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Gustard X16 MQA DAC
01 / 07
Gustard X16 MQA DAC
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Product Description
Continuing to lead the pack in DAC performance, Gustard is back with the X16: a feature-loaded conversion powerhouse with the latest DAC chipset. In this case, it’s two ESS ES9068S DAC chips—both of which are capable of MQA decoding, giving listeners access to raw, uncompressed sounds straight from the studio Read More
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keyboard_arrow_downBlooKazoo
379
Apr 25, 2023
Hey uh… might wanna remove MQA from the name now that they’ve entered administration and Tidal is ditching it.
BlooKazoo
379
Oct 25, 2021
WordsandMusicYes, and even if you don't listen to mqa the supposed flac quality is degraded. I have an mqa dac and every time I put it in exclusive mode and let the dac do the unfolding I think it sounds worse. I dropped tidal and just use deezer and it sounds miles better.
mariant
107
Dec 6, 2021
WordsandMusicAs long as people buy into it, it will live on. I avoid MQA DACs for two reasons:
- I don't want to endorse MQA.
- MQA may impose their own interpolation filters, which are known to cause aliasing.
(Edited)
Dmac6419
194
Jul 26, 2021
The highest priced boutique shit is not going to better than this dac,guaranteed so to the people who want a SOTA dac for $450 and have the money this is it,pair it with the H16 and Jbl305 pure bliss,only thing the screen is small,you need big eyes to see it
(Edited)
Soix
17
Aug 31, 2021
No. Just...no. Many of the “top DACs” use proprietary FPGA or R2R architecture that utilize none of those off-the-shelf chips. Plus, a good designer employs techniques to optimize input/output stages that can impact sound much more than a DAC chip.
Soix
17
Aug 31, 2021
Try a good R2R DAC with Qobuz and you need not deal with brick wall filters or intrusive MQA with its silly unfolding requirements.
The4thaggie
81
Jul 26, 2021
For all you MQA/anti-MQA folks.... screw Tidal. I've been on Apple Music since I moved it to my office away from my Roon ecosystem, and Apple Music on this DAC sounds as good or better to my ears than Tidal ever did. And I've used Tidal for years.
It's going to cost them more to create more SKUs and manage inventory. I think you get your money's worth even if you never touch MQA. This thing is the width/height of the 789 and slightly shorter. I think you could beat a man to death with it and not even dent the case. It feels like a solid brick.
Dmac6419
194
Jul 26, 2021
And some people think Apple is the first service with atmos and spacial audio I won't even listen too Atmos on headphones, only on AVR, in that environment you'll be amazed with a good recording. FYI everything old ain't gonna sound good with Atmos or spatial, this new music is being mixed for it.
Kramit
120
Aug 6, 2021
Dmac6419They only think Apple is the first to do that because Apple told everyone its a super new feature and they invented it, just like everything else they do after the competition did it already.
I just know there is someone at Apple who just repeats "Simpsons did it" all day in their head, then the marketing department has to take over and make it sound like a new amazing feature. Honestly, so far, I have found Spacial audio crap. I noticed a difference when I tried it, but it was pointless. Just made all of it sound meh and dumb. But whatever, most of the music they add that crap onto is just as bad without it. Give it to those who like it, to each their own.
As to that guy up there saying MQA is great when you reach a certain hardware level. I completely disagree, and so does science and every measurement ever. I'll stick with local FLAC for the music that matters, and stream over. Well, Ive been trying them all. So far it's Amazon HD just because they offer a larger range of the things I want to listen too.
The4thaggie
81
Jul 26, 2021
I bought this to be a second SMSL M500 type experience but with I2S. M500 had been my long-term favorite DAC for well over a tear. I was slightly disappointed in the sense of it being an "improvement" but it is definitely a solid and great sounding DAC. I still think the SMSL M500 is more resolving but not enough to discourage someone from the X16. The ASR measurements don't exactly translate into what my ears were telling me. I generally pair saber DACs with warmer amps to find a nice balance. Usually warmer class A or full bore OTL tubes.
I use it in my office at work now that I have a Gungnir MB in my main rack. Paired to the Rebel amp it does fairly well. I'm rather picky with my Verite Closed and TH909s. Rebel had lost face with me when I got the SA-1 but it seems to pair really well with this DAC. I dug out the Rebel because my 789 makes music utterly soulless on anything that isn't an AKM DAC.
I don't think you'll be disappointed in this DAC. I've had it for several months and it's been solid. It adds the convenience of bluetooth and the addition of IS2 so you can hook something up like a Pi2AES or alternative DDC. I also just run it off USB on a Macbook Pro now and it's silent.
slugman
69
Dec 9, 2021
Nice. I had no idea that monitors implemented this functionality. As long as your tv has HDMI ARC, this would certainly be an option. First time I heard of this on a monitor. Seems like a pretty decent price for monitors too, I'm going to have to find some reviews.
deadmeat
11
Dec 9, 2021
slugmanI can be worng. It seems to me these are not monitors. In the meaning that not for studio use but for home use. Despite of it's naming )))))))))
JSR1
53
Jul 25, 2021
If you need warranty service, unit will have to shipped back to Outer Mongolia on your dime.
(Edited)
Kramit
120
Jul 25, 2021
I get it that some still like it… for some reason… but I wish these companies would just make them sans MQA and lower the price. MQA licensing is far to expensive, silly marketing propaganda and it’s just adding more Snake Oil, to an already flooded market.
(Edited)
Kramit
120
Aug 6, 2021
"because I didn't list a source" Please, get off the internet. Typical nonsense. Let's be honest, even if I did you would have come back, just like all the retards arguing politics on Twitter about how it's not a "trustworthy source". For me, I have heard it from a few people in the industry, including a fellow that works for an Audio company in Boulder, Co.
Honestly, even IF it didn't. (Which I am inclined to believe it does, I trust people that build products, especially face to face when they tell me that is a part of the reason they don't add MQA to their products even though some customers are asking for it. Also, the entire business model behind MQA is to make money, not deliver better audio, which it has been proven time and time again to not. Holy shit ALAC, Apple's "FLAC" alternative does a better job of delivering bit accurate music than MQA and it's free with Apple Music, lol. ) The dragonfly didn't raise their price, because the dragonfly is cheap as hell. Or maybe they just ate it to keep their customers happy. Not all companies make the same decisions. However, the audio market is bloated with companies who all want more and more money even if they aren't delivering products worth that money.
Gez, if you are going to drink all this Kool-Aid, I got some special RCA cables for you, only 900 bucks per foot GUARANTEED not to color your signal. Just let me know!
Kramit
120
Sep 6, 2021
I hadn’t actually watched the back and fourth between you and @Pyce. lol neither of you know who each other is. Random arguments about your “credentials” don’t mean shit to you or anyone else. We are all here because we love music, in whatever form that takes. Well I guess some people just wanna front with their “gear”… sad people.
At least we can all agree that Beats headphones suck.
also to @Dmac6419 some musicians absolutely do care about the fidelity of their music, and do care about format and the like. But I’ll assume you meant in the sense that they just want to get it out to listeners and chill with that.
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