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Gustard X16 Owners feedback...

ninetylol said:
I dont thing its an issue with the Gustard driver, but something deeper in the OS. Other inputs work fine.
Click to expand...
It can be a combination of many factors. The are so many PC manufacturers and they do not do things the same way.

If possible, I recommend using a Pi to drive a DAC. Mine costs account $70.
 
I also don't think there is a problem with the Windows driver.

I use A18 rather than X16, but it's the same driver, same XU216, and I bet the same firmware. I've had no problems playing from my PC (Win8.1) using foobar, Tidal and other programs. I've used both WASAPI and ASIO.

Many things can affect USB performance on a PC: Definitely try a different port, different cable, if possible different computer (just to test). Some AMD models are known to have less stable USB connections (Google it. I like AMD, just stating facts).

I now also use my A18 mostly with an RPi4, and it too has been glitch-free, both with Volumio and moOde. But I think a PC can be just as good.
 
is there any difference between MQA Core support (smsl su 9 ) and MQA full decoder (x16).
Im between those two now, but what I read about the feedback from you guys, the x16 sounds great.
 
alex88 said:
is there any difference between MQA Core support (smsl su 9 ) and MQA full decoder (x16).
Im between those two now, but what I read about the feedback from you guys, the x16 sounds great.
Click to expand...

Just wanted to say that the SU-9 is also an MQA full decoder. You can see it in their literature, but both units should be able to do all three unfolds.
 
Listening each more music from streaming services:rolleyes:, like TIDAL I was missing the new MQA versions and also, still shy though, the growing DSD format. Thus I decided to get a new DAC, to replace my already older but excellent Nuforce DAC-9, without investing a lot of money. After a long search I’ve decided to get a Gustard DAC-X16, a very difficult choice among many brands like Topping, S.M.S.L, Audio-GD, Denafrips, etc., which offer you a ton of features for a quite low price. The choice was based mostly on technical specifications and some audio reviews (not much, as the X16 is quite new).

From my first impressions, compared to my older DAC, it’s clear this is a more resolving DAC, with better dynamics and a wider and deeper sound stage, thus imaging gets a little improved with some instruments floating around the stage. These qualities increase when listening to the same music in MQA and DSD format, were the information about the ambient of the recording, like acoustic recordings in Churches and Chambers, are better reproduced, transporting you to the action place. Comparing the sound using coaxial and optical inputs on both DACs, overall there is an improvement but not a dramatic change, the DAC-9 still a terrific machine! However, when both driven by the USB port, the difference for the X16 is much more evident, as the DAC-9 has a quite outdated USB controller, not able to cope in the same way with the digital stream (recent developments improved and solved many of the problems with noise and jitter from computer USB connections). This difference was already notorious just by comparing both optical inputs and coaxial on DAC-9, with the USB input loosing detail and having a shadier sound. Overall, the biggest difference between X16 and DAC-9 is a shift in to the warmth side of vocals, with a little emphasized bass contributing to a full-bodied vocals, without losing details.

For example, if I use an audio sample with white noise, there is a clear difference in the highs in benefit of Nuforce DAC-9, with much more gain and hissing. Wonder which device is more flat in the audio spectrum, but I would guess DAC-9 is exaggerating in the upper top (I say this, because sometimes the sibilance’s of voices can be quite pronounced, as if the singer was spitting at our face, literally!!:facepalm:). If however I select in the amplifier the correspond input, without any music reproduction (be careful), and increase the volume to the limits of the amplifier, there is an audible hiss coming from the DAC-9, while from the X16 just a dead silence (this was done with balanced outputs). Amazing this rejection of noise in the X16 outputs.

The source used for the testing was a Raspberry Pi 4 with a HiFiBerry Digi+ Pro board for better digital quality through coaxial and optical outputs, running Volumio (Virtuoso subscription), using local samples files and TIDAL. Unfortunately the MQA streams some times are not correctly identified and play as normal PCM files using optical and coaxial inputs. Could also be a problem with Volumio, as to get DSD proper flagged I need to select DSD over PCM – DoP, but no option for MQA. Off course DSD is limited to DSD64 on these inputs. Thus, to fully assess the potential of MQA and DSD, the USB output was used most of the time.

Among the accessories, a remote, a USB cable, a power cable and an anthem, together with a guarantee card (with serial number). I nice touch.
The delivery was quite fast and the package came very well protected.

In conclusion, for those who want to extract the most of the recording, without going in to analytic and fatiguing side of the music, this DAC is an excellent choice for the price payed!:cool:

The chain: Mains (220 Volt) -> Isotek Evo3 Aquarious -> LHY Audio Linear PS & Raspeberry Pi 4 Streamer & HifiBerry Digi+ Pro & Volumio -> Gustard DAC-X16:p-> Krell KAV-400xi -> B&W 703 (Tied together with Nordost [Power], QED [USB], QED [Coaxial] and Siltech cables [balanced interconnects and Speaker]).
 
Last edited:
pbarata said:
Listening each more music from streaming services:rolleyes:, like TIDAL I was missing the new MQA versions and also, still shy though, the growing DSD format. Thus I decided to get a new DAC, to replace my already older but excellent Nuforce DAC-9, without investing a lot of money. After a long search I’ve decided to get a Gustard DAC-X16, a very difficult choice among many brands like Topping, S.M.S.L, Audio-GD, Denafrips, etc., which offer you a ton of features for a quite low price. The choice was based mostly on technical specifications and some audio reviews (not much, as the X16 is quite new).

From my first impressions, compared to my older DAC, it’s clear this is a more resolving DAC, with better dynamics and a wider and deeper sound stage, thus imaging gets a little improved with some instruments floating around the stage. These qualities increase when listening to the same music in MQA and DSD format, were the information about the ambient of the recording, like acoustic recordings in Churches and Chambers, are better reproduced, transporting you to the action place. Comparing the sound using coaxial and optical inputs on both DACs, overall there is an improvement but not a dramatic change, the DAC-9 still a terrific machine! However, when both driven by the USB port, the difference for the X16 is much more evident, as the DAC-9 has a quite outdated USB controller, not able to cope in the same way with the digital stream (recent developments improved and solved many of the problems with noise and jitter from computer USB connections). This difference was already notorious just by comparing both optical inputs and coaxial on DAC-9, with the USB input loosing detail and having a shadier sound. Overall, the biggest difference between X16 and DAC-9 is a shift in to the warmth side of vocals, with a little emphasized bass contributing to a full-bodied vocals, without losing details.

For example, if I use an audio sample with white noise, there is a clear difference in the highs in benefit of Nuforce DAC-9, with much more gain and hissing. Wonder which device is more flat in the audio spectrum, but I would guess DAC-9 is exaggerating in the upper top (I say this, because sometimes the sibilance’s of voices can be quite pronounced, as if the singer was spitting at our face, literally!!:facepalm:). If however I select in the amplifier the correspond input, without any music reproduction (be careful), and increase the volume to the limits of the amplifier, there is an audible hiss coming from the DAC-9, while from the X16 just a dead silence (this was done with balanced outputs). Amazing this rejection of noise in the X16 outputs.

The source used for the testing was a Raspberry Pi 4 with a HiFiBerry Digi+ Pro board for better digital quality through coaxial and optical outputs, running Volumio (Virtuoso subscription), using local samples files and TIDAL. Unfortunately the MQA streams some times are not correctly identified and play as normal PCM files using optical and coaxial inputs. Could also be a problem with Volumio, as to get DSD proper flagged I need to select DSD over PCM – DoP, but no option for MQA. Off course DSD is limited to DSD64 on these inputs. Thus, to fully assess the potential of MQA and DSD, the USB output was used most of the time.

Among the accessories, a remote, a USB cable, a power cable and an anthem, together with a guarantee card (with serial number). I nice touch.
The delivery was quite fast and the package came very well protected.

In conclusion, for those who want to extract the most of the recording, without going in to analytic and fatiguing side of the music, this DAC is an excellent choice for the price payed!:cool:

The chain: Mains (220 Volt) -> Isotek Evo3 Aquarious -> LHY Audio Linear PS & Raspeberry Pi 4 Streamer & HifiBerry Digi+ Pro & Volumio -> Gustard DAC-X16:p-> Krell KAV-400xi -> B&W 703 (Tied together with Nordost [Power], QED [USB], QED [Coaxial] and Siltech cables [balanced interconnects and Speaker]).
Click to expand...
I would not say optical and coaxial are better than USB in a Pi 4 though.

Many DACs will only decode MQA over USB. Native DSD is of course available only through ALSA/ASIO USB.
 
curiouspeter said:
I would not say optical and coaxial are better than USB in a Pi 4 though.

Many DACs will only decode MQA over USB. Native DSD is of course available only through ALSA/ASIO USB.
Click to expand...
I agree! Older RPi models had issues with slow and noisy USB, but RPi 4B is excellent.

An entire industry of overpriced audiophile add-on RPi products exist: Power bricks, DAC HATs, USB purifiers etc, each costing $100-400. They may have been necessary a few years ago, but with today's RPi 4B they seem to me like other categories of overpriced audio gear.

One benefit of MQA that even MQA haters should appreciate is the Authenticated part: If your DAC says it is decoding MQA, you know the stream is being received bit-perfect. That kinda undermines arguments about noisy (but hard to prove) USB.
 
Last edited:
Dannemand said:
I agree! Older RPi models had issues with slow and noisy USB, but RPi 4B is excellent.

An entire industry of overpriced audiophile add-on RPi products exist: Power bricks, DAC HATs, USB purifiers etc, each costing $100-400. They may have been necessary a few years ago, but with today's RPi 4B they seem to me like other categories of overpriced audio gear.

One benefit of MQA that even MQA haters should appreciate it the Authentication part: If your DAC says it is decoding MQA, you know the stream is being received bit-perfect. That kinda undermines arguments about noisy (but hard to prove) USB.
Click to expand...
Totally.

I roll my eyes when people say music from their Aurender has better soundstage and warmth. Lol.
 
Guys... finally I have a new dac..!!

I have a question.. the phase mast be enabled or disabled... which is the standard connectivity... the 2 hot or cold.
For now my amp is the Loxjie P20.
received_162052819080783.jpeg
received_745496479504492.jpeg
 
Pankar0, you're overthinking.
The "PHASE INVERT" function is for situations where you can compensate for some other device in your signal chain which has inverted phase, or the recording you are playing is known to have inverted phase.

But for normal use, "PHASE INVERT - DISABLE" is correct.
 
linuxfan said:
Pankar0, you're overthinking.
The "PHASE INVERT" function is for situations where you can compensate for some other device in your signal chain which has inverted phase, or the recording you are playing is known to have inverted phase.

But for normal use, "PHASE INVERT - DISABLE" is correct.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your help..!!
 
XLR pin 2 should always be configured +ve, that's the international standard. If you have an amplifier which is configured otherwise, you should consider returning it!
Any half-sensible manufacturer will get this right. All you should need to be concerned about is that your XLR cables are correctly wired, which you can check with a multimeter. Pin1 to pin1, pin2 to pin2, pin3 to pin3. Easy.
 
linuxfan said:
XLR pin 2 should always be configured +ve, that's the international standard. If you have an amplifier which is configured otherwise, you should consider returning it!
Any half-sensible manufacturer will get this right. All you should need to be concerned about is that your XLR cables are correctly wired, which you can check with a multimeter. Pin1 to pin1, pin2 to pin2, pin3 to pin3. Easy.
Click to expand...
Well, it started off more like an American standard. Some vintage equipment could be following the older European convention.
 
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