Shipping now is an updated DAC from Gustard ($819-$899 delivered with usb board). They are now using the brand new ESS 9028 DAC chips. These sound much better than the ESS 9018 chips used in the now discontinued model. The Basic mod pricing remains the same but I might have more options. Below are two links to some info on the chips that describe why they sound better:
I received my Level 2+ modded Gustard X20u back from Ric Schultz yesterday. I had him do the "+" mod which adds a hand built shunt regulator for the Crystek clock. The regulator is tapped from the Gustard's main power rail rather than the 3.3v out near the clock. I also have parts on hand to utilize the Abracon AOCJY1 (thanks to the help from Quadman). That clock draws too much for this shunt regulator but I have another regulator which I might install and put in a switch to switch between external LPS power or internal power depending on which clock I'm using.
Initial impressions of the Level 2 Gustard are very good. Excellent actually. I am still burning everything in, but there are very obvious improvements in detail and clarity. I'm hearing detail in familiar recordings that I hadn't heard previously. The soundstage is also slightly more expansive. Bass is more articulate, although I hope for it to relax a bit more with burn in (it is still slightly constrained). This is coming from my other Gustard X20 which has most of the Level 1 AC mods done by myself already. I'm definitely very impressed with the end result here. It ranks high on the improvement-to-cost ratio scale in my mind, especially when you consider the total cost is still much less than the "main brand" competition at this performance level. Going back to my other X20 there is a discernable loss of "micro" detail and some collapse of the soundstage. The X20 is still a very fine DAC, but Ric's mods cumulatively make it quite significantly better.
Please Read : I personally have only heard the modded Gustard playing CDs via the coax from my modded Oppo 103D. It is the best CD sound I have ever heard here. However, the magic (according to John Makela and many others) is using a powerful Windows 10 computer running HQplayer and upsampling all files connected to the PC to DSD512 vai the HQplayer software. The Gustard DAC can take DSD256 via its usb input but can do DSD512 (the magic number) via I2S input. Singxer has a usb to I2S converter that currently wlll pass DSD256 and many are buying it with the Gustard and are really happy bypassing the usb input on the Gustard. However, Singxer is releasing an updated version early next year that will pass DSD512 and then the supreme magic will be available to anyone with a Gustard.
Link to current Singxer....this one can only do DSD256....later this year they will have on that can pass DSD512....that is the one you really want:
John Makela (Quadman on the forums) has modified his modded Gustard to take DSD512 via a custom hardwired installed usb board from DIYINHK. However, this is hard to do and requires an outboard power supply. He is the only person, that I know, listening to a Gustard using DSD512 upsampling using his homemade computer running HQplayer. He feels it is better overall than his $20,000 turntable, $5000 cartridge and $5000 phono stage. This is serious digital sound! John can make anyone a super computer for use with HQplayer. This is way less money than most of the servers out there that cannot even run HQplayer.
For those, like myself (at this time) using the Gustard just with a transport is amazing. You can buy the modded Gustard for use that way and then when you are ready to get serious about computer audio....either make or have John make you a serious computer with HQplayer.....and get the new Singxer when it comes out and you will then have even more incredible sound. You can use the computer to run Tidal or stream whatever you like to the Gustard and it is all run via your phone or tablet and all upsampled to DSD512. You do need to transfer your CDs to the computer but you can do that slowly over time.
Non usb use: When using the Gustard with coax/xlr/toslink inputs or I2S input (as in using the Singxer) then you will want to remove the usb board inside the Gustard. It will sound noticeably better without the usb board. Please see other Gustard page for instructions on removing the board.
I do not sell the Gustard DACs, I only modify them. You can send me yours or have one shipped directly from China to here.
Overseas and other customers: The Gustard is shipped free from China to anywhere in the world. You can buy it from Shenzhenaudio or Forexmen and have it delivered here. I can then mod it and ship it to you (you pay shipping from me to you....USPS priority or even priority express are not expensive for overseas.....I can ship usps or Fedex ground in the US). My turn around time is usually about 3 days in house unless I am working up a new mod. The units take 4-5 working days to arrive here from China after you order it. Comes via DHL.....very fast and reliable.
1-15-2017: Found some rectifier diodes that are even better (even more detail!) and removed the input power switch board from the front of the DAC and moved the power transformer for the DAC board forward for even better sound! Simply incredible! Also, the Basic mod now includes the Crystek clock with the modded Wima bypass cap with a WA Quantum chip on it. All these improvements and still $425 for the Basic mod . (pics below). Please read the description of the Basic mod on the older Gustard page.
3-10-2017: Even more tweaks have been done to the Basic mod.....damping of the digital board (from underneath), removing of non needed parts on the digital inputs, more damping, more WA Quantum chips and a "secret sauce" mod. Now we are shipping the basic mod. Below is a pic of the Basic mod....actually it does not have all the latest damping, WA Quantums on it, nor the secret sauce....but close enough.
Basic mod by itself ($425)
The Gustard arrives from China without a battery for the remote. Above is the battery (CR2025) you must buy to make your remote functional.
