First impressions of new MH-DA006, Musetec flagship

Thanks for the response.

Both 006 and Gaia have eight modes for pin assignment via I2S. Certainly there are inherent advantages to I2S scheme vs usb in that I2S has isolated, dedicated lines for both data and clock + and - , L & R channels, with usb, dac has to extract clock from data.

As for clocks, either dac,  ddc (or streamers for that matter) could have superior clocking. In the case of 006 vs Gaia, Gaia has the superior clock. On the other hand, lets say this particular dac has OXCO  clock, you'd use local clock, ddc or streamer would only need provide the I2S interface. Other considerations for using ddc is isolation from upstream components, generally this is going to be usb optimization. The other consideration is quality of power supply for both the usb isolation and OXCO clock. Another consideration is there may not be enough real estate within a dac for equal quality power supply as to what Gaia offers, therefore, even for a dac with OXCO clock, quality ddc could still offer superior performance. The one downside of using ddc vs dac internal clock is theoretically having clock at end of I2S chain preferable to an external clock which has to travel down I2S cable. So, cable length, really no longer than 1/2M, matters. Cable quality also a consideration, I now have the crazy expensive Tubulus Ximius burning in, comparison to cheapo $70 copper wire cable coming.

In case anyone is looking for a sale on the 006, it is now on sale for $3,315.00 at Shenzhenaudio. 

Saving $$ is always a good thing.  The annual November sale brings the price of the 006 close to the standard price of the Musetec 005.

For those who think a USB in-I2S out DDC is the way to go, substantial savigs may be had by considering the Audio-GD DI20HE or Singxer SU6 in place of the Gaia.  The very reliable Goldensound (who closed the curtain on MQA) suggests that each of these is at least as effective as the Denafrips unit.

As is the Holo Audio Red.