GUSTARD U18 High Performance Low Noise USB Audio Interface

The GUSTARD U18 USB digital interface represents the pinnacle of audio engineering, delivering a harmonious blend of precision, isolation, and unparalleled performance. From its high-quality design, complete grounding isolation, and second-generation clock synthesizer with ultra-low noise to its independent CPLO for signal shaping, this device redefines the auditory experience. With exceptional compatibility and crystal clarity provided by the AS338 oscillators, the U18 stands as a testament to meticulous craftsmanship. Elevate your audio journey with the GUSTARD U18—where every nuance is preserved, and every note is rendered with the utmost fidelity.

High-Quality USB Interface: The GUSTARD U18 USB digital interface boasts a meticulously crafted design, ensuring stellar performance and faithful sound reproduction. Powered by the XU216 from XMOS with 16 cores, it provides abundant resources for a seamless audio experience.

Complete Grounding Isolation: Achieving full grounding isolation through a 200 Mbps isolator, the U18 effectively eliminates all interference originating from your PC. This meticulous isolation ensures a pristine audio signal devoid of any unwanted disturbances.

2nd Generation Clock Synthesizer with Ultra-Low Noise: The U18 employs two Accusilicon AS338 oscillators and a Gustard K2 ultra-low noise clock synthesizer to generate an incredibly accurate clock signal. With a mere 38fs of jitter, and powered by an LT3045 linear regulator with a minimal 0.8µVrms noise level, the clock synthesis is a testament to precision.

Independent CPLO for Signal Shaping: In the CPLD for signal processing, the isolated IIS signal undergoes meticulous reshaping, effectively eliminating jitter introduced by the isolator. This ensures that the audio signal remains clean and true to the source.

Excellent Performance & Wide Compatibility: The Gustard U18 offers a variety of audio outputs, including Toslink Optical, Coaxial, AES, and I2S via HDMI. The I2S pinout is configurable in four modes to adapt to various devices on the market. Supporting high-resolution audio streams up to PCM 32bit 768kHz and DSD512, it caters to audiophiles with diverse preferences.

Crystal Clarity with AS338: The heart of the U18 lies in its two AS338 Hi-End audio oscillators from Accusilicon. These crystals, packaged with nitrogen gas and rigorously tested, boast a phase noise as low as 38fs, significantly enhancing bass quality for a more natural sound. The power supply of the clock is meticulously regulated by the LT3045, a high-performance linear regulator, ensuring a minimal RMS Noise of only 0.8uVRMS.

Specifications:

Inputs: 1x USB-B
1x BNC 10MCLK (50Ω, 0dBm-20dBm)
Outputs
1x Coaxial 75Ω
1x AES 110Ω
1x OpticalToslink
1x I2S via HDMI
1x Word Clock output via BNC 75Ω
USB interface: XMOS XU216
Supported sampling rates
I2S : PCM up to 32bit 768kHz, Native DSD up to DSD512
Coaxial / AES : PCM up to 24bit 384kHz, DSD DoP up to DSD128
Optical Toslink : PCM up to 24bit 192kHz, DSD DoP up to DSD64
Word Clock frequency
PCM : 44.1k-768k
DSD : 2.82M-22.57M
Output level
Coaxial : 500mVp-p @ 75Ω
AES : 2.1Vp-p @ 110Ω
Word Clock : 3.3~5Vp-p @ 100kΩ