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Post by MartinT on Sept 4, 2021 15:09:31 GMT
Martin, at this point in time, is there anything you miss from the previous LKS? That's a good question. Thinking about it, the only thing that the LKS still has over the Gustard is the last n th degree of sheer brutal earth-shattering bass extension. The LKS is exceptional in that regard (only since the V com tantalum capacitor mod) but the Gustard has improved a lot during burn-in. In upper-bass slam, the Gustard is already a match for the LKS. If I understand alp then there may be a little more to come from burn-in. My only gripes are that the display is too small to read across the room, which was easy with the LKS, and the plastic remote control. I can live with that.
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Post by wannarock2 on Sept 4, 2021 17:13:05 GMT
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Post by MartinT on Sept 4, 2021 17:17:48 GMT
You’re a do-it-yourself kind of person. Maybe fashion a magnifier that sits a couple of centimeters in front of the display. LOL - it's a possibility, I guess! Or, as Paul suggested, opera glasses.
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Post by wannarock2 on Sept 5, 2021 0:45:59 GMT
Martin, I believe the x26p in design had the usb input on its mind in using a customized XMOS XU216 chip. No rush at all, but put on your to do list: try usb connection.
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Post by MartinT on Sept 5, 2021 6:20:00 GMT
Martin, I believe the x26p in design had the usb input on its mind in using a customized XMOS XU216 chip. I will try it, but it would bypass the Mutec's reclocking and I know how much that contributes to the whole. One thing I will try once the X26 Pro has settled down and I have a complete handle on it is to try running the clock input from my AfterDark master clock.
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Post by Clive on Sept 5, 2021 9:55:41 GMT
You’re a do-it-yourself kind of person. Maybe fashion a magnifier that sits a couple of centimeters in front of the display. LOL - it's a possibility, I guess! Or, as Paul suggested, opera glasses. Webcam viewed from your tablet. 🔍
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Post by MartinT on Sept 5, 2021 18:31:39 GMT
I've just received a Synergistic Research SR Red 20mm fuse for the rear panel. That's gone in, taking care to orient it in the correct direction (source to the right as you look from the front). I'll leave that to settle in for a few days before making any other changes. The Coherent 6D power cable has an SR Blue in it so I'm playing mix-n-match to get the right sound. Two Blues would have gone too far towards smooth. Lightning fast shipping from the excellent Analogue Seduction, as usual.
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alp
Rank: Trio
Posts: 160
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Post by alp on Sept 5, 2021 20:24:07 GMT
Tried the USB this evening. I had a Chinese "Nordost" USB cable which was quite good with my D90. I couldn't get the RPI4 to recognise the DAC, installed the FW upgrade on the DAC, but nothing. Tried a super cheap cable I had kicking around and it worked straight away. Even with that cable, the sound is very good, but not as good as AES or IIS via the PI2AES card, with depth, detail and attack somewhat lacking. No doubt with a decent USB, like AQ Carbon, it would improve.
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Post by MartinT on Sept 5, 2021 20:29:34 GMT
not as good as AES or IIS via the PI2AES card, with depth, detail and attack somewhat lacking That has been my experience with the LKS USB input. Pretty good, but not up to AES. I will try the USB input soon.
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Post by MartinT on Sept 6, 2021 17:01:39 GMT
Conclusions The SR fuse has given me a little more depth and some more note decay. The Gustard is such a highly resolving DAC that I strongly suggest you look to give it the best conditions in which to work. Pay attention to supports, mains power including power cable and fuse, grounding, and input signal cable. Not to mention source data which in my case is the very fine Qobuz service.
Sound quality across all music types (classical and modern) and recordings (old and new) is truly exceptional. It does a virtually perfect job of straddling that fine line between detail and stridency, soundstage and projection, very fine treble resolution and extended tight bass. I don't think I could have specified it better if I tried. It seems that Gustard have taken the high resolution ESS 9038 Pro chipset and implemented it so as to prove that chipsets don't necessarily have a house sound. Clearly their circuit, choice of components and build fully support their design.
I have heard some expensive kit in my time, such as the full stack dCS DACs and Chord Dave with mScaler, and none of them have made music like this heavy little box from Gustard. Not only am I extremely pleased, I applaud Gustard for their uncompromising attention to detail in creating such a very fine component.
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Post by user211 on Sept 6, 2021 17:52:15 GMT
I would buy one for fun if only they had called it "The Bustard". Maybe a stencilling kit?
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Post by Slinger on Sept 6, 2021 18:21:13 GMT
I'm still trying to recover from seeing a DAC called "Dave". The best part is though, its real name is the Chord Rodney.
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Post by MartinT on Sept 8, 2021 19:45:21 GMT
External 10MHz ClockTonight I fed an external 10MHz clock into the X26 Pro to give it a try. I have a Mini-Circuits 75 Ohm splitter I bought some time ago, and a spare Belden 4694R clock cable to hand. using a male-male adapter, it didn't take long to hook up to my AfterDark Emperor Triple Crown clock, splitting the feed to the Mutec in order to provide an extra feed to the Gustard. It worked first time. Interestingly, I can switch the Gustard between the INT K2 clock and the EXT feed using the remote control. I know the Gustard has a 50 Ohm input for the clock, but with a sinewave waveform and short cables it should make no difference with the 75 Ohm AfterDark. Listening is fascinating. It sounds a little different but not in ways I am certain about. I need the splitter and cable to burn in as they are both unused. It's certainly not bad at all and my first reaction is that the K2 internal clock is excellent. However, the AfterDark brings something to the party. Perhaps slightly tighter timing, maybe a little more clout? I probably need an extra pair of ears on this one, so I'll have to wait for John to make another visit. I know he wants to hear the X26 Pro anyway Meanwhile, I'll keep listening over the next few evenings, switching back and forth.
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Post by John on Sept 8, 2021 20:03:10 GMT
Yes I sure do
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Post by julesd68 on Sept 9, 2021 14:55:27 GMT
Martin and John, you have now listened closely to the X26 Pro and the A22 - both DACs have a slightly different character but what do you put that down to? Is there such a thing as a ‘sound signature’ of ESS and AKM chips, or is it the implementation and design that accounts for audible differences? Can of worms opened, perhaps ...
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Post by John on Sept 9, 2021 15:10:44 GMT
Ahh you do like to create debate Jules I would suggest both have an influence How about that for sitting on the Fence
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Post by MartinT on Sept 9, 2021 15:15:52 GMT
As I've said earlier, Jules, I don't really believe there is a recognisable house sound for the two big chipsets (ESS and AKM) when implemented properly. I've heard the A22 and I've got to know my X26 Pro very well now. They are both extremely musical first and foremost. They create a huge soundstage, they present music as vivid and real within that soundstage, they do well resolved fine detail and dynamics well, they have extended frequencies in the bass and into the high treble, and they are neutral, uncoloured, DACs.
It may well be, from experience, that the ESS chipset is more difficult to implement well than the AKM. That I can accept.
In the ultimate analysis, I think the X26 Pro resolves a little more, but you could well expect that from Gustard's flagship product.
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Post by John on Sept 9, 2021 15:34:00 GMT
So for both of us grounding makes a difference and due to this not really possible to get a full flavour of what each DAC can do I think Martin right that x26 probably has more detail but I think we both get the best we can of our respective DACs I think we both happy with what we got and matches the strengths of our systems well
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Post by John on Sept 9, 2021 15:42:48 GMT
So Martin system perhaps more gauged to full classical pieces deep bass and vocals My system slightly more tinted to a mid bass push that makes Dream Theater fun and fast but subtle tabla and contemporary classical But differences are slight. Jules you really do need to hear the system now
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Post by MartinT on Sept 9, 2021 15:47:43 GMT
Yes, John. I can't emphasise enough to those who haven't done it yet that you are most unlikely to get the best out of digital components without grounding boxes. I've experimented enough with them now to know they are essential. I've also learned that not all grounding boxes are born equal.
The X26 Pro responds very well to a Quartz Acoustic Premium.
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