Upgrading to a stand alone DAC

I'm a Gustard guy. I own two X26 pro and waiting for a new A26. From the reviews you will get more clarity with the A26 than the R26 but with none of the digital brightness of the X26 PRO, which is already at a minimum. The A26 sounds like the best of both world and I can't wait to get my hands on it Wednesday. The R26 would definitely be too dark sounding in my house of stereo, gone the r2r route before but not for very long. It's all room and system dependent.

@baylinor

My Gustard R26 is anything but dark. Not all lacking in detail or clarity. Not in my setup, anyway. 

@sls883

I have major amount of absorbers and bass traps in my house of stereo, plus fully carpeted, meaning I prefer Uber detailed equipment. Like no tubes. Been there, done that. Plenty of diffusing too, but the room construction does not react well to r2r. Glad it works for you.

@baylinor 

I do have a tube preamp, but it's not real tubelike. It's a Linear Tube Audio MicroZOTL preamp. Solid state amp. 

I have selected cables, etc that work with the R26.

I think it comes down to personal preference. I think they are both good dacs. 

I have owned the following DACs in the last 5 years

• Gustard X26 Pro
• Topping D90SE (also the non-MQA version)
• Musetec 005
• Lumin X1 ($15k)
• Schitt Yggdrasil+ OG
• Schitt Yggdrasil+ Less Is More
• Benchmark DAC3B
• Audio Mirror Tubadour SE III

The items I have bolded are on the warmer side. The best of the warmer DACs for my ears was the Yggdrasil+ LIM which can be found used from $1700. I can only give a recommendation on the Yggdrasil+ since I have not heard the older versions of this model, non plus versions.

The best DAC I have owned is the Yggdrasil+ OG. It is not even close as to how much better it is over all the other DACs on my list. This model is not sold anymore but the replacement for it, the Yggdrasil+ More Is Better is supposed to sound somewhat like the OG that I have.

BTW - if anyone wants to sell an Yggdrasil+ OG send me a DM.