Totally Stunning: Gustard R26 II

EddNog

EddNog

Active Member
Finally received my Gustard R26 II; best sounding DAC I’ve ever owned—truly stunning realism, such that I didn’t even know it was possible for my speakers (MoFi SourcePoint 8 + SVS SB-3000) to make sound this stunningly lifelike. The built-in analog volume control is excellent, allowing me to remove my preamp (Topping Pre90, shitty remote reception and all) and the built-in Roon bridge has proven rock solid even under stress testing with DXD and DSD256 source material, so I was also able to eliminate a separate streamer entirely as well. No need to worry about testing USB versus IIS!

The R26 II has sent my Topping D90 III Sabre packing, and relegated my Audalytic DR70 to my headphone chain. I am playing all PCM material at original sample rate, with a single mild PEQ peak cut at 52Hz, -2.5dB, Q=1 to cure a room gain peak, and album level ReplayGain. For DSD I have enabled the pure 1-bit DSD Direct path (obviously no other DSP). This is the first DAC I’ve ever owned that actually projects instruments in front of the speakers (between myself and the speakers!), and this is with zero speaker placement adjustments (I’ve had placement dialed in for months now). D90 III Discrete couldn’t do that. D90 III Sabre couldn’t do that. DR70 couldn’t do that. Only R26 II. Truly pleased with this DAC; Gustard has created a masterpiece here!

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-Ed
 
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The Topping Pre90 actually has an analog relay attenuator.
 
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EddNog said:
Pre90 and R26 II both have analog attenuators. I confirmed with two separate resellers on R26 II and APOS had gone straight to Gustard to confirm.

-Ed
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The R26 had a digital attenuator but the R26 II has an analog attenuator in the preamp. I'm sure it is a quality analog attenuator but do not believe it is a relay based attenuator like in the Pre90. I am a big fan of ladder relay attenuator circuits with quality resistors.

I am a big fan of Gustard products. Everything they make is over the top when it comes to extreme efforts in component selection and circuit design. One can argue that such extreme measures actually make an audible difference compared to more modest priced units but you can't argue their components actually cost more to build. Their price is justified IMHO. I've owned a x26pro DAC for several years and its the best ESS based DAC I have ever heard. I am not a big fan of DACs with integrated streamers and preamps or I would probably be more interested in one of their newer DACs. No logical reason just personal taste.
 
stoutblock said:
The R26 had a digital attenuator but the R26 II has an analog attenuator in the preamp. I'm sure it is a quality analog attenuator but do not believe it is a relay based attenuator like in the Pre90. I am a big fan of ladder relay attenuator circuits with quality resistors.

I am a big fan of Gustard products. Everything they make is over the top when it comes to extreme efforts in component selection and circuit design. One can argue that such extreme measures actually make an audible difference compared to more modest priced units but you can't argue their components actually cost more to build. Their price is justified IMHO. I've owned a x26pro DAC for several years and its the best ESS based DAC I have ever heard. I am not a big fan of DACs with integrated streamers and preamps or I would probably be more interested in one of their newer DACs. No logical reason just personal taste.
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All good.

I compared with and without the Pre90 with DR70 before R26 II came in. It sounded much better with Pre90 handling volume than DR70.

I did the same when R26 II came in. I heard no difference between R26 II fixed to Pre90 and R26 II without Pre90, so out the Pre90 went.

-Ed
 
EddNog said:
All good.

I compared with and without the Pre90 with DR70 before R26 II came in. It sounded much better with Pre90 handling volume than DR70.

I did the same when R26 II came in. I heard no difference between R26 II fixed to Pre90 and R26 II without Pre90, so out the Pre90 went.

-Ed
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Thanks for your report. I believe there have been some serious improvements in DAC tech in that price range since my last purchase (about 10 years ago). I am looking forward to modernizing my front end. There is a lot of data to gather. Cheers
 
I found a great deal on a used Gustard R30 last week. It arrived and I am listening to it now. This is my first ladder DAC. It is completely different than any other DAC that I have heard before. I'm still processing it. It has totally changed the way this system sounds. It went from very detailed, forward and thin with the Bryston BDA 1, to warm, lush, and incredibly detailed. I would characterize it as slower, more laid back. The change was so extreme that it was jarring. I liked my Bryston DAC. This Gustard is meant for a different system that is still under construction. I was not sure but I think it will fit even better there.
 
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