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  3. 192050-19946

Gustard R26 - different sound signatures in different units

The Gustard R26 was recommended to me this year by reputation through a guy who hadn't heard it but knew people he trusted who recommended it. 

Now I've listened to a few R26's now with mixed results. It's been a journey and I made some dumb mistakes by not paying close enough attention. 

The first R26, new from Amazon, sounded dull and uninteresting, not extended on top. I was driving it through USB. I exchanged that R26 for another one, which sounded similar, but then I discovered driving it from the U18 DDC through coax (I have a very good coax digital cable) and the sound signature was totally different.. lively and extended on top. 

Then I found a used R26 on EBay for much less than I had paid for the new one from Amazon, so I returned the one to Amazon and purchased the one from EBay. It sounded brighter than the one I had returned, but at first I didn't mind. Maybe was more detailed. Strangely, the display had a micro font compared to the first two I had.

For a time I didn't do any serious listening. I was more involved in my piano playing and composing hobby. I eventually went back to the R26 I got from EBay and realized it was much too bright. I wondered if it had old firmware, given the micro font on the display. I tried upgrading the firmware, but there was no change in the display or sound.

I ordered another R26 from Amazon. This one sounds completely different than the one I got from EBay. It has about 120 hours on it so far. The problem is that it has shrill/unpleasant sibilance. I'm not saying it's particularly bright. The R26 from Ebay is brighter yet doesn't sound shrill. So the this new R26 probably still has some burn-in time needed, but the shrillness hasn't diminished at all over the first 100 hours. Maybe it's even worse.

Anyone have a similar experience with any of these?

magon
mofojo
2,312 posts
 

So you have bought/sold/and or returned 4 different R26 dacs? Sounds like they have poor quality control and resistor matching. 

magon OP
80 posts
 

@mofojo It was partly not realizing they sound much better when driving by a U18.

  1. Bought R26 from Amazon on strength of its reputation among the New Jersey Audio Society. Drove it via USB. It was really boring sounding. Dull, no high-end extension.
  2. Exchanged that one for another from Amazon on the theory it was defective. It was a little better through USB (more extension) but then I discovered I could use the U18 DDC and drive it through the I2S or coax inputs. All of sudden it sounded great.
  3. Then, thinking I knew how the R26 sounded, I got interested in saving money and bought a used one from EBay at a large discount. (returning the second R26 to Amazon). This sounded much brighter... much much brighter (either through USB or the DDC). At this point I was also trying other DACs and kind of got tired of audio. Went back to other hobbies and listened from time to time but not critically.
  4. Finally started doing critical listening to the third R26 and realized it was far too bright and aggressive on classical music such as piano. Bought another R26 from Amazon. May sell the bright one. I don't think it's broken so to say, but might appeal to rock music lovers or something. This new one from Amazon sounds different than all the other three. It hasn't finished burn-in through, so I'll give it some more time. (Has about 175 hours of music, at quiet levels. Right now has a kind of annoying sibilance region, not well integrated with the midrange.)
aberyclark
1,410 posts
 

Don't forget China has lots of counterfeit items. Many are offered on aliexpress and ebay. 

If a McIntosh 275 can be copied, I'm sure plain box China DACS are of no real challenge.

https://www.aliexpress.us/w/wholesale-mcintosh-amp.html?spm=a2g0o.home.search.0

 

magon OP
80 posts
 

Update: I sold the one R26 I had that was too bright for my ears--I explained to the buyer that it sounded great through USB and they went for it. Then I purchased an R26 direct from the Shenzen company in China. It sounds terrific and good tonal balance! My theory was that the ones on Amazon are the returns for defects, but direct from China it should be their best stuff. So I'm happy now.

In the meantime I was trying other headphone amps and discovered that my headphone amp was considerably bright. I didn't realize this because I hadn't compared to other amps in years. This could even be stimulating the ear resonance I have. So I'm in the market for a different headphone amp.

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