More for the same – It's Gustard's new R26II which upgrades the existing R26 without charging more [€1'600]. It's a 26-bit discrete ladder DAC with true hardware-based 1-bit DSD conversion capable of DSD2'048 over I²S with four menu-assignable pin configurations. It includes a proprietary streaming board co-developed with CelAudio, Bluetooth 5.1 and USB by XMOS XU216. The class A discrete low-pass outputs deliver 2.5/5Vrms on RCA/XLR respectively with 100Ω output impedance regardless. The deck measures 33x26x6.5cm WxDxH and weighs 7.3kg. Finish options are black or silver and the menu is accessed by frontal touch screen or remote. The companion top-loading CD26 transport with up to 8 x upsampling and matching 10MHz external clock input is just around the bend.
