GUSTARD R30 DAC R2R Preamplifier Streamer Silver

Gustard R30: 27-bit R2R DAC

The heart of the R30 is based on a discrete 27-bit R2R architecture, where the signal is processed by a ladder resistor network rather than a conventional conversion chip. This approach allows for fully analogue conversion, without complex digital interpolation. Unlike delta-sigma DACs, which use noisy modulation and massive oversampling, the R2R works directly on the native resolution of the signal.

The R30 implements 1-bit analogue decoding, designed to handle the DSD stream purely in hardware, without prior conversion to PCM. This preserves the integrity of the DSD signal, avoiding distortions and artefacts associated with intermediate conversions. The device thus supports native DSD1024. This is accompanied by a custom-optimised low-pass filter, which complements the conversion stage by ensuring a smooth and controlled frequency response.

Gustard R30: OCXO clock and GCLK-02 module

The time section is provided by a thermostabilised OCXO clock, offering high precision and optimal stability in the presence of temperature variations.

The OCXO clock is paired with a GCLK-02 clock module, a high-performance clock frequency synthesiser that uses advanced PLL (Phase Locked Loop) technology to ensure the stability and accuracy of the signal produced. The design of this module allows it to use either a local clock source (in this case, OCXO) or an external 10MHz clock signal, offering you a high-quality and flexible clock solution.

Here, the R30 can also be synchronised with an external clock via its 50 Ω BNC input, which is compatible with a square CMOS signal (0.2–3.3 V) or a sine wave (0.5–3.3 V).

Gustard R30: Analogue preamplification

In addition to its DAC function, the R30 can be used as an analogue preamplifier. The volume control is based directly on its R2R network, enabling lossless attenuation control. A bypass mode is available to disable the preamplifier section if necessary. Thanks to this design, the R30 can be connected directly to a power amplifier or active speakers, simplifying integration into a high-fidelity audio system.

Gustard R30: Interface XMOS

The Gustard R30 is equipped with an XMOS XU216 USB interface, supporting signals up to PCM 768kHz and DSD512, for superior audio transmission.