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Gustard X18 Review (Stereo DAC)

Rate this DAC:

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 7 2.7%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 2 0.8%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 21 8.0%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 231 88.5%

  • Total voters
    261

pjw

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gustard-x18-dac-es9038pro-xmos-i2s-cpld-accusilicon-bluetooth-50-32bit-768khz-dsd512-mqa-black.jpg
gustard-x18-dac-es9038pro-xmos-i2s-cpld-accusilicon-bluetooth-50-32bit-768khz-dsd512-mqa-black.jpg
 
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Roland68

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The internals seems showed on audiophonics website
Thanks for the tip, the pictures are new.
Looks like a very clean build.

These X18 internal photos don't include the powersupply section.
Only the toroidal transformer is missing. Probably the usual 2 x 9v again.
 

kiyu

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Thanks for the tip, the pictures are new.
Looks like a very clean build.


Only the toroidal transformer is missing. Probably the usual 2 x 9v again.
if I have to guess I would say, just 1 that connects here
1642537414767.png


x26 pro, (2 torodia, 2 sockets)

1642537788881.png


but again, I am just guessing,
 
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Roland68

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if I have to guess I would say, just 1 that connects here
View attachment 180009

x26 pro, (2 torodia, 2 sockets)

View attachment 180010

but again, I am just guessing,
This is common on all smaller Gustard devices. A toroidal transformer with 2 x 9v or 2 x 12v AC for 2 x 12v or 2 x15v DC.

The power supply looks very clean. Own supply for the analog circuit with very low-noise LDO regulators, the ES9038 Pro apparently got an ES9311Q for its supply and the supply from the digital circuit was separated with a filter circuit.

The I/V and output stage are also more complex than with cheap ES9038 Pro devices and, above all, are separate, not the usual economy circuits.

If I get a chance, I'll listen to it against the A18 and try to get a D90se at the same time.
 

Roland68

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After -120dB you'll hear NO differences at all. Just probably a bit of "tonality".
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
I always form my own opinion, even with my devices.
 

RHO

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Vhond

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20 minutes blabla about how it sounds. (or doesn't sound)
Yet another storyteller.
If you're not interested then just skip it (that's what reviews are usually about)

If you think the're are more possibilities for measurements, buy it and hang it on your scope...
 

RHO

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If you're not interested then just skip it (that's what reviews are usually about)

If you think the're are more possibilities for measurements, buy it and hang it on your scope...
I did skip it.
I do not have the equipment to do the measurements myself. By I am reading the relevant topics on this forum to get a good understanding about what could be missing from the measurements Amir does and how to interpret those measurements.
You can guess how much I appreciate the subjective observations, form a YTer, about how a DAC (that shows exquisite performance in the measurements) sounds.
Not a single measurement was shown in that review, or it was in the parts (most of it) that I skipped ;)
 
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