U18 vs SMSL RAW-DAC1
The RAW-DAC1 matches the U18 on bit depth (32-bit), max sample rate (768 kHz), and dsd support (DSD512).
AI-generated product photo — not official manufacturer imagery.
DigitalDACs
Estimated price (community-sourced)
$406.27 - $611.72
Around — community and catalog average, updates slowly
About the U18
The Gustard U18 is a USB digital-to-digital converter (DDC), not a DAC or analog audio interface. It converts USB audio to multiple digital formats, including coaxial S/PDIF, AES/EBU, optical Toslink, and configurable LVDS I2S over an HDMI-style connector. It uses an XMOS XU216 USB interface, galvanic USB isolation, a Gustard K2 clock synthesizer, dual Accusilicon AS338 oscillators, and an Altera MAX II CPLD for digital signal and I2S timing management. The U18 accepts an optional external 10 MHz reference clock and provides a word-clock output. The I2S connector is not standard HDMI audio/video; compatibility depends on the receiving device's I2S pinout. Published listings and the manufacturer manual remain available, but current official production status is not clearly documented. It should therefore be treated as a legacy or possibly discontinued model rather than definitively confirmed as no longer manufactured.
Specifications
Digital Audio
DAC capabilities and digital audio processing
- Bit Depth
- 32-bit
- Max Sample Rate
- 768 kHz
- DSD Support
- DSD512
- MQA Support
- No
Connectivity
Input and output connections
- Bluetooth
- No
- Wi-Fi
- No
- Ethernet
- No
- Digital Inputs
- USB Type-B, BNC
- Digital Outputs
- Coaxial S/PDIF, AES/EBU XLR, Optical Toslink, I2S via HDMI, Word Clock output via BNC
Never published
- Analog Output — the maker never published this. Checked 30 sources on 7 Sept 2026
Specifications are community-contributed and may not be accurate or complete. Verify all details with the manufacturer before making purchasing decisions. Terms & Conditions