Review and Measurements of Gustard DAC-X26

[Kingpin]

Log In??
Can't find any of this in the X26iii User Manual.
Please verify authenticity....

Login url : "X26.local"

Authenticity as i said AI: https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=gustard+X26+III+"musicality"+"direct"&udm=50&fbs=AIIjpHzcbRWQGHDJOF_9lQlmXw9bMj7xAoqvoF9A6kWXlREXFR9bwMrTFOxlIYJ9IUXbGxGUDPQj5RiTbLxAfKFJf9yqXOTevGMlRucLATrAaXrysqV1TwvM0YQEBGfvcXwX2QpBfshu6dh3l7Dc22xgUr2wlwEFawROGiUPiYuNKaPccq0ZvELvPd8yq5DUKfw5AuMwlQ5Owmd-fU3NWwDAb4Fh1aSVhQ&ved=2ahUKEwjP35KIjqaQAxUV0gIHHdwyHyoQ0NsOegQIAxAB&aep=10&ntc=1&mstk=AUtExfBGGG6FI-oPpsKQZGvEC_2c5-yKDNoxb1uW2xcY0dsU1Tf5zxLkGvk4IsRxobZREH9XEIrIFE4hvbIwBR-JYY-rmA5xQHG-q4AAX-mESZZtEL05GqfvjuiKXyg6JDpK7qORoYhEhxugrD3PDvX6ajjBHPFYrLl4ER0&csuir=1

AI changes over time i see.

 

[Kingpin]

Well this is what we have to do with it because Gustard isn't providing us more information.
I even asked them 2 questions but no response.

 

[Kingpin]

What do you think about the LAN of the X26 III ?

 

[Kingpin]

I'm new to HQPlayer and a newbie to filter settings.
For the moment i use my laptop (Xeon E3-1535M v5, 32Gb RAM, NVIDIA Quadro M2000M with CUDA) for HQPlayer Desktop and stream it right into my DAC.
DAC is Gustard X26 III.

My DAC uses the ESS 9039Pro and i want to know what are the best settings to use it?

 

[kopczas]

What's the use of SD card on X26 III for?

firmware update.

 

[Moises]

My DAC uses the ESS 9039Pro and i want to know what are the best settings to use it?

For DSD 512 (or 256)
Start with the default settings
Filter 1/x
Poly-sinc-gauss-long
Filter n/x
Poly-sinc-gauss-highres-lp

If you listen to jazz and progressive rock I like

Poly-sinc-gauss-highres-mp

Modulators 7th order, although can try 5th order equivalent.
ASDM7EC-Fast
Or
ASDM7EC-Fast+512

I have a Holo Spring KTE L3 and I enjoy this settings.
Share a screenshot of your settings

 

[Kingpin]

For DSD 512 (or 256)
Start with the default settings
Filter 1/x
Poly-sinc-gauss-long
Filter n/x
Poly-sinc-gauss-highres-lp

If you listen to jazz and progressive rock I like

Poly-sinc-gauss-highres-mp

Modulators 7th order, although can try 5th order equivalent.
ASDM7EC-Fast
Or
ASDM7EC-Fast+512

I have a Holo Spring KTE L3 and I enjoy this settings.
Share a screenshot of your settings

Thanks for your answer but in the meantime i found out that HQPlayer doesn't added value when used with the X26 III.
The ES9039SPRO DAC will ALWAYS use their internal filters in the end.
I did testing for 3 weeks and compared every settings with it even compared the internal streamer with my dedicated streamer.
There is no sound difference with the HQPlayer settings.

 

[Moises]

Thanks for your answer but in the meantime i found out that HQPlayer doesn't added value when used with the X26 III.
The ES9039SPRO DAC will ALWAYS use their internal filters in the end.
I did testing for 3 weeks and compared every settings with it even compared the internal streamer with my dedicated streamer.
There is no sound difference with the HQPlayer settings.

New version 5.16.1 Desktop is available, maybe you can try it also PCM. I know that the ESS chips will do their thing, unlike BB, AKS for example. 5th order filters work better. Is also great software for room correction if you need among other things it can do. Just curious you tested with NOS ON and it sounded the same with different HQplayer filters and up sampling options?

 

[raif71]

New version 5.16.1 Desktop is available, maybe you can try it also PCM. I know that the ESS chips will do their thing, unlike BB, AKS for example. 5th order filters work better. Is also great software for room correction if you need among other things it can do. Just curious you tested with NOS ON and it sounded the same with different HQplayer filters and up sampling options?
View attachment 490088

I suppose you could say it is DS (Down Sampling) when playing CD format

 

[Kingpin]

New version 5.16.1 Desktop is available, maybe you can try it also PCM. I know that the ESS chips will do their thing, unlike BB, AKS for example. 5th order filters work better. Is also great software for room correction if you need among other things it can do. Just curious you tested with NOS ON and it sounded the same with different HQplayer filters and up sampling options?

Thanks !

I'll look and test the newest version this week.
I tried both PCM/DSD as i said ALL possible settings, even NOS on/off.
No differences. At the moment i play with my dedicated streamer with NOS OFF and in DIRECT MODE.
Let you know here my findings about the latest version.
I hope HQPlayer do an huge update on the UI because that's really bad.

 

[Moises]

Thanks !

I'll look and test the newest version this week.
I tried both PCM/DSD as i said ALL possible settings, even NOS on/off.
No differences. At the moment i play with my dedicated streamer with NOS OFF and in DIRECT MODE.
Let you know here my findings about the latest version.
I hope HQPlayer do an huge update on the UI because that's really bad.

So you are connected by Gustard NAA from your laptop right?
The files you are using are Flac, dsf, or Qobuz stream?

 

[Kingpin]

So you are connected by Gustard NAA from your laptop right?
The files you are using are Flac, dsf, or Qobuz stream?

I stream from my laptop/pc through my router into the X26 III.
Laptop (wireless) or PC (wired) through my router and from there wireless (wifi 6) into the X26 III.
All flac files (ripped myself). On Laptop and PC both have the same local files.
I did even stream it from my NAS which is also wired on my router, but that doesn't also make any differences.
NAA enabled on the X26 III (otherwise it doesn't worked).

Don't get me wrong, the X26 III is a really great DAC and sound stunning.

 

[Moises]

I stream from my laptop/pc through my router into the X26 III.
Laptop (wireless) or PC (wired) through my router and from there wireless (wifi 6) into the X26 III.
All flac files (ripped myself). On Laptop and PC both have the same local files.
I did even stream it from my NAS which is also wired on my router, but that doesn't also make any differences.
NAA enabled on the X26 III (otherwise it doesn't worked).

Don't get me wrong, the X26 III is a really great DAC and sound stunning.

I guess also Gustard DAC filters didn’t made any difference also?
I used to have DAC-60 on my Accuphase and it did made great difference, especially with the DAC correction enabled ( don’t know if this option is available for Gustard) and it has an ESS chip. Now I’m using R2R Holo Spring KTE L3, it’s really amazing as well with HQplayer. one last question you are using speakers or headphones?
If using headphones you can add the PEQ on the matrix section to check if you hear any improvement too. check here for PEQ options

https://reddit.com/r/oratory1990/wiki/index/list_of_presets

Anyway enjoy the music!

 

[Kingpin]

I guess also Gustard DAC filters didn’t made any difference also?
I used to have DAC-60 on my Accuphase and it did made great difference, especially with the DAC correction enabled ( don’t know if this option is available for Gustard) and it has an ESS chip. Now I’m using R2R Holo Spring KTE L3, it’s really amazing as well with HQplayer. one last question you are using speakers or headphones?
If using headphones you can add the PEQ on the matrix section to check if you hear any improvement too. check here for PEQ options

https://reddit.com/r/oratory1990/wiki/index/list_of_presets

Anyway enjoy the music!

Gustard DAC filters don't do much indeed.
DAC correction for the Gustard only for the A26 not X26 III or any others from Gustard.
I'm using speakers, no headphones.

BTW it's not my system who doesn't show any differences.
Comparing DACS made a huge difference, ended up with the X26 III.