Dark Horse DAC

Just ordered my T+A DAC 200, will see how it holds up to the Tambaqui. I do love my R26 and I see now its on sale for $1,450 which is a steel IMO.

@kairosman 

Huh!?  I am not saying anything about the OP only sharing information that I have learned or read. As mentioned Twittering Machines loves the tube based Total DAC.  Also I think if the OP took my comment as talking down to him he could have said something.

Chill out 

@nnsixx Dont pass judgement on the R26 until if has 200 hours on it. First listen it will be bright, then over bass and a bit muddy, going back to bright until the 200 hour point where it starts to breathe with tight bass and smooth highs. Also if comparing to other r2r dac make sure is in pcm. If you are running dsd you are in the chip and bypassing the r2r ladder. My favorite setting is nos off filter slow. System ss monos tube pre tall boy for output stage and Vandersteen 2 sig 2’s. The most impressive aspect to my for the R26 is it make my vandies sound like they are three times bigger. It’s a wide soundstage wall of speakers sound. Would love to find some telefunkins but not going to pay $600 per tube.

@audioman58 

You stated "The Gustard R2R26  is a very good dac with exceptional Japanese build quality" I was simply pointing out that staement is absolutely incorrect and as you like to sound as if you are the last word perhaps you are but in this case own the error; no big deal. Many hold Japanese built gear in high regard and may mistakeningly purchase this Dac being under that assumption based on your statement.

op

the doge is old news, was dac of the month a few years back

sonically it is quite good sounding but despite all the tubes in the output section, the output stage and level was relatively weak in my experience and presented some background noise in use when turned up to feed adequate output if used directly into a power amp (which, with its remote and volume control, is something the unit purports to be able to do well)