GUSTARD DAC-A22 DAC Dual AK4499 XMOS Solution Native Balanced Decoder - MQA - With USB

Audiophile Store, Australia Stock, Free Shipping, Authorised Resellers, Local Warranty, Full Support. 

Very limited stock, units no longer being manufactured due to AKM chip shortages. 

Gustard has been researching the audio field for nearly ten years, and its various audio DAC products have been widely recognised by users all over the world.

In this era of rapid development of digital technology, Gustard never dared to slack off, and has a systematic and in-depth study of audio DAC chips from many manufacturers. We have systematically studied the chips of AKM (Asahi Kasei). Now, based on the careful debugging of their previous generation flagship chip AK4497, we released Gustard's first audio DAC product with dual AK4499. That is, A22.

The analog LPF circuit of the A22 still uses the full discrete Class A circuit that we have applied for many years. This discrete circuit has been very matured after many years of practical application. 

This time we also made targeted adjustments to other peripheral circuits of the AK4499 chip to improve the overall quality of the A22. A22 is very good in both user function and performance.


The Gustard A22 is an audio DAC that uses two AK4499EQs for dual mono audio digital-to-analog conversion.

Gustard A22 technical features:
 
• The left and right channels are each using a AKM company's flagship chip AK4499 for dual mono audio digital-to-analog conversion. The two-channel DAC circuits are completely independent and independently grounded, and do not interfere with each other to achieve optimal performance.
 
• Using CPLD programmable logic chip, self-developed logic function digital integrated circuit, built-in clock management, 2nd PLL digital shaping, DOP demodulation, PCM/DSD depop switch and other exclusive technologies, laying a solid foundation for excellent sound quality;
 
• 8-channel hybrid discrete IV conversion circuit and independent adder circuit, fully meet the requirements of AK4499 output current, and ensure high sound quality from the source;
 
• The digital and analog circuits each use a specially customized 50W audio dedicated toroidal transformer, which is completely independent and does not interfere with each other;
• Native fully balanced architecture, without any conversion, complete two-channel fully balanced output;
 
• The analog LPF circuit uses the discrete line independently developed by Gustard, and has carefully adjusted each level of parameters to achieve the best working condition;
 
• Supports high-quality digital volume adjustment of 0dB~-90dB total 90 positions, with remote control for easy adjustment of volume;
 
• All input interfaces support DSD:
IIS supports DSD64, DSD128, DSD256, DSD512;
SPDIF, AES/EBU support DSD64, DSD128 (in DOP mode);
Optical supports DSD64 (in DOP mode);
USB supports DSD64, DSD128, DSD256, DSD512;
 
• A wide range of digital filter options
The PCM has six digital filters available: Short Delay Sharp Roll-off/Short Delay Slow Roll-off/Sharp Roll-off/Slow Roll-off/Super Slow Roll-off/Low Dispersion Short Delay Filter,
DSD has 2 digital filters available: L-BW and H-BW
 
• The A22's built-in USB digital audio interface daughter board uses an XMOS USB audio controller XU208, which supports up to PCM768 DSD512.
 
• The brightness of the screen is adjustable, it will be automatically remembered after 10 seconds of operation, and the previous settings will be automatically maintained at the time of power-on;
 
• Dimensions: width 330* deep 260* height 65MM (without protruding parts);
 
• Package size: length 420* width 360* height 175MM;
 
• Packing weight: 7.5KG;
 
• International voltage AC100V-240V (requires manual adjustment);
 
• Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz +/-0.08dB

• Line output level:
RCA output level 3.0 Vrms @0dBFS,
XLR output level 6.0 Vrms @0dBFS

• XLR pin definition: US standard (1 ground, 2 hot, 3 cold) 

The Gustard A22 is available in black and silver. 
And you can choose whether to have a built-in USB digital audio interface daughter board depending on whether you need USB input function.



Gustard DAC-X26 real shot:
Rigorous design, reasonable layout, nice workmanship and solid materials



The left and right channels are each using a AKM company's flagship chip AK4499 for dual mono audio digital-to-analog conversion. The two-channel DAC circuits are completely independent and independently grounded, and do not interfere with each other to achieve optimal performance;



The newly designed 8-channel hybrid discrete IV conversion circuit and independent adder circuit fully meet the requirements of the AK4499's large output current, ensuring high sound quality from the source;



Multiple sets of independent power supply circuits ensure sufficient energy and no interference with each other;



The analog LPF circuit of the A22 is a fully discrete Class A circuit that is specially designed and tuned for the AK4499 chip.

CPLD programmable logic chip, digital integrated circuit with its own logic function, clock management, 2nd PLL digital shaping, DOP demodulation, PCM/DSD depop switch and other exclusive technologies, laid a solid foundation for excellent sound quality.

Each discrete device only needs to consider its own performance separately, so there are fewer application limitations than using integrated op amp chips, so that the performance of individual components can be fully utilized.

Unlike transistors inside an integrated circuit that are integrated into the die and cannot be adjusted and changed, the use of discrete devices is more flexible. We can freely adjust the parameters of each stage to achieve optimal operation. Also because of its It is more developable and relatively controllable for parts that produce distortion, giving a different variability in sound style for different audio DAC circuits.

The disadvantage of discrete devices is that their distribution parameters have a great influence, and it is difficult to design and debug. It requires certain technical experience and a long debugging process. Moreover, the consistency of the discrete circuits is relatively weak, so the materials need to be more reliable.



Using CPLD programmable logic chip, self-developed logic function digital integrated circuit, built-in clock management, 2nd PLL digital shaping, DOP demodulation, PCM/DSD depop switch and other exclusive technologies, laying a solid foundation for excellent sound quality.



A22's power supply circuit uses multiple independent voltage regulators and multi-stage filtering to achieve independent power supply to the left and right channels and avoid mutual interference;



The digital and analog circuits each use a specially customized 50W audio dedicated toroidal transformer, which is completely independent and does not interfere with each other;



The A22's built-in USB digital audio interface daughter board uses an XMOS USB audio controller XU208, which supports up to PCM768 DSD512.( No USB input version without this module);
 
A22 USB digital audio daughter board built-in audio clock source using ACCUSILICON femtosecond crystal oscillator AS318-B;





The full interface supports DSD decoding.

IIS, USB support: DSD64, DSD128, DSD256, DSD512 hard solution;

Coaxial (RCA), AES/EBU support: DSD64, DSD128 hard solution (DOP mode);

Optical support: DSD64 hard solution (DOP mode);


Digital input:

• IIS, USB support PCM format: 16-32bit/44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8, 384, 768kHz; DSD64, DSD128, DSD256, DSD512;

Coaxial supports PCM format: 16-24bit / 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 384 kHz; DOP64, DOP128

Optical, AES/EBU support PCM format: 16-24bit / 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz; DOP64

IIS: