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Musetec (LKS) MH-DA005 DAC

Some history: I was the OP on a four year old thread about the Chinese LKS MH-DA004 DAC. It achieved an underground buzz. The open architecture of its predecessor MH-DA003 made it the object of a lot of user mods, usually to its analog section, rolling op amps or replacing with discrete. The MH-DA004 with its new ESS chips and JFET analog section was called better then the modified older units. It has two ES9038pro DAC chips deliberately run warm, massive power supply, powered Amanero USB board, JFET section, 3 Crystek femtosecond clocks, Mundorf caps, Cardas connectors, etc., for about $1500. For this vinyl guy any reservation about ESS chips was resolved by the LKS implimentaion, but their revelation of detail was preserved, something that a listener to classic music especially appreciated. I made a list of DACs (many far more expensive) it was compared favorably to in forums. Modifications continued, now to clocks and caps. Components built to a price can be improved by costlier parts and the modifiers wrote glowingly of the SQ they achieved.

Meanwhile, during the 4 years after release of the MH-DA004, LKS (now Musetec) worked on the new MH-DA005 design, also with a pair of ES9038pro chips. This time he used more of the best components available. One torroidal transformer has silver plated copper. Also banks of super capacitors that act like batteries, solid silver hookup wire, 4 femtoclocks each costing multiples of the Crysteks, a revised Amanero board, more of the best European caps and a new partitioned case. I can't say cost NO object, but costs well beyond. A higher price, of course. Details at http://www.mu-sound.com/DA005-detail.html

The question, surely, is: How does it sound? I'm only going to answer indirectly for the moment. I thought that the MH-DA004 was to be my last DAC, or at least for a very long time. I was persuaded to part with my $$ by research, and by satisfaction with the MH-DA004. Frankly, I have been overwhelmed by the improvement; just didn't think it was possible. Fluidity, clarity, bass extension. A post to another board summed it up better than I can after listening to piano trios: "I have probably attended hundreds of classical concerts (both orchestral and chamber) in my life. I know what live sounds like in a good and bad seat and in a good and mediocre hall. All I can say is HOLY CRAP, this sounds like the real thing from a good seat in a good hall. Not an approximation of reality, but reality."

melm
lordmelton's avatar
lordmelton
877 posts
 

@debjit_g 

@lordmelton if you really want to take the i2s over hdmi to its maximum level, take a look the Wireworld platinum series hdmi cables.

What I've found over the last few days is that I had huge break-in issues on par with breaking in the 005 in the first place. Really crazy swings from sublime to unlistenable. Fortunately I'd been in this place before so I persevered.

Wasn't sure if the break-in was caused by the 005 I2s inputs or the L.K.S. unit.

I got so frustrated that I checked the cable directions. HDMI was marked and correct but since the RJ45 was not marked for direction I swapped it around and YES, it just opened up.

So at the moment RJ45 is winning with a very natural sound with deep detail but plenty of rhythm. The HDMI is at about 85% of the RJ45. It's a little bright.

This is not a scientific experiment except I've tried to match the cables as closely as possible, they are both 1.2m and Furutech NCF models.

I'm going to wait to be confident that both I2s inputs are fully burned in before deciding to go with HDMI or RJ45. RJ45 would be more practical, not much use for 0.5m HDMI cables outside I2s.

Got an AQ Diamond RJ45 lined up to try next week. Really intrigued by the WW Platinums, good sign not many used available.

debjit_g
280 posts
 

@lordmelton burn-in of cables and components are real whatever the skeptics says. Most of the time in my systems, the sound becomes intolerable during the break-in process - they would be harsh, no bass, exaggerated midrange, collapsed soundstage and depth, etc.

If you decide to buy the WW hdmi, be patient to give at least 500 hrs to it. Though I don't have direct experience with WW ethernet cables but the Starlight 8 is a good buy and not that expensive.

 

sns
3,244 posts
 

AQ Diamond should be nice. I preferred AQ Diamond vs. WW Platinum for usb, Diamond more natural in my setup, WW a bit analytical. I hope you're using .5m cables, longer I2S subject to reflections, read about this on audiophilelifestyle.

debjit_g
280 posts
 

I wasn’t talking about the usb cable at all. In fact I didn’t like the WW platinum, neither the AQ diamond in my setup and I have gone through a fair share of 8-10 different brands. My current favorite for the usb cable is the one from NA.

sns
3,244 posts
 

@debjit_g Yes, I understood that, I was just relating the AQ to WW in general sense, presuming same metallurgy so perhaps same sound signature with all cables of that particular model. Its possible I could be wrong here?

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