Ok, thanks. That’s the confusion. Yes there is an equivalent in HQPlayer desktop. I tried a lot of buffer settings. I probably tried 10ms but I cannot remember now. Nothing worked.
If all goes as planned I will have a Gustard R26 for testing in a few days, so I guess I will find out some answers by myself 
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Despite this, most people (all?) seem to prefer the sound of R26 over X26.
I emailed Gustard about the poor DSD-Direct measurements and got this reply back.
The circuit of the DSD direct part. The measurement result is floating.
Differences in SDM modulation types can lead to differences in results.
If you have played HQPLAYER, you will find that there are many options for upsampling to DSD
The following test pattern is to use foobar2000 software to play back the DSD test track
The test track is: 1khz sine wave 88.2khz PCM sampling rate, converted to DSD 5.64Mhz by saracon software
It does not look that good, but at least a lot better than the Direct DSD measurements done by L7Audiolab. I guess @jussi_laako can make more sense of this than I can
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The fifth measurement picture is with DSD input and DSD direct enabled, see https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/gustard-r26/
It looks pretty horrible but I wonder how much better it can become with HQPlayer
The PCM measurements look pretty decent considering it’s an R2R DAC.
But in the end, I am not interested in an R2R DAC because it measures well but because it sounds good. And the soundstage (which seems impossible to reflect in measurements) is apparently way bigger than much better measuring DACs like for example best Topping.
In a few days, I will know how it sounds compared to my current RME ADI-2 fs AK4490, will report back then.
As they say, it always depends on the used modulator, and also the used sampling rate. DSD128 in their case vs DSD256 from Roon.
To some extent same goes for running R2R DAC, performance depends on what kind of data you feed it.
To figure out the most optimal settings, I would need to have it on my measurement bench. The new Gustard is not horribly expensive, so maybe I will have it at some point. I just lack any budget for new >500€ hardware at the moment.
My old living room amplifier broke down and I had to replace it, which blew my budget.
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I get it to my “test bench” soon, but my tests are using ear only
Still will be interested to experiment and see what works best with HQPlayer, and of course how it sounds compared to the AK4490 RME ADI-2 dac.
Maybe borrow it from some HiFi shop? That’s what I do.
No such option for that device here. And I don’t want to borrow if I’m not planning to buy something. They usually dislike people who just come to borrow stuff.
I have the Gustard R26 now in my system (borrowed). It does sound better than the RME ADI-2, most noticeable is the improved bass and better separation between instruments. It also (somewhat surprising) pulls out more details. The R2R “tone” is rather subtle though, only a slight difference from RME DAC.
But I also find its soundstage a little underwhelming, it’s actually a little more narrow than the RME DAC, although with a little more depth. And when paused, there is a noticeable distortion coming from the speakers (you start to hear it about 1 meter from the speakers).
Maybe a better option would be to pay a little more for a Holo Audio Spring 3 level 2.
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Ordered a Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE with the preamp module…but its going to be DAYS before I get it!!!
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Got the RME ADI-2 DAC fs with the AKM4493EQ two days ago. Slightly better I think in my context, with an even more detailed separation and sound stage, but not 100% sure it is was worth the change. The old is so good and so is the new. I guess the comments about resolution and details bordering to harschness is just bs as there are so many other variables in a hifi-rig that can cause sibilance and micro-resonances. As long you use the HQPe upsample to DSD256 over PCM (DoP) and found the right filter (for me the poly-sinc-gauss-xla) it does not really matter what source, it just plays wonderful music … If you run the RME in direct DSD mode, you have to set the DoP. In a simpler setup using the ASIO drivers from RME you are told that it is native DSD, but the driver itself changes to DoP anyway. So a RME ADI-2 DAC fs simply must run in Direct DSD mode and also I have found, the Roon player is not as good as the HQPe itself. I have in the company I work for, other hifi gear and brands, but I am honestly not sure any of them are as good as the RME fed from HQPe in direct DSD mode. Different?, yes, better?, not convinced …
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If anyone is interested in this topic, there is a list here:
Which DACs bypass digital filtering? - Page 22 - DAC - Digital to Analog Conversion - Audiophile Style
I don’t use that forum but there is an error
Fiio K7 does not enable AKM chips DSD Direct mode, so shouldn’t be on the list.
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Thank you. Not yet 100% focusing on the dac (build up the money first) but it is the next upgrade. Great to have the list.
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I can definitely recommend the very cheap SMSL D-6, using balanced TRS output
It measures well in DSDD mode at DSD256x44.1kHz and assuming you have latest firmware installed, there’s no measured performance penalty going to DSD512x44.1kHz
It’s an absolutely bargain.
A great way to start until budget allows for a Holo Spring 3 Level 2/KTE 
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Thank you. I’ve seen D-6 referenced and it is in the list. Now I’m using a ZS and ZDac Sig v2. Holo it is on the list, a bit harder as there is no local dealer. And I have to understand all the “levels”. I really appreciate your help and I’m sure I’m going to be a pain when the time comes.
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I have one of these as well as a D300 which is also supposed to support DSDD, although there is no setting… I think you just need to feed it 512 and it bypasses internal filters.
They both sound great paired with hqplayer. And very different from each other, in good ways. One being AKM and the other ROHM makes for interesting comparisons and listening experiences, even when using the same filter and modulator combinations in hqplayer.
I prefer these 2 DACs (paired with hqplayer, very important detail) over the Mytek Brooklyn Bridge I previously used on a daily basis.
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D-6 definitely has a setting… Screenshot in the manual below.
I’m the one that found a pretty bad bug at DSD512 with D-6 ! by measuring with Cosmos A to D convert. I shared with SMSL Engineering Manager and he found the issue quite quickly and made a new firmware, which is available on Shenzhen Audio’s downloads section.
But D-6 already does well at DSD256 x 44.1k with EC modulator, if someone doesn’t have enough CPU power to go to DSD512. Or if unsure about firmware version, best to stick to DSD256x44.1k
Great starting point.
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Thank you for that! 
Did the update before I even used the dac. Interesting procedure. Firmware updates are always fun.
The D300 just got a main board update and a usb board update, I’m not quite sure what is changed or improved… but I can’t get the usb board update to launch, missing dll is all it says. Not very helpful.
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Ha yes , it was an interesting procedure.
I thought i was gonna brick my unit.
I haven’t measured DSD256x48 or 512x48k, so better to just fix at x44.1k because I know that measures well
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… Windows only , a real shame! They should be a little bit more … open minded …
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Yeh that is annoying - luckily I have Win10 on virtualbox on Ubuntu Desktop, just for these odd tasks.
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