In Reply to: Gustard X26 pro posted by kevb on November 20, 2021 at 15:37:38:
Would like to know if anyone else has had this experience.
While the DAC chip(s) themselves certainly contribute to sound quality, I find the most significant player is the analog output stage. Which is essentially another line stage in the pipeline that is every bit as important as your pre or power amp.
Most DACs use inexpensive op amps for that purpose but to these ears, they lack the intimacy and transparency of discrete devices running class A without the need for corrective feedback for linear operation.
I've felt that experience with my Audio Research DAC8 as it uses hand matched JFETs in a fully balanced class A stage with zero feedback fed by a pair of ultra stiff power supplies - one for analog and one for digital sections.
Your Gustard is one of few designs in that range that eschews the use of op amps in favor of discrete devices. With the Music Hall DAC in the garage, I replaced the three TI op amps with Burson discrete FETs which improved its ability to retrieve subtle information found in recordings.
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Follow Ups
- RE: Gustard X26 pro - E-Stat 09:44:04 11/21/21 (0)