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Measurements of Gustard X26 Pro Dual 9038 Pro By L7Audiolab

What's the 10MHz input in the back used for?
 
A wonderful layout inside. The casework is gorgeous at the front and even at the back too. :D
 
a dedicated external clock, to keep several machines in sync.
Thanks for answering. Just that I've never seen a DAC with an external clock before...sounds complicated.
 
Thanks for answering. Just that I've never seen a DAC with an external clock before...sounds complicated.
It is common with professional devices to synchronize multiple ADC/DACs or video cameras to the same clock. There isn't any benefit without multiple devices, and it's likely worse because external clocking is more difficult to implement.
 
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This might actually explain why this unit seems to have some more jitter than the X16 and others... it may quieten down some more around the tone once a nice and stable 10 MHz reference is applied so the PLL is no longer drifting all over the place. Mind you, it's at a very high level either way.
 
This looks like the replacement for the long awaited X26 "MQA" version ($1249?) that never released.

The new X26pro MQA still has the same ESS9038pro x 2 DAC's, but it looks like a complete redesign / re-layout. The price is a bit further out there at $1499.

The Gustard X16 has Dual ESS9068AS and is also a new design. I would be very interested how this $499 newer design/build compares to the "new" $1499 X26pro.

To answer another question above, the 10mhz external clock is available from Gustard as the C16

The Hifigo X26pro listing / blog says it is supposed to ship end of Feb - but that was the beginning of their holiday week(s), has anyone received their production X26pro yet?
These are the best shots I can find for the old X26 internals, I can find nothing of the interior when mounted in the chassis:
1615339149033.png

And, without the daughterboard:
1615339534207.png

These were labeled Gustard x26, followed the link and the torid shot is nowhere to be found, so not 100% sure these are the x26 units:
1615339203759.png

Here are the X26pro internals shots from:
https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/measurements-of-gustard-x26-pro/
www.l7audiolab.com x26pro #1.JPG

www.l7audiolab.com x26pro #2.JPG

www.l7audiolab.com x26pro #3.JPG

www.l7audiolab.com x26pro #4.JPG
 
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This looks like the replacement for the long awaited X26 "MQA" version ($1249?) that never released.

The new X26pro MQA still has the same ESS9038pro x 2 DAC's, but it looks like a complete redesign / re-layout. The price is a bit further out there at $1499.

The Gustard X16 has Dual ESS9068AS and is also a new design. I would be very interested how this $499 newer design/build compares to the "new" $1499 X26pro.

To answer another question above, the 10mhz external clock is available from Gustard as the C16

The Hifigo X26pro listing / blog says it is supposed to ship end of Feb - but that was the beginning of their holiday week(s), has anyone received their production X26pro yet?
These are the best shots I can find for the old X26 internals, I can find nothing of the interior when mounted in the chassis:
View attachment 117321
And, without the daughterboard:
View attachment 117324
These were labeled Gustard x26, followed the link and the torid shot is nowhere to be found, so not 100% sure these are the x26 units:
View attachment 117322
Here are the X26pro internals shots from:
https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/measurements-of-gustard-x26-pro/
View attachment 117325
View attachment 117326
View attachment 117327
View attachment 117328
I wonder why Gustard didn't size the external clock larger to match the X26 or call it the X26.

The X16 can't take external clock anyway.
 
Hi All, what would be the sonic advantage of getting one of these X26 Pro vs X16 ? Thanks in advance

PS. I’m looking at the SMSL SU-9, Gustard X16 / X26 Pro ...partnering equipment is CAMBRIDGE AUDIO EDGE-A (ESS9018) and Bowers 805D3 - this combo is a bit on the bright side for me ...these 3 DACs I mention allegedly have warm filter options?
 
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Hi All, what would be the sonic advantage of getting one of these X26 Pro vs X16 ? Thanks in advance

PS. I’m looking at the SMSL SU-9, Gustard X16 / X26 Pro ...partnering equipment is CAMBRIDGE AUDIO EDGE-A (ESS9018) and Bowers 805D3 - this combo is a bit in the bright side for me ...these 3 DACs I mention allegedly have warm filter options?

It's not the filters that would necessarily give you warmth, but the DAC design/performance as a whole.
The x26 pro is not playing in the same league as the the su-9 and the x16 (more expensive, better components)
What you wanna avoid in your case is Glare ( Intermodulation distortion) which would present a DAc as too bright.
In my opinion the x26 pro is the warmest sounding (but it is also the least affordable)
 
Thanks for this... my one wish is if this also had an AV Bypass mode. When DAC is OFF, it simply becomes a pass through device to a power amp; as I will get AV gear again in a new house coming next year :-)
 
Thanks for this... my one wish is if this also had an AV Bypass mode. When DAC is OFF, it simply becomes a pass through device to a power amp; as I will get AV gear again in a new house coming next year :)
I don't know how it could become a passthrough, as a dac job is to convert digital information into an analog signal that your amp can read.
A passthrough dac would mean that your amp would recieive the digital signal; it wouldn't know how to interpret it.
 
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