Phew... That's pricy... The unit looks nice,but for myself ,l'm struggling to any VFM , lMO 1800 USD is a more realistic price point, and more importantly does it actually sound any better?

l can see this being popular Gustard DAC,shame its 5 or 6 months away.

TBH there are loads you can do, all detailed in this thread, sheilding gives major gains, tungsten cubes, changing the internal Coax for the 10Mhz Clock... It's mainly Arts and Crafts work... So patience is all that's needed.

I totally get that... Also keep in my, that if your into DIY modding you can improve the R26 by quite a large margin. Have a look into Jake2 mods. In brief, l've turned my R26 into a DAC,l simply couldn't afford to replace.

I've just finished doing my R26 using Ultraperm 80,like Jake l've incased the transformers, and l've also lined the inner case. lt's a great mod, and adds low frequency resolution you simply may not be aware was there... Well worth a try,and for me, no going back.

Jake I actually think your going to start a revolution with MuMetal or Ultraperm80. As the possibilities of placement are endless, l mean how easy is this tweek....

l have to ask the most ridiculous question, what if you have two Phoenix daisy chained.

Great write up Jake.... l had a chance of getting a Phoenix on the cheap last year, kind of gutted l didn't.

So true Jake, and well put. Myself l'm on the final hurdle with the transformer sheilds. But on the flip side,modding is not for everyone. But you're correct, my R26 is so far ahead,compared to a stock unit, l don't have a urge to even think of another purchase,l call that a result.

lt is certainly a interesting subject Jake, l think as time has gone by, there's been a few different methods used for the outcome we been looking for. l certainly wouldn't have buyers remorse at your end, from my end you inspired me for the second time, your idea sheilding of the separate...

Yes moving the transformers gave a instance gain. You inspired me to do some reading up, and by chance l found a link ,by a chap who used the method, l'm going to go down. MuMetal is great material, but l think the trick is to use Nickel and Iron, so it's attracted to the magnetic waves. So...

Good work Jake, you inspired me to do a similar work. Although l'm going a different route, lron covers, and cover in 3M CN3190 copper nickel tape. l will probably use ultraperm 80 for the bottoms.

Thanks Jake... l'll look forward to playing with the stuff. ls this the same stuff as Ultraperm 80, l only ask as you can pick it up for around £10ish from ebay via China 🇨🇳

Interesting Jake, l'm always up for trying a different approach. Just moving the transformers to a different enclosures made a difference, l am currently using a copper tape and Mesh combo, my theory, that one transformer can interfere with each other. Early days... Do you have a AliExpress...

Thanks Jake, l'll follow with interest. The lnnuos was once on my radar, and for a long time, l was a USB guy. Then the discovery of how good the R26 was, and how using FMCs took it further heights,plus the added bonus all my files are PCM WAVs l abandoned the USB route, and added PSU upgrades...