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.
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 $$ by research, and by satisfaction with the MH-DA004. Frankly, I have been overwhelmed by the improvement; just didn't think it was possible. Fluidity, clarity, bass extension. A post to another board summed it up better than I can after listening to piano trios: "I have probably attended hundreds of classical concerts (both orchestral and chamber) in my life. I know what live sounds like in a good and bad seat and in a good and mediocre hall. All I can say is HOLY CRAP, this sounds like the real thing from a good seat in a good hall. Not an approximation of reality, but reality."
Meanwhile, during the 4 years after release of the MH-DA004, LKS (now Musetec) worked on the new MH-DA005 design, also with a pair of ES9038pro chips. This time he used more of the best components available. One torroidal transformer has silver plated copper. Also banks of super capacitors that act like batteries, solid silver hookup wire, 4 femtoclocks each costing multiples of the Crysteks, a revised Amanero board, more of the best European caps and a new partitioned case. I can't say cost NO object, but costs well beyond. A higher price, of course. Details at http://www.mu-sound.com/DA005-detail.html
The question, surely, is: How does it sound? I'm only going to answer indirectly for the moment. I thought that the MH-DA004 was to be my last DAC, or at least for a very long time. I was persuaded to part with my $$ 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."
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@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? |
I could be wrong but I do not think you can correlate the sound signature of USB to HDMI to RJ45. They are all different interface and carry different signal and interfaces the component differently. |
While testing the I2s inputs I got to thinking about the USB cable, which I'm very happy with, but I thought should I get a USB cable without a powerline? Here ya go cheapest upgrade in the universe: https://community.octoprint.org/t/put-tape-on-the-5v-pin-why-and-how/13574 It talks about printers but it's exactly the same. I used ordinary sticky tape...thinking about upgrading to black electrical tape...lol! |
@lordmelton That's exactly what I've been doing for many years. Gives one access to all usb cables rather than the more unusual usb sans power line.
@debjit_g I would tend to agree, yes the design and the connectors are changed, the metallurgy and dialectic shouldn't change if it goes by same model name.
As for burn in, it continues for me as well, I need to get around 100 hours more on various parts and components until I'm done with this round of system upgrades. Per usual, 005 continues to expose every single change. 005 is high performance piece, needs highest quality octane. There remains a single aspect of sound that continues to intrigue me about 005, and that is ultimate refinement or lack thereof. With the many rounds of burn in I've experienced, still testing for this. Just when I hear a recording lacking in this, along comes another that really blows me away! It doesn't have to be audiophile quality, so many mediocre recordings continue to impress. So then, I have to ask myself, is this question of burn in, lack of refinement with 005, or are some recordings just not up to 005 challenge? I only know one thing, I'd not change one iota of resolution or transparency for a more refined presentation, if that is indeed fault of 005. Any potential dac I'd want to audition or purchase has a pretty high bar to reach. Based on reviews and gut feelings I'm thinking well over $10k.
As it is, I'm staying up way too late and loosing sleep, always wanting to hear another track, another artist. Zero fatigue. Haven't been at this plateau for many a year. |
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