Gustard X16 Balanced MQA DAC Review

[isploit]

If you're going to use pi you can use pi2aes and use IIS connection:

Why would you wanna use MQA though?

 

[iann]

I think only the Bluesound (and the Pro-ject?) will decode MQA though if that's what you want. It's probably the easiest plug and play solution and I think is good value for money.

I have the Node 2i connected to an X16 and it works very well with MQA and everything else. The BluOS app is almost as good as Tidal for playback.

 

[Frio]

As long as you use a usb connection you can use a cheap laptop or Smartphone for the app.

 

[Schönramer]

My source for streaming is a Raspberry Pi 4 with 4GB with a HiFiBerry Digi+ Pro HAT. Although you can get very good digital signal from optical or coaxial connections from Pi, you are limited to DSD64 over PCM (DoP) and MQA is not fully decoded. Thus I’m using USB 2.0 ports for normal connection to Gustard X16 with good results.

However Raspberry Pi 3 has a very noise USB implementation which was improved in version Pi 4, thus I would advise to use the later for USB connection. Furthermore you benefit from a much performance processor and faster RAM, higher memory buffer, which can be useful if you decide to use over sampling using Volumio or other programs.

You can check the differences at :

• https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/hardware/raspberrypi/usb/README.md
• https://magpi.raspberrypi.org/articles/raspberry-pi-4-vs-raspberry-pi-3b-plus

“Overview for the Pi 4

For the Pi 4, a fully-featured host controller drives the downstream USB ports. Downstream USB is provided by a Via Labs VL805 chip - that supports two USB 2.0 ports and two USB 3.0 ports. This is connected to the BCM2711 SoC using a PCIe link, which is extremely fast. Therefore, the Pi 4 does not have the same speed constraints of previous models, which means very fast data transfer rates, especially when using the USB 3.0 ports. All connected USB 2.0 devices are connected via an internal hub which connects to the upstream PCIe link via a single USB 2.0 bus, giving a maximum combined bandwith for all USB 2.0 devices of 480Mbits/s. All four USB ports on the device are connected to the USB 2.0 hub, whilst the USB 3.0 ports (blue) are ALSO connected to the USB 3.0 bus via the USB 3.0 specific pins in the socket. USB 3.0 devices are constrained only by the total bandwidth available over the PCIe link.

You can use lsusb -t to display how the USB devices and hubs are arranged and their allocated speeds.

Most of the technical limitations of the USB implementation on previous models are no longer present.”

thanks for the detailed explanation! The pi4 seems to be a really good option! I will further inform about it!

 

[Schönramer]

As long as you use a usb connection you can use a cheap laptop or Smartphone for the app.

As long as you use a usb connection you can use a cheap laptop or Smartphone for the app.

thanks for the hint! Is this also working for apple iphone and USB connection?

 

[Schönramer]

If you're going to use pi you can use pi2aes and use IIS connection:

View attachment 117154

Why would you wanna use MQA though?

Thanks for the useful overview! Regarding MQA is more or less a nice to have because I first decided for TIDAL and then recognized that they provide MQA. So I want to try it out and am interested in the format.

 

[isploit]

Thanks for the useful overview! Regarding MQA is more or less a nice to have because I first decided for TIDAL and then recognized that they provide MQA. So I want to try it out and am interested in the format.

There are many resources you can find here that should discourage you from losing a lossy and non-free format like MQA.
TIDAL does offer lossless quality when you don't use MQA!

 

[Frio]

discourage you from

Why again is that important, if tidal offers both there is nothing wrong in trying and make an informed decision based on expirience made by ourselves, no need to discourage anybody.

thanks for the hint! Is this also working for apple iphone and USB connection?

Yes that should work maybe an adapter cable is necessary.

 

[isploit]

no need to discourage anybody.

Yes there is if you want to discourage greedy companies from developing BS and marketing it as MAGIC. They get payed for every click.

 

[Frio]

Yes there is if you want to discourage greedy companies from developing BS and marketing it as MAGIC. They get payed for every click.

Well that must be a very important and emotional topic I guess, I'm just tired of some people always trying to go on a missionary quest and don't see the great difference to those companies. Marketing is both and done get paid and other get satisfaction in spreading the holy word in a justified crusade. Or just listen to music no matter how.

 

[pbarata]

If you're going to use pi you can use pi2aes and use IIS connection:

Why would you wanna use MQA though?

I've already e-mail them asking:
- Is PIN compatible with Gustard DAC-X16 using the I2S(HDMI) connection?
- Can stream DSD and MQA over I2S output?
- The limits for DSD and PCM over I2S?

 

[Laserjock]

thanks for the hint! Is this also working for apple iphone and USB connection?

Find the

Apple Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter,

that’s the one I had to use with SMSL 500 DAC

It needs power that the regular USB camera adapter doesn’t provide.

 

[isploit]

I've already e-mail them asking:
- Is PIN compatible with Gustard DAC-X16 using the I2S(HDMI) connection?
- Can stream DSD and MQA over I2S output?
- The limits for DSD and PCM over I2S?

- I2S is compatible
-everything else you can see on the pic I posted above?

 

[curiouspeter]

Hello, after reading through half of this thread I bought a Gustard X16 and it will arrive today. No I am through the whole thread and gained quite some knowledge.
For my planned setup it would be very helpfull to get some advice regarding a good streaming bridge. I want to set the Gustard up like this:
Streaming bridge (with a good app using TIDAL MQA) ----- Gustard X16 (connected via USB or coaxial) ------ Audionet SAM G2 amplifier (connected via XLR).
I will set the Gustard to 0db and adjust the volume with the amplifier as was mentioned here many times.

for the streaming bridge please give me some advice what you can recommend regarding quality / price-value / app. Currently I am looking at:
HiFiBerry Digi+ Bundle incl. Raspberry Pi (I read that the Raspberry Pi is sensitive to jitter so I looked for a better option which is
Allo USBridge Signature - Ultra Low Noise Audio Streamer with Raspberry Pi Compute 3+ (much more expensive and dedicated to sound-optimasation but also better?) and then finally some known hi-fi companies that also offer streaming-bridges and getting more expensive by the way:
Pro-ject streambox 2 ultra
waversa wstreamer streaming bridge
SOtM sMS-200ultra

I was also looking on the bluesound node 2i and volumio primo but they have own dac's and I hope to get better results for the money if I focus on a pure streaming bridge. And I also learnt that the node 2i unfolds the first part of the MQA and let the rest do the Gustard which I do not know if it is preferable.

So my question is if you have a special recommendation for me? I like to get a very good streaming result using the Gustard DAC. Right now I am not sure if I want to spent money on the Roon license so an option without Roon would be nice.
By the way: I am also open for some other streaming bridges - the one above I just found and read a bit about them.

Thanks for your help in advance!

A regular Pi 4B is all you need. USB is the primary input. I don't you can decode MQA using other inputs.

I use the Flirc passive cooling case. It has no fans and it does not overheat.

There is really no need for an expensive streamer. Frankly if I wanted to spend more I would have gotten a Roon Ready streaming DAC.

Get Roon instead.

 

[Schönramer]

Find the

Apple Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter,

that’s the one I had to use with SMSL 500 DAC

It needs power that the regular USB camera adapter doesn’t provide.

Thanks for the information @Laserjock ! I read that the lightning to USB3 adapter allows a 24bit depth via the iOS Tidal App.
I saw that there is the one version that needs power to get more features. Are you using the standard 5W or a higher version for the power supply?
In general I think this is a nice and cheap starting point and I can try it out and see if it is already enough for me

 

[Laserjock]

Thanks for the information @Laserjock ! I read that the lightning to USB3 adapter allows a 24bit depth via the iOS Tidal App.
I saw that there is the one version that needs power to get more features. Are you using the standard 5W or a higher version for the power supply?
In general I think this is a nice and cheap starting point and I can try it out and see if it is already enough for me

Actually, I think I was using an external battery that I use to charge my phone with and can’t remember which current output I was using.
I need to set that system back up.
It was kind of a “hokey” setup with a long USB, the adapter, and external battery to lightning connector all hooked into the iPad mini.
I tried some higher sampling frequency songs but don’t remember the bit depth. This was with the SMSL M500 using Tidal.
I assume you’d get the same using the Gustard X-16

I tried the USB camera adapter at first and the DAC displayed “insufficient power” or something like that when trying to do the same thing.

Let us know how it works if you get one.

Chris

 

[curiouspeter]

Actually, I think I was using an external battery that I use to charge my phone with and can’t remember which current output I was using.
I need to set that system back up.
It was kind of a “hokey” setup with a long USB, the adapter, and external battery to lightning connector all hooked into the iPad mini.
I tried some higher sampling frequency songs but don’t remember the bit depth. This was with the SMSL M500 using Tidal.
I assume you’d get the same using the Gustard X-16

I tried the USB camera adapter at first and the DAC displayed “insufficient power” or something like that when trying to do the same thing.

Let us know how it works if you get one.

Chris

Are you using something like this?
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MK0W2AM/A/lightning-to-usb-3-camera-adapter

This particular one allows you to charge your phone with a Separate lightning cable at the same time.

 

[Laserjock]

Are you using something like this?
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MK0W2AM/A/lightning-to-usb-3-camera-adapter

This particular one allows you to charge your phone with a Separate lightning cable at the same time.

Yes, that one.

 

[Schönramer]

Actually, I think I was using an external battery that I use to charge my phone with and can’t remember which current output I was using.
I need to set that system back up.
It was kind of a “hokey” setup with a long USB, the adapter, and external battery to lightning connector all hooked into the iPad mini.
I tried some higher sampling frequency songs but don’t remember the bit depth. This was with the SMSL M500 using Tidal.
I assume you’d get the same using the Gustard X-16

I tried the USB camera adapter at first and the DAC displayed “insufficient power” or something like that when trying to do the same thing.

Let us know how it works if you get one.

Chris

@Laserjock and @curiouspeter : I ordered that one and will give a feedback on how it works here after some trials!

 

[Toku]

Hello everyone, I will tell about my situation after buying in the SHENZHENAUDIO.
Only the facts that I can confirm.
1. Pre-order X16, payment January 20, the order was sent on February 1.
2. After about a week, the parcel arrived in Singapore + 7 days movement in Singapore = February 13, the last tracking update.
3. After 10 days, the EMS operator confirmed that most likely the parcel is lost.
4. I asked full refund, I also promised to pay again if the parcel is found and will be delivered.
5. The SHENZHENAUDIO sent a screenshot (February 26) on which there is a tracking update, supposedly this information from the carrier, recommended waiting for another month.
6. But it turned out that the seller sent a fake tracking that does not apply to my order (error or deception?).
7. I again demanded a refund (February 28), and I also promised again, to pay again, if the parcel is found and obtained.
The SHENZHENAUDIO ignored and stopped responding to my messages (communication through E-Mail).

ps today: about the month there is no tracking update.

I ordered an SMSL amplifier from Shenzhen Audio. However, the tracking of the package stopped halfway and did not arrive even after 3 months.
I requested a refund from Shenzhen Audio, but they simply repeatedly claimed that they were not responsible for the accident in transit and the money was not refunded.
This kind of treatment is not limited to Shenzhen Audio, and it seems common sense that retailers are not responsible for accidents during transportation in online sales in China.
The SMSL Web Shop Terms clearly state that.
We need to consider the risk of such an accident when ordering.