Digital Drive

Then there's the Gustard X30

76.87.196.186

Jon L

In Reply to: RE: Eversolo DMP A8 Streamer + Gustard X26-lll DAC posted by Reindane on March 08, 2025 at 22:47:43

Almost worth the $3000 pricetag...maybe. Impressive build quality.

Follow Ups:

RE: Then there's the Gustard X30 - Reindane 23:28:48 03/09/25 (2)
The 3000$ pricetag was above my limit, but I'm sure it would sound incredible in my setup.

I have been avoiding ESS Sabre DACs since I owned OPPO D95 and D105 SACD players and Sonica DAC. These earlier ESS Sabre models had a kind of digital sounding etched treble that was very analytical but also very tiring to the ears.

When I moved to the Cambridge 851N streamer/DAC and later the Eversolo A8 I got rid of the "ESS glare".

In light of my experience it is very positive that the Gustard implementation of the new ESS9039 DAC marks a new direction or development towards more musical ESS DACS.
- RE: Then there's the Gustard X30 - AbeCollins 09:20:25 03/10/25 (1)
  I've had good and not so good sounding ESS based DACs. Some were excellent.
  My AKM DACs were all excellent. They're newer but I think it has more to do with implementation regardless of which DAC chips are used.
  I don't know which older ESS DAC chips were used in my Oppo HA-1 DAC but that one in particular was lean and thin sounding. It was transparent but had no fullness, warmth. or robustness to the sound. My ESS based PS Audio DAC is quite the opposite. Go figure. Implementation ?
  
  Edits: 03/10/25
  - RE: Then there's the Gustard X30 - Reindane 11:02:13 03/10/25 (0)
    My OPPO BPD-105D has the same ESS9018 as your HA-1. My OPPO Sonica had the ESS9028.
    
    Both were more digital and leaner sounding than the Cambridge 851N's Twin Analog Devices AD1955 DAC that I upgraded to in 2020.
    
    I once compared the Cambridge Analog Devices DAC to an ADI-2-DAC FS AKM using AES/EBU connection. Via AES/EBU these two DACs sounded more or less on the same level.
    
    The new AKM DAC in the Eversolo A8 to these ears sounds more refined than the ADI-2-DAC.
    
    As you suggest - implementation is probably the key factor here.

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