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Post by MartinT on Feb 27, 2022 17:22:22 GMT
One small item of note: the Mutec can miss the first note or two of a song as it gains sync lock. It was sometimes annoying when a track doesn't have enough blank intro.
The U18 seems to gain instant lock and never misses the start of a song.
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gat474
Rank: Soloist
Posts: 13
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Post by gat474 on Feb 27, 2022 22:11:04 GMT
Thanks for the prompt responses. As it was my first post I should have introduced myself. I’m from Melbourne Aus and have had an interest in hifi, actually an obsession since the late 70’s.
I’m running the Gustard x26pro which is the best dac I’ve had. I have a Lumin mini U1 feeding the Gustard with a Benchmark HPA4 pre into a pair of current spec ATC SCM100 ASL’s. I have a couple of JL Fathom F113’s to back up the ATC. My vinyl rig is a Soulines Kubrick TT with a Jelco 950 arm, Shelter 901 cart and a Graham Slee Accession MC phono stage.
Regarding Martin’s comment on the Mutec cutting out the start of a song when I use AES from the Lumin to the Gustard I have the same experience. Not using USB though.
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Post by MartinT on Feb 28, 2022 6:18:22 GMT
Interesting info, thanks.
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gat474
Rank: Soloist
Posts: 13
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Post by gat474 on Feb 28, 2022 10:56:09 GMT
I ordered an I2S and half decent USB cable today to come with the U18 from a local dealer. He tells me he’s getting the Gustard external clock in soon which I can demo. Not much info around on the Gustard clock as opposed to the AfterDark.
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Post by MartinT on Feb 28, 2022 11:38:20 GMT
Based on the 2ft Blue Jeans FE Belden HDMI cable I was using, which sounded excellent, I have ordered a 1ft version as the U18 will be on top of my X26 Pro and the sockets are close to each other. I2S cables need to be kept as short as possible.
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Post by stellabagpuss on Feb 28, 2022 13:12:49 GMT
I ordered an I2S and half decent USB cable today to come with the U18 from a local dealer. He tells me he’s getting the Gustard external clock in soon which I can demo. Not much info around on the Gustard clock as opposed to the AfterDark. Been looking at the C18, but on the fence, as the After Dark clocks seem to offer better specs Damien |
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Post by MartinT on Feb 28, 2022 13:43:57 GMT
I can't speak for the C18 but the ADs are very nice clocks.
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Post by stellabagpuss on Feb 28, 2022 18:59:35 GMT
l understand you have 2 Afterdark clocks, will be interesting to find out if there is any improvement to be had by running your better AD clock compared to your lesser one?
Bet you can't wait for U18 to arrive.
Damien
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Post by MartinT on Feb 28, 2022 20:30:47 GMT
The better AD runs into the X26 Pro DAC, the lesser one into the Mutec (and, soon the U18), and the least good clock, the BG7TBL, into the EtherREGEN.
I don't think swapping the two ADs around would help, I subscribe to the theory that the best of everything (i.e. cables, grounding box, power, footers) is at the final conversion stage, i.e. the DAC.
Yes, I can't wait for the U18. There was a glitch when they were out of stock of silver ones and they offered me a black one (yuk), but when I pressed them they are getting one direct from Gustard. So, fresh from the production line. I'll be patient.
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Post by stellabagpuss on Feb 28, 2022 22:07:24 GMT
I only ask on regards to AD clocks, as my DAC doesn't have a clock connections, so a clock would only be connected to the U18. l was wondering if you could actually hear a difference between your better clock against your lesser clock.
Of course, like you said, we will have to be patient 🙄
Damien
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Post by MartinT on Mar 1, 2022 6:23:59 GMT
The difference is small but it's there, but it's not as great as using an external clock compared with not using one.
Even the AD King is a very nice clock.
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gat474
Rank: Soloist
Posts: 13
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Post by gat474 on Mar 1, 2022 7:23:26 GMT
I’ve picked up the U18, Gustard I2S cable and a new USB cable. Going to give them a good run for a few days before any decent listening.
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gat474
Rank: Soloist
Posts: 13
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Post by gat474 on Mar 1, 2022 7:28:59 GMT
The local dealer is getting a Gustard C18 clock in a week or so and offered it to me to try out. He’s not confident of much of an improvement with the clock though. I really have no idea so will have to find out for myself.
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Post by MartinT on Mar 1, 2022 8:16:33 GMT
There are a couple of guys on the Head-Fi forum using the Gustard C18 clock, so I guess it's working for them.
Where did you find a Gustard I2S cable from?
I have both the Blue Jeans FE and AV Play silver I2S 1ft cables on order.
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gat474
Rank: Soloist
Posts: 13
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Post by gat474 on Mar 1, 2022 11:01:51 GMT
The local dealer in Aus had a Gustard cable. He sources directly from Shenzhen audio so it probably came from them.
One odd thing with the U18 is that the MQA doesn’t seem to make its way from the Lumin through the U18 to the X26pro. Anything that is MQA ends up at 88.2 on the X26pro screen.
No big deal as I’m not sure about MQA being better or worse than anything else.
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Post by John on Mar 1, 2022 11:49:48 GMT
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Post by MartinT on Mar 1, 2022 12:21:06 GMT
One odd thing with the U18 is that the MQA doesn’t seem to make its way from the Lumin through the U18 to the X26pro. Anything that is MQA ends up at 88.2 on the X26pro screen. No big deal as I’m not sure about MQA being better or worse than anything else. It should pass MQA through? No biggie for me either, I found Tidal nowhere near as good sounding as Qobuz. |
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Post by MartinT on Mar 1, 2022 12:25:03 GMT
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Post by stellabagpuss on Mar 1, 2022 13:00:03 GMT
That's the one l am patiencely waiting for.....
Got good reviews on Head,and in all honesty, looks like some thought has gone into it.
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gat474
Rank: Soloist
Posts: 13
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Post by gat474 on Mar 2, 2022 1:24:37 GMT
One odd thing with the U18 is that the MQA doesn’t seem to make its way from the Lumin through the U18 to the X26pro. Anything that is MQA ends up at 88.2 on the X26pro screen. No big deal as I’m not sure about MQA being better or worse than anything else. It should pass MQA through? No biggie for me either, I found Tidal nowhere near as good sounding as Qobuz. I gave Qobuz a quick listen on a free sign up. It clipped the first few seconds of each track so I stuck with Tidal. I’ll try it again. |
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