First impressions of new MH-DA006, Musetec flagship
I have received the 006 almost a week ago and have been breaking it in. The price at Shenzhenaudio is $3,900.00 USD, $600 more than the 005. The ad copy states:
"DA006 is a new generation of flagship DAC developed by Musetec over three years and launched in 2024. During this period, it has undergone more than ten revisions and adjustments.
Compared to the previous DA005, the listening experience of DA006 has been improved in all aspects. DA006 has clearer and richer details, a stronger sense of texture, a more stable sound base, better detail control, a wider soundstage, fuller and more powerful, smoother and more natural. . ."
Some brief listening during break in has been very very positive. I will report back when it has run at least 300 hours.
I ordered an argentus. I couldn't talk myself into a ximius.
I agree it's likely some sort of wiring issue. I'm not going to worry about it for now. And as I said, I couldn't hear a SQ difference switching the LRCK pin configuration. I'll do more discerning analysis after I get a couple hundred more hours on the units. |
Quick update, I've got about 150-200 hours on the 006/Gaia combination. Things are settling in. I'm noticing a developing sense of increasing ease and coherence to go along with the incredible detail, soundstage and distinct vocal and instrument placement that has been present since startup. It surpasses the 004 and prior DDC by a good bit. But, I believe there is more to be gained based on my recollection of break in with the 005, which continued to develop in its musicality and its ability to draw the listener in for probably about 600 hrs or perhaps more.
I'm definitely enjoying the new combination and look forward to continuing positive evolution as well as my tubulus cable. |
Great, the added ease and refinement you're hearing is a function of both 006 and and the I2S conversion via Gaia and Tubulus cable. While resolution/transparency is improved slightly with the I2S setup, I never experienced the vinyl like presentation prior to Gaia.
I felt 006 break in pretty much attained at around 350-375 hours, my Gaia and Tubulus lkely less than fully burned at something between 275-350 hours.. I've been hearing very consistent sound quality for over a month, surmise there won't be much change here on out. |
Gentlefolk, First post here - Happy (late) New Year to all! A couple of questions if I may - particularly to @car123 @sns @dbb as you have first-hand experience of the Musetec 006, but input from others is more than welcome. CONTEXT: I have to replace my lovely and long-serving LFD Dac III (bought new 1996), as it has developed a strange form of electromagnetic allergy to the pre-amp (even longer serving Stax CA-X, dated 1978). The rest of the system is equally vintage: Stax DA-80 power amp (1978), Audiomeca Mephisto CD transport (1993; re-clocked) and Sonus Faber Electa Amator speakers (1995). There is a Behringer Ultramatch used as a DDC/upsampler between the transport and the DAC, as it seems to sound better. Richard Sachek silver cables throughout, except for digital cables which are a mix of Audioquest and home-made high quality but not esoteric stuff. Not streaming anything at the moment, but I may start doing so, and mainly listening to classical (90%) and jazz (10%). A 'good' system in my book provides both analytical and synthetic abilities: I want to be able to hear individual instruments or voices _if I want to,_ but I also need to hear the overall musical piece and how it hangs together. For 30 years, the old dinosaurs have delivered that to me. QUESTIONS: 1) I am seriously considering the Musetec 006, largely on the basis of the strengths illustrated in this thread, which is about 95% of all the information I can find on the internet. Budget is fine - but am I deluding myself that the rest of the system will actually use it? Or should I set my sights on something significantly cheaper? (The DAC 3 had a great reputation 30 years ago, to the point that it is still saleable for >$1000, at least in the UK). 2) To Gaia or not to Gaia? At some point in the next year or so, I will begin transferring my ~2000 CDs onto some sort of music server, and I will start purchasing hi-res tracks as it's often cheaper to buy those than new CDs. Considering this, is it worth investing in a 'universal' bridge like the Gaia now - as it seems to benefit the sound regardless of the need for a DDC (lower jitter? I²S format?) or should I rather wait and see what my server and streaming infrastructure looks like? Apologies for the long post, and thanks in advance for your wisdom! |
@dlevi67 Based on the sound you are looking for (“. . . both analytical and synthetic abilities: I want to be able to hear individual instruments or voices _if I want to,_ but I also need to hear the overall musical piece and how it hangs together.”), I would say the 006 would fit your taste beautifully. But, as you suggest, you can’t fully appreciate a near state of the art DAC with dinosaur equipment. My opinion is if you have no plans to modernize your system go with a cheaper DAC. I see no reason to consider the Gaia for the same reason. |
