GUSTARD DAC-A18 Balanced DAC AK4499 Accusilicon XMOS MQA Bluetooth 5.0 32bit 768kHz DSD512 Black

Test by Audio Science Review

Looks like the A18 aims at very high level of performance, stopping just shy of heroic efforts to squeeze down the last bit of noise and distortion. In return if my memory is serving me correctly, you save money compared to the ones that do go that extra inch. So you more choice of pricing and performance in the top bracket.

I am happy to recommend the Gustard A18 DAC.

AKM AK4499 DAC

At the heart of the device is the conversion circuit, based on a high-end DAC chip, the AKM AK4499. It is a 32bit digital/analogue converter with very low noise and distortion and supports high sample rates up to 32bit 768kHz PCM and up to DSD512. It is a major contributor to the Gustard DAC-A18's ability to deliver accurate, dense and vivid playback. This chip also offers a choice of 6 PCM filters and 2 DSD filters.

XMOS USB & MQA

Behind the USB-B input is an XMOS XU216 interface for receiving the audio signal. This interface is particularly powerful and supports high-resolution files, all of which contribute to accurate sound reproduction.
It is also this chip that enables the Gustard DAC-A18 to support and decode MQA files, ensuring playback quality as close as possible to the original recording.

High quality circuit

The entire circuit benefits from a careful design, based on the use of high-performance components within an intelligent architecture. These include four high-performance LME49860 dual AOPs to meet the high current demand of the AK4499, an integrated linear power supply circuit to provide the various circuits with a clean electrical signal, a high-performance filtering system, high-precision resistors and TPS7A47 and TPS7A33 regulators.

Specifications
Product type	Balanced DAC
Conversion chip	AKM AK4499
USB interface	XMOS XU216
Bluetooth chip	CSR8675
CPLD	Altera Max II
Inputs	1x I2S HDMI LVDS 1x USB-B XMOS 1x AES/EBU 1x Coaxial 1x Optical Bluetooth
Outputs	1x Balanced XLR 1x Single-ended RCA
Supported sampling rates	USB : PCM up to 32bit 768kHz / Native DSD up to DSD512 / DSD DoP up to DSD256 I2S : PCM up to 32bit 768kHz / Native DSD up to DSD512 / DSD DoP up to DSD256 Coaxial, AES : PCM up to 24bit 192kHz / DSD DoP up to DSD64 Bluetooth : PCM up to 24bit 96kHz
Frequency response	20Hz - 20kHz ±0.08dB
Output level	Single-ended (RCA) : 3Vrms @ 0dBFS Balanced (XLR) : 6Vrms @ 0dBFS
Bluetooth version	5.0
Supported Bluetooth codecs	AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX LL, aptX HD, LDAC
Clocks	2x Accusilicon AS318-B
XLR Pinout	1 : GND 2 : + 3 : -
PCM Filters	Short Delay Sharp Roll-Off Short Delay Slow Roll-Off Sharp Roll-Off Slow Roll-Off Super Slow Roll-Off Low Dispersion Short Delay Filter
DSD Filters	L-BW H-BW

Specifications

Product type

Balanced DAC

Conversion chip

AKM AK4499

USB interface

XMOS XU216

Bluetooth chip

CSR8675

CPLD

Altera Max II

Inputs

1x I2S HDMI LVDS
1x USB-B XMOS
1x AES/EBU
1x Coaxial
1x Optical
Bluetooth

Outputs

1x Balanced XLR
1x Single-ended RCA

Supported sampling rates

USB : PCM up to 32bit 768kHz / Native DSD up to DSD512 / DSD DoP up to DSD256
I2S : PCM up to 32bit 768kHz / Native DSD up to DSD512 / DSD DoP up to DSD256
Coaxial, AES : PCM up to 24bit 192kHz / DSD DoP up to DSD64
Bluetooth : PCM up to 24bit 96kHz

Frequency response

20Hz - 20kHz ±0.08dB

Output level

Single-ended (RCA) : 3Vrms @ 0dBFS
Balanced (XLR) : 6Vrms @ 0dBFS

Bluetooth version

5.0

Supported Bluetooth codecs

AAC, SBC, aptX, aptX LL, aptX HD, LDAC

Clocks

2x Accusilicon AS318-B

XLR Pinout

1 : GND
2 : +
3 : -

PCM Filters

Short Delay Sharp Roll-Off
Short Delay Slow Roll-Off
Sharp Roll-Off
Slow Roll-Off
Super Slow Roll-Off
Low Dispersion Short Delay Filter

DSD Filters

L-BW
H-BW

General
Housing material	Aluminium
Color	Black
Dimensions	220 x 170 x 50mm
Weight	2.5kg
Package	1x Gustard DAC-A18 1x Power cable 1x USB cable 1x Remote control 1x Bluetooth antenna

General

Housing material

Aluminium

Color

Black

Dimensions

220 x 170 x 50mm

Weight

2.5kg

Package

1x Gustard DAC-A18
1x Power cable
1x USB cable
1x Remote control
1x Bluetooth antenna

Input	I2S via HDMI
Input	SPDIF
Input	Bluetooth
Input	AES/EBU
Input	USB
Input	Optical
Output	RCA
Output	XLR
DAC / ADC Chip	AK4499
Max sampling rate	DSD512
Max sampling rate	768kHz
Color	Black
Networking	No
Remote Control	Yes

GUSTARD A18
Evolution significative par rapport à mon Topping D50S avec alimentation 5volts Ifi.
Plus de matière , palette sonore plus riche , grave profond , pas d'agressivité, belle image.
Etonnant de musicalité notamment en entrée Bluetooth LDAC en streamant à partir d'un téléphone un simple abonnement DEEZER Hifi.
Je note une supériorité musicale (selon mes critères) des derniers DAC's AK4499 VS Sabre ES9038.
Je recommande chaudement ce DAC qui par ailleurs inspire confiance concernant la qualité de fabrication.

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