R26²

Reviewer: Srajan Ebaen
Financial interests: click here
Main system: Sources: Retina 5K 27" iMac (i5, 256GB SSD, 40GB RAM, Sonoma 14), 4TB external SSD with Thunderbolt 3, Audirvana Studio, Qobuz Sublime, Singxer SU-6 USB bridge, LHY Audio SW-8 & SW-6 switch, Sonnet Pasithea, Laiv Audio Harmony; Active filter: Lifesaver Audio Gradient Box 2; Power amplifiers: Vinshine Audio x Kinki Studio Dazzle & Gold Note PA-10 Evo in mono on subwoofer; Headamp: Enleum AMP-23R; Phones: Raal 1995 Immanis; Loudspeakers: Qualio IQ [on loan] Cables: Exact Express Flame, Furutech; Power delivery: 2 x Kinki/Vinshine Tai Hang on amps and source stack, Furutech DPS-4.1 between wall and conditioners; Equipment rack: Artesanía Audio Exoteryc double-wide 3-tier with optional glass shelves, Exoteryc amp stands; Sundry accessories: Acoustic System resonators, AudioQuest FogLifters; Room: 6 x 8m with open door behind listening seat; Room treatment: 2 x PSI Audio AVAA C214 active bass traps
2nd system: Source: FiiO R7 into Soundaware D300Ref SD transport to Cen.Grand DSDAC 1.0 Deluxe with POW; Preamp/filter: Lifesaver Audio Gradient Box 2; Amplifier: Kinki Studio EX-B7 monos; Loudspeakers: Virtual Hifi Cobra [on loan]; Subwoofer: Zu Method; Cable loom: Exact Express Earth; Power delivery: Vibex Granada/Alhambra, Akiko Audio Corelli Corundum & Castello Solo; Equipment rack: Hifistay Mythology Transform X-Frame [on extended loan]; Sundry accessories: Furutech cable lifts, Furutech NFC Clear Lines; Room: ~3.5 x 8m
2nd headfi system: DAC: Cen.Grand DSDAC 1.0 Deluxe with POW; Headamp: Cen.Grand Silver Fox; Headphones: Raal 1995 Magna, HifiMan Susvara
Desktop system: Source: HP Z2 work station Win11/64; USB bridge: LHY UIP; DAC + Head/preamp: Audalytic DR70 + HP70 both on LHY PSU-80 Dual; Speaker amps: Topping B200 monos; Loudspeakers: Virtual Hifi Viper; Headphones: Final D-8000, aune SR7000, FiiO FT7
Upstairs headfi system: FiiO R7; Headphones: Meze 109 Pro, Fiio FT3
2nd upstairs speaker system: Source: FiiO R7; Integrated amplifier: Simon Audio Lab i5; Loudspeakers: ModalAkustik Musikboxx with Dynaudio S18 subwoofer
2-channel video system: Source: Oppo BDP-105; All-in-One: Gold Note IS-1000 Deluxe; Loudspeakers: Zu Soul VI; Subwoofer: Zu Submission; Power delivery: Furutech eTP-8, Room: ~6x4m
Review component retail: €1'599 

My Gustard genuflection began as punt. For my desktop I purchased the below duo of DR70 & HP70 from sister brand Audalytic via French web portal Audiophonics.fr. At €750 combined, it was my Santa bribe. Like most baksheesh—shopping purely on specs, no prior brand experience—one hopes for the best but, sheesh, isn't sure. Will the other party uphold their end? If this backfired, I'd invoke return privilege for my first time in hifi.

What prompted my bent knee at Gustard's? Excellent rep. Curiosity. I wanted one system in my crib whose price points better reflect the current entry level. Just walking across the hallway has me ear to ear with fancier fare. Ditto upstairs. How to remain in touch with what a smart shopper can buy in 2026 without daily reminders? With these 3D-printed Viper speakers from Virtual Hifi great value but far from entry-level, I'll continue to aim high. But this petite €399 DAC and €349 head/preamp between the half-width €600 Topping monos, €499 LHY bridge next to telephone cover all the rest at entry prices. My punt proved no reckless stunt but ended a personal realsizing hunt. These twins are here to stay.

Original R26 in foreground, R30 in the back.

Thinking that Gustard might enjoy their resultant review, I forwarded its link. To my surprise I promptly heard back from their marketing manager Huang Chengshi. Shortly after he proposed to familiarize myself with their more serious stuff. Enter RAX. In their digital range, those three letters abbreviate R2R, Asahi Kasei and Sabre respectively. Meanwhile their 26 series sits below the flagship 30 variants. Hence the current X26III is the already 3rd incarnation of an ESS-based DAC in their 2nd tier, today's R26II their equivalent next-gen discrete ladder DAC. All 26 models get a new companion in the forthcoming CD26 transport with up to 8 x upsampling, configurable I²S and 10MHz clock input. Ever since Denafrips put Chinese-made discrete R2R DACs on the map followed by sister brands Musician and Garlubidor, this breed proliferated. With US distribution, Holo gained Stereophile reviews even class A ratings. Topping licensed a Holo board for their own R2R effort. Laiv Audio already have three R2R DACs. At FiiO, one can now find them in models well below €500. Even the 11wpc/32Ω FangSound Silenos headphone amp at €359 includes one. So does my new Audalytic DR70. Meanwhile Gustard's €3.6K big-gun R30 runs four 27-bit ladders plus a separate 1-bit DSD converter. At less than half so €1.6K, the original R26 halved the ladder count whilst inheriting the dual 50VA power supply and 1-bit native DSD support from bigger brother. Ditto a 10MHz clock input though of the dual I²S inputs, only one transferred downmarket. What has the MkII added or changed? First, here's what a 25-bit discrete ladder DAC from Gustard looks like in my desktop budget wonder.