This is a review and detailed measurements of the Gustard X26Pro USB balanced DAC. It was sent to me by SHENZHENAUDIO which sells it for US $1,499.
I must say, this is one of the heaviest and largest desktop DACs I have tested:
This is an unusual DAC in that it goes to extremes to implement everything on its own including digital filters for the DAC using a combo of ARM and Analog devices DSP. Many circuits are discrete and overbuilt. It is worth a read just to geek out on its design!
The back panel is the usual bits but an extra item in the form of external clock:
External clocks are used for synchronization in pro environment. Its application in home audio is dubious and my previous tests show it to have slightly worse performance, not better. I don't have anything to test the X26Pro on it though. It certainly appeals to high-end audiophiles who equate such things as being better.
Gustard X26Pro Measurements
As usual we start with our dashboard with XLR output adjusted to 4 volts out:
What a relief that all that reimplementation did not degrade performance as it often does.
The X26Pro lands in our top 10 DACs ever reviewed:
Performance improves some if you allow full output:
Using RCA output costs you a couple of dBs as it typically does:
Dynamic range is excellent but not top of the class:
I was a bit surprised that jitter was higher with Toslink and Coax given the internal clock circuits:
Of course nothing of significance otherwise but worth a note.
Linearity is nailed:
Gustard implements three custom filters of their own. While I could easily switch between them in the menu, the response does not change:
I tried everything I could but could not figure out why it did not change. The menu would reflect the new setting but the output would not change. I have seen measurements from member Wolf which shows the difference so it is puzzling that this production version doesn't reflect that. I looked for a firmware upgrade but could not find one. Seems like something the company needs to fix. Or maybe it is a blind test for audiophiles who think they can hear such differences!
EDIT: the problem was incorrect firmware in my early sample. See the new results here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...eview-balanced-high-end-dac.24699/post-835479
The slow filter really hurts THD+N vs frequency due to wideband measurements which includes the mirror images from the DAC:
Edit: forgot the IMD graph:
And Multitone:
Conclusions
Gustard flexes its design muscle by implementing a highly unconventional DAC around the venerable ESS DAC. Most of the time such efforts result in disasters performance wise. Not so here. State of the art performance is achieved albeit at high cost. If you are a fan of unconventional, this is the DAC for you. You can tell stories forever to your audiophile friends on what makes this DAC "better."
Edit: recommendation changed due to bug fix.
I am happy to recommend the Gustard X26Pro. It shows that you can build a DAC (almost) from scratch and get superb performance -- something almost all high-end companies get wrong.
-----------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Harvested a bunch of basil to make pesto pasta tonight. Grabbed a bunch of greens as well for a nice salad. Nice to see the garden paying us back for all the work we have put into it!
Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
I must say, this is one of the heaviest and largest desktop DACs I have tested:
This is an unusual DAC in that it goes to extremes to implement everything on its own including digital filters for the DAC using a combo of ARM and Analog devices DSP. Many circuits are discrete and overbuilt. It is worth a read just to geek out on its design!
The back panel is the usual bits but an extra item in the form of external clock:
External clocks are used for synchronization in pro environment. Its application in home audio is dubious and my previous tests show it to have slightly worse performance, not better. I don't have anything to test the X26Pro on it though. It certainly appeals to high-end audiophiles who equate such things as being better.
Gustard X26Pro Measurements
As usual we start with our dashboard with XLR output adjusted to 4 volts out:
What a relief that all that reimplementation did not degrade performance as it often does.
The X26Pro lands in our top 10 DACs ever reviewed:
Performance improves some if you allow full output:
Using RCA output costs you a couple of dBs as it typically does:
Dynamic range is excellent but not top of the class:
I was a bit surprised that jitter was higher with Toslink and Coax given the internal clock circuits:
Of course nothing of significance otherwise but worth a note.
Linearity is nailed:
Gustard implements three custom filters of their own. While I could easily switch between them in the menu, the response does not change:
I tried everything I could but could not figure out why it did not change. The menu would reflect the new setting but the output would not change. I have seen measurements from member Wolf which shows the difference so it is puzzling that this production version doesn't reflect that. I looked for a firmware upgrade but could not find one. Seems like something the company needs to fix. Or maybe it is a blind test for audiophiles who think they can hear such differences!
EDIT: the problem was incorrect firmware in my early sample. See the new results here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...eview-balanced-high-end-dac.24699/post-835479
The slow filter really hurts THD+N vs frequency due to wideband measurements which includes the mirror images from the DAC:
Edit: forgot the IMD graph:
And Multitone:
Conclusions
Gustard flexes its design muscle by implementing a highly unconventional DAC around the venerable ESS DAC. Most of the time such efforts result in disasters performance wise. Not so here. State of the art performance is achieved albeit at high cost. If you are a fan of unconventional, this is the DAC for you. You can tell stories forever to your audiophile friends on what makes this DAC "better."
Edit: recommendation changed due to bug fix.
I am happy to recommend the Gustard X26Pro. It shows that you can build a DAC (almost) from scratch and get superb performance -- something almost all high-end companies get wrong.
-----------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Harvested a bunch of basil to make pesto pasta tonight. Grabbed a bunch of greens as well for a nice salad. Nice to see the garden paying us back for all the work we have put into it!
Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
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