ЦАПы — Gustard R26

Gustard built the R26 converter as the first model of the brand to use a discrete R2R ladder in place of a packaged converter chip. It combines that ladder with a native one-bit DSD path, a network streamer and Bluetooth reception in a single full-width chassis, with a listed price of USD 1,649.99.

Key specs that matter

Through USB the R26 accepts PCM from 16 to 32 bit at 44.1 to 768 kHz and DSD64 to DSD256 via DoP, with native DSD from DSD64 to DSD512. The I2S input takes the same PCM range and extends native DSD to DSD1024. Coaxial, AES and optical inputs handle PCM from 16 to 24 bit at up to 192 kHz plus DoP64. Gustard quotes a response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz within 0.2 dB, dynamic range above 115 dB, an S/N figure above 122 dB, crosstalk of -134 dB at 1 kHz and THD+N at or below 0.003% at 1 kHz. Output is 2.5 Vrms from RCA and 5.0 Vrms from XLR. The case measures 330 x 260 x 65 mm, the unit draws under 30 W, and the packed weight is 7 kg.

Engineering and use context

DSD material is decoded natively, without conversion to PCM, through a dedicated one-bit section beside the resistor ladder. The USB receiver is an XMOS XU216 processor. Timing comes from low-noise crystal oscillators and a K2 clock synthesizer, and a 10 MHz input lets an external master clock take over. Analogue and digital circuits are powered by two independent toroidal transformers, which keeps their supplies isolated from each other. The built-in streamer and renderer works with Roon and UPnP over a network connection, while Bluetooth 5.0 receives LDAC, aptX HD and aptX LL. A full-function remote control is supplied. The rear panel carries USB-C and USB-B ports, an RJ45 network socket, I2S on HDMI and AES/EBU, plus coaxial and Toslink connections. Over the network the R26 also works with AirPlay and DLNA, it decodes MQA, and the Bluetooth receiver also takes AAC, SBC and standard aptX. The mains input accepts 115 to 230 V at 50 or 60 Hz.

Pairing

Because streaming, Bluetooth and several wired digital inputs are built in, the R26 can act as the sole digital source of a system. Its outputs are fixed in level at 100 ohm on both RCA and XLR, so a separate volume stage has to follow it. Gustard presents its P26 preamplifier as a unit sized to stack with the R26, which gives a matching two-box front end ahead of a power amplifier.

Alternatives

The Gustard R26 II is the later version of this network DAC, keeping the R2R ladder and moving to Bluetooth 5.1.