Gustard A18

[777]

Gustard A18, Topping D90 killer ?

 

[deafenears]

So the A18 succeeds the A20?

 

[Martin]

What differentiates the DAC-A18 from the DAC-A22 which also has dual AK4499?

Martin

 

[Veri]

Gustard A18, Topping D90 killer ?

Any target price known? I'm guessing it will sit right next to Topping D90/SMSL M400. Giant killer, not sure...

 

[Martin]

Any target price known? I'm guessing it will sit right next to Topping D90/SMSL M400. Giant killer, not sure...

Gustard's stuff is usually fairly expensive. The DAC-A22 is $1,099.99 and the ES9038Pro based DAC-X26 is $1,399.99.

Martin

 

[Martin]

I stand corrected - it's listed on Taobao for 2,888 Chinese Yuan which is only $407. I also found a site that says the matching separate streamer and headphone amp shown in the photos is to be released later this year. They also state it was created to compete with the Topping D90 and SMSL DACs.

Taobao listing: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=617527986416

Forum discussion: http://erji.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=2185463&extra=&page=1

Martin

 

[Martin]

Looks like it $559.99 in the US: https://shenzhenaudio.com/collectio...ed-dac-lme49860-6-decoder-with-remote-control

That undercuts the non-MQA Topping D90 by $140!

Martin

 

[Reddy]

Very interesting DAC. If the published measurements will be confirmed it is a real strong product on the market.

 

[Martin]

Since I'm moving to the miniDSP SHD I am more interested in the headphone amplifier shown on the top of that stack above and how it compares to the Topping A90 and the Monolith THX 887.

Martin

 

[Scottwhit]

Interesting, no optical input?

 

[Blackfear]

really...it seems that it has no optical input, it's a small inconvenience, below picture from dastereo.ru

 

[capitanharlock]

I stand corrected - it's listed on Taobao for 2,888 Chinese Yuan which is only $407. I also found a site that says the matching separate streamer and headphone amp shown in the photos is to be released later this year. They also state it was created to compete with the Topping D90 and SMSL DACs.

Taobao listing: https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=617527986416

Forum discussion: http://erji.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=2185463&extra=&page=1

View attachment 63479

Martin

I see some other Gustard boxes, but I can't understand what models...
Do you know anything about them?

 

[Martin]

I see some other Gustard boxes, but I can't understand what models...
Do you know anything about them?

The stack from top to bottom:
Unknown headphone amplifier (H16 or H18?)
DAC-A18
C16 Audio Clock
S16 Streamer (coming soon?)

I am most interested in the headphone amp.

Martin

 

[capitanharlock]

Nice!
Why an external clock if the Dac hasn't got a master clock input?

 

[Habu]

H16
A18
C16
S16

 

[Eetu]

Wolf's measurements of Gustard A18 here.

 

[Habu]

Gustard S16, I have made a new topic for this one in streamer for further discussions !

 

[Martin]

View attachment 66978

H16
A18
C16
S16

Much better photo. Looking forward to the H16.

Martin

 

[DeepSpace57]

Gustard's stuff is usually fairly expensive. The DAC-A22 is $1,099.99 and the ES9038Pro based DAC-X26 is $1,399.99.

Martin

and they all suck

 

[lucadoc]

and they all suck

Very relevant and technical information , more details?