Comparisons of HQPlayer into the Gustard A26.
PCM, DSD, and DSD using the A26 correction pipeline via USB using the excellent (but full and robust sounding?) Supra Excalibur cable, and PCM and DSD (the A26 correction option doesn't populate when on LAN for some reason) using the LAN input. HQPlayer upsamplimg to PCM integer 705 or 768 does sound better than playing the same file with Foobar ASIO.
At this point I have to feel like an outlier.
After hours and days of listening back and forth with many different filters, shapers, and modulators, I have to say that I prefer LAN>PCM out of everything. The specific A26 DAC correction for DSD does make a big improvement in the sound and brings back some of the air and space and speed compared to the USB>PCM. So I would probably choose this if I didn't have the option of LAN. But connecting through LAN is more transparent and blacker and seems to eliminate any interconnect contribution that seems inevitable via USB the wide range of USB cables I have tried.
USB>DSD>P-S-G-xla>ASDM7EC-super>correction, is accurate, robust, comfortable, the correction puts most of the detail back that the DSD compared to PCM seems to muffle, but the LAN>PCM is blacker, deeper, wider, with more space between the instruments. Growl of fingers on strings of electric bass are more present. Snare has more crack. Solo piano sounds more like the percussion instrument that is is. Ambient hall sound decay, real or processed, has a finer presentation on LAN>PCM.
I would say that USB>DSD>A26 correction is good, and is a different, more comfortable flavor, than LAN>PCM, but I have to place it still slightly behind.
HQP designer stated in another thread that they never got the A26 LAN working on their unit (I had a battle also, having to put together a dedicated router which is hardwired to my modem, with a hardwire from my laptop going into it, and another hardwire coming back out of the router over to the A26) so this might account for the inability of HQPlayer designer to spen time getting the pipeline to activate the option of the A26 DAC correction when on LAN. Which might put that playback method over the top.
I know there has been much work put in by AKM, Gustard, HQPlayer, to bypass the internal modulator in the DAC and offer DSD direct with the AK4499EX chip set, but for now, I have to recommend LAN>PCM 705/768 auto with P-S-G-xla and TPDF with the Gustard A26.
Check out the amazing new recording "Atlantis" by Soen as they reimagine their favorite tracks from previous albums in a kinder, gentler audiophile vein with the addition of strings and backing vocals. Exquisite drum kit and electric bass sound and liquid electric guitar on "Modesty"
https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/atlantis-soen/cbis46dsk1gpb