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New Gustard Twin Shootout: A18 (AK4499) vs X16 (ES9068AS)

Morla

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Has the A18 been tested in its latest version? Because now they are delivering those with optical input, mqa support and above all with XU216 instead of XU208, it seems to me that the tests that are around all concern the version with XU208 ... ...

imho the answer is: no
 

Fleuch

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What is the current status of the A18 ?

At the time of writing it is not "on the shelf" at Shenzen Audio and "unavailable" on Amazon.
 

Harmonie

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Both the M400 and A22 are available at Shenzen.
So it's maybe not the AKM chips, and A22 uses twice as many.
Unless local, Gustard is not so easy to follow.
 

Nemo

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I am sadden for the business loss, and its impact in the audio industry.

I am glad I purchased my unit right before the incident, as the unit is well built and audibly transparent, and its higher voltage output allows me to maximize my system S/N ratio: this is also most probably far beyond my hearing limits, but it gives me peace of mind and I am glad to have supported them
 
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Fleuch

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Are you referring to the report "News has emerged from Japanese media outlets over the last 48 hours of a significant fire at the Asahi Kasei Microsystem (AKM) factory in Nobeoka City, Japan."?

One report, dated 1st November 2020, can be found at https://www.stereonet.co.uk/news/stock-disruptions-expected-as-akm-factory-in-japan-burns

The post reports "Global supplies of the following DAC chips have been confirmed as affected: AK4332, AK4331, AK4432, AK4382, AK4385, AK4373, AK4396, AK4431, AK4456, AK4490, AK4493, AK4495 series - as well as the following being reported as 'potentially affected': AK5384, AK5385, AK5386, AK5397, AK5534 series."

This may explain why the Gustard A18 disappeared from the shelves, but is there an issue at Gustard with limited availability of products?

So many good reports on the A18 and X16, it is a loss to both Gusttard and potential customers if production runs are limited.
 

Harmonie

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Are you referring to the report "News has emerged from Japanese media outlets over the last 48 hours of a significant fire at the Asahi Kasei Microsystem (AKM) factory in Nobeoka City, Japan."?

One report, dated 1st November 2020, can be found at https://www.stereonet.co.uk/news/stock-disruptions-expected-as-akm-factory-in-japan-burns

The post reports "Global supplies of the following DAC chips have been confirmed as affected: AK4332, AK4331, AK4432, AK4382, AK4385, AK4373, AK4396, AK4431, AK4456, AK4490, AK4493, AK4495 series - as well as the following being reported as 'potentially affected': AK5384, AK5385, AK5386, AK5397, AK5534 series."

This may explain why the Gustard A18 disappeared from the shelves, but is there an issue at Gustard with limited availability of products?

So many good reports on the A18 and X16, it is a loss to both Gusttard and potential customers if production runs are limited.

Read my post #26 just above.
 

curiouspeter

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Very smart for Gustard to have both the X16 and the A18. Too many people, these two are interchangeable. But they have two distinct sources of chips in case something happens.
 

Cisco150

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Which one of these is better for warm or less harsh sound. Looking at the LOXJIE D50 Or LOXJIE D40 or the SMSL DO200 or even the SMSL VMV D1 DAC. Have SMSL SP200 amp but would like too tone it down a bit. Too warmer side. Also, Have the Hifiman Ananda too, and going to pick up a pair of Focal Elex or Clear soon.
 

Moderate Dionysianism

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Which one of these is better for warm or less harsh sound. Looking at the LOXJIE D50 Or LOXJIE D40 or the SMSL DO200 or even the SMSL VMV D1 DAC. Have SMSL SP200 amp but would like too tone it down a bit. Too warmer side. Also, Have the Hifiman Ananda too, and going to pick up a pair of Focal Elex or Clear soon.

Tone it down to your taste with an EQ. Buy music for the money you'll save;)
 

AnalogSteph

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If you're buying DACs for "sound", you're doing it wrong. They are quite literally the component with the least amount of sonic variability, statistically. As suggested, use EQ if you need that.

I would go by required feature set / sources to be accommodated. Once you're at the $500ish price point, there are quite a number of DACs with excellent measurements around which, quite frankly, are massively oversized for the application. Nobody needs >125 dB worth of dynamic range in a DAC used as a line-level source for a headphone amp, 20 dB less would still be fine. The requirement for balanced output precludes the bargain basement class, and if you want BT input or DSD playback a cheap audio interface or a Topping D10B may not be your jam either, but I wouldn't think you need to spend more than $250ish.
 
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