Conflated topic since i don’t see much conversation around Gustards. Will break out if it gets to congested.
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Has anyone given the Gustard U18 a fair shake? Does it stack-up to the similarly priced Singxers?
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I’ve tried the U16 and I liked it compared to the su2, it is more neutral but also is more soft than the singxer. I haven’t heard the new one so I can’t comment there
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How did it handle placement and spatial sense?
Good but not remarkably at least from memory, I didn’t have that much time with one
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I think the value with the U18 may be with the clock sync if that’s an ultimate route you want to take. It’s a new unit from the ground up, definitely looks interesting.
There’s also a comparably price U90 which I didn’t even know existed until I wrote my piece on DDCs. The more I looked though the more I liked the Singxer SU6 just because of it’s power implementation.
No first hand experience with any of the mentions here but I’m sure they’d all give quite a good leg up over entry level reclockers. Just do your own research. I suspect that they’ll all hold their value relatively well but maybe look to score something in the used market.
The Gustard being new I doubt that would be an easy find. Maybe open box?
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Sure, but the cost of a good stand alone clock is significantly more expensive than that unit, same with dacs that actually allow you to sync clock, so I really don’t know how much value it would add. Also even if you have the ability to sync together, it isn’t always beneficial (depends on the dac)
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Maybe it’s just a sales hook?
I’m just happy that there’s so much talk on the forum lately about upgrading digital signals. It warms my heart.
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Would you say the Singxer SU6 to be the sweet spot in that mid tier next level reclocker realm? There are a lot of good picks, the Matrix X SPIDIF 2 … a lot to pick from.
just curious if anybody ended up buying the U18 ddc? it looks like a pretty sweet unit just not sure how it performs relative to the SU6 and X spdif 2…
I’m looking at potentially picking up a U16. I just want a cheap, good DDC.
Has anyone had any further experience with one, or can point to other DDCs that offer similar/better performance for £300 new/used?
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Not owned one but I think one of the things Gustard do well in their lower end gear is decent toroid transformer based power supplies. I think given a choice between almost any DDC under 500 with an external smps that 300 for a U16 would be a good bet.
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Agree with @Gothique get one with an external PS, an ifi Power X would be more than good enough. There are loads that come up on the regular on the used sites.
Here’s a good one for $150
https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650209381-singxer-su-1-dc-conversion-mod/
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Do you know, I actually have an SU-1. It’s great; it has always enhanced my chain. Unfortunately, I cannot get it to handshake with Hiby DAPs. It was a challenge with Onix (Shanling) but I got it working. iBasso, no problem. But Hiby, no dice.
I think it’s the UAC standard. Hibys only do 2, whereas SU-1 only speaks UAC1 - I think. I tried to update the firmware on the Singxer but it was already v2.22. It’s quite tricky to find any information on SU-1, but having now settled on my two DAPs that will both primarily serve as transports, R8ii and R4, I have given up on the SU-1.
Fortunately, I strayed onto AliX right when their “back to school sale” had started. One single store was selling new U18s for “half price”. Then, the sale discount code gave me an extra £80 off, so I got a new U18 for under £300. Thought that was decent. I was eyeing up a used U16 for £250, but with the age of U16s, I could have run into the same problem as the SU-1. I think this panned out well.
Now, if only my Ares II 12th was released from the “random customs inspection” any time soon, that’d be great!
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Im sorry to be captain bvious but
Lets hope your ares 2 12th gets released…
Why not try to get a used denafrips iris 12th, usually go around 350 pounds in the used market, imo they have the best bang for buck of all the “mid tier” DDC by having and internal PSU and sounding good.
Also, I dont know how much the Matrix Xspdif 3 goes for in the UK, but I got mine for $500 new, maybe you could find a used one for less.
aside some random problems with with windows drivers, for what it costed I found its sound to be on a superior level to what Ive heard around the price.
It also sounds incredibly good without an external power supply, theres barely an improvement when I connect the ifi Elite to it, maybe shouldve gotten an LPS instead. But the point is it sounds amazing even from BUS power.
TBH I dont think the U18 DDC is a good pick in 2025, Take this with a huge grain of salt since I only heard it once with a friend I think it sounds a bit hazy, the xspdif makes everything sound clear as day. And the u18 still runs on the old xmos xu216 which I dont think is the best for having in 2025.
Thats just my 2 pounds, if you could find an Iris 12th (stack yay) or a matrix xspdif used they should be on your budget and get you a better sound and service than the u18. THIS IS MY SUBJECTIVE OPINION.
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I appreciate your input! If I’m not happy with it, I will return it.
I did look for an Iris but couldn’t find one for less than £400. The Matrix did pop up, but I’ve never heard anyone talk about them, so I passed it by.
As I said, I appreciate your input and will be very critical when it arrives 
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Sounds like a plan, hope it works out the best for you
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Has anyone any experience of Gustard’s most recent DAC/AMP offerings?
I’ve seen a few R26 and H26 units floating about for reasonable prices. I’m curious with the lower prices now that the hype has died down if they’re worth picking up for cheap.
I got an email from AliX, extra sales on all the DDCs I’d been looking at. Iris was on sale, plus a substantial voucher for money off, but then there was a further reduction at checkout …for some reason. It ended up being the same price new as they go for used.
Probably not even worth listening to the U18. I’ll probably just return it.
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Be careful mate, I once read ali express was and had no authorized retailers, so it may have no support, whatever that means, try to read about it maybe to make a choice
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