Gustard X18 – Desktop DAC With MQA Decoding (ES9038PRO)

GUSTARD INTRODUCES THE NEW HIGH-QUALITY DESKTOP DAC-X18

GUSTARD has released its latest desktop DAC, the GUSTARD DAC-X18. GUSTARD is a brand that has a good reputation in the audio industry for its well-designed and professionally equipped HiFi devices. For the DAC-X18, GUSTARD has featured a flagship-grade ES9038Pro DAC chip paired with a 16-core XMOS XU216 USB signal processor chip, along with Bluetooth V5.0 connectivity with LDAC transmission, full MQA decoding, Balanced line-out, and many more features. DAC-X18 provides crisp, high-resolution audio signal decoding with 32-bit/768kHz PCM and native DSD512 decoding. DAC-X18 also houses its self-constructed CPLD logic processor that works together with premium HiFi components for class-leading performance, achieving ultra-low THD+N and high SNR ratings. Upgrade your setup with the GUSTARD DAC-X18 today!

EQUIPPED WITH THE FLAGSHIP-GRADE ESS SABRE CHIP FOR PRISTINE AUDIO

It is a well-known fact that your desktop audio chain benefits from a high-quality DAC system, and this is just what the GUSTARD DAC-X18 delivers. At the heart of the GUSTARD DAC-X18 is an audio conversion stage using an ES9038Pro chip from ESS Sabre Technologies. This chip is known for its incredible performance and ability to provide accurate and transparent audio reproduction. The ES9038Pro chip is an eight-channel 32-Bit DAC that offers exceptional performance in decoding high-res audio signals with ultra-low THD+N ratings. With the ES9038Pro DAC chip, the GUSTARD DAC-X18 provides its users with top-quality audio signal decoding so that you can enjoy your music with the utmost clarity.

FEATURES GUSTARD’S CPLD LOGIC ARCHITECTURE FOR EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE

GUSTARD DAC-X18 features the brand’s self-constructed CPLD Logic architecture chipset, which incorporates several technologies, including clock management, PLL, DoP decoder, and digital filters for precise operation between its internal components. GUSTARD has designed this integrated circuit for the DAC-X18 so that it single-handedly manages logic functions, clock management, 2nd PLL, digital shaping, DoP decoder and many more functions. This ALTERA CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device) chipset lays down the foundations for excellent sound quality and enables the DAC-X18 to perform exceptionally without errors or artefacts. This attention to every minutest detail makes the GUSTARD DAC-X18 a perfect addition to your audio chain.

FULLY BALANCED 16 CHANNEL DESIGN INCORPORATED WITH PREMIUM COMPONENTS

GUSTARD DAC-X18 has a balanced architecture with eight independent I/V converters that are designed to work with each channel of the embedded DAC chip. The I/V stage features a premium OPA1612 chip providing exceptional performance with low distortion and high SNR ratings. To complement the balanced architecture, the team of engineers at GUSTARD incorporated resistors with a tolerance of 0.1% for the sections of the I/V converter for better performance. To further elevate the performance of the DAC-X18, two Accusilicon A5318-B clocks are embedded to ensure perfect synchronisation of the audio signal for a low jitter level, promoting clear and pure playback. DAC-X18 also includes toroidal transformers and Nichicon capacitors to enhance performance. The inclusion of these premium components enhances the performance of the GUSTARD DAC-X18 tenfold and delivers an immersive audio experience. ​

EMBEDDED WITH XMOS CHIP AND BLUETOOTH CONNECTIVITY FOR HI-RES PLAYBACK

The team at GUSTARD has equipped the latest DAC-X18 with the new XU216 16-core USB processor from XMOS Technologies. It enables support for high-resolution PCM and DSD signal decoding over USB connections. DAC-X18 decodes 32-Bit/768kHz PCM and native DSD512 with great precision and clarity, ensuring accurate and neutral sound. The latest DAC-X18 from GUSTARD also supports digital Bluetooth input with the latest Bluetooth V5.0 connectivity, so you can connect your smartphone or any other Bluetooth-enabled device to the DAC-X18 using a wireless Bluetooth connection and feed the audio signal to the DAC. With its balanced architecture and a dedicated Bluetooth antenna, DAC-X18 supports all the latest wireless transmission codecs like LDAC (up to 24bit/96kHz), AptX HD, AptX LL, SBC, AAC, ensuring sound quality equal to or better than CD quality.

COMPLETE MQA DECODING ALONG WITH MULTIPLE DIGITAL FILTERS FOR ACCURATE SOUND

GUSTARD DAC-X18 has received the required certification to decode MQA files. MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) is the latest technology where high-resolution data is stored in small audio files. GUSTARD DAC-X18 brings support for MQA decoding, where, after capturing the audio file, MQA folds the file to make it small enough to stream. This process is called ‘Music Origami’ and will playback audio on any device to deliver higher than CD-Quality. DAC-X18 also incorporates multiple digital filters and NOS (Non-OverSampling) to reduce any artefacts in the audio signal. For PCM, you get M-Fast, M-Slow, L-Fast, L-Slow, H-Fast, APO-Fast, and BRICK filters, and for DSD, you get 47K, 50K, 60K, and 70K filters. The inclusion of these elevates the quality of the audio exponentially for you to submerge in your music.

Affordable Excellence in Audio: The Shenzhen Revelation

Headquartered in one of China’s leading tech hubs – the city of Shenzhen – GUSTARD is a company with research and development at its core. Its goal is to provide music fans with high-performance audio products at affordable prices. GUSTARD is one of those names that has had a strong pull in the audiophile world and is known for its desktop audio solutions, with a particular focus on headphones. Their line-up of products primarily includes headphone amplifiers, DACs, clocks, and recently integrated streaming devices. Gustard is one of the most secretive and mysterious audio equipment manufacturers out there. But GUSTARD sure knows what they are doing when it comes to digital audio. They are known for utilising high-quality components like toroidal transformers, embedding dual DAC chips in a dual-mono configuration, and equipping a fully discrete class-A output stage in their gear.

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