One of the DACs I have currently is the R26, fed by a Singxer SU-6 DDC and LHY OCK-2 clock, so the price as I've configured it in my system is actually $2700 USD. But even at $2700, the R26 is performing well above my expectations, roughly at the $5-6K level, just beneath the level of my Lampizator Baltic 4 tube DAC which is almost $7K. This is just to my ears and in my system of course, but I still think it is fair to say, having owned 6 or 7 other DACs over the last 5 years, the R26 is a very good value. BTW for the measurements guys, one of the DACs I've had was the Topping D90se, and no it wasn't good enough to last long in my system. IME superb measurements don't NECESSARILY result in great sound.

I recently purchased the Gustard R26 and tried the internal Lan streamer with UpnP for Tidal and local files and was very impressed compared to both my Node n130 and Wiim Pro. I kept seeing the Hifi Rose dac/streamer and loved the display for album art, bitrate info, touchscreen and those sweet vu meters..lol! Then I saw the Hifi Rose prices, gulp 😮 Considering the R26 is R2R vs. ESS and I would spend much less with the EverSolo combo, so I got lucky and caught Amazon when they had stock a few weeks ago and bought the DMP-A6 and a 2TB SSD to put in it. I am over the moon with the sound and build quality, looks, function, features, I2s, clock input, etc. This is amazing on both my solid state and tube amps and are truly end game to me ❤ Running the included USB A to B cable and it is the most significant change in sound I have experienced in my system. I will evaluate the other EverSolo outputs but I can't imagine the coax is any better. I think we have some differences in system synergy or my old ears just like the hyper realistic and "in the room with you" holographic sound the R26 DAC produces. The Node is now with my RME Adi-2 DAC (original AKM chip) for my headphones system and the Wiim Pro is with a Schiit Modi 3 DAC on the patio. Music therapy is awesome and I am so happy I chose this combo for my digital front end!😊

What a terrific and incredibly thorough review. Very helpful! Subscribed. Thank you!

Thank you for this honest and detailed review. I just compared USB(straight from desktop) vs LAN vs FMC(10Gtek + Topping P50) LAN. If I would rank them, it will be FMC LAN > LAN > USB with a noticeable difference for each input, especially on sound stage. I think I will stick to this setup for a long time but might upgrade to Sonore UltraRendu in the future once you're review is up and it is really as good as the way you said they are. Still waiting and looking forward to Arya Organic's review! :) I really appreciate your work, please keep it up. You have my support.

I really appreciate all the time spent researching and comparing. Especially like the sensible (imo) summary. Thanks.

After reading / viewing many reviews that PRASIED the R26 I was sold and ready to buy. This review brought me back to earth. This review helped me realize I only need a dac upgrade. Be nice if Gustard had a R2R only dac closer to $1k. Going to stick with my BS Node 2i w Keces lps, but upgrade my J2 dac. Still want as close to R2R sound as I can find. Analog warmth, big soundstage, depth, airy. Back to searching.

Once again you cut through the spin and hyperbole to provide a wealth of useful information - operational quirks, functionality and performance by section and comparisons to relative benchmark components. Gives you the answers the other reviewers do not. Thank you!

I had the R26 since November 22. It has made all my headphones sound better. I connect it with my M1 MacBook Pro via USB and paired it with my iFi Pro iCAN Signature and the A90 (which I have put it up for sale). I do like it’s R2R smoothness, neutrality, imaging, staging and overall sound. I paid US$1,450 for it and feel it’s worth the price I paid. I do have other DACs but I find myself using the R26 more. This is the DAC I’ll be keeping for a while, until I get a listen to the Holo May KTE. I’d changed the fuse, upgraded the power cable but it is using Roon via LAN to the R26 that produced a big improvement to the sound. Meanwhile, I have another headphone coming and I am going to need another amp to drive it.

Generally speaking, R2R dacs show their strehgths espaecially in a speaker stereo speaker and less in headphones. Testing chord hugo 2 vs the Gustard r26 was a lot bigger and holographic in my system. Not so when using headphones

It’s interesting for all the reviews I have seen for R26 your findings take a 360 turn. I have hugo tt bifrost 2 n r26. To my ears r26 is superior

I use the R26 combined with a U18 DDC (using the I2S connection) and LHY OCK-2 master clock (with connections going into both the R26 and U18). The R26 is impractically flexible, as in, it can take a lot of upgrades in the form of fuses, external clocks, DDCs, etc, all of which can further be improved by different cables. It adds up but all those extras can be carried over to another DAC in the future. The R26 has been a lot of fun because you can hear the incremental sonic improvements as you add those upgrades, albeit and admittedly, with possible placebo effects. My next DAC will definitely have to take I2S and 10mhz clock inputs.

I think the Gustard A26 DAC with top-of-the-line AKM chips is the better DAC. It is more resolving and has a blacker background. It also has depth though slightly less than the R26. I run mine into the Gustard H26 NEW headphone amplifier.

Nice vid, hope you can get a holo spring 3 for review since its one of the best reviewed dac between 2-3k usd

Amazing your review is such a departure from top critics. I'm not sure if that hurts or helps your case. I found the Bifrost 2/64 to be poor and like every Topping/SMSL out there.

This was one of the best in-depth reviews for the gustard r26 because you really went into detail on the streaming portion and perhaps its shortcomings. I had this on the shortlist. I too had issues with my Zen streamer I gave it up for a Wim pro with a better power supply and opto-coupled Ethernet. Hassle free but not sure if it rivals the Zen in quality. Still pondering a Venus II after this review. Seems it still comes down to separates. Thanks!!!!

45:22 it's like everything else, we like some thing until we hear something better and that's when we realize that there is better out there. I think with this unit, it's a great unit if you want an all in one.

A26 and R26 sound sonically great. Playing as Roon endpoint is tops. I find it must be direct wired to LAN, no split of signal.

Good review

I have made it through the HQplayer learning curve if you need help. DSD Direct on this thing at DSD512 is mind blowing (even with built-in streamer) :) PS - external 10MHz clock makes this DAC even better (and easy to a/b with remote).

does R26 require burn in? how many hours? does it improve a lot?

Wow surprising cold water on this unit

:~} I was worried you were going to start reciting Vogon poetry for a second there.

Have you considered reviewing the Emotiva xda-3 DAC, Emotiva offers a 30 day return policy. I have an Ares12 that converts signals from a WiiM pro, Oppo UDP-203, and Sony streamer. I like the sound of the Ares12 but I miss having a remote. Also I think the Emotiva would look great with my McIntosh c50 and mc352 that run my 1980’s Klipsch La Scala’s. Thanks!

Thorough review, if a bit contrary.

Thanks for the great review. Just received mine yesterday and letting it burn in 24/7. For those using this dac, do you use RCA or XLR to your amp? If XLR, what brand are you using?

Please review the Gustard H26 HPA?

Nice Review man. I had the R26 for a while and then got the A26. I preferred the A26 which had more punch and slam type qualities over the R26 smoother presentation. The Geshelli JNOG2 SOCKETED [J2S] compete's with the R26?

Regarding balanced vs unbalanced output: What if the amp only has unbalanced inputs? Does it make a difference when using dac-balanced-out -> amp-unbalanced-in versus dac-unbalanced-out -> amp-unbalanced-in ?

Can anyone help me in how to update the firmware

Any review coming for the wandla(elsa award DAC)? Thanks.

@wavetheorysound Can u please review the Gustard A26 vs the R26. I am treble sensitive and love lower midrange warmth but also want lively sweet treble just at a lower quantity wise. I generally don't enjoy low end hfm headphones at all due to shout, shrillness and peaks but I want to purchase he1000se. Pls recommend dac for signal chain with S17 pro amp which u should review too

I liked lightwave but its went bust, now there is the hope in other waver

cool.thank you.would you go to a pontus or quetest for just a little more $?

I'm tired of all these DACs that sound neutral with a nice balance... I WaNt mY mUsiC To sOuNd CrAaYzYyy...!!! 🤪😝🥳

You mean that you don't think that the R26 trades blows with $3k DACs? How dare you have an opinion that doesn't line up with the rest of the DAC reviewers. Next you'll be telling us that Topping products are overrated. 🤣

Have you heard the Tradutto?

I own the A26 & you pretty much described my situation haha. Dipping my toes in to upsampling and streaming

Is the hugo 2 your top reference dac?

Standard ethernet cable that hurts 😵

Damning with faint praise....

digital volume control for preamp is meh need a real preamp

What would be the best amp for r26 and he1000v2s combo in your experience?

Hello, Can you recommend on Neutral Headphones to use with it? Thanks in advance

Sounds like this thing costs twice as much as it should lol (I’ll bet it’s not the only DAC like that). “It’s for people with money to burn that lack experience” is what I heard 😆

Overrated and to expensive. Disappointed in this DAC for the price

You have a lot to learn about electronics and no one piece is gonna sound the same on your system with your space and current from the wall,I have r26 in a 60 plus thousand dollar system and it is superlative,I’m a audio engineer now for 40 plus years and what I know is you have a lot to learn about audio your options are infantile at best good luck with your future in audio all I can say is you need more experience in this field