Musetec (LKS) MH-DA005 DAC

@auxinput Hi, I can only tell you what I heard and I've never experienced this behaviour from any DAC before.

@yyzsantabarbara  It seems separate or discrete components and increasing  complexity always goes hand in hand with our ever evolving systems. Many years ago stereo receivers were state of art, an all in one component. Then along comes integrated amps and discrete source equipment, then we separate preamps from amps, and we have phono preamps and phono SUT. I guess we shouldn't expect any different in streaming. Crazy, but there are ten separate actions to get my system up and running! Even an experienced audiophile would be extremely challenged to get my system up and running!

@sns My issue is having too many boxes in the system. My son is already sitting on my office audio rack (with my blessing) and accidently kicking some of my streaming gear.

@sirnui I also have the Benchmark DAC3B (owned the DAC3 HGC, the DAC2, DAC1). The DAC3B is a little too hot on top compared to the 005. I love the DAC3B for what I am now using it. However, if you try to use it with a hot speaker, like my RAAL SR1a headphones, the sound becomes fatiguing. Put the 005 in place of the DAC3B and the system will sound great. The 005 is not shy on top and not missing anything, it just sounds right.

Even though my DAC3B is not perfect, the DAC3B and the 005 are my long-term DACs.

One of my first audiophile experiences was listening to headphones on the Benchmark DAC2 HGC.  At first, I didn't wholeheartedly like the sound because it was so different from what I was used to but over time, the sound became addictive.  So when Benchmark came out with the DAC3 HGC, I bought it a month later.  I currently own the DAC3 DX. This is the only variant with an AES input. I have a Grimm MU1 streamer that is optimized for AES. 

Over the past 2 years, I've bought other DACs to try to dethrone the DAC3.  I've tried an RME, a Denafrips, and an SMSL.  Given my musical preferences, none really came close. Enter the Musetec 005. I'm currently burning in the 005 and other cable upgrades so I will reserve final judgement but I'm 95% sure the 005 is the new king. 

After everything settles, including the new network switch coming next week, I will switch back to the DAC3 to determine what I would miss without the DAC3. 

@yyzsantabarbara When you become not done with streaming, if you like, I can share my experience with USB chaining beyond the oR to improve the listening experience. 

Reason I'm saying this is EVERY format, DSD, FLAC, WAV has their own circuit.

I know this because initially I was using my FLAC library and then after about two weeks I started playing WAV, it was terrible. Took another week for the WAV to sound well.

I don't think this is actually true.  FLAC is a music data file compression method.  Your player will read the FLAC file and uncompress the data on the fly.  The actual data stream that is sent to the DAC needs to be in either PCM or DSD format.  That being said, DSD could be handled differently inside the DAC digital receiver section.

@melm I was hoping to give a full review of the 005 this week but alas no, it still won't give up it's jewels, except to show me glimpses of it's brilliance.

What I can confirm however is that this is a magnificent DAC. Reason I'm saying this is EVERY format, DSD, FLAC, WAV has their own circuit.

I know this because initially I was using my FLAC library and then after about two weeks I started playing WAV, it was terrible. Took another week for the WAV to sound well.

No other DAC has every behaved like this and I can confirm other people's comments that the 005 never gets out of it's depth.

Andrew at Small Green Computer is more agnostic than John about network improvements in front of Opticalrendu. I spoke with him last week about when Opticalmodule will come back into stock, he only stated it would make very little difference vs. generic FMC. I'm more in line with John as I'll either get Opticalmodule or server with optical out in front of Opticalrendu. I'm also seriously considering getting Network Acoustics Eno to fit between my router and server. My audiophile switch didn't work well there, perhaps Eno will provide benefit. These efforts will complete my network experiments. I could sit right where I'm at for the long term, curiosity as to 005's potential pushes me forward.

005 is first source component in nearly thirty years of audio that doesn't feel like a limiting factor in attaining highest possible resolving system.

@sns As I posted earlier, I put my EtherRegen in front of my OpticalRendu. I removed the Fibre connection from my Ubiquiti Network Switch and used the EtherRegen’s Fibre (so B > A on the ER). This setup was an improvement from direct Network Switch. The sound seemed slightly more focused or clear.

I ordered the Sonore OptcalModule to do a similar setup with my second Sonore OpticalRendu in the Livingroom system.

I am done with my streaming.

BTW - I did this based on the paper John Swenson wrote and was posted earlier on this thread.

Now have a number of listening sessions with Opticalrendu and further burn in on a number of other upgrades, still have perhaps 50 hours left for full burn in.

Not going in depth on listening impressions yet, but the reach and depth of 005 is something to behold! I really thought I was nearing optimal streaming and cd rip setup prior to Opticalrendu and other mods and burn in. Turns out substantially better sound was left on table. I now have nearly limitless noise floor, images appear out of of an immense nothingness in a manner hard to describe. This level of resolution and transparency is everything I've ever imagined in nearly thirty years as audiophile and building high end systems.

A new level of effortlessness I've previously only heard with high end vinyl playback, this is exposure of superior micro dynamic presence of 005 along with DHT valves. Only nit at this point is slightest bit of less than natural timbre, expecting improvement on this front with further burn in of  300B and 101D tubes along with Takman resistors and Audio Note caps in pre.

005 as source makes this level of sound possible, rest of system is there to serve this source.

@melm I'd say close to 6 weeks. I'm slow since I toggle between analog and digital. Plus I have two other smaller systems.  I have stopped counting since I am no longer hearing noticeable changes in the Musetec DAC. I'd imagine one can reasonably expect to break in adequately in 2-3 weeks rather than the 6 it took me but I knew this DAC was special almost from day 1 when I heard its clarity.

Yesterday I posted a new photo in my virtual system and have been contemplating reconfiguring my set up.  The metal shelf hovering above my Linn is for my laptop but I'm not crazy about this location so I might split my racks similar to what I had previously.

@jc4659 

Can you help with a question asked of me about break in.   About how long did it take you to accumulate 100 hours of actual listening?  Thanks.

By the way, are you continuing to count?

@blang I am currently running everything native, no upsampling.  I have over 100 hours actual listening on my DA-005 and hear very little change at this point.  This DAC is clear and smooth/fluid, musical and natural.  I place mine in standby mode when not using.  I have also disconnected all reclockers; had a W4S reclocking digital output from my CD player using optical in/out and an Uptone IsoRegen reclocking the USB.  These had offered improvement when used with my previous DAC, an Ayre Codex.  Much to my surprise, music sounds absolutely wonderful without the reclockers!  I plan to listen this way for a while and then replace each one and see if I hear an improvement.  If anything, I sensed greater dynamics without the reclockers.  Let us know your honest impressions when you're ready.

There was a short article about Midwest Audio in Stereophile. The article located it in South Bend IN, of which Mishawaka is a suburb. Finally a US dealer; that’s news

@blang I saw that ad in USaudiomart as well, thought it may have been a dealer demo, seems I was incorrect. Apos audio used to carry 005, where I purchased mine, don't know why they discontinued carrying it.

Some report up to 400 hours, I didn't do any serious listening until I had somewhere around 100. Standby is proper, suspect more wear and tear on power supply if constantly powering down. 005 USB state of art, I've never felt the need to try i2s which I have available setup for. I prefer slow filter, although I don't hear major difference between the two.

As far as upsampling, never felt the need, YMMV. Try both and see what you prefer.

@blang

Thanks for the info about the US dealer and congrats on your purchase.

As for break-in, I responded to someone else:

In his first post after receiving the Musetec, @pt999 compared it to his fully broken in May Holo KTE DAC. After one week of break-in he decided to return the unit. He preferred the May, apparently by a good margin. In his second post, written after 16 days and 350 hours* of break-in he changed his mind and decided not to return it. He writes that, "The 2 DACs sound very similar." You can do a search for his full post in this thread.

As for stand-by mode, the factory says it doesn’t matter. As I have tubes in my amp and pre, I go to standby and turn it on when I turn my tubes on.
The care with with the USB in put is designed makes it the first choice IMO and that of some others. Perhaps someone else will chime in.

I used slow because sns said it’s better and have never looked back.

I experimented with upsampling and did not find it useful so I’m at native. Again, others may chime in

For those interested in a possible purchase of this dac, there is now a US dealer-Midwest Audio in Mishawaka, Indiana.  Midwestaudiophile.com.   I became aware of them from an add at USaudiomart.com  I ordered a dac from them a couple of weeks ago for $3199.  The dac was shipped from Shanghai and received by me in 9 days.  I believe when I ordered they had a silver unit in Indiana inventory, but I wanted a black unit so it was shipped from China.  I have no affiliation with the seller.  
 

I am currently burning in the dac, so I will defer comments about its performance until it is fully burned in.  The sound is changing considerably as it burns in.  
 

I do have a few questions: How long will full burn in take?  After it is fully burned in, should standby mode be used when not in use, or should it be powered down?  Is the USB input the best choice vs aes or something else?   Do most find the slow filter preferable?  I can upsample with my streamer, a Lumin U1.  Have you found that upsampling produced improved quality, or is native resolution the way to go?  

I neglected to say that the "digital bridge" in my description is a DNLA bridge.

@jc4659  As for what others are doing, here’s my own streaming set-up. I have made a relatively inexpensive (compared to others I read of) system providing vey good SQ. Music files are on a 4TB NAS running to an SOtM sMS-200ultra neo (used) as a digital bridge to the DAC. I have a small laptop running Jriver and one of its remote apps used either on my phone or on an Android pad. The beauty (to me) of the bridge is that the computer directs the music from the server to the bridge to the DAC without going through the computer. So no computer noise, I think. I don’t use a decrapifier, though some with a system like mine do. Jriver brings a lot of conveniences. The NAS and Jriver are accessible to a desk top and by wifi anywhere else in the house.

@melm thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences regarding the anticipated reliability of LKS / Musetec DACs. I am still shocked and amazed at how good redbook cd sounds coming from an old Meridian CD player used as a transport and limping along the way into the DA-005. I can only imagine the step up in sound using a contemporary dedicated transport which I am likely to purchase later this year. The big challenge at the moment is getting commensurate sound quality from streaming. I currently use a MacBook Pro running Audirvana into an Uptone IsoRegen. Files stored on the Mac sound very good but streaming can be a bit disappointing so I'm watching what others are doing in this regard i.e. bridge, switch, etc. A dedicated streamer is priority unless the Meridian takes a nose dive.  Your point that the DA-005 is yet to be found as a limiting factor is also very encouraging!

@jc4659

When I contemplated buying the LKS 004 in the Spring of 2017 I felt like a pioneer to be importing an almost unknown Chinese DAC without any North American presence. It had been recommended for its SQ and as a great bargain by someone I trusted. I did my due diligence reading all I could about the 004 and even the 003 going back to about 2014. And there was a lot to read as each of these became the subject of serious modifications so that there were plenty of folks who knew the quality of these DACs from the insides. Everything I read confirmed its quality of build and quality of parts. In all I read there was, IIRC, not a single reported case of failure. Moreover, the modular way all of these are built, and including the 005, were there to be a problem it is relatively easy to lift out a board and send it for repair. In the 005 it is 4 boards, each plugging in to the next. It is probably cheaper to send a board to China than to send an entire DAC across the US. But given the full history you’ll likely never have to do that. All of which is to say that was enough to allay any reservations I may have had.

As for the 005, I think of those contributing here it is @sns who has had the 005 the longest going back to a Black Friday purchase in 2020. It seems to be working fine. As for what @sns wrote about updating, he is, I’m certain, talking about USB software updates that Musetec has made easier on the 005 than on earlier DACs. It is the USB section that interacts with the computer. The ability to upgrade means that it can keep up with OS changes and not become obsolete.

One more random thought since there has been so much discussion the last few days about improving the digital/audio environment for the 005. I recall in the vinyl days (and I am still there) if we had a really good turntable, which is where the music begins, giving it a better power supply, a better cartridge, better interconnects and/or a better phono pre we would discover that the TT could find more and more music in those grooves. Similarly, we may not yet know how good the Musetec really is. The same may be said for other fine DACs. Each time I have improved my DAC’s digital environment--with a DLNA bridge, a network switch, etc., I got more out of it. Others on this thread have done so much more and have found the DAC to respond. The DAC has not yet been found to be the limiting factor.

This is all about getting full potential of 005, for us streamers so many avenues, worthwhile to explore the many available.

I've owned the 005 for almost year and a half, not a single issue. Dac's in general are one of the most reliable audio components. Heat is greatest enemy of audio equipment, 005 doesn't generate much. I'd be surprised that any 005 will suffer failure in coming years. While I've not opened mine up, photos show quality in all components and circuit boards. Updating usb board is likely the only routine maintenance ever required.

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/55217-sonore-opticalrendu/page/27/#comment-963599 In this link John Swenson makes case for how everything in network prior to optical conversion affects accuracy of clocks in Sonore optical module and rendu, and all ethernet and optical devices. It seems the entire network important, even with FMC.

I have a EtherRegen that I believe was designed by John Swenson. I am not too happy with the ER purchase because it does not seem to improve my RJ45 streaming on my KRELL K-300i integrated amp's internal DAC. Now that DAC is my lowest quality DAC (pretty good) so that may have something to do with it. 

After reading the linked thread, which contained thoughts as to why Fibre Optical is not enough. John Swenson lays out his argument for using another convertor before the OpticalRendu. I happen to have the EtherRegen to do exactly what he suggests. 

My original setup:

-Ubiquiti Networks Switch with 2 SFP cages using Fibre to Sonore OpticaRendu to Musetec 005 via USB

My John Swenson setup

-Ubiquiti Networks Switch using Ethernet (RJ45) to EtherRegen Side B (RJ45)

- Fibre Optical from EtherRegen Side A to Sonore OpticalRendu to Musetec 005 via USB

I did my comparisons using my headphones in the office. This setup has my most revealing gear and is better components than my 2-channel speaker system. A very revealing setup and ideal to hear gear:

CODA 07x preamp + Musetec 005 + CODA #8 amp + Audience FrontRow speaker cable + RAAL SR1a headphones (Audience AU24 SE XLR preamp | DAC | amp).

I have been using Moving Picture by Rush in hi-res local FLAC files as my go to evaluation tool since I know this music so well. It also sounds really good sonically.

The Original Setup sounded great as usual. A very big powerful sound with clarity, detail, and great enjoyment of the performance.

The John Swenson setup sounded a little different. This was rather surprising since I was a flat earther on the Fibre streaming being all that was needed. The sound did not seem as big as with the original setup. However, the sound seemed more focused. Like a lens on a camera. The picture (or sound) seemed to be clearer. Now this was not as big as going from my microRendu to the OpticalRendu, but it was a noticeable improvement. I think I am convinced to keep the EtherRegen in this position in the streaming chain.

I have an orphaned LPS that I used to use with my old microRendu. I think I will look into using that LPS with a new OpticalModule for my downstairs OpticalRenud streaming. 

This is some very good streaming sound I am getting. Thanks for the link posted above.

Thanks @auxinput .  That's encouraging!

I don't know about the 005 reliability (melm can comment better here), but my DA-004 is probably the best quality circuit board I have worked on.  Very thick board with thick excellent quality tracings and high quality very durable solder holes (through hole barrels).  All parts are definitely not cheap parts.

Okay all of you happy DA-005 owners, who has owned their DAC the longest and can comment on reliability?  Maybe it's too soon to know but it's the only question I still have about this wonderful DAC and hope I never have to find out. 

It's fiber optic isolation. The input and output are isolated by a fiber optic cable. It's similar to what Sonore do but they use 3 or more boxes to do it IIRC.

I've seen that, don't quite understand the ethernet out scheme, point of FMC is to use fiber cable. This isn't FMC, rather just a filter.

Not bothered about streaming at the moment but I've extensively listened to this fiber box and can say it's very well made and sounds wonderful. However I've never listened to the Sonore.

https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/55217-sonore-opticalrendu/page/27/#comment-963599 In this link John Swenson makes case for how everything in network prior to optical conversion affects accuracy of clocks in Sonore optical module and rendu, and all ethernet and optical devices. It seems the entire network important, even with FMC.

Your setup sounds more audiophile level than mine. I am leveraging the fact that analog noise cannot travel through fibre. I use the fibre just before the DAC and do not care about anything prior to the fibre. My ROON Core is running on a noisy DELL PC hidden in a closet. Again, the fibre should kill any gremlins trying to get into my DAC.

I didn't like audiophile switch with my setup, and suspect I'd not like any switch. I've bridged second ethernet out of modded mac mini using thunderbolt port. This way I can go direct out from server to streamer or FMC (later opticalmodule). A second ethernet port is pretty rare in servers, Antipodes and SGC I9 only ones coming to mind.

This direct connection to end point/streamer was pretty major upgrade for sound quality. In my setup, adding switch means signal has to detour through the added switch and another ethernet cable. 

I bought the "audiophile" LPS from Sonore for 1 of the OpticalRendu's and the cheaper LPS from them for the second one. I could not tell a difference between the 2.

Sonore Audiophile Linear Power Supply and DC4X Cable – Small Green Computer

SGC 7v Linear Power Supply 25W (for opticalRendu, ultraRendu, microRen – Small Green Computer

Same goes for the USB cable that I got from WyWire vs another one which was not any particular audio brand. Now this could be a function of the DACs I tried them with. The Benchmark DAB3B, Gustard X26 Pro, Topping D90SE, and Musetec 005.

It would be nice to see sonore come up with router or switch with opticalmodule built in. I presume sonore has optimum fiber interface at this moment in time.

I use the following to convert from Ethernet to Fibre

Amazon.com: YuanLey 11 Port Gigabit PoE Switch, 8 PoE+ Port 1000Mbps, 2 Gigabit Uplink, 1 SFP Port, 120W 802.3af/at, Metal, Qos, Unmanaged Plug and Play AI Smart Detection Ethernet Switch : Electronics

The other one I got is out of stock, but it was almost like this one/

Amazon.com: Ubiquiti Networks UniFi Industrial Switch, 10-Port Durable Switch with High-Power 802.3bt PoE++ (USW-Industrial) : Electronics

@yyzsantabarbara  I'll get the opticalmodule at some point in future, unless I get Sonictransporter I9 which has opticamodule built in. I considered the Signature rendu se optical, but at $4800 is stiff price to pay for built in high quality LPS. I'll power mine with Uptone Audio JS2 which is fine lps, expect I'll get most, if not all signature sq for much less money. Are you powering with 7V?

It would be nice to see sonore come up with router or switch with opticalmodule built in. I presume sonore has optimum fiber interface at this moment in time.

@sns You are going to love the opticalRendu with the 005. That is what I use, and it is something that I have zero desire to improve upon. It has been about a year now since I bought 2 opticalRendu's and it has been a great choice. My fibre comes out of my Ubiquiti Networks $199 Network Switch. Though this switch is close to $300 now with the parts shortages.

@dbb I have all Audioquest Vodka, longest cable 1.5m, only one that length, rest 1m. I've been told its the connectors where the emi/rfi gets in. Regardless, optical will get rid of all, I expect all optical streaming will be de facto in near future. The Sonore also has dual femto clocks which is definite improvement.

@sns

Just curious, did you ever experiment with extremely short ethernet runs? This seems like it would decrease emi/rfi noise.

I look forward to hearing your results with the optical rendu and the 005.

@dbb  After further research I've decided to move in another direction. I have Sonore opticalrendu coming in tomorrow. This will replace one of my TPLink FMC and SOTM sms200 Neo.

I've been streaming for six years now, greatest improvements I've experienced were LPS and other optimization on server, splitting server/streamer functions and fiber conversion. The optical rendu serves two functions, improved streamer vs SOTM and replacing one lower quality FMC, My next move after this will be Small Green Computer Sonictransporter I9 or DIY server, either way will have optical output. This all in service to application of all optical network post modem.

Based on my experience and others with mature streaming networks, optical provides the highest resolving network. I'm also trying to simplify my streaming solution. With the above changes I can get rid of two FMC, the two lps to power them, this all post server..In front of server plans to get router with optical capability, no added switch required with this.

005 simply continues to excel with latest upgrades of 300b.101D tubes and Audio Note caps, Takman resistors in Statement pre. With tubes and new parts nearly fully burned in the closed in, uptight sound quality has been greatly alleviated, the bloom is getting nearly fully realized. Sound quality continues to relax with greatest resolution ever experienced, this is getting to be increasingly analog like sound quality. Opticalrendu should only increase this analog like presentation, working towards luxurious quality with extreme resolution. I fully believe 005 is capable of this presentation.

@sns 

Have you tried the Network Acoustics  Eno filter with the 005? I noticed you posted on another thread that you were going to try it. If you did I would  be interested in your impressions. 

Yep, usb is superior way to go with many dacs. Also has the advantage of using various usb rendererers/streamers and fiber conversion. For most, usb beats even I2S which should have inherent advantage of native topology within dac, therefore, no conversion needs to done within dac.

We were speaking about the importance of clocking, think of all the superior clocking schemes within renderers/streamers and/or fiber media converters, jitter virtually eliminated. And then the advantage of galvanic isolation with above devices. 005 usb is also state of art or near, much engineering effort here.

@melm Thanks again. I agree the USB input is just wonderful and just keeps getting better. I’m at the stage now where I believe everything sounds better through USB!

This is a first for me because I’ve always had better sound with AES/EBU, that’s not saying it’s bad but it’s ever so slightly harder and a micron less involving, sort of 99% as good as USB.

If anyone is on the fence regarding the Musetec 005 take the plunge you won’t regret it. It’s an accurate and natural sounding DAC that reproduces music truthfully.

@lordmelton 

Congratulations and thanks for the kind words.  Based on your last post I expected to hear from you by now, but with about a month of breaking-in.  Sorry the DAC took so long to get to you.  Others wrote that they were getting their Musetecs about 10 or so days after ordering.  Snafus happen, I guess.

Nice that it's giving some pleasure right out of the box, but the best is yet to come.  If you haven't seen it I wrote about break-in just 3 days ago.  You're surrounding the DAC with some really nice components so it's especially good to know that it is meeting expectations.

As many have written, this DAC is really optimized for USB so that's the route to work on IMO.

You write that you'll be, "looking at a USB to I2S converter re-clocker."  However, that's exactly what the upgraded Amanero board does inside the DAC with a better power supply and better clocks than you're likely to find in a separate unit.  So I fail to see the advantage.  A positive move in that direction (at least in theory) might be an ethernet to I2S device bypassing any USB entirely.  Whether such a unit can outperform the USB on the Musetec may still be a question.  Beekhuyzen tested such a device and found it not to perform better than the inexpensive USB combo he was using.

Looking forward to that post you promised after a month of break-in.

@sns Hi and thanks. The online manual recommends to use the lowest DPLL settings for the best SQ.

PCM BW01-BW03

DSD BW06-BW10

Obviously these will get tweaked over time and fine tuned, lower the setting more detail, take it up a notch or two to smooth it out.

Not streaming only using my ripped files, most of what I want to hear I've bought over the years. Maybe in a few months I'll add streaming but as you say that's another investment.

Yes my digital cables will get upgraded but the HiDiamond USB is great value. The 005 is starting to reveal fault in the HiDiamond AES/EBU and push me more towards using the USB output and I'm a great fan of AES/EBU!

After the 005 is fully burned in I'll be looking at a USB to I2S converter re-clocker but it's wonderful as of now.

Congratulations! Where does it say dpll 6 best setting for DSD?

While the Hidiamond usb may be great at that price, you can do better, it will pay off. I've used Supra, Cardas, Wireworld, settled on AQ Diamond, you will definitely hear difference with your nice setup.

By the way, I just purchased Sonore opticalrendu, this will replace one fmc, lps and Sotm sms200 neo. We were speaking of clocks, this has two femto clocks, based on reviews should be definite step up from Sotm. Also likely to go to Sonore optical module to replace tp link fmc, again, this has femto clock. Also, considering Small Green Computer sonicorbiter I9 server vs diy, one of the few servers with optical out.

All this relates to getting more of the potential out of 005. Nearly all my network upgrades help to make 005 more analog sounding, along with resolution improvements. For all the people streaming, optical is way important. My goal is to eventually be all optical from modem  onward.

@melm Well I’m finally onboard after Christmas Customs delays and an eventful experience dealing with Shenzhen Audio. I won’t berate them except to say you’ll be much better off phoning them and giving your shipping instructions, waybill information etc. instead of emailing them and leaving them to their own devices, but it was well worth it all in the end!

So I’ve had the 005 for 3 days now and run it almost constantly for 72 hours. Straight out of the box the soundstage was big, did a few cable swaps until I got a good match, it’s very cable sensitive, good sign.

DSD sounds absolutely wonderful almost hypnotic, you have to put down what you’re doing and LISTEN! Another good sign..lol.

Unfortunately no DSD over AES/EBU or SPDIF only DOP which is more dynamic than the USB but lacks the magic.

Redbook CDs sound better over AES/EBU but still undecided on AES/EBU or USB for Hi-Rez PCM, they both sound excellent.

Out of the box the 005 oozes class, it’s silky smooth, black version. The LEDs are a beautiful shade of turquoise, one I’ve never seen before - stunning. How often would anyone remark on the LEDs?

15 DPLL settings No.1 is recommended for PCM and 6 for DSD I found these settings worked the best and they stay in memory. Switching inputs is a breeze on the front panel or remote.

Fast and slow filters fast is way better.

Phase swap for DSD because sometimes DSD channels get swapped over by software. PCM not able to swap.

Listening via an Aurender N20 with a 10 Mhz master clock a 15 year old Virtual Dynamics custom XLR IC into a SMC Audio VRE-1 Pre-Amp.

HiDiamond AES/EBU Reference and HiDiamond Standard USB $89.00!

Will report back after I’ve put a few more miles on it.

Thanks sincerely to everyone who recommended the 005.

@auxinput

The first clock I swapped to in the LKS was the Accusilicon AS318-B-100.

Yes, it was an improvement, more forward sounding and clearer. At the time I had an Anthem D2V preamp & Emotiva Monoblocks. That combo along with my B&W Nautilus 803’s which are fairly bright already wasn’t really ideal for me. The Crystek removed the listening fatigue from the equation.

Since then, I now have a McIntosh MX150 pre & MC312 Amp. The McIntosh/B&W combo is really a match made in heaven for me. I could listen to my system all day, it really sounds great to my ears.

It would be nice to swap the clocks again. However, I dread remorking the LKS again. I have so much fear of ruining it as I like it so much already. I try not to follow the long thread on Headfi any longer as the mods to this unit continue on. Although I have professional rework personnel at my disposal at no cost, I try my best to leave well enough alone on the 004 as it stands ;)

I have already ordered the Teradak combo with the 13A power supply: https://www.ebay.com/itm/184685139541

I will post again when it arrives. Thanks for all the suggestions.

@metaldetektor

You asked about break-in of the Musetec DAC.

In his first post after receiving the Musetec, @pt999 compared it to his fully broken in May Holo KTE DAC. After one week of break-in he decided to return the unit. He preferred the May, apparently by a good margin.

In his second post, written after 16 days and 350 hours* of break-in he changed his mind and decided not to return it. He writes that, "The 2 DACs sound very similar. Switching back and forth multiple times on the same music passage, some the differences I found before are no longer valid. The Musetec air and space are about the same as the May." He continues to prefer the May saying the sound is a bit "crisper." That is usually more of a description of a sigma-delta DAC, but that’s what he says. He continues, "I’m not sure I can pass a blind listening test identifying which is which."

This very much confirms what @dbb has written as an OP after a full break-in of both units.**  HIs break-in of the Musetec was longer than that of @pt999.

*Others have reported needing more time.
**Comparative Review: Musetec DAC and Holo Audio May DAC

By the way, I previously ran that Core Audio Tech, internal and external LPS until it fried. Went with Uptone package after, also considered Mojo Audio package.

This is what I've been saying, you have to replace external and internal power supplies as a package. Now I don't know if Teradak internal filter will work with Uptone JS-2 or any other external lps.

The Mac Mini runs internally using 12V DC (direct current). All electronics run with DC direct current with various voltages.

The Teradak internal filter completely replaces the internal SMPS (switch-mode power supply) and it provides a 5.5mm x 2.5mm socket that you can connect to any standard 12V linear power supply with adequate current capability.

It doesn’t matter whether the 12V DC current is supplied by the SMPS or a linear power supply such as Teredak, Uptone, Keces, etc.. It’s the same result either way.

Here’s a video showing the whole process. It requires disassembly of the mac mini, but you can do it with careful patience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUZMYy45CRs

The M1 mini disassembly might by a little different, but the basic principle is the same.  Here's the M1 disassembly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4ArjHz4gd4