Gustard DAC-X30

[dlovesmusic]

The takeaway for me from this - do not buy a $3k dac that measurably will not make a difference compared to much cheaper dacs.
If enough folks are not buying into this, perhaps manufacturers will stop making a dac with 4 dac chips and trying to bill you $3k for it...
Its really market driven, if no one buys it, they will just go back to making single dac chip and hopefully less expensive dacs

 

[Purité Audio]

Manufacturers can of course still make ‘better’ measuring equipment and charge more for it, but customers must be aware that the extra cost almost certainly does not correlate with better sound quality.
Keith

 

[rank]

You probably mean the SONY CDP-XA50ES CD player and not the Sony PS-X50 vinyl turntable (effectively Direct Drive with remote arm lift = complete nonsense).
Because there are several Sony ES 50 references.
To make a comparison between these two devices, you need to test their reading skills by test disc (of measurements, eh). Which does not tell us their sound, for the layman of course. The best is then to record from the digital then analog output the same tracks on a computer for example.
Then listen in abx.

Personally, when listening to music, no CD player I've ever encountered has done better than a low-end one.
When playing some demanding test discs, with very low recorded signals, you could hear more noise than music or sounds. But it was almost never the most expensive ones that won.
Some old Philips at low prices were quite remarkable. Like their IS 5021 DAC ; 104, 371 & 723 players.

​

 

[chord]

... Personally, when listening to music, no CD player I've ever encountered has done better than a low-end one.
...

​

We will never understand each other.

 

[manisandher]

Why no one is talking about this new DAC from Gustard?

Should receive my X30 early next week. Was looking for a nice one-box solution to replace the sMS-200 -> SU-10 in my headphone system. Happy to report back...

Mani.

 

[chord]

Should receive my X30 early next week. Was looking for a nice one-box solution to replace the sMS-200 -> SU-10 in my headphone system. Happy to report back...

Mani.

I would like a detailed report then - mostly focusing on the sound quality.

 

[manisandher]

I would like a detailed report then - mostly focusing on the sound quality.

Yep, happy to do that.

(But I'm also intending to do some null testing using Deltawave.)

 

[Svend P]

I would like a detailed report then - mostly focusing on the sound quality.

Good news! They all sound the same.

A link to 492 pages of explanation, but really you only have to read the first post

Serious Question: How can DAC's have a SOUND SIGNATURE if they measure as transparent? Are that many confused?

I know there are people out there that think cables affect sound, which is much worse, but there really is no response to something like that, but just to smile and nod. But what about people who talk about DACS as if they were headphone drivers or speakers, and talk about the SOUNDSTAGE...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[manisandher]

My null tests show slight (but totally repeatable) differences between DACs. (Whether these are audible or not is another matter...)

 

[manisandher]

I would like a detailed report then - mostly focusing on the sound quality.

Not a 'detailed' report, but...

Managed to compare the X30 to the SU-10 this morning. Setup:
A. switch -> ethernet -> sMS-200 Ultra -> USB -> SU-10 -> balanced XLR -> LA90 input 2 -> K1000
B. switch -> ethernet -> X30 -> balanced XLR -> LA90 input 3 -> K1000



Levels matched to 0.1dB using Roon's DSP (1kHz sine captured with ADC). Volume controlled by Roon (LA90 volume bypassed). All cabling identical in both cases.

And I can report that... they sound virtually identical to me. Both are truly superb, and right at the top of the pile of DACs that I currently own or have owned/heard.

However... were someone to put a gun to my head insisting I identify a difference, I'd say that the SU-10 adds the slightest 'glare/gloss' to the sound.

In any event, I didn't buy the X30 because I wanted to improve on the SU-10's sound. I bought it because I wanted a one-box streaming solution with pleasing aesthetics. For this, it is perfect.

HTH.

Mani.

 

[LucreciaBorgia]

How can you plug a headset (K1000) to a LA 90 ????

 

[manisandher]

The K1000s were designed to be connected to the outputs of a 'regular' speaker amp. I use banana plugs with the LA90.

But something like an A70Pro should be able to drive them, in which case you'd use its 4-pin output. (Haven't tried this.)

 

[vuittion]

more DAC chips -> better SNR

It should keep the Bats happy.

 

[BrokenOath]

Not a 'detailed' report, but...

Managed to compare the X30 to the SU-10 this morning. Setup:
A. switch -> ethernet -> sMS-200 Ultra -> USB -> SU-10 -> balanced XLR -> LA90 input 2 -> K1000
B. switch -> ethernet -> X30 -> balanced XLR -> LA90 input 3 -> K1000

View attachment 389948

Levels matched to 0.1dB using Roon's DSP (1kHz sine captured with ADC). Volume controlled by Roon (LA90 volume bypassed). All cabling identical in both cases.

And I can report that... they sound virtually identical to me. Both are truly superb, and right at the top of the pile of DACs that I currently own or have owned/heard.

However... were someone to put a gun to my head insisting I identify a difference, I'd say that the SU-10 adds the slightest 'glare/gloss' to the sound.

In any event, I didn't buy the X30 because I wanted to improve on the SU-10's sound. I bought it because I wanted a one-box streaming solution with pleasing aesthetics. For this, it is perfect.

HTH.

Mani.

It's not that I don't believe you, but I think you let the same nonsense that "they all sound the same" influences your judgement/decision. There is a bunch here who would always try to coerce you into believing that their $200 system sounds as good as your 50K system.

 

[Purité Audio]

No-one ‘here’ would say that, $200 - 50k dac perhaps.
Keith

 

[Joffy1780]

They need to change the font. "FIXED" — if that's what it is — lookes like "FIXEO".

Was just about to ask what FIXEO meant?

 

[VintageFlanker]

There is a bunch here who would always try to coerce you into believing that their $200 system sounds as good as your 50K system.

Virtually no one said such things around here.

I'm sorry, but you do seem somewhat confused between the "all transparent DAC sound the same if properly level matched", or "all transparent amp sound the same if not under clipping conditions" ideas and your statement about the overall systems, which is pure nonsense.

 

[manisandher]

It's not that I don't believe you, but I think you let the same nonsense that "they all sound the same" influences your judgement/decision.

"Virtually identical" doesn't mean "the same".

For one, they have very different filter implemenations, which definitely affects the way they sound. But overall, I'd say they're in the same league SQ-wise. Some might take the SU-10, but I'd take the X30.

 

[vuittion]

I'd take a Topping D10 and be done.

 

[VientoB]

"Virtually identical" doesn't mean "the same".

For one, they have very different filter implemenations, which definitely affects the way they sound. But overall, I'd say they're in the same league SQ-wise. Some might take the SU-10, but I'd take the X30.

It does?