Connectivity for Gustard U18?

I connect my iMac to the Gustard with a USB cable and then from the Gustard to my DAC I use an AES/EBU connection.  I have explored no other connections. 

Although it can depend on how your particular DAC’s inputs are designed. I’d second trying the i2S connection if you haven’t already.  Just keep the cable as short as possible as the i2S signal degrades quickly with distance.  But be aware that not all DDCs and DACs can communicate via i2S because there’s no one standard configuration so something to check into.  That’s the case with HDMI but you have an RJ45 connection on your DAC so not sure how that works but still worth looking into.  FWIW.

@whitestix Yes! I am using I2S at this time and it sounds fantastic. Which connection methods have you experimented with so far? Did you find a clear preference?

-Ed

Thanks for the response.  It is indeed a plug and play device.  I am very happy with its effect on the SQ of my system.  

This should be plug-n-play for you. My MacBook Air worked plug-n-play with my Denafrips Ares II DAC and I don't expect the Gustard U18 DDC to be any different.

All that said, I will confirm tomorrow when I receive my own U18. I'll try hooking my MacBook Air into it and report back.

-Ed