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Gustard X26 Pro DAC Question.......

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Posted on December 16, 2021 at 10:16:14
Todd Krieger
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Posts: 37308
Location: SW United States
Joined: November 2, 2000
Is it normal to for the unit to get very warm (borderline hot) to the touch, if run for a couple hours? It runs about as warm as an idling solid state power amplifier.....

I don't ever recall any solid-state outboard DAC running this warm..... Even the old Prism DA-2 didn't run this warm.

Thank you much.

 

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RE: Gustard X26 Pro DAC Question......., posted on December 16, 2021 at 15:04:38
Cut-Throat
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It runs warm, but no where near 'Hot to the Touch'...... Not even close to as Hot as my Tubes that are in my Amps or Pre-Amp.... It's got a very Beefy Power Supply, which probably makes it sound so good...... I don't worry about the warmth.... It's not Hot to the touch....



 

RE: Gustard X26 Pro DAC Question......., posted on December 16, 2021 at 15:23:57
Todd Krieger
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Posts: 37308
Location: SW United States
Joined: November 2, 2000
Does your unit also emit "power supply hum?" I hope this is "growing pains" with a new unit.

It otherwise sounds very nice.....

 

RE: Gustard X26 Pro DAC Question......., posted on December 16, 2021 at 15:26:04
Cut-Throat
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I certainly do not hear any hum at all... It is dead quiet..



 

RE: Gustard X26 Pro DAC Question......., posted on December 16, 2021 at 15:36:26
Todd Krieger
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Posts: 37308
Location: SW United States
Joined: November 2, 2000
I can hear the power supply transformer from a good ten feet away (with no music playing)........ No other power supply in my systems (including power amps) is that loud.

 

RE: Gustard X26 Pro DAC Question......., posted on December 16, 2021 at 15:38:24
Cut-Throat
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That does not sound right at all..... Contact the Source where you purchased it from and tell them what you are hearing.... Sounds like a problem to me.



 

Thank You For the Replies......., posted on December 16, 2021 at 15:47:20
Todd Krieger
Audiophile

Posts: 37308
Location: SW United States
Joined: November 2, 2000
I will give it a couple days..... I've had this occur with other components in the past when they were new, and it usually faded away after a few days..... Kind of disconcerting, however.

 

RE: Thank You For the Replies......., posted on December 16, 2021 at 15:55:46
Cut-Throat
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Location: Minneapolis - St.Paul Area
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I'd still contact the Seller and let them know your concern and see what they have to say..... At least you reported it soon, if things don't straighten out. Here is a link where a lot of users posted their impressions. Most comment on a very quiet 'noise floor'... Worth a read.

Gustard X26 Pro



 

RE: Gustard X26 Pro DAC Question......., posted on December 16, 2021 at 16:40:57
AbeCollins
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Apologies for butting in but just out of curiosity have you tried plugging the Gustard into a different AC outlet, possibly one in a completely different part of your house on a different circuit breaker?

For heat a 3 speed and whisper quiet fan:

Power it with a small USB charger


 

Makes sense to me, posted on December 16, 2021 at 16:42:48
E-Stat
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Using enough discrete FETs for balanced operation can generate some heat. While it appears the sides of the case are vented, the top looks solid.

The cover of my Audio Research DAC8 is largely perforated as it is also a balanced design running its JFETs in class A. That likely vents the hot air more effectively.

 

RE: Gustard X26 Pro DAC Question......., posted on December 16, 2021 at 20:23:11
Todd Krieger
Audiophile

Posts: 37308
Location: SW United States
Joined: November 2, 2000
"Apologies for butting in but just out of curiosity have you tried plugging the Gustard into a different AC outlet, possibly one in a completely different part of your house on a different circuit breaker?"

No..... But I do think the case hum is subsiding....... In retrospect, I probably wouldn't have posted a concern about it.

 

RE: Makes sense to me, posted on December 16, 2021 at 20:24:16
Todd Krieger
Audiophile

Posts: 37308
Location: SW United States
Joined: November 2, 2000
I do have the unit in sort of a "confined" location..... Maybe I should give it more space.

 

RE: Gustard X26 Pro DAC......., posted on December 18, 2021 at 02:01:12
Todd Krieger
Audiophile

Posts: 37308
Location: SW United States
Joined: November 2, 2000
I've been asked how I like the DAC..... To be honest, it sounds so similar to the internal CDC-935 DAC section (with tube output stage), I sometimes forget that I'm trying an external DAC..... I've never heard two DACs sound so similar, in spite of the designs being over 30 years apart...... (I don't recall comparing DACs this similar in sonic presentation in the past. I've heard larger differences comparing cables.)

I'm running the DAC in "composite" mode.... I like this setting best.

The Gustard is a smidgen "cleaner," the CDC-935 internal DAC has a little more "bottom-end weight" and "soundstage width/depth".... But that's about it. (I need to live with this DAC for a while before coming to more definitive conclusions, I've made this mistake too many times in the past.... I will try different digital cable combinations as well.)

Given that I've yet to try an external DAC that I thought performed equally to or better than the CDC-935 internal DAC for CD playback (aside from the super-expensive Prism DA-2), I'd say this DAC is performing very well.

 

RE: Gustard X26 Pro DAC Question......., posted on December 25, 2021 at 07:59:41
wheezer
Audiophile

Posts: 4309
Joined: January 24, 2001
Just a thought..
Pop the hood and see what the ratings are for the power transformer.
Then check your mains voltage.

- W

 

RE: Gustard X26 Pro DAC Question......., posted on December 25, 2021 at 11:59:24
Todd Krieger
Audiophile

Posts: 37308
Location: SW United States
Joined: November 2, 2000
I've seen pictures of the inside..... It's a big reason why I've opted to try it.




 

RE: Gustard X26 Pro DAC Question......., posted on January 12, 2022 at 04:48:43
morricab
Distributor or Rep

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I thought you didn't like sigma/delta DACs...ok that was years ago though...

 

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