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Measurements of Gustard X26 Pro Dual 9038 Pro By L7Audiolab

GWolfman

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What's the 10MHz input in the back used for?
 

Doodski

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A wonderful layout inside. The casework is gorgeous at the front and even at the back too. :D
 

raif71

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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.
 

Atanasi

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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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AnalogSteph

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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.
 

hmscott

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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:
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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curiouspeter

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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.
 

Red@

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ti33er

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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 on the bright side for me ...these 3 DACs I mention allegedly have warm filter options?
 
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Red@

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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)
 

ti33er

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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 :)
 

Red@

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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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