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Gustard X20U dac

213.7.50.30

Posted on February 6, 2016 at 11:38:35
fmak
Audiophile

Posts: 13158
Location: Kent
Joined: June 1, 2002
This is a very good Chinese dac, with dual ESS9018 and a choice of pll clocking, or ESS9018 Asynchromous clocking, Build quality is excellent and SQ is the best I have heard from a Chinese dac.

Contributing reasons appear to be:

a usb card with Accusilicon XOs in the USB to I2S section.

balanced discrete analog stages

The remote is one of the easiest I have used and the spdif section is equally good .

The best is that it cost me just over $600 in China, instead of the $850 asked for on the web!

Mine has ventilation holes on the top plate over the dac/output section instead of a fuly enclosed case as shown on the web.

Bargain with correct hdmi input

 

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RE: Gustard X20U dac, posted on February 6, 2016 at 19:48:34
Bob_C
Audiophile

Posts: 2667
Location: NY
Joined: July 31, 2000
I have read allot of positive comments about it.

I am guessing the place you purchased it from does not do mail order.

 

RE: Gustard X20U dac, posted on February 6, 2016 at 22:00:05
fmak
Audiophile

Posts: 13158
Location: Kent
Joined: June 1, 2002
I went to a retail shop across the border in Hong Kong and they gave ame a 5% discount on the Web price w/o asking! Unit was available within 1/2 hr.

This is the most well designed and made Chinese dac I have seen, and works as well and better than many $1200 to 1500 units.

The dual clock provision confirms something that I learnt from my dCS; a correctly recovered clock can provide better sound than an ASRC arrangement.

 

RE: Gustard X20U dac, posted on February 6, 2016 at 22:44:54
ahendler
Audiophile

Posts: 5151
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Joined: January 24, 2003
I guess you havn't seen any of the Audio-GD dacs from China?
Alan

 

RE: Gustard X20U dac, posted on February 7, 2016 at 00:56:44
fmak
Audiophile

Posts: 13158
Location: Kent
Joined: June 1, 2002
I have their products. Wrong hdmi protocol when others have corrected theirs..

Mass and loads of components do not represent the best. Units looks hand soldered and I have reservations.

 

RE: Gustard X20U dac, posted on February 8, 2016 at 10:08:35
doak
Audiophile

Posts: 636
Location: New Orleans
Joined: June 4, 2000
Have read very good things about this unit.
These may be some differences between what you have and what is offered on eBay.
Interested in your take on SQ and functionality.
Hopefully include some comparisons.
Thanks

 

RE: Gustard X20U dac, posted on February 9, 2016 at 04:20:17
fmak
Audiophile

Posts: 13158
Location: Kent
Joined: June 1, 2002
There is no difference bar one; they evn opened up the unit for me to inspect.

The only difference is that there are ventilation holes on the top plate. This is sensible as the unit des get warm.

As\I said, this is a very good sounding unit for the price and wll suit a mid to highish fi system.

The only drawback is that there is no native dsd, a common thing with XMOS units (from China??? or any where else).

The remote is simple and a joy. One can invert phase and set three gain levels, the former being important to me.

 

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