Gustard R26vsSMSL DL200
A detailed side-by-side comparison of the Gustard R26 and SMSL DL200 — two popular dacs in the Chinese HiFi space.
Specifications
Spec
Gustard R26
SMSL DL200
Chipset
Discrete R2R Ladder
ESS ES9039Q2M
Inputs
LAN (Streamer), USB, I2S, Optical, Coaxial, Bluetooth
USB-C, Optical, Coaxial, Bluetooth
Outputs
XLR, RCA
6.35mm SE, 4.4mm Balanced, RCA, TRS Balanced Line Out
Features
Built-in Streamer (Roon Bridge/UPnP), 10MHz Clock Input, Discrete Architecture
MQA-CD Decoding, 7 Filters, Remote Control
Remote Control
✓
✓
Tube Stage
✗
✗
Headphone Amp
✗
✓
Price (estimated)
Price
~$1649
~$189
Difference
~$1460.00 cheaper (SMSL DL200)
Things to Know
Gustard R26
- ⚠The built-in streamer software is functional but basic compared to dedicated units like Eversolo.
- ⚠Large and heavy unit that runs warm.
- ⚠Menu navigation via the small monochromatic screen can be cumbersome.
SMSL DL200
- ⚠Menu system via the 7-segment display is cryptic and hard to memorize.
- ⚠Headphone output jacks are on the front, but line-out switching requires the remote or menu diving.
- ⚠Some units exhibit a 'pop' sound when switching sample rates (firmware dependent).
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