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Post by MartinT on Jan 27, 2022 17:33:58 GMT
I've updated the firmware to F20 beta. It only takes a few seconds and the instructions are clear.
A very quick listen suggests that the guys in head-fi were right, there is a perceptible lessening of sheen in the upper midrange. It's a subtle difference but, hey, at this level any improvement is a bonus. I believe the USB interface was more extensively reworked but I only use the AES input.
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Post by MartinT on Jan 28, 2022 20:26:54 GMT
Another interesting aspect of sorting the clocks and firmware is that the Vivid mode now does what it says and is a different flavour compared with Gentle rather than too much of a good thing that I had found before. I'm switching between them. Vivid works superbly with music like Yello while Gentle has kept me rapt with singers like Janis Ian.
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jhop
Rank: Soloist
Posts: 20
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Post by jhop on Jan 29, 2022 16:30:21 GMT
It shows how far behind the times I am. I find it amazing that A) you can readily update the firmware, and B) it can significantly alter the sound. I keep forgetting these are computers.
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Post by MartinT on Jan 29, 2022 16:45:45 GMT
Going back to earlier DACs like the Beresfords, you could update the firmware by ordering the chip from Stan. He gave great support in this way for the latest and greatest functionality as he kept developing it.
Nowadays, as almost all DACs have an intelligent USB interface, connecting up a laptop/tablet to it and running an updater program is child's play.
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Post by MartinT on Mar 27, 2022 10:37:51 GMT
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Post by petea on Mar 27, 2022 12:02:35 GMT
Thanks, Martin. I'll give that a go as it is still a fair way behind the Lab12.
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Post by MartinT on Mar 27, 2022 12:15:24 GMT
If you're using it with USB, that is not the best interface. I2S and AES are awesome.
I'm not sure what this driver will do for SQ, I believe it only sorts USB issues.
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Post by petea on Mar 27, 2022 12:32:33 GMT
Unfortunately the Fidata only has a USB renderer.
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alp
Rank: Trio
Posts: 167
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Post by alp on Mar 30, 2022 18:44:51 GMT
I purchased the Gustard fuse to replace an AMR gold fuse I had tried (but had not noticed a difference). It arrived after about 6 weeks. I installed it while I was in the midst of trying out the Topping PA5 power amp so
without directly comparing with the gold or standard fuse, it is hard to say if it made a difference. I might try next weekend and let you know.
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jhop
Rank: Soloist
Posts: 20
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Post by jhop on Apr 25, 2022 17:04:22 GMT
Well, I finally received the X26 Pro. First, the good news: a terrific sounding DAC! I’ll dispense with the audiophile clichés and simply state that in terms of palpability, staging, impact and ambience, the Gustard is aces. (I know, clichés all, but you get the idea.) A big step up from my Audiolab streamer, which was no slouch in any of these departments. But the Gustard is in another league all together, and for the price paid, it should be. Now, for the not so good: When I turned on the DAC today, I saw a “DSD 24.5 MHZ” on the front panel, and I can’t get it to play PCM at all. And I don’t even play DSD! Unfortunately, no amount of cable or function switching makes any difference. This bug has been reported on other chat rooms, and the solution seemingly involves downloading new firmware. Unfortunately, I’m a bit of a novice at this kind of thing, and will let Gustard talk me through it. It is now late in China, and so the fix will have to await until tomorrow. To be continued..
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Post by wannarock2 on Apr 25, 2022 17:31:07 GMT
^ As I turn my system on in sequence (amp>Gustard>pi streamer>pre-amp) when I switch the pi streamer on in the start-up sequence I let the Gustard ‘cycle’. First it displays PCM for about 30 seconds then it switches to DSD for about 30 seconds then back to PCM where it stays. Then I finish turning on the pre-amp and I am good to go. I have the USB connection between pi streamer and the Gustard. Using Volumio. Gustard blames Volumio for making the pi streamer cycle the Gustard. Anyway, all system setups are not the same, but I thought I would share my experience.
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jhop
Rank: Soloist
Posts: 20
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Post by jhop on Apr 25, 2022 17:37:47 GMT
Great! I will try this later today. Thanks
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alp
Rank: Trio
Posts: 167
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Post by alp on Apr 25, 2022 17:59:40 GMT
Strange, I don't get any of that with mine. It seems to report correctly on I2S, AES, SPDIF, Coax and USB from my Pi2AES/Picoreplayer, also on BT from my phone or tablet. I don't have the very latest firmware, even though upgrading that is easy enough to do - hopefully GUSTARD will help you there.
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Post by MartinT on Apr 25, 2022 18:19:58 GMT
I find the DSD display is the initial unlocked indication on power-up, which I do very rarely. Once I play music (I've only ever used AES and I2S inputs) it switches to PCM and thereafter displays the correct sampling rate, even when the stream stops.
I think you are indeed suffering from the bug that only affected the USB input. My USB input is via the Gustard U18.
Updating the firmware is quite straightforward. Use a Windows laptop to run the software with a USB cable plugged in. It will report on the firmware already in your X26 Pro and give you the option to update it. The current version is F2.0 beta.
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jhop
Rank: Soloist
Posts: 20
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Post by jhop on Apr 25, 2022 22:55:18 GMT
I will have to use a neighbor’s; I’m all Mac. Although Gustard did say Macs don’t require drivers, whatever that means.
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jhop
Rank: Soloist
Posts: 20
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Post by jhop on Apr 26, 2022 1:22:16 GMT
I tried wannarock’s cycling approach, but alas the Gustard remains stubbornly locked on DSD. At Gustard’s suggestion, I pulled the USB plug and it temporary went into PCM mode. But when I plugged it back in, once again… DSD. This is all way beyond my pay grade, but hopefully tomorrow Gustard will rectify the situation. What I heard that one day coming from my speakers makes it well worth the wait. It’s funny, the other piece of this puzzle is the Zen Stream, a Volumio based streamer notorious for finicky software. But in that case I took the gamble that using it as a Roon endpoint would sidestep potential software problems, and so far so good. But who knows? A key variable nowadays seems to be proper software integration between manufacturers. With all the different standards floating around, no wonder!
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alp
Rank: Trio
Posts: 167
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Post by alp on Apr 26, 2022 6:01:43 GMT
I get DSD showing if USB is selected when there is no USB input, even if there is no cable, so somehow it must be a default. Good luck with the firmware upgrade.
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jhop
Rank: Soloist
Posts: 20
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Post by jhop on Apr 26, 2022 10:26:25 GMT
Yes, I think you may be right. The seller Aoshida informs me my unit actually has the latest software, and Gustard is examining a compatibility issue with the Zen Stream. I will keep you posted.
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jhop
Rank: Soloist
Posts: 20
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Post by jhop on May 2, 2022 0:39:05 GMT
An update: The operational issues have been resolved, and it was as I suspected: an issue of four manufacturers and four sets of software interfacing properly. Specifically, the Zen Stream had a software update I wasn’t aware of, making it Roon ready. Once I updated my unit, no problems. Nice streamer! unfortunately saddled with an el cheapo power supply that will need to be replaced soon. The overall Gustard sound is sumptuous, highly detailed but not in the least bit dry or analytical, at least to my ear. Huge soundstage, with tons of ambience (check out Arnold Overtures on Reference Recordings and Roy Gaines Stormy Monday Blues if you want your mind blown.) My previous all in one streamer was perfectly fine, but had an occasional tendency to glare a bit, but that is all gone now. Not wanting to leave well enough alone, I am looking forward to a decent lps for the streamer, general power upgrades, perhaps grounding (groan… sounds like a pain, and expensive too), and maybe even the Gustard U18, although I’m not really sure at this point what it would bring to the party. According to Goldensound, the Zen Stream measures extremely well, with nary a trace of jitter or noise. But that’s all in the future. For now, I’m enjoying the music. Thanks MartinT for great advice!
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Post by MartinT on May 2, 2022 7:07:25 GMT
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📶NAS > Gustard x26p DAC > Benchmark LA4 Pre-Amp > NAD M22-V2 Amplifier > Revel F228Be Speakers