Gustard X16 Owners feedback...

[curiouspeter]

Thanks, I was just doing this step which was in their CD manual, quite boomer to know that DAC function is not avail..

It is a "pure" DAC if you leave it at 0 db.

 

[Dannemand]

It is a "pure" DAC if you leave it at 0 db.

True!

In fact, it's a "pure" DAC even at lower volume settings: As pointed out, this DAC doesn't have variable gain/attenuation in the output stage. Volume control is performed by the DAC chip. And while it is digital, yes, it performs it so well (according to measurements) that you'd need a pretty good preamp to beat it.

That said, if feeding the DAC into a preamp or headphone amp or power amp with gain control, of course it's best to set the DAC to 0dB. And it will be "pure"

 

[chaotic_angel]

When using ipad pro and Tidal at usb in it shows OFS iso MQA on master song..how to get MQA please?

 

[dsnyder0cnn]

I was expecting a delivery on Monday, but I was pleasantly surprised to see this on my security camera this afternoon:

Looks like I have plans this weekend now. LOL. The X16 mostly fits on top of my THX AAA 789 headphone amp where I have it doing a bit of a run-in. Will get down to more serious listening tomorrow.

 

[dmac6419]

I was expecting a delivery on Monday, but I was pleasantly surprised to see this on my security camera this afternoon:

Looks like I have plans this weekend now. LOL. The X16 mostly fits on top of my THX AAA 789 headphone amp where I have it doing a bit of a run-in. Will get down to more serious listening tomorrow.

You need some grass seed,guessing you won't be doing that too today, lol

 

[dsnyder0cnn]

You need some grass seed,guessing you won't be doing that too today, lol

Haha. Yes. I have bids out to three different landscapers. Plan is to kill it with fire and start over. I'm incapable of growing anything but weeds, plus, I'm too busy listening to music to be bothered with yard work! LOL

 

[dsnyder0cnn]

Turns out that the X16 stacks pretty well with my little Topping preamp…

 

[dsnyder0cnn]

I am using a NEO iDSD for my integrated amp and I want it back for headphone duties. Need a pure DAC. I will never use the volume control on a DAC anyway.

I'm curious to know which direction you decided to go. For purely headphone duties, I found that the iFi micro iDSD Signature is better than the NEO iDSD. The NEO's headphone amp is its weakest feature, IMHO. Even my little Khadas Tone2 Pro sounds better with most headphones, especially over the balanced output.

I hope to do some A/B listening with the NEO iDSD and the Gustard X16 this weekend. I'll report back once I've had a chance to gather my thoughts.

 

[Standingstones]

I liked the Gustard DAC I bought except for two things. The power switch is on the back of the unit and not on the remote. Secondly, the display print is so tiny and can’t be read from any distance. I purchased a SMSL DAC and cleared up those problems.

 

[dsnyder0cnn]

the display print is so tiny and can’t be read from any distance

LOL. I agree there. With progressive lenses, reading the menu settings on the display, even a foot or two away, is a challenge. My solution to the two problems you mentioned are to just leave the DAC on all of the time and to set the display to "AUTO OFF". As you can see in my photo, I'm using it with the Topping Pre90 which, thankfully, has a very nice display that I can easily read from the across the room.

 

[kopczas]

I`ve been using X16 for 3 months and it`s fine. But..
Today I`ve noticed that at silent fragments of DSF files (at the end of tracks especially) some noise appear. In the background, something like electrostatic noise from vinyl. It appears the music fades out, it isn`t present during music playback. I`ve tried two different sources : Daphile and Windows, it`s same in both cases. Did any of you issued similar thing?
It happens only with DSD playback.
My SACD were ripped by iso2dsd from bluray player via network.

 

[dsnyder0cnn]

I`ve been using X16 for 3 months and it`s fine. But..
Did any of you issued similar thing?
It happens only with DSD playback.
My SACD were ripped by iso2dsd from bluray player via network.

I thought I did once, but when I went back to the same album, I could not reproduce the issue.

Unrelated, I'm a little sad that Apos.audio has decided against carrying Gustard. I've been really impressed with the X16 that I bought from them. Unfortunate that they were not able to work out a good business arrangement.

 

[Fly2High]

Anyone know the settings for Foobar2000 audio player to support SACD and DSF files? When I try to play a 2.8mHz file, I get mostly hiss. It shows on the X16 as a 2.8 but cannot play it.

 

[kopczas]

Anyone know the settings for Foobar2000 audio player to support SACD and DSF files? When I try to play a 2.8mHz file, I get mostly hiss. It shows on the X16 as a 2.8 but cannot play it.

Restart Gustard.

 

[renaudrenaud]

Turns out that the X16 stacks pretty well with my little Topping preamp…

A bit jealous.

 

[dsnyder0cnn]

Anyone know the settings for Foobar2000 audio player to support SACD and DSF files?

I have not tried, but I did notice that this is covered in the manual.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0225/2721/3642/files/Gustard_X16_User_Manual.pdf?v=1611620761

 

[prerich]

Streamed via Bluetooth for the first time with the Gustard x16 from my son's phone and Tidal account. No issues whatsoever!!! This is turning out to be a very nice piece of gear indeed. I've also had no issues playing back redbook ripped CD's that have been converted to dsd256. I've played DSD64 files from PS Audio as well. I haven't experienced the hissing that others are reporting (on any of my DSD files). I'm using JRiver for playback.

 

[Dannemand]

Anyone know the settings for Foobar2000 audio player to support SACD and DSF files? When I try to play a 2.8mHz file, I get mostly hiss. It shows on the X16 as a 2.8 but cannot play it.

I posted what I did a few days ago in the Review thread:

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ced-mqa-dac-review.17419/page-119#post-744002

I didn't use the Gustard provided Foobar (which I couldn't find anyway) but just the v1.6.3 I had already installed on my PC.

 

[kopczas]

I thought I did once, but when I went back to the same album, I could not reproduce the issue.

Now I`m 99% sure that it`s SACD ripping procedure causing the problem.

 

[Fly2High]

I was unable to install the on disk ASIO Proxy 0.7.2 and ended up needing to download a new ASIO Proxy 0.9.4 which worked and now all appears fine.

I did not try updating the firmware since the file refers to U16. Which is the latest one? Is it 1.61? is the U16 for the X16?