Fantastic review. I wonder how the RCA output of R26 sound compared to balanced output.
@zeissiez2 жыл бұрын
This DAC has it all. Naturalness + Technicalities + Musicality.
@theodorezurla4962 жыл бұрын
Love this dac amazing sound and very versatile 👍
@johncahill9852 жыл бұрын
I had this DAC since it first came out.I actually think its biggest upgrade potential has not been talked about on KZbin and that is adding a external clock. Adding a good clock takes this DAC to the next level in terms of naturalness, depth, detail and slam
@lucianobadoe362 жыл бұрын
What clock dit you try?
@johncahill9852 жыл бұрын
@@lucianobadoe36 I am using a slightly modified Leo Bodnar precision clock This I prefer to LHY and even higher priced Afterdark clocks. The only thing I heard beat it was the Mutec Reference I have not tried the Gustard clock
@johncahill9852 жыл бұрын
@@lucianobadoe36 I gave a few friends who tried one is a reviewer for enjoy the music and all have liked the Leo Bodnar
@lucianobadoe362 жыл бұрын
@@johncahill985 thanks.
@lucianobadoe362 жыл бұрын
@@johncahill985 I did my research and found your material about this clock. In the end of the day I bought one to use with my future R26, thanks for share this solution. *edit: R26
@eugenefudge18832 жыл бұрын
It's very easy to open up only seven screws And this DAC is smooth and detailed. My end game DAC.
@vagomaniac2 жыл бұрын
It’s not dual mono it just uses a separate power supply for the digital and the analog sections.
@deepvillage2 жыл бұрын
Good review…I sold the Pontus 2 after I bought this one …I like it!
@briangurnett11 ай бұрын
Great review. Thanks!
@SmallRoomAudio2 жыл бұрын
Great review! 😃 This really is a great value dac - especially using the Ethernet connection and Roon - simply beautiful sound for the money 👍
@dajikbatarang12 жыл бұрын
I found the Ethernet using Roon to sound better than any external streamer I tried. Great DAC!
@paulbrackell31722 жыл бұрын
Mine took over 100 hours before is really shined. It’s the best piece of kit I have bought. Using with Roon direct Ethernet sounded better to me than USB feed from ultra rendu. Very happy.
@wayneblackwood88322 жыл бұрын
Mine took a few months (2 months/about 60 hours) as well. I started to think that I made a bad purchase....then one day, the musical sunshine poured in. I thought DAC's were snake oil but the R26 made me a believer in the fact that DAC's absolutely improve sound quality. I'm hearing more and more musical details in just about all genre's that play. :) :)😁
@JTB--2 жыл бұрын
The Bluetooth on this is actually pretty awesome. Doesn't even lag when gaming or watching a movie/tv. R26 is endgame
@albertguev Жыл бұрын
You mentioned it's not the widest soundstage you've heard. Which DACs do you think have bigger staging capabilities? I'm on the hunt for the biggest stager. Thanks!
@salmorreale79002 жыл бұрын
Good doggy! Thank you for posting.
@alirezapouyafard57502 жыл бұрын
R26 its end game dac it will do everything you will need it's just insanely detail very good bass timbre with lots of air woooow
@ferrisburgh802 Жыл бұрын
Can you connect this directly to the OPPO 203 without a bridging box which the Denafrips requires? thanks..
@JezJerzy22 Жыл бұрын
Better sound quality than for example Chord TT2?
@faithhopelove69452 жыл бұрын
BEST DAC for the Money ! there is no ! Alternative at this Pricepoint. 😀😆😄
@andrehendrik Жыл бұрын
Nice review, thanks -- are you still enjoying your CXA61?
@donanimdunyasi Жыл бұрын
Great review, thank you. What do you think about gustard R26 compare chord qutest?
@alirezapouyafard57502 жыл бұрын
R26 it's end game dac I came down from chord dave!!!!! It's worth every penny
@Wharariki2 жыл бұрын
Fer real dude? What's the rest of your system if you don't mind me asking ? Apologies for my slight skepticism, I mean I'm a happy R26 owner, but y'know... that'd be some serious giant killing.
@alirezapouyafard57502 жыл бұрын
@crusaderjake yes for real my friend I have kinki studio ex1+ amplifier with upgrade op amps My speakers is KEF R11 My dac r26 Over 1000$ cables all around I have chord Dave before r26 Be honest by bit it's better chord Dave!!! I mean to my ear it's not worth it to pay that extra 15k!!!! The functionality of gustard r26 is insanely good you have open hand for what you wanna do :)
@Wharariki2 жыл бұрын
@@alirezapouyafard5750 Great stuff. Thanks for taking the time to respond. Nice system you have. It's a great all-rounder isn't it. Tip to get a nice lift in the R26's resolution, dynamics and sounstage depth in case you're not aware... is to add a good external clock like the LHY OCK-1 or 2.
@alirezapouyafard57502 жыл бұрын
@crusaderjake no problem Actually yes for my system it will be over kill ! I ordered mine it's on Tuesday way I got gustard c18 master clock but lhy can do the job as well I went gustard cuz I want to be set with my r26 ...
@petrpulpytel2 жыл бұрын
@@alirezapouyafard5750 Hi, can I ask you which opamp you used for kinki? is it worth to change it? I have also this amp... many thanks in advance
@bluev2srt2 жыл бұрын
I am interested in buying one of these but I can't find a dealer in the usa. This dac is Chinese made which does not concern me unless I run into and issue and it can't be resolved. Having said that this had beautiful build quality! Anyone know a dealer that has warrantee support?
@pablito86 Жыл бұрын
in comparison with x26 pro? which is better and why?
@joaquinbarreto9398 Жыл бұрын
Excellent review. Glad to know hifigo is legit I was going to buy but was skeptical with the pricing. I’m going back and forth like a ping pong ball between the R26&A26. System is JBL 4309 and Musical Fidelity M3SI. Imaging, Reaolutions, Detail and Clairty is amazing on my system but I’m wondering if the R26 will make movies and Netflix sound too analougy. I don’t know, I might have to buy both and return one.
@cbmore282 жыл бұрын
Does anyone have any comparisons with the A26?
@wokthetalk30792 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the detailed but yet concise review. I’m hoping GaN FET class D will make its way to headphone amplifier manufacture design. I have an eye on this DAC and was wondering if Gustard’s H20 headphone amplifier would pair well with the R26. Can I ask you to please review the Shiit Lyr+ headphone, there appears to be 1 KZbin review on the device by Wave Theory…. Ty
@willmac56422 жыл бұрын
I wonder how this compares to Frerot with Supply. Around the same price in Europe
@ekjellgren2 жыл бұрын
Vs A26?
@kensei-v12 жыл бұрын
We need Dave's own channel too.
@MrMwalker432 жыл бұрын
Now, what would be interested is how does it compares to their most recent A26 DAC for $150.00 less. Opinions welcome.
@alirezapouyafard57502 жыл бұрын
R26 far better than a26 Always r2r dacs better than delta sigma dac
@theodorezurla4962 жыл бұрын
@@alirezapouyafard5750 it’s subjective, but I also prefer r2r
@Wharariki2 жыл бұрын
It might more accurate to say speculations welcome, given (as far as I know) no one has yet heard the A26
@michaelscott44392 жыл бұрын
Nice review, thank you, but (this is meant as constructive criticism) why the background noise? I suppose you'd call it music, but do you really want your viewers to listen to it? Or have them listen to what you have to say? For me and many others, that is just noise and is very distracting - my ears try to hear it - its rubbish - and really annoying!
@blorg82062 жыл бұрын
Where's Timmy, what have you done with him?
@btfr12 жыл бұрын
Nice review! You mentioned that you simply listen to music on your favorite IEMs at the beginning of the testing phase, and I was wondering which IEMs these are? The ones you have on the table (IE 600, SA6 Ultra, Andromeda, Zen Pro) or perhaps others?
@HungryEatNow2 жыл бұрын
This might just set you up as another budget gears wave
@JoseFerreira-zb7wh2 жыл бұрын
Gustard could've kept the streamer out and make it a cheaper unit.
@beslemeto2 жыл бұрын
LAN will give you the best sound quality!
@alirezapouyafard57502 жыл бұрын
Lan works like charm amazing sound quality also you will dnt need any ddc anymore that's big plus...
@beslemeto2 жыл бұрын
@@alirezapouyafard5750 Exactly!Just jet some switch for 20 bucks and you are good to go...
@Wharariki2 жыл бұрын
And saved $100 maybe but lowered its value by $700+ as the R26 internal streamer comfortably beats dedicated streamer + DDC combos like the Ifi Zen Stream & U18. I know this as I have all three. It's one of the best things about this DAC, just awesome. Have a listen.
@johnratcliffe6438 Жыл бұрын
@@WhararikiI would prefer for the LAN input to be optical rather than copper. Optical offers far higher SQ.
@scottzahn3298 Жыл бұрын
Why do you call it R two six instead of R twenty six?
@bonanzabrandon68772 жыл бұрын
I'm new to this channel, but I just have to say that I find his hands in front of the camera comical.
@ekjellgren2 жыл бұрын
So you're afraid of popping the lid? :)
@hushpuppykl Жыл бұрын
The R26 lacks refinement and clarity. Tested it with a Lumin U2 Mini. The R300 is not very resolving too. I had a pair, was disappointed. Gave it away. The CXA is merely average sounding. A manufacturer can use the best components, it does not equate to good sound.
@carlosr.2027 Жыл бұрын
How does the r26 compare to a lumin d2 or a Pontus ii
@hushpuppykl Жыл бұрын
@@carlosr.2027 … can’t compare the R26 with the D2 as R26 is just a DAC. As for the Pontus II, it was a while ago that I used it and I will say the Pontus II is smoother but it’s not to my liking. It did pair very well with the Line Magnetic LM805ia but was not that impressive with my Audia Flight FLS10. I like my Matrix Audio X Sabre Pro MQA. It’s good for vocals and acoustic instruments but it does sacrifice some of the soundstage width. A DAC I would love to own will be the MAB Discrete. It’s so darn good but look at the price. The Chord Hugo TT2 is also a great DAC to own. Used one will be affordable. There’s too much hype about products on YT reviews. Did you notice the trend over the last 2 years? Many reviewers changed their presentation style. Even their titles are semi-click bait.
@OptLab2 жыл бұрын
I understand power matters to make the membrane move faster, but iems don't need the power of speakers. A dac using 10-25W 24/7 is too much, especially when iems consume almost nothing. This is why my interest for efficient sony daps has raised again even though portable features are useless for desktop use, daps still seem more meaningful for iem desktop use than many dacs. Then, the compactness appeal of iems is a bit lost with big dacs on the table.
@bearclaw5115 Жыл бұрын
Super long intro and you don't even know what you are talking about. For one, the two transformers are not for the left and right channels but for the analog and digital sections of the DAC. You also did not provide good context for this review. Watch the other guys, you need to do some work. This is basically an unboxing video. And it's not K-E-F, it's KEF!
@mikelanier5617 Жыл бұрын
This is free you realize? Not like we paid to go to the fair and the rides were closed...🤔 Maybe try a Snickers bar 😀
@super12892 Жыл бұрын
I found the information valuable.
@kakj19632 жыл бұрын
Alot of cash for a 100% China made.
@Yiannis2112 Жыл бұрын
Yes you seem to know a fair bit about it.
@jayninja27472 жыл бұрын
Bro no one is going to buy a $1600 dac when an apple dongle does the same thing
@zhanurdos2 жыл бұрын
Noob
@133ty0l_0svvag2 жыл бұрын
Nah, people spend more money on tube amps and high-end speakers. R26 is considered very good on price-to-performance ratio.
@michaelscott44392 жыл бұрын
Trouble is, it does not do the same thing! The R26 is so far superior, the comparison is simply ridiculous!
@davestevens41932 жыл бұрын
You show your ignorance
@古明地恋-s9c2 жыл бұрын
Go tell people not to buy better car cos most of them, does the same thing.