Gustard X16 Balanced MQA DAC Review

[ABall]

Hi,

Original post



Thanks for the info.
Is it tricky to do it?

Gradius was just pointing out a fact I think, it's not something anyone would want to do on a product that shows this level of transparency, what do you expect to achieve on a product that according to measurements does nothing to colour the sound, you would definitely make it measure worse if you started hand soldering to bypass anything in this DAC, best put that idea to bed.

 

[ABall]

Oh really?. So which devices can be connected to the IIS-H (HDMI audio input)?

It's not an HDMI audio input, I would make a list for you but it's not very long to be fair and I would have to use google as my memory is rubbish. It's already been covered in this thread, unless you have run out of inputs there is no advantage to using 2s.

 

[coleccionistadl]

No dont do that, it may end in tears! I2S is not the same as HDMI audio, it just shares the same connection type, nothing else, you could damage the x16.

Oh Ok. I got it. Though it was an hdmi audio input. That makes sense, thanks for clarifying.

 

[AdamG]

Oh Ok. I got it. Though it was an hdmi audio input. That makes sense, thanks for clarifying.

Welcome Aboard @coleccionistadl.

 

[Gurra1980]

I did not se any meassurements of the optical input, did amir not meassure that? Or did I miss it?

 

[pomfritz]

Gradius was just pointing out a fact I think, it's not something anyone would want to do on a product that shows this level of transparency, what do you expect to achieve on a product that according to measurements does nothing to colour the sound, you would definitely make it measure worse if you started hand soldering to bypass anything in this DAC, best put that idea to bed.

I would like to make 3 of these to work in parallel for multi-channel. That's why, I want to clock to SPDIF as directly as possible. Actually, I have such a config with old DACs that is working with no issue. Time to upgrade. I know that there are others (few) solutions but, each one has something that I'm not happy with it (half of them is the price). Instead of building my DAC from scratch why not modding one to my needs? Life is full of compromises.
The Topping DX7 Pro has a "DAC mode settings": SYNC/ASYNC which, I believe, is what I'm talking here and is a default feature of the chip.

 

[coleccionistadl]

Welcome Aboard @coleccionistadl.

Thanks Adam, hope to have a good experience on this site

 

[Progronom]

I tested the IIS HDMI input Gustard X16 in detail.
The source was a Raspberry Pi 3B + "I2S HDMI module" (two different) + PicoreAPlayer or YoktoAPlayer http://albumplayer.ru/linux/english.html
Driver "Hifiberry DAC"
I tested PCM44-PCM384 and DSD64-DSD128.

Module 1 - https://aliexpress.ru/item/4001195078412.html
PCM44-PCM384 - Plays excellently. The display shows "PCM44-PCM384"
DSD64 DoP - Plays only the left channel, plays very quietly. The recording channels are mixed up in places R <-> L. The display shows "DSD 2.82
MHz"
DSD128 DoP - Plays only the left channel, plays very quietly. The recording channels are mixed up in places R <-> L. The display shows "DSD 5.6
MHz"
DSD64 Native - Both channels play. The volume is normal. The recording channels are mixed up in places R <-> L. The display shows "DSD 2.82
MHz"
DSD128 Native - Both channels play. The volume is normal. The recording channels are mixed up in places R <-> L. The display shows "DSD 5.6 MHz"

Module 2 - https://aliexpress.ru/item/1005001738768295.html
PCM44-PCM384 - Plays excellently. The display shows "PCM44-PCM384"
DSD64 DoP - Plays excellently. The display shows "DSD 2.82 MHz"
DSD128 DoP - Not plays - silence. The display shows "DSD 5.6 MHz"
DSD64 Native - Not tested.
DSD128 Native - Not tested.

For comparison, I am also tested these two modules with another DAC - Ustars D38 https://aliexpress.ru/item/4001187652546.html
Driver "Hifiberry DAC"

Module 1 - https://aliexpress.ru/item/4001195078412.html
PCM44-PCM384 - Plays excellently. The display shows "PCM44-PCM384"
DSD64 DoP - Plays excellently. The display shows "DoP 2.82 MHz"
DSD128 DoP - Plays excellently. The display shows "DoP 5.6 MHz"
DSD64 Native - Plays excellently. The display shows "DSD 2.82 MHz"
DSD128 Native - Plays excellently. The display shows "DSD 5.6 MHz"

Module 2 - https://aliexpress.ru/item/1005001738768295.html
PCM44-PCM384 - Plays excellently. The display shows "PCM44-PCM384".
DSD64 DoP - Plays excellently. The display shows "DoP 2.82 MHz"
DSD128 DoP - Plays excellently. The display shows "DoP 5.6 MHz"
DSD64 Native - Not tested.
DSD128 Native - Not tested.

Later I will test with Moode Player https://moodeaudio.org

 

[Veri]

I tested the IIS HDMI input Gustard X16 in detail.

Problem here is, there exist many different I2S standards right? I mean you did some proper testing, but how can you know your issues don't come from these incapabilities between I2S standards. ((this is why I don't like I2S input, it is usually never plug and play..)

 

[Progronom]

Problem here is, there exist many different I2S standards right? I mean you did some proper testing, but how can you know your issues don't come from these incapabilities between I2S standards. ((this is why I don't like I2S input, it is usually never plug and play..)

Yes. Most likely, the problem is in the pinout of the HDMI output and input. If you look closely at the diagrams, there are differences. The X16 brochure says that this IIS is fully compatible with the Gustard U16 and S16 devices.

 

[MiLi]

Oh Ok. I got it. Though it was an hdmi audio input. That makes sense, thanks for clarifying.

Hi,
A lot of details about how to connect HDMI Audio output to the IIS input is here
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...x16-balanced-mqa-dac-review.17419/post-744675
and posts #2,366 and #2,371.

 

[MiLi]

I tested the IIS HDMI input Gustard X16 in detail.
The source was a Raspberry Pi 3B + "I2S HDMI module" (two different) + PicoreAPlayer or YoktoAPlayer http://albumplayer.ru/linux/english.html
Driver "Hifiberry DAC"
I tested PCM44-PCM384 and DSD64-DSD128.

Module 1 - https://aliexpress.ru/item/4001195078412.html
PCM44-PCM384 - Plays excellently. The display shows "PCM44-PCM384"
DSD64 DoP - Plays only the left channel, plays very quietly. The recording channels are mixed up in places R <-> L. The display shows "DSD 2.82
MHz"
DSD128 DoP - Plays only the left channel, plays very quietly. The recording channels are mixed up in places R <-> L. The display shows "DSD 5.6
MHz"
DSD64 Native - Both channels play. The volume is normal. The recording channels are mixed up in places R <-> L. The display shows "DSD 2.82
MHz"
DSD128 Native - Both channels play. The volume is normal. The recording channels are mixed up in places R <-> L. The display shows "DSD 5.6 MHz"

Module 2 - https://aliexpress.ru/item/1005001738768295.html
PCM44-PCM384 - Plays excellently. The display shows "PCM44-PCM384"
DSD64 DoP - Plays excellently. The display shows "DSD 2.82 MHz"
DSD128 DoP - Not plays - silence. The display shows "DSD 5.6 MHz"
DSD64 Native - Not tested.
DSD128 Native - Not tested.

For comparison, I am also tested these two modules with another DAC - Ustars D38 https://aliexpress.ru/item/4001187652546.html
Driver "Hifiberry DAC"

Module 1 - https://aliexpress.ru/item/4001195078412.html
PCM44-PCM384 - Plays excellently. The display shows "PCM44-PCM384"
DSD64 DoP - Plays excellently. The display shows "DoP 2.82 MHz"
DSD128 DoP - Plays excellently. The display shows "DoP 5.6 MHz"
DSD64 Native - Plays excellently. The display shows "DSD 2.82 MHz"
DSD128 Native - Plays excellently. The display shows "DSD 5.6 MHz"

Module 2 - https://aliexpress.ru/item/1005001738768295.html
PCM44-PCM384 - Plays excellently. The display shows "PCM44-PCM384".
DSD64 DoP - Plays excellently. The display shows "DoP 2.82 MHz"
DSD128 DoP - Plays excellently. The display shows "DoP 5.6 MHz"
DSD64 Native - Not tested.
DSD128 Native - Not tested.

Later I will test with Moode Player https://moodeaudio.org

How did you handle Jumper on J2 at Module 1 during your test?

• I2S output(HDMI Port) support PCM up to 384Khz 32bit and NATIVE/DOP DSD64 DSD128, For DSD DOP jumper of J2 must be "ON" and For DSD NATIVE jumer of J2 must be "OFF"

 

[MiLi]

Problem here is, there exist many different I2S standards right? I mean you did some proper testing, but how can you know your issues don't come from these incapabilities between I2S standards. ((this is why I don't like I2S input, it is usually never plug and play..)

There are two standards for IIS (I2S) over HDMI interface
Gustard IIS input standard pinout

 

[Veri]

There are two standards for IIS (I2S) over HDMI interface

Lol, no. It would be nice if that were the case! Check out this public document and be amazed at the ridiculous amount of differences between the many manufacturers. And this is hardly an "all inclusive" list.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1h5PMUBkldkpt1rCnAR4ZHYGZNeCe-vwIFyKWYMZWsX0/htmlview#

I2S is meant as an intermediary format (to feed it straight to a chip) as in, the manufacturer/implementer knows what he's doing and can debug it. Eventually it became a "consumer" enthusiast transport choice. Not the best choice considering the problems it entails.. not to mention zero benefits.

 

[Progronom]

How did you handle Jumper on J2 at Module 1 during your test?

• I2S output(HDMI Port) support PCM up to 384Khz 32bit and NATIVE/DOP DSD64 DSD128, For DSD DOP jumper of J2 must be "ON" and For DSD NATIVE jumer of J2 must be "OFF"

With a jumper - DoP, without a jumper - Native. Everything is described in the results.

 

[Progronom]

There are two standards for IIS (I2S) over HDMI interface
Gustard IIS input standard pinout

There are at least 4 of them. In X16, it is "non-standard" - for pins 1,3 (DSDL) and 7,9 (DSDR). Usually the opposite is true -1,3 (DSDR) and 7,9 (DSDL).

 

[ABall]

I would like to make 3 of these to work in parallel for multi-channel. That's why, I want to clock to SPDIF as directly as possible. Actually, I have such a config with old DACs that is working with no issue. Time to upgrade. I know that there are others (few) solutions but, each one has something that I'm not happy with it (half of them is the price). Instead of building my DAC from scratch why not modding one to my needs? Life is full of compromises.
The Topping DX7 Pro has a "DAC mode settings": SYNC/ASYNC which, I believe, is what I'm talking here and is a default feature of the chip.

The X16 doesn't have a "DAC Mode" It doesn't need one, Gustard say just turn the volume up to max and thats basically what that means, theres no active volume control/preamp to bypass which is what DAC mode is designed for isnt it? I guess your running some form of proprietary connection type or you would just use the AES in etc on each of the 3 X16s?

 

[tparm]

Would this be an accurate statement; if one isn’t concerned with MQA functionality, you could stream via Qobuz up to 24/96 without a loss in fidelity via Bluetooth 5.0. I use both Tidal (via Node 2 to X16) and Qobuz and have to say that I am enjoying Qobuz more. Just contemplating my future integration with the X16.

Thanks.

 

[Ashley Salmond]

I am hesitant, this one or the Mola Mola Tambaqui ?

Why are you hesitate with that Gustardx16.

 

[renaudrenaud]

Why are you hesitate with that Gustardx16.

Ashley, it was a joke. Mola Mola is something like 10000 or 15000$, I do not want buy so much expansive component!

I've allready plenty of DAC at home, brands like Topping, SMSL, SABAJ. Every time under 500$.

Then I bought the X16 because I am curious.