Gustard DAC-X26 impressions and discussions

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by Vtory, Apr 3, 2019.

  1. supersergios

    supersergios New

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    This seems to make the X26 look again, it is said bluntly and knowing what is being said. I have my eyes on the X26 again.

    I have the order already made from the A22, but I have time to change it, because the borders with China are closed because of the virus, and they don't send anything for another 17 days. But if you see so clearly that velvety will influence the Magnetoplanar I have no choice but to choose the X26.

    I am here to learn and decide later by making my own decision but thanks to everyone's conclusions, that you know more than me that I have never had a Dac. (Well yes, the one with the Sony XA50ES CD, which is still with me)
     
  2. supersergios

    supersergios New

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    ToppingD90 review:

     First, it is the first commercial DAC chip that challenged the powerful ESS 9038 PRO and exceeded some of its specifications.

     I will start by saying what I did not like about all the AKM-based designs I have heard so far. Absolutely all AKM designs, whether from Topping, Aune Audio, SMSL, xDuoo, FiiO and so on have a slight soft focus for music playback. They know how to get involved with their musical magic, with that heady flow and naturalness, with that impressive holography and placement of notes in the room. However, they never hit and hit my body like a serious DAC based on ESS. They never correctly showed me a clear bass note that can be sustained for a second or two. This is the only reason why Matrix Audio Element X stayed by my side no matter what happens, it may be soft, but it can also be a wild beast that unleashes fast and energetic bass notes that strike fast while in control total and have everything breathing and instead. This is the first time I can say the same about an AKM-based design. Ladies and gentlemen, D90 is fast, articulate and hits like a train when necessary. No roll-off sub-bass information and my usual boxing music such as electronics and rock started throwing punches at me, I finally felt a crazy amount of energy and impact. Finally, I can listen to my rock without feeling that something is missing in my music. In this sense, D90 is sounding like an adult, balls to the wall DAC with authority, has a raised chin and knows to impress a music fan like me. Finally, an AKM-based DAC with slam, speed and impact, the end must be close to certain.

    ( https://soundnews.net/sources/dacs/topping-d90-review-a-genre-master )

    ______

    Famish, Still reading this about 4499, do you still think I will have problems with the A22 with my Magneplanar speakers? 
    Won't that velvet problem be solved? According to this review that seems. what do you think?
     
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2020
  3. famish99

    famish99 Friend

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    Believe it or not DACs have sound qualities that can't be quantified with a singular number. If you want to take the word of people who don't frame impressions with any reference over the rest of this thread where people have shared their chains and frames of reference, be my guest. But I've owned Maggies and I know what they do well and what they don't, and I heard the x26 as part of the loaner and I find it a worthwhile piece of equipment to synergize with Maggies because they're a little bit richer than other 9038 based DACs and all Velvet sound DACs and have enough slam to compensate for the dynamic limitations of the Maggies (yes even with a sub).

    But if I suggest something and you repeatedly try to suggest the opposite with no real impressions formed from experience then you must be able to see why I choose not to engage you any further. This will be my final response on the matter.
     
  4. Dzerh

    Dzerh Friend

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    @supersergios from your posts looks like you came here for a confirmation for your decision to by A22, as soon as nobody auditioned it here nobody can help you, - ppl here rarely recommend stuff they haven't heard.
    then, most likely, you don't know what you want, so I'd recommend to look at less pricier options, to learn about chips house sound for DS DACs, or may be try different architectures.
     
  5. supersergios

    supersergios New

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    The first thing I want is to thank everyone for helping me, and for sharing your experiences and opinions, I have already said it. And above all I do not intend to despise anyone, I just like to have an opinion of someone who has listened with which Famish I thank you very much, as well as provide the information that I have to join it with the new one and be able to make a decision.

    I know that I have never had a Dac, I already start with the highest range, but that is not because I have a lot of money, it is because I do not want to take a lower one and then sell and buy a better one, that money is lost there ..

    I do not have the pretext of buying exclusively the A22, I am open to all opinions, but the man who makes the graphics and gives him a score, has expensive equipment to be able to measure and draw those conclusions, as valid as those of anyone ( except mine, which are simply reading each other). I will think again what to do. Thank you all for helping me. Greetings
     
  6. supersergios

    supersergios New

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    here they also talk about him (X26), I'm just getting impressions: 

    “Hey everyone! I got this DAC (Gustard X26) yesterday and have been playing around with it for a few hours. Am I really glad I checked the back of this amp before plugging it in! The sliders were set to 220V and not 110V. After searching for drivers I managed to get it working well with Foobar via Windows 10. I've gotten it to play DSD and all other resolution file types I've thrown at it. It is a fantastic sounding DAC, but there are a few issues I am having that may cause me to return it.


    Toslink does not work with 192khz files from my computer or my iBasso dx200. No matter what settings I put within the DAC, it will not play 192khz. (Meanwhile my SMSL SU-8 Version 2 plays 192khz via optical just fine.) I do not want to only depend on USB so I wonder if this DAC can even play 192khz via Toslink. I also cant seem to get DSD over PCM to work via optical either.


    Android (Galaxy Note 9 via USB) works well using USB Audio Player Pro and in other phone apps in general. However, I run into an odd issue.

    Whenever I play 192khz files, and I skip around within the song, or skip to the next track the songs severely glitch. The song slows down to about .25% percent speed, and then sounds like distorted 8-bit 1980's video-game music. Skipping around the track or even the album would give the same glitch. The only way to clear this is to exit the album. I can play any other high resolution PCM and I can't replicate this.


    The amplifier runs really warm, not hot, but close to it. Butter melting warm I'd describe it. I'm not sure if this is normal or not. “


    ( https://www.head-fi.org/threads/gustard-x26-dual-es9038pro-dac-with-ess-usb-chip.898368/page-4 )
     
  7. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    @supersergios is there a free returns policy where you’re buying from? I hope so because buying something this expensive when you’ve never heard it and you don’t really know what type of DAC you like is a recipe for disaster. I would encourage you to find a place you can return it if you don’t like it.

    Or better yet, scrap buying new and buy used instead. Try a few DACs and see what you like. If you get a decent deal on a used item, you can just flip it for the same/similar price if you don’t like it. You may lose a few bucks in shipping etc (depending if you can get a really good price or not), but that is pocket change compared to trying to offload a new unit. You don’t need the latest and greatest DAC to get great sound. Just make sure you only buy from someone reputable that has lots of feedback so you don’t get ripped off.
     
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2020
  8. supersergios

    supersergios New

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    No, no problem, the seller is reputed. The return with Aliexpress possible but complicated. And I don't want to be buying a simpler tac and then move on to a higher one, I'm just going to buy one, I don't know if my decision will be the right one, but whatever it is I will stay with him and I don't get any more. That is why I am now trying to say thanks to you and everything I read, which one suits me best. And from there reach the conclusions thanks to everyone's information, and respecting all opinions. For now the one that convinces me the most is that of fellow Famish since he has had the Magneplanar, but it is not believed that the review of another person who has put 10 points above the A22  is correct. there my great doubt, Famish than the X26 because if not I will not have hit and punch, and the other makes a review stating that this model already has it (And puts it at the same height as the $ 3,000 Matrix). Thanks to all this is why I still have doubts. But respecting everyone and trying to contrast opinions
     
  9. supersergios

    supersergios New

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    A good friend tells me:


    within the dacs that are in the blue graph, you will not notice differences

    in spite of having them between them, before the distortion by the amplification or the speakers will appear, the chain is broken by the weakest link and in this case they will be your Magneplanar. the level of the dacs that are in the top positions to notice their performance requires equipment of many thousands of euros

    the only certain thing is that akm leaves a more natural, flat sound, say audiophile
    /
    ess9038 is a more analytical, more detailed sound, that some like others less
     
  10. Dzerh

    Dzerh Friend

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    With DACs, it is not published/measured THD+N and IMD for simple sinus waves you should be worried about (any modern standalone DAC gets it covered), it is the way how a particular DAC presents music that may not suit your brain/ears. Unfortunately there are no measurements for that yet.
     
  11. supersergios

    supersergios New

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    My friend advises me to take the ToppingD90 * or the Gustard X26 **

     * ToppingD90 has a better implementation (as indicated by the review of the graphics and placed next to the Matrix). Apparently the same Dac may sound differently according to the components that have been chosen around him, and it seems that he has achieved it perfectly . Choose it if I want more image width

    ** Or choose the X26  if I want more brightness and details.

    I still think that it annoys me to choose the X26 and I will not have the image width, but my type of speakers need it and I really like the detail of any subtlety
     
  12. hifiandrun

    hifiandrun Almost "Made"

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    I feel your pain, but ruminating your thought to pollute a forum won't help you to release your pain. My two cents suggestions would be:
    1) look into a multiple-bit (MB) DAC such as the new Schiit Bifrost 2. Many people on the SBAF are with the MB DAC school.
    2) I heard the Gustard X26. I wouldn't describe the sound of X26 as bright. I would think that the brightness heard by your friend is due to system mismatching. True that it is not "velvet" soft as most AKM 449x based DAC. Several AKM chip based DACs that I heard, they all sounded very unnatural and unreal. The X26 can at least connect me to the music. But I personally do prefer multi-bit DAC sound. The timbre from the MB DAC is correct and they connect me to the music.
     
  13. supersergios

    supersergios New

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    Hello, it is not my intention to contaminate the forum, nor disrespect anyone. I'm just looking for information and the contrast with what I already have. I put my conclusions (which does not have to be the right ones), and try to decide the machine to buy. Once the device has arrived, I am sure it will be fine.

    Seen to take it into account: https: //www.schiit.com/products/bifrost-1 (I always listen to a tip, and thank you, thank you very much / I will study it) I do not quite understand what improvements the multi-bit brings. I would appreciate the explanation ..

    And within what the context takes, you understand that you would also choose the X26 before you sign the AKM. Heard kitchen
     
  14. crazychile

    crazychile Eastern Iowa's Spiciest Pepper

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    20 posts and still no introduction.....
     
  15. supersergios

    supersergios New

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    I have appeared in the first message I have written, those have been my first lines.
     
  16. supersergios

    supersergios New

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    ...
    For now my decision has changed, I was convinced that I had to ask for the A22, but I read that the ToppingD50 gives better results with half the money. I am advised to start with a simple Dac and then move on. I also recommend the X26 for my Magneplanar discrediting an AK4499 that nobody has tried yet. Now a multiDat comes out.

    I've canceled the order of the A22, I'm going to brake.
     
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2020
  17. Senorx12562

    Senorx12562 Case of the mondays

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    I don't think trying to triangulate between ASR and SBAF is going to clarify your choice of dacs. Like trying to improve your Russian by reference to Spanish and Chinese. And btw, wtf is a multiDat ?
     
  18. supersergios

    supersergios New

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    I still don't know what a multiDat is, nor do I know what benefits it has for music, (I don't know the differences between ASR or SBF); That's why I decided not to buy anything until my head is well furnished. I will continue listening and reading but without asking. I don't want to piss anyone off, nor do I want anyone to think that I have written here with disrespect, it was not my intention, and I see that I have nine negatives (Dislikes) in three days that I have been trying to inform myself. nothing happens. Here I will be watching. Thank you all very much.
     
  19. famish99

    famish99 Friend

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    Go to some local hifi audio shops (a quick Google search says they exist in Barcelona), listen to different DACs of different technologies and different chip makers, try to understand what you like and don't like about how they sound. Once you understand your preferences better, come back and ask for help then.
     
  20. Baten

    Baten Friend

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    It's just that you keep asking questions. Many other users use the search and read a LOT to gather the information they need, or the resolve to buy something; and if they have specific/calculated questions that are on-topic.. it keeps everything at least uncluttered. Now, when someone comes to last pages of this thread, it has a lot of noise of you asking a ton of questions....

    There's also general advice thread for these kinds of things. It also doesn't hurt to introduce yourself.
     

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