Gustard R26vsTopping D50 III
A detailed side-by-side comparison of the Gustard R26 and Topping D50 III — two popular dacs in the Chinese HiFi space.
Specifications
Spec
Gustard R26
Topping D50 III
Chipset
Discrete R2R Ladder
Dual ESS ES9039Q2M
Inputs
LAN (Streamer), USB, I2S, Optical, Coaxial, Bluetooth
USB-C, Optical, Coaxial, Bluetooth 5.1 (LDAC)
Outputs
XLR, RCA
RCA, TRS Balanced
Features
Built-in Streamer (Roon Bridge/UPnP), 10MHz Clock Input, Discrete Architecture
10-Band PEQ (Hardware), Bluetooth Remote, 5V Output Mode
Remote Control
✓
✓
Tube Stage
✗
✗
Headphone Amp
✗
✗
Price (estimated)
Price
~$1649
~$229
Difference
~$1420.00 cheaper (Topping D50 III)
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.
Topping D50 III
- ⚠The PEQ software requires a Windows PC to configure initially.
- ⚠TRS balanced outputs require adapter cables to connect to standard XLR amps.
- ⚠The joystick control on the front is tiny and can feel fiddly.
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