Advice on a new 256 or 512 DSD DAC

[RKlein]

I have owned the same Exasound E20 MK III with the .082 Clock. This is a very good dac for DSD. I also owned the Lampizator Amber DAC(for a very short period) that did both PCM and DSD. In addition, I had the Chord Hugo in my system.

 

I took a chance and ordered the Gustard X20U DAC and have been pleasantly surprised. This is a very well made DAC. I cannot tell you how it would compare to the T+A DAC 8 but I can tell you that for $799 this DAC is very good. I have performed some mods and tweaks to this DAC and it absolutely shines on classical music. Woodwinds/strings sounds great. (I should know as I have played in Symphony Orchestras for the past 35 years) I am currently upsampling everything to DSD128 via HQPlayer and when a fellow Gustard owner sends me the right driver on a flash drive, I will be soon listening to DSD256.

While I like the sound at DSD128, I bought the DAC with the intention of getting 256/512 out of it. There is a DCC to be released in May that comes in at $300 with the F-1 XMOS USB Digital Interface Module XU208 U8 upgraded version. This DCC will allow me to upsample to DSD512. While I have heard wonderful comments and reviews regarding the before mentioned choices, too many people make up their mind without any listening experience and with incomplete or wrong information. IMO, it's best to keep an open mind. Synergy is key and one person's opinion on "great" sound may well be the exact opposite of another's.

 

Regards,

Randy

 

 

[RKlein]

Isnt the Gustard a Sabre Dac?

 

If so, then who knows what they do to the DSD signal fed to it.

 

I have not heard it and so cant comment definitively, but IMHO, that would disqualify it as a "primo" Dac for high rate DSD playback. High rate DSD is not a sweepspot for a Sabre chip Dac.

 

With all due respect if you have not heard it then you should not comment on it at all. Look...I am not taking anything away from the Lampizator GG or the T+A DAC8. I will not comment on those as I have not heard them. However, I HAVE heard the Gustard X20U and to be perfectly frank, I could give a rat's behind what chip is under the hood. After 35 years of playing in the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, Carnegie Hall in New York, Severance Hall in Cleveland and other venues, when I hear the accurate yet beautiful tone and timbre of acoustical instruments, I really don't care if I pop the hood to see two rubber bands and some popsicle sticks.

 

I am waiting with bated breath to see how quadman's new DSD512 card performs.

 

BTW, I also have heard the Fore Audio DaisY1 at Ted_b's place and it sounds very very good indeed!

 

My apologies to the original poster.

 

Regards,

 

Randy

[RKlein]

Randy, I speak of the philosophy/technology of what goes on inside the Sabre chip with DSD. There is a reason why DSD is handled with kids gloves and a chip is primarily for PCM with DSD as a workaround. A saber chip would not be my first choice for dedicated DSD playback...though it does not mean that it can't sound good....as it clearly can. Just don't think it can be the best it can be. I have heard plenty of chipped DSD and FPGA DSD and none please me like chipless. If you are not DSD crazy like me, its not really a big deal.

 

I wait to see how the new saber chips treat DSD, the 9018 and 9038. They have very different tech again.

 

Norman-

 

Actually, the Gustard uses 2 of the 9018 Sabre chips. I copied the specs and have listed them below... In reading the below specs, I do find it interesting that it does state that via USB it only supports up to DSD128. I am currently using a Thesycon driver that allows DSD256 via USB (which sounds very good). Here is another copied blurb from Gustard...

 

"USB 2.0 asynchronous interface can playback 1BIT / 2.8224MHz or 5.6448MHz DSD digital signal sampling rate. That is supported DSD64 and DSD128. Coaxial BNC fiber AES / EBU support DOP64, IIS support DSD64 128 256 512."

 

X20 chip uses two main ESS Technology ES9018 Sabre Reference 32bit chip, with XMOS 32bit / 500MIPS performance digital signal processing unit.

[h=1]Product Features:[/h]• DAC-X20 core chip uses two ES9018, left and right channels for each one.

• the first use of adaptive technology and asynchronous master clock master clock technology, two clock mode can be freely selected.

• Full interface supports DSD decoding. USB support DSD hardware solution, Coaxial Optical AES / EBU support DOP decoding, which can be accessed several broadcast SACD listening to music. Full interface supports 24Bit 192khz (USB 32B 384K).

• using CPLD programmable logic device. MESNAC ES9018.

• 3-speed gain, volume can be adjusted, a total of 100 stalls adjustable volume attenuation from 0 to -99DB.

• USB sub card using XMOS program, PCM highest support 32B 384khz, DSD up to DSD128.

• six kinds of input methods: IIS fiber `BNC coaxial port` AES / EBU`USB, through the key switch.

• Adopt TFT LCD display, adjustable contrast

• power supply with two O-type transformers, digital and analog independent power supply, and the use of discrete components regulation.

• Fully balanced analog line discrete components. Unbalanced RCA output simultaneously.

 

Regards,

 

Randy