lampy unison research s6 coś co poszerzy scenę i dorzuci detali.
Jak myślisz chord czy gustard?
Dzięki z góry
Wypożycz i posłuchaj w domu albo w salonie
You look so tired yet you shared this video ! Thank you very much hope u have relaxed life as well !!
Thank you!
Chord Dave Dac ! Puts out 18 Bit Fact 😮😅😊
Hi,great reviews always. What do you think betwen tis A 26 and the matrix sabre 3 that is more expensibe? Thanks you, congratulations.
So, how do you think these two Gustards compare to Denafrips in this range overall?
Thanks for the great reviews.
Hello, thanks for another great review :-) Is it possible to turn ON/OFF device via remote? I remember that previous models like A22 required push of physical button and it was not possible to control it via remote. Thanks in advance for your reply!
Hi mate, once your turn the switch on its back to ON position it will enter stand-by mode, after which you can turn it On or Off with the included remote control
@@Soundnews Thanks a lot Sandu! Finally no need to get up from couch to turn DAC on and off - remote can be used for that ;-)
Thank you for this review! I listen a lot of well-recorded electronic music, but also older stuff with poorer quality. I'm looking for the DAC that would give the best in both listening situations, whether it's good in electronics, pop, rock but also when it's older. My preamp and amps are Rotel, my HP Totem Forest. Which DAC do you think would be the best, A26 or R26? Thank you again
TDA 1541
Hi, I wanted to ask you for your opinion. Since I'm not interested in streaming, are there other types of DACs that you could recommend with these chips without the streaming implementation? I'm a fan of upsampling listening to DSD 256 using HQPlayer as a player with a discontinued Topping D70S DAC. by changing DAC I could improve my listening even further and take a step forward. Thank you
Hello,
My only audio source being Apple Music via IPad connected via USB to the DAC (so, Hi-Res, not airplay),
Should I go for:
- Gustard R26 (since Apple Music is PCM thus meant for R2R),
- Gustard A26 (but then A26 (DS) will transform PCM in DSD).
What is the most obvious choice in this situation according to you.
Is R26 the natural choice for PCM files and A26 for DSD.
Or is it… more complicated ?
Thank you so much.
Hi,
Which DAC to chose between R26 and A26 with a Technics SU-G700 m2?
The Tecnics is a FDA so the R6 seems to be the best choice...
Thanks for your advice 😅
Having a hard time deciding between Qutest and A26..
What was your conclusion?
Thank you for your excellent review. The video, but for sure the writer review is just great. I have a question: You use the Reference XLR 40 Analogue, did you try other interconnects?
Great seeing a shift in the design mentality of DSs. Could you include the HIFIMAN EF-400 DAC/AMP to your to-be-reviewed list? Bought it a few weeks ago and I'm mighty impressed with it's price to performance value. Would love to hear your take on it.
How does the Holo May KTE compare to the Gustard A26
Really enjoyed this review. Liked and subscribed. can I connect to my Cambridge Axa 35 amp to this and use it as my source?
Thanks
@Soundnews - Would connect Gustard A26 to SMSL AL200 or A300? What is the cheapest AMP you would recommend connecting this DAC to? I listen to vocals and classical music at lower volumes using LS50 meta. Thanks.
I've got the Musician Pegasus, would this be very different?
Yes, it's a chip based DAC. It will have a more impactful sound but less sound stage. The Gustard R26 is an R2R DAC like the Pegasus except a bit better.
A26 better!
it needs better remote control to balance thing out.
Sounds like when you say Gustard you're saying Goose Turd. Okay maybe too much tweeds for me today. Thx for the review. I'm gonna go read a book w/ pictures now.
Never had English in school, nor in university and master degree years. Learned it from my tunes and movies, nothing I can do about my accent 😅 PS: "I'm gonna go read a book w/ pictures now." - too funny, should I make them shorter next time?
What is the difference from the gustard r26 discrete model, and which one is better in sound stage and depth?
@Soundnews What about compared to X26 PRO? What are the differences? Thank you
Shouldn’t the comparison be also between this and the Topping E70 velvet ?
Is it Roon Ready, can't find Gustard as a partner on their site.
Good afternoon. Which one is better suited for listening at low volume ? Neighbors ...))) Thanks.
Your speakers will make the biggest difference but to answer your question, he states that the A26 has more bass impact.
What is the best streamer to this dacs price performance level?
@Soundnews or anyone else - which amp (lower cost is preferred) would you pair it with? Listing to vocals and classical music using LS50 (RUclips music). Thanks.
Would really like it if you could review the topping e70 velvet dac. And maybe compare it to smsl m500 mkiii to see if it could be dethroned in that price range 😀
What will happen I connect it to Sonos amp or INFI Audio Stereo Tube Headphone Amplifier, Class AB?
What about Gustard A26 vs Singxer SDA-6 pro ? They both have a great reviews and sound (i didnt hear both of them). I wish to know which of them is better? Anyone compare them?
@soundnews i bought it, sorry but x26 pro is defintely better. I dont understand why you said that a26 is better
Whats better about it if you dont mind
@@chunkycheesemonkey99 more depth more bass, more musicality
I love your reviews and I hate to make this comment but I’m going to ask anyway. Please if possible, next investment you make on your channel to upgrade your microphone for audio vocal or some type of sound treatment to lower the echoey sound reflection from the room. It’s sometimes hard to hear what you say with your accent and I think it’s the microphone you’re using. I listen to your videos all the time and I have to constantly go back to try and understand well because the mix between accent and microphone isn’t in your favor. Your accent is fine but when paired with the microphone it isn’t. I’ve used multiple devices and it’s always the same issue. 🙏
I hear you loud and clear and you are 110% correct. Please check my latest videos, I changed my mic and preamp.
@@Soundnews ahhhh okay. Thanks for letting me know. Really appreciate you doing that already. By the way I’ve been reading your articles on your website and I’m absolutely blown away at the thoroughly extensive and articulate written reviews you have on their! Absolutely amazing! Bravo sir!! First time I get a DAC and your material is really helping me make an informed decision. I’m looking at the Eversolo DMPA6 Gustard X18 or even the X26PRO. Decisions decisons. I only have JBL 4309 with Misocal Fidelity M2SI but the matching is perfect and for the cost it is very very good. I don’t want to overspend on a DAC but I want to squeeze every little ounce of the set up I have. Open to any suggestions if you have any. Thanks and keep up the great work. Seriously considering being a patreon.
Do u know if Gustard makes a stand alone DAC?
Interesting, I’m time traveling through RUclips…
As a headphone set user…( Audeze LCDX 2021 ) on a Bryston BHA-1 amplifier ..looking to upgrade my DAC .
Moving from mid fi Topping DAC ..but something you said..caught my attention
You don’t notice as much change in the DAC performance when using headphones..🤔
So how high can ( should) you go in a headphone system 🤷🏻♂️
With lcdx i wouldnt go with a dac that costs more than double the price you paid for it. Will it resolve the differences at that point? Yes but youre getting more value in the sub-$1500 price bracket. For totl stuff like utopia, susvara, higher end zmf, final d8kple etc, the skys the limit. I know people with $15k dacs with susvara that are still chasing upgrades. But below totl stuff id say the value is half the price of your headphones, double the price of your headphones is where you could probably get a bigger upgrade by just putting the money into upgrading your headphones
@@chunkycheesemonkey99Sering that LCDX is almost $2k cdn ..I went with the new Denafrips Ares 12-1 DAC ..and it’s a very good match for my set up.
And yes, better headphones are always a good thing 👍
Great Review! If you Will Review smsl su9 pro, please compare ir with smsl vmv d1 se AND smsl do 200 mkii .Thanks. love your reviews, aré very insightfull AND just great!
im sure sounds great .. but what to say about the outside look ? such like a decoder ? simply horrble . imao .. cheers ...
Very muffled audio is coming with this particular video. Just letting you know.
If they can update the case of R26 to be like this, I'd buy it.. But with current one, just cannot
I received mine 10 days ago. It is very good UNLESS your music contains guitars and kick drums lol.
Mid base is barely there to a point that a kick drum is lost behind the bass guitar. One mostly hears the membranes without the case so basically it sounds kind of empty. Also the guitars sound ethereal and have no bite and dynamism as they should.
It is unacceptable that my old Burson its clearly better in these regions. It does sound big and I was extremely happy in the beginning. Then I tried jazz and heavy metal and rock and basically everything that has some beat. The guitars are just there and then you forget they are there. The streamer has disconnections occasionally and the screen is too dim at the bright setting, even in the dark. So disappointed :''(
It’s your gear. Yes the streamer is not that great in the A26. I wish it was not even included as it’s apparent that they used minimal resources to support it. The Dac though is exceptional. Very dynamic sound.
@@TheAudioTimes It’s not the gear. How does complete about this character too. Who said anything about not being dynamic? There are other more important things missing.
Its suprised me When 300-700mW wut dis metalic box provided..Ha2 Long live HPa4 frm benchmark. peace!
too hard to understand you... sorry
Turn on the sub
Hello, which dac do you recommend for connecting to the integrated amplifier (Marantz pm 6006), and the speakers are Klipsch RP500. Budget around 300 euros. SMSL SU-9 N??? Thank you.
TDA 1541