Yes, I did try all of the filter settings, which made very slight differences. I used the coax digital input, with a very good cable for most of my listening attempts. I also tried the USB input as well. When I sent it back for a refund, it was to the dealer, and they claimed that they listened to it upon return. What I heard from the unit I purchased was a sound that was miles away from what one would expect from an audiophile DAC. More like FM radio quality using a poor sounding tuner built-in to an even worse sounding $100 receiver. I truly received a lemon with that one.
Gustard R26 - different sound signatures in different units
The Gustard R26 was recommended to me this year by reputation through a guy who hadn't heard it but knew people he trusted who recommended it.
Now I've listened to a few R26's now with mixed results. It's been a journey and I made some dumb mistakes by not paying close enough attention.
The first R26, new from Amazon, sounded dull and uninteresting, not extended on top. I was driving it through USB. I exchanged that R26 for another one, which sounded similar, but then I discovered driving it from the U18 DDC through coax (I have a very good coax digital cable) and the sound signature was totally different.. lively and extended on top.
Then I found a used R26 on EBay for much less than I had paid for the new one from Amazon, so I returned the one to Amazon and purchased the one from EBay. It sounded brighter than the one I had returned, but at first I didn't mind. Maybe was more detailed. Strangely, the display had a micro font compared to the first two I had.
For a time I didn't do any serious listening. I was more involved in my piano playing and composing hobby. I eventually went back to the R26 I got from EBay and realized it was much too bright. I wondered if it had old firmware, given the micro font on the display. I tried upgrading the firmware, but there was no change in the display or sound.
I ordered another R26 from Amazon. This one sounds completely different than the one I got from EBay. It has about 120 hours on it so far. The problem is that it has shrill/unpleasant sibilance. I'm not saying it's particularly bright. The R26 from Ebay is brighter yet doesn't sound shrill. So the this new R26 probably still has some burn-in time needed, but the shrillness hasn't diminished at all over the first 100 hours. Maybe it's even worse.
Anyone have a similar experience with any of these?
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Sounds like something was wrong with it. I wouldn't buy from that dealer again. They'll probably box it up and resell it. A $100 dac shouldn't sound like what you described. Stupid question, but did you check the voltage switch? I don't even know if it would work. A guy on another forum couldn't get sound from his new X30. The voltage was set on 230V. |
@audphile1 I guess you don't like the R26? I think it has some remarkable qualities. Musical and dynamic (the two R26's I have now even though one is much brighter and one has a sibilance problem which may resolve with burn-in). The guy who does custom equipment and mods for me is Igor Kuznetsoff of the New Jersey audiophile society. He does a lot of different stuff. I love his sound signature. Very dynamic, incredibly detailed microdynamics, very musically expressive with all the details contributing to the music, not "analytical." I have power conditioning from him and power cords. I have vibration isolation from him. Other cabling by him. This all sets up the ideal conditions for the R26 to shine with his sound signature. That's the stock R26. It will be enormously improved with his mods. I'm going to get a simple version - will cost around $500 for the mod. The result will probably be something one can't get in a stock DAC for less than $6000. Just throwing a number out there, it all depends on one's taste and preferred signature. I didn't like the PS Audio DirectStream DAC Mk. 1. |
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