A26 will improve in tonality like great R2R DAC can and keeping the benefits for Delta Sigma DAC which to me is more enjoyable and musical to listen with any kind of music, thanks
Thanks for this review, was thinking an R2R DAC would be my next purchase, but your description of the best of both worlds with the A26 really resonated with me and you described that it produces my perfect sound. I now have it in my system and love it. Cheers
I am not an expert and not sure about R26 but I had to return d400ex - hoping SU10 or A26 (hesitating) should sound better. E70 Velvet sounded the same or even better than d400ex to me.
Thanks. The new Gustard H20 Pro headphone amplifier is due out in 2023, to pair aesthetically with the R26. Can't wait for that review, then I might pick up the pair.
Yeiiii thank you very much for all these magnificent videos! Now I think I finally know what I’ll be getting when i can sell my Ares II. Happy 2023 and best wishes from Mexico!
I had a lot of issues with this dac. It crashes multiple times a day, sometimes after a crash it did not show up on my network. Finally I decided to get an Auralic Vega G2, this dac is just fine.
Happy New year! who's the artist and singer can't see it in headings. You try that LC filter out yet? I found another neat little trick a few days ago bring your speakers to life opens up the sound stage increase your top end If you're interested very simple.
Hi, Stellar performance and great Info as usual. A26 for sure a great DAC BUT, I find the SMSL SU-10 to be much more defined, clearer, detailed with a soundscape giving the listener a way in deeper in to the recording. And then you have the better tonality of wood instrument and live recorded string instruments. And also, way throw in a streamer in the mix with so limited performance as a streamer ??. Just my personal opinion.
Just amazing separation and clarity!This DAC for sure sounds the best of all DAC's you have tried in your system! One question.XLR or RCA sounds better to you? Thank you!
I agree in general. However different genres must be tested. I'm not sure about fast dynamic music. But in hi-end world people have different DACs for different genres )
@@beslemeto And?.. Each stage matters. If a pre-amp can be genre specific, so a DAC can. Cause it has converter/filter/pre-amp stages. Everything around the chip in this DAC is exceptionally good (as on the pictures). But I don't know how did they set up the final stage. Capacitor type also matters. What is good for a digital stage, might affect a sound when is used in analog stages, and so DAC will be some genre centric.
Listening to your demos for A26 and Schumann, I hear that the vocals are taller and further back on the Schumann! Do you feel the same ? Cause you use different speakers for the demos so the speaker may be the difference. Please let us know your opinion on the stage of those two pieces.
Great review as always! I appreciate the fact that you bring us so many of them. You had mentioned that on the R26 the vocals can be moved forward or behind depending on the settings. Would you tell us how it is on the A26? Compared to Schumann and Pontus for reference.
Thar, love listening to your reviews. I was leaning towards the R26 but based on your review I ordered the A26 today. Looking forward to receiving and listening. I also built a pair of the CSS 1TDX. Do you still have the ones you built? Do you think they will go well with the A26? Happy New Year!
As always, a very comprehensive review. I bought the Night 1 musician speakers partly due to your recommendation and very happy with it. It certainly performs at or above other speakers costing 2-3 times its price. The question I have is regarding two videos you did on power cables. One video you recommended the "Black Mamba V2 OCC cable and you also recommended the Mogami W3104. As you know the Mogami is less expensive than the Black Mamba cable. Is the Black Mamba noticeably better than the Mogami In any way? Appreciate your view on this. Thank you.
In a way yes because it has proper drain wire and shield but I also built one similar to that with proper shielding and drain as well. Easy DIY Shielded Audiophile Grade AC Power Cords, Twisted Too! ua-cam.com/video/E1E7Olxsocw/v-deo.html
No more Gustard for me. They have no U.S. distributor, you purchase direct from China. My x26pro had problems after 8 months. Getting support/service is a nightmare. Bought a R26. Arrived broken/unusable (pieces rattling around inside the casing). My hunch is these companies are sending out "cherry-picked" units for reviewers to gush over.
Personally, I like stuff from Gustard. Putting this on top of R26, kinda let me think...is it? Personally, I like R26 sound as it puts vocal right in front of the band (my type of sound), whereas A26 focuses on the band and vocal as a whole. It's really an individual thing and can't deny Gustard's gears are a real game changer. Also, I agree that some of their gears are way better than those priced much higher.
This is subjective my friend, but in my opinion A26 sounded the best in his system.This DAC has outstanding separation and dimensionality. I am sure R26 has these qualities as well so stop bothering yourself.Neither is better than other.Just different!
I really like what I'm hearing. The vocals are just a hair recessed which is more natural in my mind. Often vocals are in your face with many DACs and I don't care for that. The Topping D30Pro has similar attributes which is why I have one. The SMSL SU-9 was sent back for this reason and I settled on D30Pro in it's place. So, when I upgrade, I'll be keeping this DAC in mind. It's more natural sounding to me.
I'm listening compared to your ladder schumann dac review. I'm listening with the volume on the schumann side set to 70%. It's hard to quickly judge which one is better(maybe schumann?). What is your opinion?
Thank you very much for this outstanding review. For convenience, I would like to know a bit more about the streamer capabilities since I tend to use Apple Music more and more. Is A26 airplay compatible ? This is not clear for me. Sometimes I see a "AirPlay" Sticker, sometimes not. And if it is Airplay compatible, what will A26 say as received sound quality ? 16/44 ? Have you tried this ? Globally, as you insist (rightfully of course) that this is 3-in-1, including Streamer, It would be so nice if you could demonstrate this too. May be in an upcoming video ? Thank you very much.
My bet is that they each do their own thing a bit better. The R2R may be better in areas you prefer, such as depth,separation, naturalness while the chip based dacs might have better dynamics, etc. Its a preference and I don't think this dac outright beats the other in every category. Even the ESS dac might have even more punch and treble extension. With R2R, the SQ will be best when left on while the chip dacs should achieve best performance in a relatively short warm up. Tradeoffs, give and takes, but one isn't better in absolute terms. Depends on what you really need and are willing to trade off (a bit ) to achieve a more preferred overall sound. Depends on amp, speakers, room and type of music/recording as well. Case in point, I am probably going to sell off all my better equipment and keep my lower powered amps, smaller speakers and lower cost dacs which were upgraded with a better op amp. Am I missing much? I don't think so as I have achieved a good system synergy in my room with smaller. lighter and less expensive equipment. Sounds outstanding to me. I have two Keces E40 integrateds, one for desktop and one as a main driver, two Aune x8 dacs upgraded with Sparkos opamps, one set drives Dali Opticon 1s and the other Triangle Zeta Plaisir speakers (each sound different but do their own thing really well). Only thing left is a streamer (maybe). If I were to upgrade from this and still stay in my targets for less bulk, perhaps Knight 1s, one of the Gustard dacs and an integrated around 80 watts. That would all cost approx $6K while my two systems came in under $3K including sources, wires, etc. The differences you gain would be noticeable but still small enough and the differences between the two Gustard dac even smaller. One isn't better than the other, just a slightly different presentation, but that slight difference might be slightly more appealing. In this hobby, you pay for slight this or slight that. Among audiophiles, slight seems to be over emphasized. All depends on what one's brain interprets as to what is preferred. I'd be happy with any of the Gustard offerings but I could also nitpick any of the slight differences among them. If you have the $$$ though, buy both. Use one in one system and the other on something else. Better than ruminating on which is the better choice or whether you made the wrong buy (which I do not think is the case). Otherwise, if you don't have the budget or need for a second system, love the one you have.
R26 is very airy and detailed as long as you keep it on all the time and give it 6 weeks for full burn-in. Going by my experience with ESS, AKM, and R2R based DACs (I currently own DACs with all 3 types), I suspect A26 is in between X26 and R26 (but closer to the R26) trading off some holographicness and SS depth for a bit more detail than R26. I definitely prefer the voicing of R2R over AKM but A26 might be a better fit for warm systems and X26 for rolled off systems.
Don't be downhearted Chris! The R26 is a great bit of kit. Give it time to settle in and you won't be disappointed. There's always a 'better' DAC out there, it's just a shame that companies keep churning new models out so quickly because, of course.... the latest one is.... 'better'.
@@Claymore64 To add to that, not necessarily better, but different, slightly different. I agree that the R26 is a great bit of kit and many would prefer it to the DS offerings.
New subscriber 😉 I need a DAC upgrade for my CD transport. I am curious now that time has passed, how you rate this DAC compared to others at this price point. Thank you for the videos!!
Hi Tharbamar, happy 2023! I suppose you will review some other AKM dacs (like you mentioned) like SMSL D400EX but I think it's already safe to say the A26 is your favorite design? 🙂
Who told you that Gustard X26 us dual mono has been lying to you because is not. A dual-mono has completely independent power supplies, power grounds, and input grounds, and the 2 transformers inside X26 are shared between channels, one for digital and one for analog sections.
@@Tharbamar Thank you for the reply. I'm tossing up this A26 or a Holo Spring 3 KTE but the Spring 3 KTE is so Expensive yet has the USB isolation. Your thoughts? Thank you again.
Not sure I am a fan of this sound. Could be the speakers but seems on the sibilant side. On a side note I am very happy with my R26. Zero glare to my ears with still plenty of detail. Did you change your recording setup?
I still think gustard should make separates (dac and streamer) instead an integrated unit and make the dacs cheaper. A lot of people want only a dac or a streamer so no point in paying more for something you already have.
Great review! I'm not sure if I missed it but how would you compare the A26 vs. the R26 in what seems to be one of the strongest aspect of the latter, the stereo imaging?
Hi Tharbamar..great insight as always..please can you tell me if the A26 has the same annoying flashing white light when on standby like the R26..cheers
Thanks for the review! Do you think adding a DDC like the Gustard U18 and an external clock improves the sound quality of the A26 noteciably? The A26 has a linear power supply and great internal clocks already so I wonder if it is worth the money on a DDC and a clock.
I just bought this and I'm wondering the same thing. Seems like the same clock system but I read that it will improve it but I'd like to know but how much.
He replied to me in another video he made on the Gustard U18 from a while back....QUOTE "Tharbamar Tharbamar 10 hours ago It will not make major improvements."
this was my question: "Do you think the Gustard U18 DDC will improve the Gustard A26? I read the specs and they seem to have the same clock info so would it be redundant?"
So, you are saying that you like this DAC even better than the Plontus II which you rated very highly? Also, you like this chip based DAC better than all the R2R's that you have tried, because I THINK there was a time when you preferred the R2R DAC sound. Thanks!
I still love R2R DACs but I do like this A26 more for my need and really impressed with the way they designed and amount of work they put in, not only on the bench, they’ve spent many hours of listening sessions to get the best possible sound as well as keeping the top notch specs.
@@Tharbamar I think the biggest surprise is that I thought you prefer R2R over Delta Sigma originally. It is quite surprising that you think A26 is the best DAC in 2022 rather than other R2R DACs. I believe that A26 must having something unique that similar to R2R but keeping the advantage of Delta Sigma
Interesting, very curious now as I usually prefer R2R like Thar did before now. I may just get the A26 just to compare to my R26, but it's an expensive test lol... does anyone know of an online retailer who will accept 30 days returns?
Tempted to get this DAC to replace my SMSL D300, but for it's price I can get dedicated preamp (Topping Pre90) and second Topping LA90 to use it in mono mode. Guess it will give better boost to SQ. Am I wrong?
Thanks for this excellent review, I bought one which arrived just over a week ago. Very impressive indeed. I have a question which is not addressed either in the manual, Gustard website, or even the AKM or Velvet websites. Menu item #5 Sound: shows two modes to choose from Monitoring and Listening but its not clear to me exactly what is going on with this although I can hear differences it would be better to understand what makes those differences. I noticed you use Monitoring rather than Listening, can you explain why you chose this mode? Thanks
I have those (bookshelf version) and really love them. Warm and smooth yet detailed somewhat, very good soundstage and imaging. A relaxed experience just what I wanted. I plan to add a nice subwoofer to add some bass extension. If you want to uograde but maintain a similar sound signature I'd say go with the Buchardt s400 mkii, the lintons from wharfedale or the klh model 5.
Those dacs will sound nice but they are low Rez. You will never get the true micro dynamics and real timbre of instruments. It's like you prefer a good Sony bravia crt tv of yesteryear as oppose to a latest 8k OLED. When I use the example OLED not to say it will be brighter but closer to the what the real thing is.
@@flatericy Yes, I almost bought one! Was looking into tube dacs as I was dissatisfied with my first DAC which was Chord Qutest. I consider so many like Swix, Orchid, Musical Paradise even Aqua and Prima Luna. What I should have done was originally bought the original Denafrips Terminator haha. My philosophy is high resolution to start and then tailor sound down the chain.
@@flatericy it's going to be hard as AN is in low supply. But the 0.1x I never heard. Just over $2k USD. If you get it post here. Mant yrs ago I heard the level 1 DAC bu AN.
Emotiva is a little on brighter side of neutral for me but even with that you can choose either DAC but if you love better bass control A26 would do, thanks
What were the last 3 dacs that you have been using for your reference system? Not necessarily the ones that you review. But that you use and where your choices
@@Tharbamar I understand, but the problem is that I'm already equipped with Rotel (amplifiers and preamplifier) :( So my question is in fact: won't the A26 be a good match? Thanks again
@@olicoz00 Sorry for wrong answer it meant for other guy asking in my Accuphase review video, based on transparency nature of A26 DAC it should work great in many different setups, Thanks
Good afternoon. What is the difference in sound between A26 and R26 ? Stage width , naturalness , bass , vocals . I'm facing a choice between them... I have a dac on AK 4493 , will there be a difference in sound with AK 4499 ? I 'm waiting for a comparative review . Thanks.
I am using topping e70 velvet dac. The amplifier is naim xs3 and the speaker is proac db1. If I replace the dac with a gustard a26, will there be much of a difference?
Thanks Tharbamer, I've just purchased the A26 based on your review. I currently use the X26pro, which is a great sounding DAC but think it lacks some soul.
If you can let us know your impressions! I also have x26pro and I think just like you. I read on the site that x26pro and r26 are discrete class A dacs while a26 is not! It certainly does not determine anything even if it seems strange to me and I would be pleased if someone could explain it to me! I am undecided and perhaps I would look for the soul more in r2r even if slightly slower and less precise, the a26 is certainly fast and softer than the akm tradition but my fear that class A can make the difference. please advise me. Thanks
@@221298ale actually as an owner I can confirm that Gustard X26Pro is not pure discrete. Just look at the pcm layout. Not so important are opamps or discrete components used. What you're really interested in is two things: whether a given implementation allows the chip to realize its full potential. The second thing that interests you is whether you like the subjective sound of the product. By itself, this has nothing to do with class A I/V. There are good implementations just on a large number of opamps and they may have a good sound, in many ways even better than gustard.
@@gauravgoel8092 hello! To be honest I am not a big fan of Arya in particular and hifiman headphones in general, so not an expert for pairing it. I have not exprienced neither r26 not a26 in my system. But some very negative reviews of r26 tend be to recommend to try a26.
@@beslemeto currently own Musician Pegasus & Denafrips Pontus II. All I can say is the transport iFi Zen stream with smsl d300 DAC is more musical than either R2R using say Bluesound Node or even my long Cambridge 851N. Transport made that much of difference. But main thing of non R2R like SMSL is highs are more pure and lifelike and not as smoothed over.
@@klepp19 LAN connection purifies the sound as its best i guess...People are praising switches for improving sound quality.This iFi Zen is like a switch i guess.How exactly you are pairing it?From PC to the Router and them to the iFi Zen isn't it?And then to the DAC?Could you explain to me?Thanks un advance!I don't like smooth sound either.Sound for me should be clean, rich and dimensional...
Hi there!! I am about to order the Gustard A26 from Amazon, but I can't find any video of how to setup a wireless devise like a phone or ipad, specialy when there isn't a Bluetooth antenna on tbe back of the box. No documentation on the download manual either. Online music providers will be my primary way of sourcing the music data. Can you do a Video of how to? Thank you Cheers from México!!
I would like to hear a direct comparison of A26 and Aquarius. Not at all doubting the tech and build quality of the A26, but the Aquarius scores rather well there too. Also this particular demo sounds like B&W speakers "v-shaped hifi sound": slightly recessed mids, present bass and detailed highs almost to the point of sibilance. I appreciate many folk like that, but I personally prefer the more midrange rich and holographic soundstage depth of good R2R dacs.
Is there a huge different in sound quality @@Tharbamar.? I'm looking at both E70 Velvet and A26, but i find it hard to pay 3 x the price for Gustard with the same chip. I like the pure, clean and "in your face" sound from High-End AKM. The "sweet, round and romantic" part is late in my system aka Conrad Johnson Premier Ten (modified) and 300B PP mono blocks with JJ tubes.
when i use the R26 LAN or USB I'm forced to raise the volume all the way up on my amplifier...this is not normal....If i switch inputs to my optical with the volume knob so high i could blow my speakers...I have the latest USB Driver and firmware 1v4 installed...what could be wrong...Please Help
@@FidelityNation Hi thanks, ...I sold that DAC a while back...good DAC but i'm now using a Denon SX1 dcd SACD /DAC balanced xlr to Klimax pre amp to vintage Onkyo e30 equalizer to vintage Yamaha M2 amp...to vintage spendors S100...🥵lol
How this compare to your like Loxjie d50 ? I still have the loxjie d50 from your recommendation 😅
A26 will improve in tonality like great R2R DAC can and keeping the benefits for Delta Sigma DAC which to me is more enjoyable and musical to listen with any kind of music, thanks
@@Tharbamarwhich lower cost amps would you pair it with? Thank you.
Thanks for this review, was thinking an R2R DAC would be my next purchase, but your description of the best of both worlds with the A26 really resonated with me and you described that it produces my perfect sound. I now have it in my system and love it. Cheers
I love this DAC. Agree with every single point you stated. Roon connection is next level.
Love this DAC. Don’t know what more you would want
Sorry to hear that, mine is working great.
@@Tharbamarno I love this DAC
Your voice sounds very soothing to my ears. Very pleasant.
Interesting. A comparison with R26 is something Im waiting for. Also the SMSL D400EX and comparison with the A26 would be very helpfull :)
I am not an expert and not sure about R26 but I had to return d400ex - hoping SU10 or A26 (hesitating) should sound better. E70 Velvet sounded the same or even better than d400ex to me.
This is incredible. Thank you for the review and for the things you dare to say and to do. You're a good reviewer! I like your videos.
He is a sell out for Gustard, don't trust reviewers with affiliate links.
Our ears are amazing
Tharbamber plays Kiss of Life a lot but I swear this is best I heard it due to DAC and speakers!😊
Thanks. The new Gustard H20 Pro headphone amplifier is due out in 2023, to pair aesthetically with the R26. Can't wait for that review, then I might pick up the pair.
Yeiiii thank you very much for all these magnificent videos! Now I think I finally know what I’ll be getting when i can sell my Ares II. Happy 2023 and best wishes from Mexico!
Thank you, Happy New Year!
Thanks a lot for your great and honest work!
I am impatient to see your next video of comparison between A26 and R26. ;)
Happy new year 2023!
Thank you, Happy New Year!
Thank you for all your work !
I had a lot of issues with this dac. It crashes multiple times a day, sometimes after a crash it did not show up on my network. Finally I decided to get an Auralic Vega G2, this dac is just fine.
Their steaming is lackluster even compared to entry level streamers.
Sounds great!
Awesome review. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
Thanks for review, happy new Year ! 😀
Happy New Year!
Thanks for review!
Not so many review on the x26 pro, would be nice to have a comparison between R26, A26 and X26 pro.
happy new year =)
Happy New Year!
Guess my Ladder Schumann is up sale soon 😊 Great detailed review as always; But i wonder why you are not using the JBL'S for testing anymore? Thanks
Returned my ladder Schumann for this. Ladder had bugs
Happy New year! who's the artist and singer can't see it in headings. You try that LC filter out yet? I found another neat little trick a few days ago bring your speakers to life opens up the sound stage increase your top end If you're interested very simple.
Happy New Year, I haven’t tried any tricks yet but may be I will do when I have more time.
Artist is Grace Mahya, thank you.
Hi, Stellar performance and great Info as usual. A26 for sure a great DAC BUT, I find the SMSL SU-10 to be much more defined, clearer, detailed with a soundscape giving the listener a way in deeper in to the recording. And then you have the better tonality of wood instrument and live recorded string instruments. And also, way throw in a streamer in the mix with so
limited performance as a streamer ??. Just my personal opinion.
Hi Rolf I’m with you, great revealing system you’ve got there, thanks for sharing.
Can you add more details to SU10?
What are the weak sides of SU10?
It would be nice if you could compare this vs the SMSL D400EX. It has a very similar (same?) chipset.
Just amazing separation and clarity!This DAC for sure sounds the best of all DAC's you have tried in your system! One question.XLR or RCA sounds better to you? Thank you!
It will be very close, XLR may have slightly better separation, thanks
I agree in general. However different genres must be tested. I'm not sure about fast dynamic music. But in hi-end world people have different DACs for different genres )
@@sc0or This is a chip DAC! It definitely will be better than R2R for speed.
@@beslemeto And?.. Each stage matters. If a pre-amp can be genre specific, so a DAC can. Cause it has converter/filter/pre-amp stages. Everything around the chip in this DAC is exceptionally good (as on the pictures). But I don't know how did they set up the final stage. Capacitor type also matters. What is good for a digital stage, might affect a sound when is used in analog stages, and so DAC will be some genre centric.
@@sc0or True!There are many factors...
Listening to your demos for A26 and Schumann, I hear that the vocals are taller and further back on the Schumann! Do you feel the same ? Cause you use different speakers for the demos so the speaker may be the difference. Please let us know your opinion on the stage of those two pieces.
Great review as always! I appreciate the fact that you bring us so many of them.
You had mentioned that on the R26 the vocals can be moved forward or behind depending on the settings. Would you tell us how it is on the A26? Compared to Schumann and Pontus for reference.
It won’t change stereo image except for sound color by different settings.
Thar, love listening to your reviews. I was leaning towards the R26 but based on your review I ordered the A26 today. Looking forward to receiving and listening. I also built a pair of the CSS 1TDX. Do you still have the ones you built? Do you think they will go well with the A26? Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! It should sound very nice together with 1TDX, I still have 2TDX, thanks
As always, a very comprehensive review. I bought the Night 1 musician speakers partly due to your recommendation and very happy with it. It certainly performs at or above other speakers costing 2-3 times its price. The question I have is regarding two videos you did on power cables. One video you recommended the "Black Mamba V2 OCC cable and you also recommended the Mogami W3104. As you know the Mogami is less expensive than the Black Mamba cable. Is the Black Mamba noticeably better than the Mogami In any way? Appreciate your view on this. Thank you.
In a way yes because it has proper drain wire and shield but I also built one similar to that with proper shielding and drain as well.
Easy DIY Shielded Audiophile Grade AC Power Cords, Twisted Too!
ua-cam.com/video/E1E7Olxsocw/v-deo.html
@@Tharbamar Thank you for the prompt reply.
No more Gustard for me. They have no U.S. distributor, you purchase direct from China. My x26pro had problems after 8 months. Getting support/service is a nightmare. Bought a R26. Arrived broken/unusable (pieces rattling around inside the casing). My hunch is these companies are sending out "cherry-picked" units for reviewers to gush over.
Thats why they are cheap.
Want same performance, but quality product? Go Matrix.
Thank you for the review brother. Where did you get your audio cabinet from? I really like it 👍.
Hi, it’s custom made built in cabinet permanently attached to concrete floor, thanks
This is the dac of the month. It will be different next month.😊
Personally, I like stuff from Gustard. Putting this on top of R26, kinda let me think...is it? Personally, I like R26 sound as it puts vocal right in front of the band (my type of sound), whereas A26 focuses on the band and vocal as a whole. It's really an individual thing and can't deny Gustard's gears are a real game changer. Also, I agree that some of their gears are way better than those priced much higher.
This is subjective my friend, but in my opinion A26 sounded the best in his system.This DAC has outstanding separation and dimensionality. I am sure R26 has these qualities as well so stop bothering yourself.Neither is better than other.Just different!
@@beslemeto that's literally what he said....
@@wazzupi-pubg I've changed my mind after listening few more times. R26 is better in my opinion!
@@beslemeto why
@@skelewolf8431 Because i think it is better overall sounding!
Happy New Year! Thanks for the review. Haven't seen your review for a while. Have you moved into a different house? Cheers!
Yes I moved, Happy New Year!
I really like what I'm hearing. The vocals are just a hair recessed which is more natural in my mind. Often vocals are in your face with many DACs and I don't care for that. The Topping D30Pro has similar attributes which is why I have one. The SMSL SU-9 was sent back for this reason and I settled on D30Pro in it's place. So, when I upgrade, I'll be keeping this DAC in mind. It's more natural sounding to me.
Yes, very effortless sound that I love.
I'm listening compared to your ladder schumann dac review. I'm listening with the volume on the schumann side set to 70%. It's hard to quickly judge which one is better(maybe schumann?).
What is your opinion?
Thank you very much for this outstanding review. For convenience, I would like to know a bit more about the streamer capabilities since I tend to use Apple Music more and more. Is A26 airplay compatible ? This is not clear for me. Sometimes I see a "AirPlay" Sticker, sometimes not. And if it is Airplay compatible, what will A26 say as received sound quality ? 16/44 ? Have you tried this ?
Globally, as you insist (rightfully of course) that this is 3-in-1, including Streamer, It would be so nice if you could demonstrate this too. May be in an upcoming video ?
Thank you very much.
This breaks my heart a little bit. My R26 was just delivered, still in the box. But it's not too late to swap out for the A26
My bet is that they each do their own thing a bit better. The R2R may be better in areas you prefer, such as depth,separation, naturalness while the chip based dacs might have better dynamics, etc. Its a preference and I don't think this dac outright beats the other in every category. Even the ESS dac might have even more punch and treble extension.
With R2R, the SQ will be best when left on while the chip dacs should achieve best performance in a relatively short warm up. Tradeoffs, give and takes, but one isn't better in absolute terms. Depends on what you really need and are willing to trade off (a bit ) to achieve a more preferred overall sound. Depends on amp, speakers, room and type of music/recording as well.
Case in point, I am probably going to sell off all my better equipment and keep my lower powered amps, smaller speakers and lower cost dacs which were upgraded with a better op amp. Am I missing much? I don't think so as I have achieved a good system synergy in my room with smaller. lighter and less expensive equipment. Sounds outstanding to me.
I have two Keces E40 integrateds, one for desktop and one as a main driver, two Aune x8 dacs upgraded with Sparkos opamps, one set drives Dali Opticon 1s and the other Triangle Zeta Plaisir speakers (each sound different but do their own thing really well). Only thing left is a streamer (maybe).
If I were to upgrade from this and still stay in my targets for less bulk, perhaps Knight 1s, one of the Gustard dacs and an integrated around 80 watts. That would all cost approx $6K while my two systems came in under $3K including sources, wires, etc. The differences you gain would be noticeable but still small enough and the differences between the two Gustard dac even smaller. One isn't better than the other, just a slightly different presentation, but that slight difference might be slightly more appealing. In this hobby, you pay for slight this or slight that. Among audiophiles, slight seems to be over emphasized. All depends on what one's brain interprets as to what is preferred.
I'd be happy with any of the Gustard offerings but I could also nitpick any of the slight differences among them. If you have the $$$ though, buy both. Use one in one system and the other on something else. Better than ruminating on which is the better choice or whether you made the wrong buy (which I do not think is the case). Otherwise, if you don't have the budget or need for a second system, love the one you have.
R26 is very airy and detailed as long as you keep it on all the time and give it 6 weeks for full burn-in. Going by my experience with ESS, AKM, and R2R based DACs (I currently own DACs with all 3 types), I suspect A26 is in between X26 and R26 (but closer to the R26) trading off some holographicness and SS depth for a bit more detail than R26. I definitely prefer the voicing of R2R over AKM but A26 might be a better fit for warm systems and X26 for rolled off systems.
Get A26 has more resolution while still sounding natural as per Tharbamber!
Don't be downhearted Chris! The R26 is a great bit of kit. Give it time to settle in and you won't be disappointed. There's always a 'better' DAC out there, it's just a shame that companies keep churning new models out so quickly because, of course.... the latest one is.... 'better'.
@@Claymore64 To add to that, not necessarily better, but different, slightly different. I agree that the R26 is a great bit of kit and many would prefer it to the DS offerings.
New subscriber 😉 I need a DAC upgrade for my CD transport. I am curious now that time has passed, how you rate this DAC compared to others at this price point. Thank you for the videos!!
A26 is still one of the best in under $4k range, thanks
Hi Tharbamar, happy 2023! I suppose you will review some other AKM dacs (like you mentioned) like SMSL D400EX but I think it's already safe to say the A26 is your favorite design? 🙂
Yes Sir, love the sound and design. Happy New Year!
Love my X26 Pro. Dual mono, class A. Beast DAC.
I ordered the X26 pro, should get it in about 2 weeks. Can't wait.
Who told you that Gustard X26 us dual mono has been lying to you because is not.
A dual-mono has completely independent power supplies, power grounds, and input grounds, and the 2 transformers inside X26 are shared between channels, one for digital and one for analog sections.
Have the Pro hooked up to Acoustic energy AE1 ACTIVE
streaming from Qobuz via laptop. Nice.
How would you compare it to the Holo Spring3 KTE or May KTE?
Thank you for all your great Video's
I haven’t tried them yet
@@Tharbamar Thank you for the reply. I'm tossing up this A26 or a Holo Spring 3 KTE but the Spring 3 KTE is so Expensive yet has the USB isolation. Your thoughts? Thank you again.
Not sure I am a fan of this sound. Could be the speakers but seems on the sibilant side. On a side note I am very happy with my R26. Zero glare to my ears with still plenty of detail. Did you change your recording setup?
The difference DAC and XLR cable. Thanks
@@Tharbamar yeah ok....you go ahead and continue to drink that kool-aid...
What Dac sounds Better overall, the R26 or the A26 ?
What is the Difference there? Many Thhanks😊
He did mention that the A26 is the clear winner overall between the two.
Great review. Question: Does the remote have a power on/off function? Thanks.
I still think gustard should make separates (dac and streamer) instead an integrated unit and make the dacs cheaper. A lot of people want only a dac or a streamer so no point in paying more for something you already have.
Yes they should.
The dacs have a lot of tech for the money. My X26 Pro is dual mono class A with dual power supplies, and crazy stats. It's worth it.
Have you compered the sound difference using the internal Xmos Vs your Sony streamer for sound quality purposes? Many thanks graet review 👌
Yes I have Sony is much quieter, especially at high volume levels, thanks
Great review! I'm not sure if I missed it but how would you compare the A26 vs. the R26 in what seems to be one of the strongest aspect of the latter, the stereo imaging?
Please see latest comparison of them here,
Gustard R26 R2R Vs A26 Delta Sigma DAC Comparison
ua-cam.com/video/1wo4hkw-RKA/v-deo.html
Hi Tharbamar..great insight as always..please can you tell me if the A26 has the same annoying flashing white light when on standby like the R26..cheers
No Flashing lights. Thanks
@@Tharbamar that's good to hear and keep up the good work 👍
Don't just use footer blindly, you need to put right amt of solid weight to reduce resonance.
What will happen I connect it to Sonos amp or INFI Audio Stereo Tube Headphone Amplifier, Class AB?
Thanks for the review! Do you think adding a DDC like the Gustard U18 and an external clock improves the sound quality of the A26 noteciably? The A26 has a linear power supply and great internal clocks already so I wonder if it is worth the money on a DDC and a clock.
I just bought this and I'm wondering the same thing. Seems like the same clock system but I read that it will improve it but I'd like to know but how much.
He replied to me in another video he made on the Gustard U18 from a while back....QUOTE "Tharbamar
Tharbamar
10 hours ago
It will not make major improvements."
this was my question: "Do you think the Gustard U18 DDC will improve the Gustard A26? I read the specs and they seem to have the same clock info so would it be redundant?"
@@jsuno23 Thanks for the info. My A26, U18, and OCK-2 are on the way, I will test it myself. How do you find the A26 so far?
@@botwally2954 it's on the way as we speak...hoping Thursday
So, you are saying that you like this DAC even better than the Plontus II which you rated very highly? Also, you like this chip based DAC better than all the R2R's that you have tried, because I THINK there was a time when you preferred the R2R DAC sound. Thanks!
I still love R2R DACs but I do like this A26 more for my need and really impressed with the way they designed and amount of work they put in, not only on the bench, they’ve spent many hours of listening sessions to get the best possible sound as well as keeping the top notch specs.
@@Tharbamar I think the biggest surprise is that I thought you prefer R2R over Delta Sigma originally.
It is quite surprising that you think A26 is the best DAC in 2022 rather than other R2R DACs.
I believe that A26 must having something unique that similar to R2R but keeping the advantage of Delta Sigma
How dose it compared to Pontus II?
Great review. Any idea how this stacks up to something like a Yggdrasil?
Should walk all over it on paper at least.
How this compare to Gustard X26 PRO? Thank you
Just bought the A26 after seen your review and your review of the A26 vs R26. How many of burn in hours this A26 need?
Mine was a little over a month old when it was first reviewed, I left it on 24/7 with active digital signal.
Interesting, very curious now as I usually prefer R2R like Thar did before now. I may just get the A26 just to compare to my R26, but it's an expensive test lol... does anyone know of an online retailer who will accept 30 days returns?
Sure, easy. Just order via Amazon which will give you a 60 days no hassle return. Best and Happy New Year’
Hey Tharbamar thanks for the video. Would you say you’ve found another DAC since that beats how you like this one?
No I’m still using Pontus II.
Would you say the treble is more rolled off than the R26?
Not at all.
Tempted to get this DAC to replace my SMSL D300, but for it's price I can get dedicated preamp (Topping Pre90) and second Topping LA90 to use it in mono mode. Guess it will give better boost to SQ. Am I wrong?
Yes it is a great way to improve your sound quality.
Thanks for this excellent review, I bought one which arrived just over a week ago. Very impressive indeed. I have a question which is not addressed either in the manual, Gustard website, or even the AKM or Velvet websites. Menu item #5 Sound: shows two modes to choose from Monitoring and Listening but its not clear to me exactly what is going on with this although I can hear differences it would be better to understand what makes those differences. I noticed you use Monitoring rather than Listening, can you explain why you chose this mode? Thanks
Monitoring most likely a neutral sound, listening probably has some degree of bass/mids boost…
@@SatanDynastyKiller Nope just the opposite actually.
@@RobOutlaw I agree in that I can tell something got louder usually the vocals.
Thar for someone who loves the elac unifi reference. What's the next step from that? Like a more explosive version of it?
Better version would be ELAC Adante AS61 it will be more refine in sound quality but may not be as explosive as you may hope to get.
I have those (bookshelf version) and really love them. Warm and smooth yet detailed somewhat, very good soundstage and imaging. A relaxed experience just what I wanted. I plan to add a nice subwoofer to add some bass extension. If you want to uograde but maintain a similar sound signature I'd say go with the Buchardt s400 mkii, the lintons from wharfedale or the klh model 5.
@@JoseFerreira-zb7wh I was thinking the exact same thing about the klh model 5s! The lintons are too warm for me. I use the unfi for my desktop.
I would really like that you try some AN dac or some with Phillips 1541 or 1543 chip.
Those dacs will sound nice but they are low Rez. You will never get the true micro dynamics and real timbre of instruments. It's like you prefer a good Sony bravia crt tv of yesteryear as oppose to a latest 8k OLED. When I use the example OLED not to say it will be brighter but closer to the what the real thing is.
@@klepp19 so you heard AN dac?
@@flatericy Yes, I almost bought one! Was looking into tube dacs as I was dissatisfied with my first DAC which was Chord Qutest. I consider so many like Swix, Orchid, Musical Paradise even Aqua and Prima Luna. What I should have done was originally bought the original Denafrips Terminator haha. My philosophy is high resolution to start and then tailor sound down the chain.
@@klepp19 Nice . I would like to try Audial S5, AN 0.1x and now even this...i Dont want to buy before I try.
@@flatericy it's going to be hard as AN is in low supply. But the 0.1x I never heard. Just over $2k USD. If you get it post here. Mant yrs ago I heard the level 1 DAC bu AN.
Hi Tharbamar, thank you for your great test.What you think about paired R26 or a26 with emotiva xpa dr2 AB amp by xlr? Thanx
Emotiva is a little on brighter side of neutral for me but even with that you can choose either DAC but if you love better bass control A26 would do, thanks
What brand isolation feet are you using with the Gustard?
I’m using Audiocrast.
Wow, the custard is your favorite?
Custard Pie, actually... 😁(Zeppelin)
What were the last 3 dacs that you have been using for your reference system? Not necessarily the ones that you review. But that you use and where your choices
You have mentioned Japanese equipment, do you think that Rotel would still be a good combination with the A26 or should it be avoided? THANKS!
Personally I stay away from higher price products that contracted to third party manufacturers.
@@Tharbamar I understand, but the problem is that I'm already equipped with Rotel (amplifiers and preamplifier) :( So my question is in fact: won't the A26 be a good match? Thanks again
@@olicoz00 Sorry for wrong answer it meant for other guy asking in my Accuphase review video, based on transparency nature of A26 DAC it should work great in many different setups, Thanks
@@Tharbamar Thank you Thabamar. I was lost with your answer 😂 So, I will go with the A26, thanks again for your reviews! 👍🏻
Good afternoon. What is the difference in sound between A26 and R26 ? Stage width , naturalness , bass , vocals . I'm facing a choice between them... I have a dac on AK 4493 , will there be a difference in sound with AK 4499 ? I 'm waiting for a comparative review . Thanks.
Hi it should be up in a few days, thanks
@@Tharbamar
Thank you for your work, I appreciate your opinion))) I look forward to comparing these dacs !
I am using topping e70 velvet dac. The amplifier is naim xs3 and the speaker is proac db1.
If I replace the dac with a gustard a26, will there be much of a difference?
A26 is much more revealing and some may or may not enjoy it, thanks
What if I only want to achieve the sound of this DAC but do not need a streamer? Thank you!
It would be this,
SMSL D400EX DAC Review
ua-cam.com/video/t-MXQ0VVYMc/v-deo.html
Thanks Tharbamer, I've just purchased the A26 based on your review. I currently use the X26pro, which is a great sounding DAC but think it lacks some soul.
Good choice!
If you can let us know your impressions! I also have x26pro and I think just like you. I read on the site that x26pro and r26 are discrete class A dacs while a26 is not! It certainly does not determine anything even if it seems strange to me and I would be pleased if someone could explain it to me! I am undecided and perhaps I would look for the soul more in r2r even if slightly slower and less precise, the a26 is certainly fast and softer than the akm tradition but my fear that class A can make the difference. please advise me. Thanks
@@221298ale actually as an owner I can confirm that Gustard X26Pro is not pure discrete. Just look at the pcm layout. Not so important are opamps or discrete components used. What you're really interested in is two things: whether a given implementation allows the chip to realize its full potential. The second thing that interests you is whether you like the subjective sound of the product. By itself, this has nothing to do with class A I/V. There are good implementations just on a large number of opamps and they may have a good sound, in many ways even better than gustard.
@@negserg7639 hello there, would you please advise if for a planer headphone like Arya stealth, R26 is more suitable or A26...thanks for your help.
@@gauravgoel8092 hello! To be honest I am not a big fan of Arya in particular and hifiman headphones in general, so not an expert for pairing it. I have not exprienced neither r26 not a26 in my system. But some very negative reviews of r26 tend be to recommend to try a26.
Would this be a big upgrade on Primare Dac 30 ?
Yes It will be good upgrade.
Is it possible to select different I2S pinouts or is there only one pinout supported as with the R26?
@Tharbamar or anyone else, which lower cost amps would you pair it with? Thank you.
Does A26 sound as natural as SMSL D300 which beats my staple of R2R DACs?
Which are the R2R dacs you own?
@@beslemeto currently own Musician Pegasus & Denafrips Pontus II. All I can say is the transport iFi Zen stream with smsl d300 DAC is more musical than either R2R using say Bluesound Node or even my long Cambridge 851N. Transport made that much of difference. But main thing of non R2R like SMSL is highs are more pure and lifelike and not as smoothed over.
@@klepp19 LAN connection purifies the sound as its best i guess...People are praising switches for improving sound quality.This iFi Zen is like a switch i guess.How exactly you are pairing it?From PC to the Router and them to the iFi Zen isn't it?And then to the DAC?Could you explain to me?Thanks un advance!I don't like smooth sound either.Sound for me should be clean, rich and dimensional...
Hi there!! I am about to order the Gustard A26 from Amazon, but I can't find any video of how to setup a wireless devise like a phone or ipad, specialy when there isn't a Bluetooth antenna on tbe back of the box. No documentation on the download manual either. Online music providers will be my primary way of sourcing the music data. Can you do a Video of how to? Thank you Cheers from México!!
Hi, A26 does not have Bluetooth feature, only LAN is available. Thanks
Ok, I understand that I will have to connect an Ethernet cable, but how do I select the music I want to listen?
Cheers!!
I have a vacuum tube system, is it ok?
Yes definitely.
Does it beat your musician aquarius?
Yes definitely.
Did you try it with your kef r11? I have the same speakers! If the dac is better than the aquarius is such a deal for the price!
I would like to hear a direct comparison of A26 and Aquarius. Not at all doubting the tech and build quality of the A26, but the Aquarius scores rather well there too. Also this particular demo sounds like B&W speakers "v-shaped hifi sound": slightly recessed mids, present bass and detailed highs almost to the point of sibilance. I appreciate many folk like that, but I personally prefer the more midrange rich and holographic soundstage depth of good R2R dacs.
How close would the SMSL D300 paired with a DDC or usb bridge come to this A26?
Hard to say because I never tried D300 with DDC, thanks
@@Tharbamar direct comparison, the A26 is probably allot better huh.
Cambridge cxn o gustard A 26?
A26.
How is Gustard A26 compared to Topping E70 Velvet which uses the same DAC.?
Very different design.
Is there a huge different in sound quality @@Tharbamar.?
I'm looking at both E70 Velvet and A26, but i find it hard to pay 3 x the price for Gustard with the same chip. I like the pure, clean and "in your face" sound from High-End AKM. The "sweet, round and romantic" part is late in my system aka Conrad Johnson Premier Ten (modified) and 300B PP mono blocks with JJ tubes.
Sound quality is not the same, I can’t answer more details because I haven’t reviewed E70 yet.
when i use the R26 LAN or USB I'm forced to raise the volume all the way up on
my amplifier...this is not normal....If i switch inputs to my optical
with the volume knob so high i could blow my speakers...I have the
latest USB Driver and firmware 1v4 installed...what could be wrong...Please Help
Use a preamp and put the Dac in fixed mode.
@@FidelityNation Hi thanks,
...I sold that DAC a while back...good DAC but i'm now using a Denon SX1 dcd SACD /DAC balanced xlr to Klimax pre amp to vintage Onkyo e30 equalizer to vintage Yamaha M2 amp...to vintage spendors S100...🥵lol
how does this compare to the hapz1es?
HAP-Z1ES is more transparent.
@@Tharbamar would like you to review some of the holo rtr dacs..possibly?
It looks like the old cable boxes
It sounds a bit harsh on the highs...almost to sterile or bright...like a hospital intercom😂??
R26 end game dac
I have x26pro I would like to buy r26 to have a sound with more soul. is it fast and accurate for you? I also listen to electronic music! thank you
If you do listen to electronic music average R2R DAC isn’t capable of producing the same amount of dynamics as delta sigma DAC can.
@@Tharbamar Gustard x26pro and r26 are discrete class A while a26 is not, do you think it's not a deficit? Thanks
Any Denafrips sounds much better than any Gustard🤦♂️
It’s exactly the same as the r26pro it’s just the ascetic’s that have been changed don’t be fooled
Are you dumb mate? Read the spec sheets it's a totally different unit inside and out.