*DAC

@dz13 - thank you, but I do think I will upgrade my speaker cables at least. choices, choices, choices, lol!

@nrthomas2 at twice the price the Mystique should better the ANK!                   Ya had me going for a minute though when you mentioned "Mojo" I thought you were talking Chord Mojo...LOL

@nrthomas2 sounds interesting but there's no links to anything on his website?

https://benjaminaudio.com/?fbclid=IwAR3_wKJOFsp323YQ1c5N9-S8JjFsQ51Ox29g8RWG56TZwBsNvbn-dQB3GjI

@geleary123 thanks for the heads up on Bel Canto, sorry for your troubles.

@deep_333 how about a Niagra 3000?? I only have 3 components to plug in and I see one just came up for sale on USAM for under $2K. It's 3 years old.

@audphile1 thanks, will do! Off to AZ to look after my Dad, I'll try this when I get back. Any suggestion on ethernet cables? 

Thanks @rikkitik I’d still like to kick up a notch from the Gustard line, just not that many “Try Before You Buy” outlets around to do so. Also, just stuck my dad in one of those pricey, senior care homes, so I may be living with my R 26 for sometime to come. That’ll give me some time to try some of the suggested tweaks.

@tweak1 LOL!

@yakbob - you know, I could never bring myself to endure headphones Bob. I understand what you're saying, but I like to "Feel" the music, something that headphones don't produce for me, but thank you for the suggestion!

@ghdprentice - thank you for your suggestions!

@ghdprentice the Chord TT2 & the Gold Note IS-1000 are both multi-function units. Do you think there is a standalone DAC that maybe a better value but have a similar sound signature per your suggestions?  

@yakbob LOL +1 on the Dave design. I just can't bring myself to spending over $8K on a DAC when they say it benefits by spending a further $5K on their M Scaler! The Terminator sounds interesting thought. Thanks!

@dekay well, by looking at the room, it is difficult to treat. We made heavy curtains to cover the windows and I did buy five 2‘ x 4‘ acoustic panels from GIK acoustics and place them around the room wherever I could find some bare wall space. as far as speaker placement, I have used the flashlight method as outlined in the Martin Logan set up manual. I could try tweaking them a little bit more I guess. I will try. Thank you!

@dekay - OK, I posted some pictures of my GIK panels. The one that's sitting on top of the curtain rod will be gone as soon as my very time-oriented wife finds a clock for that spot. Then I don't know where it will go, probably down on the floor beside the couch. It's going to get dirty! I even tried a couple of these panels behind the speakers, but it didn't sound good at all. 

@jastralfu - Hey, thanks! Coda stuff is awesome. I used to own their CSiB integrated in the same configuration. Loved it!

@gdnrbob "In my not very scientific opinion, you have to spend around $10K to get the detail you are looking for" UGH, that's depressing, I better start saving up then. Glad you found the sound that you were looking for.

@kennyc Thanks for the list, I've read somewhere that the May-KTE is a bit overrated, but I haven't heard it myself. I used to have the W4S model you suggested. Paid $4K for it and sold it for $1K due to financial problems during Covid, so now rebuilding. Wish I still had it but I don't want to spend $4K again just to try it. I am on the HiFi Shark wait list for a 10th Anniversary should one come along just to try. 

@woots you mean like this:

https://www.cadaudio.com/products

@audioman58 sorry, “look up the T+A 200 dac- preamp it is around $7k less with discounts ,in our audio get together”

Where do I find this get together discount? And, being a preamp, do I need my Coda preamp?

Sorry all for not getting back to you all sooner, I am dealing with my ailing father and it’s consuming my life at the moment. AG is my only little escape these days, thank you ALL for bringing me back to earth. I will get back to reading all your great and much appreciated comments and responses as soon as I can!

@magnuman @gdnrbob @audphile1 I am open to suggestions on cables.

I have both DH Labs USB and Coax and tried them from streamer to DAC and I thought the USB sounded better.

I have BJC XLR cables connecting the pre-amp to the power amp, that are 15' long, which I ran under the house to keep out of view. So if you think I need to change those, I could put them along the floor and get away with maybe 10'

Yes, and inexpensive BJC speaker cables. Open to suggestion, just done want to break the bank (re: Dad's health issues $$$$) Lastly, stock power cords.

@paul70  I had a Onkyo C-7030 that sounded on par with my R26!

@jacobsdad2000 OUCH! I think I need some loseless cables!

@magnuman "OCC single crystal" Could I trouble you for some examples (manufactures)?

With power cables, flexibility is a must, Pangea and Signals are way too stiff where I recall Cullen and Black Sands where much more to my liking.

@celtic66 I don't see you system on your profile page but thank you.                      I used to work at Celtic Shipyard in Vancouver BC!

@jacobsdad2000 Cool, do the manufacturers you mention sell the DIY stuff or is it other companies? I could DYI

@audphile1 WOW, thanks for all that! and @celtic66 U2

@wsrrsw Audio Sensibly is probably who he means. I purchased my dedicated 12AWG Cryo-Treated Romex from.

@gdnrbob Yes, I'm AES standard, so good to go!

@jacobsdad2000 Thanks for the link!

I think I need a second job...

@vthokie83 SWEET! Have you heard them all?

@magnuman Born in New Westminster and lived all over the lower Mailand during my time in Canada. 16 years ago I moved to WA state (dually) and have commuted to work in south Surrey since then on a daily basis.

@jetter Thank you, Lummi Bay part of the Salish Sea. Yes, I have heard of the Lokius and will give it further consideration. I have also seen the Zavfino power cable come up in an on-line search. I have some real tight spots to deal with and I think the longer than normal plug ends would hamper some of my equipment placement. But thank you for all your suggestions.

@audphile1  "So you weren’t down to last piece of the puzzle. Hehehe" LOL!

Did you upgrade your power cords on you Montis's as well?

@fred60 Thanks Fred, are you 60?

@audphile1 Thanks for your insight and help, much appreciated!

@fpomposo How many wave generators do you put in your listening room, is it based on square feet? One day, I may try the fuse upgrade, thanks for the tips?

@mdalton Hey, thanks for your input, much appreciated!

@theeraser I have heard good things about Audio Note as well.

@daledeee1 Could you elaborate on the EMI/RFI filters and how to hook them up please?

@anzaanimalclinic Drastic!

@axeis1 Same as the Audio Note, hears the TT2 and MScaler were a great match up. but pricey!

@liquidsound Good common-sense advice, thank you.

@jji666 Did I say common sense? Well said sir!

@redphu72 I am not sure I understand the question, which I see you have also posted in another DAC discussion. It might be best to start a new post as many here have moved on.

@nrthomas2 OK, got it. His stuff ain't cheap! Let me know how it sounds compared to what ya got. Thanks.

@paulcreed I have read a bit about the DDC on the Gustard R26 thread but it gets a little confusing when it comes to the i2s cable. It sounds like it’s difficult to match up for some reason? I will try to decipher this better, time permitting. Thank you.

@nrthomas2 yes, I definitely want to change out some cables, @audphile1 had some good suggestions, I just need to figure the exact, best option for my Martin Logan speakers first, so I will have to go back and read his comments. Thank you as well.

@jjss49 thank for the perk! I do have the Ethernet in to my Aurender N200 going through a pair of fiber media converters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp20Ju-ABoE then from the N200 into the R26 with DH Labs cable. I have tried both USB and coaxial and I think USB sounds better. Although I found the renderer in the R26, feed by ethernet, to sound very good as well. I don’t think the N200 sound $4000 better than the R26 but I can’t really tun back now (thanks ghdprentice)

Any other suggestions (as in better front-end improvements) would greatly be appreciated!

@audphile1 @jetter ok, thanks for hangin' in with me, I will definitely do these upgrades soon.

@ryanvt Gold note comes up a lot, thanks for your suggestion. I will look into this further, for sure!

@yyzsantabarbara OK, I will check out the Schitt Yggi+ LIM soon!

@rikkitik as a few have mentioned here, maybe my system just needs a little tweaking. Dealing with some family issues at present but will try to address as many suggestions as I can as time permits. 

Thanks all!

@jjss49 @yyzsantabarbara They say there are noticeable differences between the X - R & A 26 DACs, so I can see where the confusion lies. I would love to try both the A26 and the Yiggi+ LIM (not to mention a 1/2 dozen others that are out there)

@carlsbad2 @axeis1 Thanks guys. The Chord products get rave reviews and was considering the TT2 and the Mscaler combo and yes, I will get to those cables...    one day!

@jjss49 👍

@audphile1 Well, I finally got around to taking the FMCs out of the equation and oddly enough, the system sounds better with them in place, at least to my ears!

Another thing I found was moving further back from the speakers sounded better. They are only 6.6’ apart due to space limitations and I was sitting 10 feet away. If I sit 15’ away, things sound better.

I will play around some more on the weekend, but I would say at this point the Gustard R26 is performing well. I would love to try some other DACs I just need to figure out on just how to do that!

There needs to be some sort of a DAC Club, so people could swap DACs around and try some different products out.

@deep_333 +1

Thx

@deep_333 any thoughts on how the Niagra compares to the Puritan line equivalents, like the 156 model?

@yyzsantabarbara so you liked the Schitt Audio Less is More than the Lumin X1 DAC? I have the Aurender N200 and Gustard R26 DAC and was thinking of stepping up to a (used) X1 for a couple of reasons, but you think I should give the LIM DAC a try first? Wouldn't the "More is Better" be better? lol

@yyzsantabarbara well, they do have the 15 day trial period, I think I'll give it a shot. And I think I'll nix the Lumin as I don't really need the pre-amp for now ad if the LIM's DAC is just as good, why spend all the extra cash. Thanks!