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Digital Dilemma

I purchased an inexpensive Onkyo C-7030 CD Player more as just a transport, but also to use as a benchmark to compare to streaming music on-line. With intentions to get the streamed content to sound as good, if not better, than the CD player could muster.

After sitting my wife down for a listen (she has better ears than me) and playing Tidal, Quboz and then the same tracks on a CD, the CD was the clear winner every time. It also seems the CD playing without using the Gustard R26 DAC didn’t even sound all that much better than when played through the CD Player only, bypassing the R26. That doesn’t say too much for the R26 DAC or alternatively, it says a lot for the DAC in the CD Player!

I am using the R26 as the renderer via a LAN connection that is optically isolated. There are a few filters and adjustments on the DAC, but tweaking those still didn’t get the sound quality up to that of the CD Player.

A lot of you say you have achieved streaming that sounds as good as your analogue systems. What do you think, do I need a betted DAC?

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Showing 2 responses by bigshutterbug

bigshutterbug
377 posts
 

I purchased a new R26 DAC a few months back from the distributor, to replace my Benchmark DAC3. When it arrived, I ran a digital signal through it for about 150 hours to allow it to break-in, for it sounded quite boring, soft, and lacking in detail when it first arrived. After the 150 hour break-in period, it continued to sound the same, and never improved. I was quite shocked at just how terrible my R-26 sounded. I tried it as a streamer, as well as just a DAC using a good transport and excellent digital coax cable. The results were the same. I also tried it in a friend's system, with the same poor results. I ended up sending it back to the seller for a full refund. I then purchased a new $800 SMSL DAC (D400EX), which sounds fantastic, and quite a bit more enjoyable than the Benchmark DAC3 that it replaced. I really feel that the new R26 DAC that I received must have been a "lemon" from the factory, for all the reviews on it are very positive. The one I received sounded worse than any of the cheapest $100 CD players from the 1990's that I have ever heard. You may have received one of the "lemons' from Gustard as well. 

bigshutterbug
377 posts
 

I have SMSL D400EX in my system for many months now, and was very positively surprised at how nice it sounds. Compared to my previous Benchmark DAC3, it is far more rich and full bodied in the midrange and lower highs. I don't feel I gave up much if any detail, the highs are sweeter and more natural sounding. Bass is full and strong. The biggest positive change was that I no longer hear harshness or "digital edge" from piano, female vocals or trumpets, and I can listen for hours on end without fatigue.

I also own the Onkyo 7030 budget CD player that was the topic of this post. I use it in a simple office system, and have tried it in my main system many times before. The 7030 does not even come close to the sound of either the DAC3 or D400EX. Much smaller soundstage, less "air" and less detail. It is quite listenable and non-offensive sounding, and an audio bargain for the price. 

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