I find myself amazed with Taurun's reviews of higher end equipment like this as his ability not only to hear and recognize specific minute differences between pieces but the way he articulates that experience into words creating a uniquely detailed presentation to really allow his audience to almost be in his shoes at that moment. It is not easy to explain such technical details without sounding either monotone and lifeless or using word salad technical terms that leave viewers wondering what did he really mean. Taurun's reviews are best described as an Artist who paints imagery for Audiophiles. Once you listen to him you understand why his reviews are a class above the rest.
Agreed, that's why I watch, though I'm not in the market for the high end stuff. Also, there's no audio-snobbery, with lower-end gear being given honest appraisals. Thanks for the CXA61 recommendation Tarun, it's a very real improvement to my system.
@@barlow2976 Yea even if what he is reviewing is not your market you can still learn quite a bit from how he does his review process. He's not randomly tossing out points he ha, he's telling you a specific way he went through and compared different characteristics of the item so you have an clear understanding of how his conclusion was reached. The guy is a true audio knowledge bank and he is better than anyone at being able to put those thoughts to words.
Taurun, I watch and enjoy every one of your reviews no matter the product. You keep me up to date at the state of the world of hifi. Thank you for such great work.
The LTA aero is an R2R dac of approx £3500. It uses a ZOTL design with tubes. I have used it now for 4 months and it is very special. I can post mine to you if you would like to live with it and review it. It would be a gesture to thank you for all you do for the audiophile community.
The LTA gear all looks incredible. I've seen and heard it at shows, and I believe the company is located geographically close to me and yet I haven't brought any into the home yet. I'll definitely look into this DAC more
Tarun please accept this offer. This DAC is innovative and has an uncommon architecture. Would love to hear what you think. Thank you sir for making the offer.
Thank you for your excellent review and pleasant way of speaking. I've been using the X30 for 5 weeks now, and it's performing excellently. Compared to the Matrix Audio X-Sabre Pro ( ESS 9038 chipset), there is a significant increase in microdynamics, more energy in the highs, but much less sibilance, it sounds very natural and clean with improved speech intelligibility. There is no added coloration or enhancement, just a raw, unfiltered representation of what was actually recorded. It is like waking up to the reality of each track, with improved detail and a more grounded soundstage. I prefer the PCM filter VIVID and MQA and want to listen to music direct from SD card as well. Thanks for your work!
Hi Tarun, wonderful review as usual. I think a good digital comparison would be the Holoaudio May L3 (the best measuring true-NOS r2r DAC anywhere near its price and rivals the best delta-sigmas at its price) vs ANK kits best tube DAC at the same price (you can select for it to be fully built at the factory). Given your experience with the audio note DAC it would be really interesting to hear your thoughts on two DACs with such radically different philosophies.
great review as usual, tarun - i have been using the x30 since august and till today, the sound is still improving [average 1-2 hours of play a day], the greatest characters i enjoy about the x30 is its timing and dynamic, the bass line is full of impact, texture and can be followed easily, timbre wise, the initial metallic sheen has largely wore off and the tonality has become richer and fuller, the soundstage wider, deeper with almost pin point instrument focus and location, transience is phenomenal with the x30 - i compared this with the LAIV harmony before i fell for the x30 because it makes the music seems much more alive with life like macro and micro dynamic and realism, its goose bump stuff really - the LAIV is no slouch but compares to the x30, the only advantage it has over the x30 seems to be the slightly richer tonal balance [no offense is intended to LAIV users] ... i will be doing a comparison between the x30 and a terminator 2 soon ...
Hello. I am glad that you paid attention to this DAC and made a quality review of it. I was one of the first to recommend you to listen to it. And I completely agree with your conclusions. Gustard X30 is worthy of attention of die-hard music lovers - skeptics and proves that ESS in the right configuration can sound better than R2R. It is definitely worth the money. The only important thing you missed is the high sensitivity of this DAC to a quality fuse. Replacing the standard fuse with a more expensive SR moves the tonality to the analog side, makes the high frequencies even more controlled and full-bodied. In this case, it would not yield to Venus 2
Thank you for your work Tarun. As a British audiophile Chord DACs come to mind and how DACs relate to other equipment such as preamplifiers/amplifiers.
Excellent review as always, thank you! I'd be curious about a review of the Lab12 Dac 1 reference, which is about 3000 E and certainly has a quite special architecture. Cheers!
Tarun, You asked for equipment to test: PS Audio Direct Stream Dac Mk2 . It has a programable chip architecture ( not off the shelf chips) each software upgrade completely changes the sound of the dac. Also Auralic Aries G2.2 dedicated streamer only ( retails around $6000) It sounds better than most streamers out there. Thank you for your time and a great review.
There are 3-4 different sounding softwares for this dac. I liked V 2.6.2 the best not the last and current 3.1.0 called massive. I think you will be intrigued on how different versions of the software changes the sound of the PS Audio Directstresm MK2 completely. Thank you again.
There are 3-4 different sounding softwares for this dac. I liked V 2.6.2 the best not the last and current 3.1.0 called massive. I think you will be intrigued on how different versions of the software changes the sound of the PS Audio Directstresm MK2 completely. Thank you again.
The Gustard X30 DAC is an outstanding piece of kit. I bought one of these a couple of months ago and I was flabbergasted at the level of detail, high quality sound and neutral tonality this quality DAC provides. Your bang on the button with this review as well Taurun and I agree with your appraisal. 👍👍
Hi Taurun, great review. Reading through the responses, the one high quality over $3K DAC not mentioned would be the PS Audio DirectStream Mk2 DAC with the Mountain Top update ($7999). PS Audio products get great reviews, but are rarely compared with other products. Thank you!
@beslemeto Yes, their products are certainly more expensive than anyone would like (at least 30% more than they should be). However, you have to consider they are based in the U.S., have incredible customer service, and you can have them repaired by their engineers for a reasonable cost. Oh, and they have a trade-in service, which is quite generous... taking advantage of that would almost entirely offset the higher purchase cost. There's a reason why I haven't purchased a Denifrips or Laiv... I'm concerned about how I would ever have them serviced, let alone where in the world they would have to be shipped to do so. I only have their BHK250 amp, which is phenomenal. But, I'm intrigued by both their BHK preamplifier as well as their high-end DACs. Let's see...
@ If you can afford their products good for you! But i belive Asian companies offer better price-performance ratio and that will only get better by time! I don't like how western companies are charging us ridiculous amount of money for their products! We live in hard times very few of us can afford PS Audio or Audio Note Equipment!
@beslemeto Believe me, my friend, I'm not paying full price for the PS Audio equipment. Many, many used deals out there. I do own some Chi-Fi equipment, and no one can disagree with your sentiment regarding the value they provide. But I have to draw the line at a certain point ... in other words, I only buy that amount of Chi-Fi equipment that costs less than the amount I'm willing to lose, which limits me to $300 or less ( WiiM).
@@abritishaudiophile7314 Yes, I've been waiting for this one too. I'm hoping it's better than the ares, but competes with Vega s1, r26, pontus and A8. I love that it's just a simple stripped down dac with no features. It's such a competitive price here in the USA.
Greetings Tarun from NZ. Thanks for your as ever thoughtful, balanced review. Gustard seem to be on a roll don’t they. I’m an R26 owner who over the last few years went to a bit of trouble - and expenditure - on a number external and internal tweaks to eke out a bit more of its potential eg. a better external clock and mu-metal encapsulation of its transformers satisfyingly improved its soundstage breadth and depth and bass definition and impact, whilst lessening the level of grain and glare it can have in my revealing system on some material. So I already had an appreciation of what their DACs could scale to with a little more resources applied to certain areas. Appreciate such tweaking isn’t most folks’ cup of tea, so to hear Gustard have delivered a one box upgrade model at such a standard is very cool. There’s a rumoured R30 early next year, a strong candidate for your new year’s review list methinks.
Hi @Wharaniki I also have an R26 with an external Mutec clock attached. When I initially attached the Mutec clock it was awful, but it transpired that this was caused by heavy EM emissions from a nearly LPS's transformer. Separating the two fixed this and now the Mutec is helping the R26 sing. My point here is that I'm now looking into shielding options including mu-metal (which I hadn't even heard of until a few days ago). Can I ask where you bought it, what gauge it is, and exactly where you've applied it, and have you earthed it? There seem to be quite a few vendors selling it on eBay, but their similarity is raising my suspicions.
@ Howdy, cool re the Mutec. YT doesn’t like links at all, so for the off-brand Mu Metal I got, which is 1.5mm thick, try DIY Hifi Supply. Not grounded no, I used grounded copper sheets elsewhere in the DAC between the sections for electric field and RF shielding, but around the transformers it was all about magnetic field shielding to which grounding is n/a.
@@Wharariki Many thanks. I actually ended up buying a sheet of nickel/iron (80/20) off aliexpress and bending it around the Mutec clock to shield it from my LPSs. It's incredibly effective. A used EM meter I bought goes red when near the LPSs, then reads zero when the sheet is placed between them. I think, however, I'll skip opening up the R26 and putting metal sheeting inside. The risk is too great. I recently embarrassed myself by shorting one of my LPS's when measuring its DC voltage. My friendly electronic engineer / hifi designer was happy to fix it for a price, but I will not risk repeating my humiliation.
Tarun, I recommend the all-in-one Lyngdorf TDAI 3400. It's a piece of equipment that has earned a permanent spot on my shelf after going through a ton of hi-fi gear.
Taurus, I truly appreciate the Lava Lamp hiding in the corner. I have always had a soft spot for your flavor of DAC. But I'm more likely to dive into Geshelli Labs J2, or better. Thank you as always...
4 x 9039pro chips? Holy bits! At 8 channels per that means 16 paralleled channels per side! This explains higher current delivery, lower noise floor and better bass and dynamics. Gustard engineers are seriously tops!
Thank you Tarun - truly appreciate your thoughtful and balanced approach. Suggested review - T+A DAC 200. Also something that would be interesting to many of us McIntosh owners, compare the built-in DA2 to an external DAC of your choice. $2k-$4k.
Whenever I hear 'hold on to your hats' my immediate thought is 'pull up your pant legs, it's too late to save your shoes". Obviously not the case here. This must indeed be a special product to get such praise from you. It strikes me that once again, specific circuit design is secondary to excellent implementation. Case in point, the excellent SOUNDING Delta-Sigma DAC here.
Thank you again for the precise review. One suggestion for a DAC review is the Auralic Vega 2.2. Another would be one of the tube DACs. Linear Tube Audio is one such DAC. SimeAudio has a solid state , 280D streaming DAC, priced at about 3000 pounds.
Hi Tarun, great and enjoyabel review. The X30 was also on my list but I fokus now on two other DACs which amy also good for a review: ANK DAC 5.1 Signature and T+A MP 2000 R. The latter one is a multisource player incluing DAC. Very interesting device.
Excellent review. I recently watched a Pearl Acoustic video comparison of the new Pontus 15th vs a Topping D90III, an SMSL AKM chip DAC and the NOS Sugden DAC-4. I preferred the DAC-4 Sugden with older tech far more than the Pontus 15. Even the AKM 4499ex chip SMSL sounded better than the Pontus 15 in terms of bass and lively,realistic presentation.
I downloaded the samples that were available from Pearl and came to conclusion that the Denafrips was muddy and bloated in the bass compared to the others. I liked the Sugden and the D90 III.
Tarun, agree with many here posting on the consistent excellence of your reviews. This one in particular is among the best. A couple of points were raised by other R26 owners here: I optimized it via an external OXCO and using a DDC to feed it via I2S, and it was the performance then that allowed me to sell on my Terminator II. I am about to try a Gustard fuse upgrade, too, will come back here to report. FYI the LAN input if optimized is second only to its I2S. As for recommendations for other DACs above $3K, I would submit my tube DAC the Lampizator Baltic V4 at $7K as a worthy contender for timbral excellence under $10K. But, I've heard it's hard to get a Lampi to review as the proprietor and NA distributor are already busy enough fulfilling orders - and thus maybe too a bit review shy as the risk of a poor review isn't worth it.
A dac above 3000? That is not that difficult. But the question is how much above.😮 Brands which come to mind are ; dCS, Grimm, and mola mola. Take your pick. For all brands, I am curious about your opinion. Thank you, for your nice review.
Great review. Like you I prefer R2R, and have a T Plus, but was tempted recently by the new Hifi Rose RD160, mainly because of potential synergy with my RS130 streamer. The fact it is a Delta Sigma machine put me off, but I would love to hear your take. It has lots of interesting tech including optical ethernet and optical USB. I believe it uses the new AKM flagship two chip module, the AK4499EX / AK4191 velvetsound. That itself is genuinely different. Not cheap at £4699
Great review. I'd love to hear your take on the Rockna Wavelight R2R DAC. I think it could be interesting how it compares to DACs like the X30 but also the offerings from Holo, Denafrips etc.
I've compared a Gustard A26 to a Rockna Wavedream and I've heard the Holo May R2R as well. The areas that stand out in the R2R DACs are the soundstage width/depth, instrument separation, and imaging. All other areas are equal or better on the Gustard to my ears.
Thank you very much Tarun for another excellent review. I would like to see a review of the Magna Mano Ultra MK3.5 streamer with Gentoo Player software. Some say that this combination of streamer and software is very close to the level of your Auralic Aries G1, so it would be very interesting to have Tarun's opinion. It is also a streamer that can have an I2S output, which is not very common, unfortunately.
Looking for the best Dac/streamer option in different pricecategories , thanks again , your rewiews changed the " new " audio industrie , not everything which is newer or more expensive has to be necessary be better ... thanks again
You can check the Fezz Equinox Prestige Balanced DAC by Lampizator, this is an audio Hi-Fi manufacturer from Poland, the dac was made in collaboration with Lampizator but its much cheaper than Lampizator dacs. Also you may check the Fezz Titania (KT88) or Fezz Silver Luna Prestige (el34) tube amplifiers.
Thank you for the review, Tarun. It is super useful to know how the market offering of DACs is improving. My suggestion would be a top DAC from Holo Audio - May DAC Kitsune Edition. It would be great to hear how it compares to Spring 3 and the other lineup you have.
The Musician Taurus is around that price range. Seems like great value for what it offers. Holo Audio also has a lot of great ones. Weiss, Lampizator Amber 3 - a tube dac. Still, and at a more reasonable price, i'd like you to give us your opinion on the discrete version of the Topping D90 iii as well as their DX9 dac/amp combo.
Thanks for the review. You might want to check out Ayon; their Kronos Dac or other offerings. I use a ten year-old Ayon CD player and have tried to better it several times in the last few years with gear from Chord, Gustard and SMSL yet none of them got near the tonal mass, richness, sweetness or delicacy. I brought the Ayon based on a review that it 'doesn't sound like digital' and that has been my experience. They do use tubes extensively throughout their digital range and you may find it interesting to use companies like Ayon , Border Patrol or Musical Paradise to make a segment examining the pros and cons of using tubes in digital output stages or in choke power rectification.
I own both Holo Audio May and this Gustatd X30. Amazingly this X30 wins in terms of superb bass control. bigger sound stage and separations of instruments. DSD input with I2S and external clocks input had better performance 😊
I am hesitating between this X30 and the Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE to feed a CJ Premier 17ls/Parasound JC5/Totem Mani2. I know Tarun reviewed a Spring a while ago but I would really appreciate to have your input on the differences (the May must be similar to the Spring). Are dynamics much better on X30? Soundstage depth, timbre and naturalness? Other comments on the one you would keep between the 2 DACs? Thanks!
Edit: I first thought you asked for DACs below 3K, sorry my bad 😅 Well, above 3 grand there's just a new world of possibility. Personally my short list to look into would be these : - Merason Reuss - Abbas 3.1 (tube) - Rose RD160 (this one freshly released is interesting for his SFP port) - Cen.Grand DSDAC Deluxe - Bricasti M3 - B. Audio Bdac one - Totaldac Core - Rockna Wavelight - Luxman DA-07X I'm guessing Abbas and Totaldac are very unlikely to get your hands on but i figured i'd throw it anyway in case someone else might want to check them out.
Yes with your extensive experience with Denafrips models it would be interesting to know what improvements the 15th models have managed with minimal price increases.
Gaia-->VenusII listener here with the latest 2023 firmware update. Some months ago I switched from OS(slow) mode on the VenusII to NOS mode. With recent changes in amp and speakers, I much prefer NOS mode now over OS mode -- NOS is tighter, better PRaT ... worth a look in any case.
A great review, as always, Tarun. Like another commenter here, I'm a very contented R26 owner - one very well versed with the benefits and importance of clocking. I'm also fully aware that not all OCXO clocks are created equal, having taken a progress arc starting with an Aliexpress BG7TBL, via an Afterdark King, and now a Mutec Nano. The R26 is a fully different beast with the Mutec compared to its internal clocking. So, I do wonder how much of the X30's elevation over the X26 is due to the better clock. When the rumoured R30 arrives, and assuming it too has an OCXO, I would equally wonder whether it would be worth upgrading to it, if the limiting factor is in fact the clock.
Hmm, the Ferrum Wandla is close to that price point. You should check it out, I love mine. And it has HDMI. There is also the GoldenSound version which has some really interesting tweaks.
Do you remember about the Holo Spring you reviewed a while ago? Both did end up exceptional so which one would you select between the Spring and the X30? Is there something the X30 is behind the Spring in fact? Also, bass and dynamics is something the Spring may not be good in comparison according to comments. Details and soundstage I would be curious to know... Thanks for your great reviews!
Hey T! Awesome review. I’ve got a X30 at home now on loan. First impressions are great, but as I’ve eyed the Laiv Harmony too, I’d like to ask you to compare them, if you would. How would you rank them, and what are the differences (strengths/weaknesses)? Kind regards from Sweden :)
Great review as always! I came so close to purchasing the X30 yesterday and was happy to hear your thoughts. For other DACs to review I’d recommend the Wyred4Sound Anniversary. It easily bettered my Denafrips Pontus II which I highly regarded. If you go for a demo, grab the companion ISO Recovery unit. For the $ this DAC is hard to beat.
Thank You Tarun. Good review. What I'd like is someone to explain the articture of Denafrips upgrades to date. It's a bit confusing and not likely to get better. I could use a benchmark.
Thanks Jim. I need to work out what has changed in the Venus 15th version myself. The 12th has a couple of minor component changes and the transformers increasing to 80VA each as opposed to 60VA. Not significant enough to warrant a standalone review over my Venus II IMO 😊
Agree about the need for Denafrips to do a better job on defining precisely changes from one generation to the next. With Vinshine gone the website and support has gone to shit IMHO.
Hello Tarun. Can I suggest APL HI-FI DAC's for review. Even the cheapest one in the range is above 3k. At least one criteria is met.😊You might be pleasantly surprised about the sound. They are FPGA based DACS with proprietary hardware and software. If I could afford they would be my first choice.
As others mentioned, LTA is probably the most interesting DAC of the moment. If you want to try a more exotic boutique DAC, Lampizator from Poland. And of course any DAC from Esoteric Japan and Playback Design, US - all very different philosophies in design and sound. You’d think as you go up in price DACs would converge sonically (after all there is only one digital data stream) and it’s actually the opposite that happens. Also forgot, the Mola Mola DAC - bloody expensive but quite special, and PS audio new Stellar line also novel and far more fairly priced. That should keep you busy 😊
Another great review Tarun. I always look forward to your take on new products. For something above the 3 pound and up price range to review, how about the Chord Hugo TT 2. In the cheaper category would love to see you review the Holo Audio Cyan 2. Cheers!
I would really love to see yourself review the T+A DAC 200, yes it is costly however it includes some useful features including HDMI ARC. The DAC 200 is essentially two DACs in one box, for DSD it uses a true 1-bit design, while with PCM signals use a quadruple Burr Brown converter. Would be Interesting to see Burr Brown go up against the ESS Sabre chips. I believe the value for money is there if one is also in the market for a preamp of matching quality.
Thank you for this, it is much appreciated. By the way, Elise Audio sell it for £2399 (less than what you mentioned). It would be great to get your thoughts on the LTA Aero DAC.
Hi Tarun - thanks for this great review. I know this is not a DAC, but perhaps you could review the Sonore Signature Rendu Deluxe? This optical streamer has transformed the SQ of my set and the brand deserves more attention. It is around 5.000 USD, so belongs somewhere in the high end spectrum.
Great review. It would be really interresting if you would review the Geshelli Labs Dayzee dac. I have the smaller J2 (with AK4499) and while it may be lacking in features and exterior design, the sound quality is quite something special in it's price category in my opinion.
I wonder how much worse the sound of the Eversolo DMP A10 is compared to the X30 when using both as a streamer+DAC? Similar price but the DMP A10 has more function. Thank you for your work. Happy new year.
The X30 is £2,399.00 from UK Amazon and thus cheaper than buying direct from Shinzen (once you add VAT etc) as well as being a safer bet if anything goes wrong. I have the R26 which I got used (with a guarantee) for about £1000 less than the X30 from a dealer on on Ebay and have upgraded with a c. £80 external OCXO 10MHZ clock, feeding it I2S from a Singxer SU-2 DDC. Maybe the bare X30 is better, but until and unless I hear it I don't know. However, I've just been listening to Keb' Mo' and he's holographically in the room -- IMHO all the instruments as well as his voice have beautiful tonality. Besides, I have a self-imposed limit on what I'm prepared to spend on any one item, and the X30 is beyond that. Bearing that in mind, I'm loath to suggest DACs for evaluation at the £3K+ price point as it would only torture me with the next greatest thing! 🙂 That said, I'd be very interested to hear your take on less expensive DACs like the Holoaudio Cyan 2.
Hi Tarun. All things considered, only leaving price aside. Would you pick X30 over the Holo Audio Cyan 2 or viceversa ? Would the holo Audio cyan 2 hold it's ground against the X30?
What about Chord DACs? There top end range has changed significantly over the last few years. Hugo TT2. You've always liked the mojo so it would be interesting to see what their high end components are like. I can only dream! Just upgraded my dac to a Cambridge audio DAC 200m. It's paired with Q acoustic M20s that you recommended. The Cambridge also pairs well with my Adam audio T5v studio monitors. I have not decided which speaker i prefer yet. Each having particular stengths. These combo makes a very nice entry level system. Upgrading to the Cambridge was a big upgrade from the Ifi Zen 2 i was using before. Much more natural and refined sound with better timing.
Anybody want to buy an arm or maybe a leg…go on, you never know when a spare arm might come in handy…no? Very nice bit of kit, thanks for the peek Tarun. Still enjoying my budget Fiio K11 R2R and SR11 streamer, less expensive than 6 months of the platform it was designed for, Roon.
Thank you for your precious and fine detailed review, I really enjoy your way to show us The strenghts of thoee dacs. I would like to ear from you a review of The new Norma Revo Dac-2, which was awarded at The last Munich High End. Thanks again
You could review one of the Bricasti Designs DACs. The M1SE is a highly regarded design and the base model M3 is particularly good at the point. The M21 has a selectable DAC architecture; delta sigma and R2-R ladder for PCM conversion and for DSD playback, true direct DSD.
Here in Canada we have access to PS audio products. If you have a chance, a good candidate for a Dac review would be their Stellar Gold Dac which sells for $4000.00 US dollars.
Great to see this reviewed here Tarun. What would be the best trnasport on a budget for this, node 2i, entry level innuos streamer, or the internal streamer using Upnp?
I love my Denafrips Venus 12th anniversary….I have compared it to a lot of dacs, the Venus has a permanent place in my system….the only thing I miss is Alvin….
Another review of the highest quality - thank you Tarun. I am very interested in this DAC. I have been thinking about pairing the X30 with the Eversolo DMP-A6 Master Edition streamer via i2s. I am wondering if that combo is a better way to go then just getting the Eversolo DMP-A10. Pricing is comparable.
I would use an asynchronous USB connection to take advantage of the OXCO oscillators in the Gustard X30 DAC. IIS is not asynchronous, so the transports clocks will be responsible for the timing of information. The A8 (and probably the A10) have inferior clocks to the X30 😊👍
I would be very curious to hear how it performs. Most likely I'll go with the new pontus or the x30. I mostly listen to orchestral and acoustic music so I guess Denafrips is the way to go. Still unsure though... @@abritishaudiophile7314
Thanks for the info!! I have a very specific questions I hope you can help me to answer (in could be an idea fo a video). Three years ago, you reviewed the IRIS DDC with very conclusive arguments. However, there are today many products to reduce jitter that are not necessary under the DDC tag. This is the case of the MARTIX audio - X-SPDIF3 USB digital audio interface, which seems to be a product doing the same as a DDC. WHat is the difference between the components to reduce jitter? and which DAC types do not require this jitter reduction? Thanks again for the excellent job you do!!
Hello Tarun, I think you should review the Chord Hugo TT2 because it’s like you a British product from an English company made in Britain 😊 I would like a comparison with the Holo Cyan 2, Spring 3 for example or the May. I’d like to know where the TT2 placed itself in a hierarchy. Thanks
Great review once again, many thanks. I suggest taking a look at the Merason Reuss and/or Hifi Rose Rd 160. Both come in around 5000 Euro and get very good reviews
Hi Tarun, I commented once before on the mola mola tambaqui dac. Expensive for sure but your thoughts would be interesting. I’ve not seen a bad review but they are a while ago and so modern dacs like this Gustard and Denafrips have not been considered competitively. What do you think?
@@abritishaudiophile7314 A question I'd like to know the answer to...if the lightness in the bass you noted in the X30 is ameliorated with the Wandla, without introducing additional problems
I can give you a little review, I've owned it for a couple of months now. It smokes my previous amps, the Audiolab 6000a and the Rotel A11 Tribute while being in roughly the same price range. 1st thing I noticed was an enhanced sense of presence/spaciousness in the upper mids. 2nd thing is it delivers a lot of bass. Very surprising how much more it delivers. So it sounds big, expanded and spacious. Holographic if you will. It is also to live with in a practical sense and I love the balanced inputs (a little extra clarity in upper frequencies). Downside is and there is only one, it doesn't have the most natural tonality. It's very exciting for music but when just watching regular YT videos sometimes the upper bass region (male vocals) sound muffled. Kind of murmur-y. Turning the bass down with the tone controls helps. It's not every video but when you hear it, it's really noticeable. Speech clarity and naturalness was much better on the other two amps mentioned. There is also a bit extra in the upper mids. It makes music sound cool but you can detect a smidge extra sharpness on S's than should be there. Not enough to really bother me but it's there. All in all i highly recommend it for anyone looking for the feature set, power and musical excitement. If you want the most refined and natural sound I'd consider other units. But besting it overall would likely take double or triple the price. Enjoy! I'd also love to see Tarun review it too and see what he makes of it. His ear is for more educated than mine!
Try a COS D1 for brown burl chip and what most has said the best DAC for the AD1955 is the Bricasti m1, Dangerous source 2 is no slouch aswell, prob the most dynamic of the AD1995 for more delta Dacs. Nice review!
Hi Tarun, I wondered what you thought of the internal streamer? Does it need a separate box to give of its best? If so what sort of level would it need to be? Thanks for your excellent reviews, I watch them all!
@@kentonR thank you. I didn’t have much interest in the streaming module as it is reliant on airplay or UPNP streaming software, I use neither. It is reported to work well as a streamer for people looking for a basic streamer 😊
I find myself amazed with Taurun's reviews of higher end equipment like this as his ability not only to hear and recognize specific minute differences between pieces but the way he articulates that experience into words creating a uniquely detailed presentation to really allow his audience to almost be in his shoes at that moment. It is not easy to explain such technical details without sounding either monotone and lifeless or using word salad technical terms that leave viewers wondering what did he really mean. Taurun's reviews are best described as an Artist who paints imagery for Audiophiles. Once you listen to him you understand why his reviews are a class above the rest.
Thank you my friend. It is very gratifying to receive feedback like that 👍😊👍
Agreed, that's why I watch, though I'm not in the market for the high end stuff.
Also, there's no audio-snobbery, with lower-end gear being given honest appraisals. Thanks for the CXA61 recommendation Tarun, it's a very real improvement to my system.
@@barlow2976 Yea even if what he is reviewing is not your market you can still learn quite a bit from how he does his review process. He's not randomly tossing out points he ha, he's telling you a specific way he went through and compared different characteristics of the item so you have an clear understanding of how his conclusion was reached. The guy is a true audio knowledge bank and he is better than anyone at being able to put those thoughts to words.
Appreciate you Tarun, you review something for every audiophile, not just the 1%. Keep up the good work!
Th am you. Much appreciated 😊👍
Taurun, I watch and enjoy every one of your reviews no matter the product. You keep me up to date at the state of the world of hifi. Thank you for such great work.
Thank you my friend 😊👍
Please, it's Tarun!
@@llanfairpwyllgogogoch1279calm down
The LTA aero is an R2R dac of approx £3500. It uses a ZOTL design with tubes. I have used it now for 4 months and it is very special. I can post mine to you if you would like to live with it and review it. It would be a gesture to thank you for all you do for the audiophile community.
The LTA gear all looks incredible. I've seen and heard it at shows, and I believe the company is located geographically close to me and yet I haven't brought any into the home yet. I'll definitely look into this DAC more
Zzzz
@@razzman2987 sweet dreams.. someday you'll wake up 🫡
Tarun please accept this offer. This DAC is innovative and has an uncommon architecture. Would love to hear what you think. Thank you sir for making the offer.
@@brendanmccarthy4218 Do they have a distributer in UK? Which retailer have them in stock?
Thank you for your excellent review and pleasant way of speaking. I've been using the X30 for 5 weeks now, and it's performing excellently. Compared to the Matrix Audio X-Sabre Pro ( ESS 9038 chipset), there is a significant increase in microdynamics, more energy in the highs, but much less sibilance, it sounds very natural and clean with improved speech intelligibility. There is no added coloration or enhancement, just a raw, unfiltered representation of what was actually recorded. It is like waking up to the reality of each track, with improved detail and a more grounded soundstage. I prefer the PCM filter VIVID and MQA and want to listen to music direct from SD card as well. Thanks for your work!
Have you tried the internal streamer? (Roon or UPnP?). If so, what is your opinion on that? thx.
Thanks!
@@matthewcrush3843 thank you for your support Matthew. Very kind and much appreciated 😊👍
The only DAC I could think of in that price range to review is the Chord Hugo TT2. Another great review Tarun. Thanks!
Thank you 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314how would it compare to the Chord TT2?
DACs seem to be still getting better rapidly. A few years of patience can easily save thousands.
@@alphaniner3770 the downside of which is losing years of maximizing your enjoyment. Spoken like the old man I am. 😊
@@markwilliford7471 oh yes, that is a very valid point - yolo ❤
In the mean time enjoy vinyl😊
My dream dac, I really enjoyed my time with the r26 it was a giant killer as well ❤
Hi Tarun, wonderful review as usual. I think a good digital comparison would be the Holoaudio May L3 (the best measuring true-NOS r2r DAC anywhere near its price and rivals the best delta-sigmas at its price) vs ANK kits best tube DAC at the same price (you can select for it to be fully built at the factory). Given your experience with the audio note DAC it would be really interesting to hear your thoughts on two DACs with such radically different philosophies.
It would like to review it but I suspect I am going to have to wait for a new iteration before they will send it to me 😊
Excellent review 🙌🏻 Thanks Tarun !
Thank you kindly 😊👍
great review as usual, tarun - i have been using the x30 since august and till today, the sound is still improving [average 1-2 hours of play a day], the greatest characters i enjoy about the x30 is its timing and dynamic, the bass line is full of impact, texture and can be followed easily, timbre wise, the initial metallic sheen has largely wore off and the tonality has become richer and fuller, the soundstage wider, deeper with almost pin point instrument focus and location, transience is phenomenal with the x30 - i compared this with the LAIV harmony before i fell for the x30 because it makes the music seems much more alive with life like macro and micro dynamic and realism, its goose bump stuff really - the LAIV is no slouch but compares to the x30, the only advantage it has over the x30 seems to be the slightly richer tonal balance [no offense is intended to LAIV users] ... i will be doing a comparison between the x30 and a terminator 2 soon ...
@@ajs-qv5fe Hi! Have you had a chance to compare X30 and Terminator? :)
Hello. I am glad that you paid attention to this DAC and made a quality review of it. I was one of the first to recommend you to listen to it. And I completely agree with your conclusions. Gustard X30 is worthy of attention of die-hard music lovers - skeptics and proves that ESS in the right configuration can sound better than R2R. It is definitely worth the money. The only important thing you missed is the high sensitivity of this DAC to a quality fuse. Replacing the standard fuse with a more expensive SR moves the tonality to the analog side, makes the high frequencies even more controlled and full-bodied. In this case, it would not yield to Venus 2
Could you please share the link to the fuse that you are referring to ?
Thank you for your work Tarun. As a British audiophile Chord DACs come to mind and how DACs relate to other equipment such as preamplifiers/amplifiers.
@@davidrudman thank you. I would like to review more Chord products but they are a bit shy in sending me stuff 😊
Excellent review as always, thank you! I'd be curious about a review of the Lab12 Dac 1 reference, which is about 3000 E and certainly has a quite special architecture. Cheers!
Tarun,
You asked for equipment to test: PS Audio Direct Stream Dac Mk2 . It has a programable chip architecture ( not off the shelf chips) each software upgrade completely changes the sound of the dac. Also Auralic Aries G2.2 dedicated streamer only ( retails around $6000) It sounds better than most streamers out there. Thank you for your time and a great review.
There are 3-4 different sounding softwares for this dac. I liked V 2.6.2 the best not the last and current 3.1.0 called massive. I think you will be intrigued on how different versions of the software changes the sound of the PS Audio Directstresm MK2 completely. Thank you again.
There are 3-4 different sounding softwares for this dac. I liked V 2.6.2 the best not the last and current 3.1.0 called massive. I think you will be intrigued on how different versions of the software changes the sound of the PS Audio Directstresm MK2 completely. Thank you again.
@@lakosilmsncom thank you 😊
The Gustard X30 DAC is an outstanding piece of kit. I bought one of these a couple of months ago and I was flabbergasted at the level of detail, high quality sound and neutral tonality this quality DAC provides. Your bang on the button with this review as well Taurun and I agree with your appraisal. 👍👍
I put it on my upgrade radar for my next rig, a stunner...
Thanks for the review Tarun! I was one of the people who requested it, I guess its on my short list now :)
@@pr0gre551ve cool 😎
Hi Taurun, great review. Reading through the responses, the one high quality over $3K DAC not mentioned would be the PS Audio DirectStream Mk2 DAC with the Mountain Top update ($7999). PS Audio products get great reviews, but are rarely compared with other products. Thank you!
Too expensive for a DAC! It should in the range that mid class can buy!
@beslemeto Yes, their products are certainly more expensive than anyone would like (at least 30% more than they should be). However, you have to consider they are based in the U.S., have incredible customer service, and you can have them repaired by their engineers for a reasonable cost. Oh, and they have a trade-in service, which is quite generous... taking advantage of that would almost entirely offset the higher purchase cost.
There's a reason why I haven't purchased a Denifrips or Laiv... I'm concerned about how I would ever have them serviced, let alone where in the world they would have to be shipped to do so.
I only have their BHK250 amp, which is phenomenal. But, I'm intrigued by both their BHK preamplifier as well as their high-end DACs. Let's see...
@ If you can afford their products good for you! But i belive Asian companies offer better price-performance ratio and that will only get better by time! I don't like how western companies are charging us ridiculous amount of money for their products! We live in hard times very few of us can afford PS Audio or Audio Note Equipment!
@beslemeto Believe me, my friend, I'm not paying full price for the PS Audio equipment. Many, many used deals out there. I do own some Chi-Fi equipment, and no one can disagree with your sentiment regarding the value they provide. But I have to draw the line at a certain point ... in other words, I only buy that amount of Chi-Fi equipment that costs less than the amount I'm willing to lose, which limits me to $300 or less ( WiiM).
@ The problem is even used PS equipments are still much more expensive than chifi stuff.Anyway if you like your stuff good for you!
Fab review Tarun. The X30 sounds extremely tempting.
Thank you Ajay 😊
Really hope you will review Cyan 2 :)
Hopefully, it is coming 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 I will wait till your review before buying one. You're the best in the industry :)
@@abritishaudiophile7314
Yes, I've been waiting for this one too. I'm hoping it's better than the ares, but competes with Vega s1, r26, pontus and A8. I love that it's just a simple stripped down dac with no features. It's such a competitive price here in the USA.
Greetings Tarun from NZ. Thanks for your as ever thoughtful, balanced review. Gustard seem to be on a roll don’t they. I’m an R26 owner who over the last few years went to a bit of trouble - and expenditure - on a number external and internal tweaks to eke out a bit more of its potential eg. a better external clock and mu-metal encapsulation of its transformers satisfyingly improved its soundstage breadth and depth and bass definition and impact, whilst lessening the level of grain and glare it can have in my revealing system on some material. So I already had an appreciation of what their DACs could scale to with a little more resources applied to certain areas. Appreciate such tweaking isn’t most folks’ cup of tea, so to hear Gustard have delivered a one box upgrade model at such a standard is very cool. There’s a rumoured R30 early next year, a strong candidate for your new year’s review list methinks.
@@Wharariki thank you. I would like to see an R30 come out. Great to learn about your experiences 😊
Hi @Wharaniki I also have an R26 with an external Mutec clock attached. When I initially attached the Mutec clock it was awful, but it transpired that this was caused by heavy EM emissions from a nearly LPS's transformer. Separating the two fixed this and now the Mutec is helping the R26 sing. My point here is that I'm now looking into shielding options including mu-metal (which I hadn't even heard of until a few days ago). Can I ask where you bought it, what gauge it is, and exactly where you've applied it, and have you earthed it? There seem to be quite a few vendors selling it on eBay, but their similarity is raising my suspicions.
@ Howdy, cool re the Mutec. YT doesn’t like links at all, so for the off-brand Mu Metal I got, which is 1.5mm thick, try DIY Hifi Supply. Not grounded no, I used grounded copper sheets elsewhere in the DAC between the sections for electric field and RF shielding, but around the transformers it was all about magnetic field shielding to which grounding is n/a.
@@Wharariki Many thanks. I actually ended up buying a sheet of nickel/iron (80/20) off aliexpress and bending it around the Mutec clock to shield it from my LPSs. It's incredibly effective. A used EM meter I bought goes red when near the LPSs, then reads zero when the sheet is placed between them.
I think, however, I'll skip opening up the R26 and putting metal sheeting inside. The risk is too great. I recently embarrassed myself by shorting one of my LPS's when measuring its DC voltage. My friendly electronic engineer / hifi designer was happy to fix it for a price, but I will not risk repeating my humiliation.
Tarun, I recommend the all-in-one Lyngdorf TDAI 3400. It's a piece of equipment that has earned a permanent spot on my shelf after going through a ton of hi-fi gear.
I use lyngsdorf bw sub, their demo room in munich was impresive few years ago.
@@VeliborSI, agree. Friend of mine uses 1120, he is very happy guy since buying this amp 😊.
@@veliborkusic4595 I appreciate the suggestion 😊
A review of Meitner or Merason DACs would be greatly appreciated...thanks for the good job you do in your reviews.
@@garoldpowell863 thank you 😊
Great review, terrific information and very helpful comparisons. Thank you!
Taurus, I truly appreciate the Lava Lamp hiding in the corner. I have always had a soft spot for your flavor of DAC. But I'm more likely to dive into Geshelli Labs J2, or better. Thank you as always...
@@RedSinter thank you 😊
I hope you will review the new X26 III with a comparison vs the X30
4 x 9039pro chips? Holy bits! At 8 channels per that means 16 paralleled channels per side!
This explains higher current delivery, lower noise floor and better bass and dynamics. Gustard engineers are seriously tops!
@@sonusancti it is a great DAC 😊
Thank you Tarun - truly appreciate your thoughtful and balanced approach. Suggested review - T+A DAC 200. Also something that would be interesting to many of us McIntosh owners, compare the built-in DA2 to an external DAC of your choice. $2k-$4k.
@@markwilliford7471 thank you. It is on my shortlist 😊
Golden already did an absolutely perfect and outstanding review of the T+A 200.
Whenever I hear 'hold on to your hats' my immediate thought is 'pull up your pant legs, it's too late to save your shoes". Obviously not the case here. This must indeed be a special product to get such praise from you.
It strikes me that once again, specific circuit design is secondary to excellent implementation. Case in point, the excellent SOUNDING Delta-Sigma DAC here.
Thank you again for the precise review. One suggestion for a DAC review is the Auralic Vega 2.2. Another would be one of the tube DACs. Linear Tube Audio is one such DAC.
SimeAudio has a solid state , 280D streaming DAC, priced at about 3000 pounds.
@@tarquineous thank you 😊
Hi Tarun, great and enjoyabel review. The X30 was also on my list but I fokus now on two other DACs which amy also good for a review: ANK DAC 5.1 Signature and T+A MP 2000 R. The latter one is a multisource player incluing DAC. Very interesting device.
Thank you Frank 😊
Excellent review. I recently watched a Pearl Acoustic video comparison of the new Pontus 15th vs a Topping D90III, an SMSL AKM chip DAC and the NOS Sugden DAC-4. I preferred the DAC-4 Sugden with older tech far more than the Pontus 15. Even the AKM 4499ex chip SMSL sounded better than the Pontus 15 in terms of bass and lively,realistic presentation.
Bass (speed and control) performance seems the achilles heel of most r2r dacs 🤔
I downloaded the samples that were available from Pearl and came to conclusion that the Denafrips was muddy and bloated in the bass compared to the others. I liked the Sugden and the D90 III.
Thank you for sharing 😊
Eversolo A10 is coming next week, should be around $3000. I like the new look of it. I would love a review. Hoping it is dual mono DAC as well.
Thx Pete 😊
Tarun, agree with many here posting on the consistent excellence of your reviews. This one in particular is among the best. A couple of points were raised by other R26 owners here: I optimized it via an external OXCO and using a DDC to feed it via I2S, and it was the performance then that allowed me to sell on my Terminator II. I am about to try a Gustard fuse upgrade, too, will come back here to report. FYI the LAN input if optimized is second only to its I2S. As for recommendations for other DACs above $3K, I would submit my tube DAC the Lampizator Baltic V4 at $7K as a worthy contender for timbral excellence under $10K. But, I've heard it's hard to get a Lampi to review as the proprietor and NA distributor are already busy enough fulfilling orders - and thus maybe too a bit review shy as the risk of a poor review isn't worth it.
I have a Synergistic Master fuse in my R26 and quite pleased with it. They also offer a 30-day trial period.
@@alexh5343what size is recommended /blow time and amps
A dac above 3000? That is not that difficult. But the question is how much above.😮 Brands which come to mind are ; dCS, Grimm, and mola mola. Take your pick. For all brands, I am curious about your opinion.
Thank you, for your nice review.
Great review. Like you I prefer R2R, and have a T Plus, but was tempted recently by the new Hifi Rose RD160, mainly because of potential synergy with my RS130 streamer. The fact it is a Delta Sigma machine put me off, but I would love to hear your take. It has lots of interesting tech including optical ethernet and optical USB. I believe it uses the new AKM flagship two chip module, the AK4499EX / AK4191 velvetsound. That itself is genuinely different.
Not cheap at £4699
Great review. I'd love to hear your take on the Rockna Wavelight R2R DAC. I think it could be interesting how it compares to DACs like the X30 but also the offerings from Holo, Denafrips etc.
@@jannr233 thank you 😊
I've compared a Gustard A26 to a Rockna Wavedream and I've heard the Holo May R2R as well. The areas that stand out in the R2R DACs are the soundstage width/depth, instrument separation, and imaging. All other areas are equal or better on the Gustard to my ears.
The Dragon has awaken and he is showing its power to the world.
Thank you very much Tarun for another excellent review.
I would like to see a review of the Magna Mano Ultra MK3.5 streamer with Gentoo Player software.
Some say that this combination of streamer and software is very close to the level of your Auralic Aries G1, so it would be very interesting to have Tarun's opinion.
It is also a streamer that can have an I2S output, which is not very common, unfortunately.
Looking for the best Dac/streamer option in different pricecategories , thanks again , your rewiews changed the " new " audio industrie , not everything which is newer or more expensive has to be necessary be better ... thanks again
@@carlesjuliavallmajo3812 thank you 😊
Aqua HiFi DACs deserve your attention 🎉
You can check the Fezz Equinox Prestige Balanced DAC by Lampizator, this is an audio Hi-Fi manufacturer from Poland, the dac was made in collaboration with Lampizator but its much cheaper than Lampizator dacs. Also you may check the Fezz Titania (KT88) or Fezz Silver Luna Prestige (el34) tube amplifiers.
@@adriancatanailie thanks for the heads up. I will check it out 😊
Thank you for the review, Tarun. It is super useful to know how the market offering of DACs is improving. My suggestion would be a top DAC from Holo Audio - May DAC Kitsune Edition. It would be great to hear how it compares to Spring 3 and the other lineup you have.
@@adotoshny thank you. I would like to review a May KTE but will probably have to wait for a new version before they will send it to me 😊
The Musician Taurus is around that price range. Seems like great value for what it offers. Holo Audio also has a lot of great ones. Weiss, Lampizator Amber 3 - a tube dac. Still, and at a more reasonable price, i'd like you to give us your opinion on the discrete version of the Topping D90 iii as well as their DX9 dac/amp combo.
Thank you. The Lampizator Atlantic TRP should be coming in at some point 😊
Thanks for the review. You might want to check out Ayon; their Kronos Dac or other offerings. I use a ten year-old Ayon CD player and have tried to better it several times in the last few years with gear from Chord, Gustard and SMSL yet none of them got near the tonal mass, richness, sweetness or delicacy. I brought the Ayon based on a review that it 'doesn't sound like digital' and that has been my experience. They do use tubes extensively throughout their digital range and you may find it interesting to use companies like Ayon , Border Patrol or Musical Paradise to make a segment examining the pros and cons of using tubes in digital output stages or in choke power rectification.
I own both Holo Audio May and this Gustatd X30. Amazingly this X30 wins in terms of superb bass control. bigger sound stage and separations of instruments. DSD input with I2S and external clocks input had better performance 😊
If you use hqplayer,can you use all the modulator with the x30?or some of them give you a white noise?
I am hesitating between this X30 and the Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE to feed a CJ Premier 17ls/Parasound JC5/Totem Mani2. I know Tarun reviewed a Spring a while ago but I would really appreciate to have your input on the differences (the May must be similar to the Spring). Are dynamics much better on X30? Soundstage depth, timbre and naturalness? Other comments on the one you would keep between the 2 DACs? Thanks!
I am using x30 as a main dac. what I have…. holo spring 3 kte, gustard a26, r26, chord qutest, denafrips pontus. X30 is just better, period.
Edit: I first thought you asked for DACs below 3K, sorry my bad 😅
Well, above 3 grand there's just a new world of possibility. Personally my short list to look into would be these :
- Merason Reuss
- Abbas 3.1 (tube)
- Rose RD160 (this one freshly released is interesting for his SFP port)
- Cen.Grand DSDAC Deluxe
- Bricasti M3
- B. Audio Bdac one
- Totaldac Core
- Rockna Wavelight
- Luxman DA-07X
I'm guessing Abbas and Totaldac are very unlikely to get your hands on but i figured i'd throw it anyway in case someone else might want to check them out.
Thank you. It is the £3k+ category where I am struggling to find examples that seem good value for money 😊
Thanks for the review. AudioGd makes R2R dacs that may be worth the while to review.
@@evgenyevichamadou9559 thx 😊
Denafrips 15th and Venus 15th, Holo audio Cyan 2 are a must listen DACs on your channel. Thank you Tarun for another excellent review👌🏻
Thank you kindly 😊👍
Yes with your extensive experience with Denafrips models it would be interesting to know what improvements the 15th models have managed with minimal price increases.
Another great one, Tarun. Very exciting piece. I would love to see you cover separates. Maybe best $5k combos pairing pre and power amp?
@@briangurnett thank you 😊
Gaia-->VenusII listener here with the latest 2023 firmware update.
Some months ago I switched from OS(slow) mode on the VenusII to NOS mode. With recent changes in amp and speakers, I much prefer NOS mode now over OS mode -- NOS is tighter, better PRaT ... worth a look in any case.
Interesting stuff. Thank you 😊
Thank you Tarun. I would love to hear your opinion on some good tube output stage dacs. There are a few out there in the 5k+ range for sure!
Thank you. I have been thinking along the some lines. There are a couple of tube based DACs that are on my shortlist 😊
It would be amazing to see a review of higher end Audio Note DAC like 2.1 signature.
Watch this space 😉
Great review honest as usual 😊
Thank you. Much appreciated 😊👍
A great review, as always, Tarun. Like another commenter here, I'm a very contented R26 owner - one very well versed with the benefits and importance of clocking. I'm also fully aware that not all OCXO clocks are created equal, having taken a progress arc starting with an Aliexpress BG7TBL, via an Afterdark King, and now a Mutec Nano. The R26 is a fully different beast with the Mutec compared to its internal clocking.
So, I do wonder how much of the X30's elevation over the X26 is due to the better clock. When the rumoured R30 arrives, and assuming it too has an OCXO, I would equally wonder whether it would be worth upgrading to it, if the limiting factor is in fact the clock.
@@ms10241024 thank you. The clock, filtering, quad chip architecture all make a difference 😊
Hmm, the Ferrum Wandla is close to that price point. You should check it out, I love mine. And it has HDMI. There is also the GoldenSound version which has some really interesting tweaks.
Thx 😊
Good 👍 review! I wish to know how this DAC compares to the much cheaper Holo May Cyan 2. Perhaps you can get your hands on one.
Thx. The Cyan 2 is due to come in 😊
Do you remember about the Holo Spring you reviewed a while ago? Both did end up exceptional so which one would you select between the Spring and the X30? Is there something the X30 is behind the Spring in fact? Also, bass and dynamics is something the Spring may not be good in comparison according to comments. Details and soundstage I would be curious to know... Thanks for your great reviews!
Hey T! Awesome review. I’ve got a X30 at home now on loan. First impressions are great, but as I’ve eyed the Laiv Harmony too, I’d like to ask you to compare them, if you would. How would you rank them, and what are the differences (strengths/weaknesses)? Kind regards from Sweden :)
Great review as always! I came so close to purchasing the X30 yesterday and was happy to hear your thoughts. For other DACs to review I’d recommend the Wyred4Sound Anniversary. It easily bettered my Denafrips Pontus II which I highly regarded. If you go for a demo, grab the companion ISO Recovery unit. For the $ this DAC is hard to beat.
I am using x30 for 6 months now using DSD512 with HQPlayer. The sound presentation is very different...you should give it a try.
@@andreasbuxbaum9364 thx for sharing 😊
How is the sound different?
Thank You Tarun. Good review. What I'd like is someone to explain the articture of Denafrips upgrades to date. It's a bit confusing and not likely to get better. I could use a benchmark.
Thanks Jim. I need to work out what has changed in the Venus 15th version myself. The 12th has a couple of minor component changes and the transformers increasing to 80VA each as opposed to 60VA. Not significant enough to warrant a standalone review over my Venus II IMO 😊
Agree about the need for Denafrips to do a better job on defining precisely changes from one generation to the next. With Vinshine gone the website and support has gone to shit IMHO.
Hello Tarun. Can I suggest APL HI-FI DAC's for review. Even the cheapest one in the range is above 3k. At least one criteria is met.😊You might be pleasantly surprised about the sound. They are FPGA based DACS with proprietary hardware and software. If I could afford they would be my first choice.
@@selo8050 thank you 😊
As others mentioned, LTA is probably the most interesting DAC of the moment. If you want to try a more exotic boutique DAC, Lampizator from Poland. And of course any DAC from Esoteric Japan and Playback Design, US - all very different philosophies in design and sound. You’d think as you go up in price DACs would converge sonically (after all there is only one digital data stream) and it’s actually the opposite that happens. Also forgot, the Mola Mola DAC - bloody expensive but quite special, and PS audio new Stellar line also novel and far more fairly priced. That should keep you busy 😊
Another great review Tarun. I always look forward to your take on new products. For something above the 3 pound and up price range to review, how about the Chord Hugo TT 2. In the cheaper category would love to see you review the Holo Audio Cyan 2. Cheers!
Thank you 👍
You know what I can't stop asking for: Linn Selekt with Organik DAC
Thank you. They seem pricey but I know some people who are very happy with them 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 yes I know they seem expensive, but nowhere near as pricey as the likes of Msb, Ideon, Apl, Nadac or Abbas DAC.
I would really love to see yourself review the T+A DAC 200, yes it is costly however it includes some useful features including HDMI ARC. The DAC 200 is essentially two DACs in one box, for DSD it uses a true 1-bit design, while with PCM signals use a quadruple Burr Brown converter. Would be Interesting to see Burr Brown go up against the ESS Sabre chips. I believe the value for money is there if one is also in the market for a preamp of matching quality.
Thank you for this, it is much appreciated. By the way, Elise Audio sell it for £2399 (less than what you mentioned). It would be great to get your thoughts on the LTA Aero DAC.
Thank you 😊
Nice review. How does the X30 compare to the LAiV Harmony?
Obvious question.
@@richardsaila8073 absolutely, as I'm a Harmony owner. 😀
Two very different sonic signatures but the X30 is significantly more resolving 👍
@@abritishaudiophile7314 thank you Tarun.
Great review, Tarun. 👍
Hi Tarun - thanks for this great review. I know this is not a DAC, but perhaps you could review the Sonore Signature Rendu Deluxe? This optical streamer has transformed the SQ of my set and the brand deserves more attention. It is around 5.000 USD, so belongs somewhere in the high end spectrum.
@@rogiervanpoelvoorde8618 I appreciate the suggestion 😊
Hi Taurun
Have a look to Atoll dac 300, very well made ...
Great review.
It would be really interresting if you would review the Geshelli Labs Dayzee dac. I have the smaller J2 (with AK4499) and while it may be lacking in features and exterior design, the sound quality is quite something special in it's price category in my opinion.
@@christernicolaisen6537 Thank you 😊
I wonder how much worse the sound of the Eversolo DMP A10 is compared to the X30 when using both as a streamer+DAC?
Similar price but the DMP A10 has more function.
Thank you for your work. Happy new year.
@@csszabi8779 thank you. HNY to you too 🥳
The X30 is £2,399.00 from UK Amazon and thus cheaper than buying direct from Shinzen (once you add VAT etc) as well as being a safer bet if anything goes wrong. I have the R26 which I got used (with a guarantee) for about £1000 less than the X30 from a dealer on on Ebay and have upgraded with a c. £80 external OCXO 10MHZ clock, feeding it I2S from a Singxer SU-2 DDC. Maybe the bare X30 is better, but until and unless I hear it I don't know. However, I've just been listening to Keb' Mo' and he's holographically in the room -- IMHO all the instruments as well as his voice have beautiful tonality. Besides, I have a self-imposed limit on what I'm prepared to spend on any one item, and the X30 is beyond that.
Bearing that in mind, I'm loath to suggest DACs for evaluation at the £3K+ price point as it would only torture me with the next greatest thing! 🙂
That said, I'd be very interested to hear your take on less expensive DACs like the Holoaudio Cyan 2.
Thank you John. Shenzhen Audio has it listed at £2,300. The price includes shipping but not taxes 😊
Merason, Tambaqui, Wandla, and Mojo are all reviews I would love to see your thoughts on.
Thank you 😊
Hi Tarun. All things considered, only leaving price aside. Would you pick X30 over the Holo Audio Cyan 2 or viceversa ? Would the holo Audio cyan 2 hold it's ground against the X30?
I hope to find out 😊
What about Chord DACs? There top end range has changed significantly over the last few years. Hugo TT2. You've always liked the mojo so it would be interesting to see what their high end components are like. I can only dream! Just upgraded my dac to a Cambridge audio DAC 200m. It's paired with Q acoustic M20s that you recommended. The Cambridge also pairs well with my Adam audio T5v studio monitors. I have not decided which speaker i prefer yet. Each having particular stengths. These combo makes a very nice entry level system. Upgrading to the Cambridge was a big upgrade from the Ifi Zen 2 i was using before. Much more natural and refined sound with better timing.
@@paultasker7788 thx. Chord been a bit shy in sending me stuff to review. They may send me something when a new version comes out 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314interesting. Perhaps they're worried about how they'd compete with some of the impressive DACs you've recently tested.
Anybody want to buy an arm or maybe a leg…go on, you never know when a spare arm might come in handy…no?
Very nice bit of kit, thanks for the peek Tarun. Still enjoying my budget Fiio K11 R2R and SR11 streamer, less expensive than 6 months of the platform it was designed for, Roon.
@@Panslapper thx for sharing 😊
Hi Tarun ! I think the Atoll ST300 Signature would be a great review. The inner architecture is qualitative. And the sound is precise and natural.
Thank you for your precious and fine detailed review, I really enjoy your way to show us The strenghts of thoee dacs.
I would like to ear from you a review of The new Norma Revo Dac-2, which was awarded at The last Munich High End.
Thanks again
You could review one of the Bricasti Designs DACs. The M1SE is a highly regarded design and the base model M3 is particularly good at the point. The M21 has a selectable DAC architecture; delta sigma and R2-R ladder for PCM conversion and for DSD playback, true direct DSD.
Hope you can review the PS Audio StellarGold. Similar prices and also a ESS9038Pro DAC. The Gustard seems to have better spec though.
Here in Canada we have access to PS audio products. If you have a chance, a good candidate for a Dac review would be their Stellar Gold Dac which sells for $4000.00 US dollars.
Great to see this reviewed here Tarun. What would be the best trnasport on a budget for this, node 2i, entry level innuos streamer, or the internal streamer using Upnp?
@@rog86 I would start with the internal streamer 😊
I love my Denafrips Venus 12th anniversary….I have compared it to a lot of dacs, the Venus has a permanent place in my system….the only thing I miss is Alvin….
Thx Charles 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 customer service from Alvin was the best in this world …and a really decent human being…
Another review of the highest quality - thank you Tarun. I am very interested in this DAC. I have been thinking about pairing the X30 with the Eversolo DMP-A6 Master Edition streamer via i2s. I am wondering if that combo is a better way to go then just getting the Eversolo DMP-A10. Pricing is comparable.
@@joeythedime1838 thank you kindly. I haven’t heard the A10 but my money is on the A6/X30 combo 😊
A6 ME do not have i2s output. You need to go to A8 or pair the A6 ME with a DDC to output i2s to external DAC.
I would use an asynchronous USB connection to take advantage of the OXCO oscillators in the Gustard X30 DAC. IIS is not asynchronous, so the transports clocks will be responsible for the timing of information. The A8 (and probably the A10) have inferior clocks to the X30 😊👍
Great review Taurun, would you consider reviewing the Denafrips Pontus 15th Anniversary
@@kenny-i9d I am considering it. I need to find out what they have changed first 😊
I would be very curious to hear how it performs. Most likely I'll go with the new pontus or the x30. I mostly listen to orchestral and acoustic music so I guess Denafrips is the way to go. Still unsure though... @@abritishaudiophile7314
Thanks for the info!! I have a very specific questions I hope you can help me to answer (in could be an idea fo a video). Three years ago, you reviewed the IRIS DDC with very conclusive arguments. However, there are today many products to reduce jitter that are not necessary under the DDC tag. This is the case of the MARTIX audio - X-SPDIF3 USB digital audio interface, which seems to be a product doing the same as a DDC. WHat is the difference between the components to reduce jitter? and which DAC types do not require this jitter reduction? Thanks again for the excellent job you do!!
@@arturomartinez3354 thank you. That is an interesting discussion. In my experience all DACs benefit from receiving a low noise, low Jitter signal 😊
Hello Tarun, I think you should review the Chord Hugo TT2 because it’s like you a British product from an English company made in Britain 😊
I would like a comparison with the Holo Cyan 2, Spring 3 for example or the May. I’d like to know where the TT2 placed itself in a hierarchy.
Thanks
Great review once again, many thanks. I suggest taking a look at the Merason Reuss and/or Hifi Rose Rd 160. Both come in around 5000 Euro and get very good reviews
Hi Tarun, are you planning to review the new Bluesound Node Icon.
@@garybartlett7690 no plans as yet but I hope to get to it in time 😊
Hi Tarun, I commented once before on the mola mola tambaqui dac. Expensive for sure but your thoughts would be interesting. I’ve not seen a bad review but they are a while ago and so modern dacs like this Gustard and Denafrips have not been considered competitively. What do you think?
I would really like to hear your opinion on the Wandla and Hypsos and a comparison to the Gustard X30. Thanks!
Thx 😊
@@abritishaudiophile7314 A question I'd like to know the answer to...if the lightness in the bass you noted in the X30 is ameliorated with the Wandla, without introducing additional problems
Appreciate your reviews Tarun. Hope you get to review the IOTAVX SA/PA 40 soon.
I can give you a little review, I've owned it for a couple of months now. It smokes my previous amps, the Audiolab 6000a and the Rotel A11 Tribute while being in roughly the same price range. 1st thing I noticed was an enhanced sense of presence/spaciousness in the upper mids. 2nd thing is it delivers a lot of bass. Very surprising how much more it delivers. So it sounds big, expanded and spacious. Holographic if you will. It is also to live with in a practical sense and I love the balanced inputs (a little extra clarity in upper frequencies).
Downside is and there is only one, it doesn't have the most natural tonality. It's very exciting for music but when just watching regular YT videos sometimes the upper bass region (male vocals) sound muffled. Kind of murmur-y. Turning the bass down with the tone controls helps. It's not every video but when you hear it, it's really noticeable. Speech clarity and naturalness was much better on the other two amps mentioned. There is also a bit extra in the upper mids. It makes music sound cool but you can detect a smidge extra sharpness on S's than should be there. Not enough to really bother me but it's there.
All in all i highly recommend it for anyone looking for the feature set, power and musical excitement. If you want the most refined and natural sound I'd consider other units. But besting it overall would likely take double or triple the price. Enjoy!
I'd also love to see Tarun review it too and see what he makes of it. His ear is for more educated than mine!
LTA Aero doesn’t seem a waste of time 🙏🏼.
Thx. That is on my radar 😊
Try a COS D1 for brown burl chip and what most has said the best DAC for the AD1955 is the Bricasti m1, Dangerous source 2 is no slouch aswell, prob the most dynamic of the AD1995 for more delta Dacs. Nice review!
Hi Tarun, I wondered what you thought of the internal streamer? Does it need a separate box to give of its best? If so what sort of level would it need to be? Thanks for your excellent reviews, I watch them all!
@@kentonR thank you. I didn’t have much interest in the streaming module as it is reliant on airplay or UPNP streaming software, I use neither. It is reported to work well as a streamer for people looking for a basic streamer 😊
👍 another top notch review! Only half way in and gets the 👍 from me!
That is much appreciated 😊👍
Great review as always. Can you review sonnet morpheus dac .
Thank you 😊