Gustard R26 vs hi end streamer

I read here on this forum that r2r dacs need a very long break in.

But my experience shows that it is true for sigma delta dacs too.

Qutest was playing 200 hours but the sound was improved after it was plugged in AC during 3 weeks. The same story with SMSL DAC it started sound good after 3 weeks plugged in plus more than 200 hours playing music. 

I also ordered Gustard R26. I will probably get in next week.

I had Chord Qutest for 5 years and now I have an SMSL DO300EX (AK4499 chip). I also have an old Cary cd-303/100 CD player on a Burr-Brown PCM1704u chip. 

I mostly listen to jazz and classical music.

I like my super affordable SMSL DO300EX more than Qutest. It handles better symphonic music with more details, separation and less congestion. It also sounds less sterile.

But it doesn't have the dynamics, energetics, separation and big soundstage of a Cary CD player. It plays music without emotions. Despite both Qutest and SMSL outperforming Cary in terms of details, focus and natural tone of instruments and vocals.

So, I hope Gustard r26 gives me the best of both worlds.

I got my Gustard R26 today.

I connected it to my Shanling ET3 transport by USB and Coaxial cables. When selecting USB input it works, but when I select Coaxial input I can hear music playing for a second and after it is silent. But when I unplug USB coaxial input is playing.

Is it any solution to use a number of cables plugged in and switch inputs with Gustard R26?

Hi @sls883

Yes, coaxial works when I unplug USB.

The problem is only when both cables are plugged.

I need both these cables because PCM sound better with Coaxial cable, but I need USB cable for playing DSD files.

Hi @sls883 ,

So far I found a solution to plug and unplug USB cable into ET3 (I have easy access to do it). It is not a big problem for me because I listen to PCM (CDs and files) 95% of the time.

In one month I will receive my old SMSL do300ex (AK4499) DAC from maintenance. It will be my DAC dedicated to DSD.

Hi @lanx0003 ,

For any DAC I had 100hour of break-in - it is nothing!

For example I run a new Chord Qutest around 200 hours and was sure it plays on 90% of it potential. Then I didn’t listen to it for 2 weeks. But is was plugged in to AC without playing music. When I listened to it again I was shocked how the sound of the DAC was improved.

To make any decision the DAC shod be plugged in AC for 3 weeks + 200-300 hours of playing music.

DACs use electrolytic capacitors in power supply that need a very long burn in. Amplifiers need less time. In my experience with Chord and SMSL DACs it was 3 weeks plugged in AC. And height frequencies finally improved at the end of this period.  

The truth is the extra $400 is too much for me. I have Gustard r26 DAC and a $1100 master clock looks like an too expensive gadget for $1600 DAC.

I have a question about the new LHY - OCK-2"S" master clock.

Does anybody tried it with Gustard R26 or another DAC or streamer?

I tried to buy the old OCK-2 model on Aliexpress and eBay. But each time I ordered it sellers told me the old model is sold out and out of production.