Musetec (LKS) MH-DA005 DAC

I remain unconvinced of superiority of ddc devices using usb, still using usb, so most salient cause of change in sound is not exactly known. Two, is the sound indeed better or simply different.  We also need direct comparison of  optimized usb chain by these users. Until this criteria met I2S not proven to be superior to usb for 005, IMO.

I'm also very skeptical about the benefit of bypassing 005 internal usb board. First, it is one of the best out there, Melm  clarified some of the details. Two, in regard to usb board contamination of dac power supply, Melm also mentioned  004 experiments with transformer, while I haven't gone back to that thread, seems to have not added much if anything, and that with inferior usb board in that dac. Three, as I mentioned previously, I've seen a whole lot of experimentation with streaming, haven't come across much if any talk about usb boards contaminating dac power supplies or interfering with dac processes resulting in lowered sound quality. Now, this doesn't mean there may be theoretical losses, I believe the present bias to addressing what feeds dac is correct.

For me, a more compelling argument for I2S superiority to usb in 005 would have to be an optimized I2S port on server direct out to I2S in on 005. 

Complex usb setups are also not optimized IME, less is better, I believe straight wire concept applies to streaming chains. So many usb decrapifiers out there, how effective they are so chain dependent. Power supplies also come in many degrees of quality and effectiveness.

Premature at this point to make blanket statements about superiority of any single streaming solution, and this just for 005. In regard to other dacs, there may be another best solution for those dacs.  I always go back to whatever solution one goes for, optimization is key, purity is other, we shouldn't mix conversion protocols. In doing such a comparison we also have to keep in mind every single unique feature of our individual streaming solutions.

Funny thing, but I can understand how everyone here has come to their preference in streaming chains. I can at least understand the theoretical advantages and disadvantages of all these setups, I don't doubt the results are valid for each user.

@sirnui Oh, I remember now you bought the Grimm MU1. I have heard that streamer and it gave a very delicate sound very suited to classical type recordings.

It's been a constant battle between AES and USB for me until I got the LKS 100. Now I've stopped switching between them and I've got the sound that I want.

Regarding Purple fuses, if they are the wrong way around you will realise after about two hours that the bass has disappeared and the sound is without body.

The 005 has a Chinese tuning fuse inside already so you will get an improvement but not so much, however your pre-amp should get a massive boost. Only put one fuse in at a time to make sure they are correct.

@sns Hi, The only way for you and @melm to put this matter to rest is to get a LKS 100 and see for yourselves.

All I can say is it's the best sound I've ever heard in my system and it's significantly better than only USB. We all know that USB is jitter central so there are major changes at work here.

I've learned I2s has different requirements from regular Ethernet. Firstly I2s doesn't like the Telegartner cast alloy type plug headshells. Gold plated types give much better results.

Finally it's a much better sound, everything is multiplied, detail, texture, timing, soundstage, imaging....everything, not just a different sound.

Hello,
I am a user of 004, but I use an external USB-DDC instead of an internal USB-DDC. I use an old model called MX-U8, and make my own RJ 45 cable and connect it at a distance of 20 cm. I listened and compared many times, but the sound of the external one was better.
For your reference.

@lordmelton I'll never do the comparison unless I was using usb out of server, this is where my main beef with usb resides. You're still essentially using usb out of server, just switching LKS for Aurrender, to my mind you're comparing LKS and the external power supply to Aurrender usb as much or more than usb to I2S in 005.

In my setup I avoid ALL usb prior to OpticalRendu, I have totally optimized usb with total 100% galvanic isolation prior to usb using optical conversion, and have avoided any conversion schemes within server, server is only network device and place for Roon core and library. So server is minimal device, least imposition of noise or imprint on final sound, then 100% galvanic isolation of the maximally minimized noise emanating from server, and this noiseless signal being reclocked in OR using very good clocks and power supply (Uptone JS2), which is last thing in chain just prior to excellent usb board in 005.

End result for me is just incredible sound quality, so far above prior usb and ethernet schemes I've tried. I really have no motivation to ever use any usb out of a server again. If I did it would have to be custom atx build with totally optimized usb. 

Until you all have heard the advantage of forgetting server conversion using usb or I2S or any other conversion scheme you won't know what you're missing. I'll mention again, the only off the shelf server with a second ethernet port I'm aware of is Antipodes, otherwise custom atx build is only way. The way most servers are built today means they are main bottleneck to getting full potential out of streaming, assuming one has good network and dac.

For someone willing to experience this, try the Antipodes K50 for all in one server, K40 or 41 for server only with one's choice of streamer.