New Luxman DA-06 doesnt sound so great. Will it get better?

I know it’s an old thread but I’m compelled to update this thread. Other than the Japanese unit needing a step down transformer, it can be cables as well particularly the power cord that’s connected to the DAC . The Luxman DA-06 is rather sensitive to power cords and can sound lacklustre or unengaging when used with most common power cords out there. Just make sure you get a good one for it.

ryder

Which Power Cord (PC) are you enjoying with your DA-06 ?

Happy Listening!

My DA-06 has been sitting for close to 7 years without use. I need to sell it. Honestly, it sounds terrible when compared to several other dacs that I have acquired over the years.

After living with a D10x for a over a year and also auditioning some other Luxman products, the only positive thing i can say about Luxman as a brand is that their products look very nice. Sound quality wise, they are consistently underwhelming and quality control is not consistent. That D10x despite all its heft did not sound as good as a Topping D90. I currently now use a Holo May and it absolutely runs circles around the Luxman D10x. If you don’t mind the ESS sound signature, there are far superior and dramatically cheaper options to any of the Luxman DACs.

It continually surprises me how much difference of opinion people can have over same pieces of audio equipment.   I have had a number of DACs.   One of them I still have is the Luxman DA-06.   It has not been active in my chain for some time, but was pulled to try some others, PS Audio DirectStream (still have), Vinnie Rossi DAC in L2 Signature pre-amp (sold), Lumin X1 (still have), and Mola Mola DAC in my Makua pre-amp.  The DA-06 does not have an ethernet connection and relies on separate server and streamer device(s) for streaming.   It was primarily marketed as a USB DAC, for the higher resolution files, but also has coax, optical S/PDIF, and AES/EBU.   Limitations I previously experienced with the DA-06 had very much to do with the source(s) feeding it, which have evolved considerably for me.    Similarly, I went through various source changes with the DirectStream.   The best sound quality I have experienced with it has been I2S from Antipodes K50.  I have yet to try the DA-06 with the K50, but intend to do so, with USB and AES/EBU.  I also have changed USB cabling since it was last in my rack as well as AES/EBU cabling, and had not tested that digital input with the DA-06.   I anticipate I will continue to prefer my X1 and Mola Mola over the DA-06, but neither do I anticipate it will sound "terrible".  I tend to evaluate these things more on preference for certain sound quality characteristics that exhibit in my system as differences.   I also have been much better on allowing equipment pieces, including cabling, to settle in to better evaluate sound quality than I have done in the past.  The X1 took considerable hours for me, and suggest at least 200 hours, but more like 400 hours for critical evaluation.   My K50 has seemed to me to improve over many months of playing.  I intend to allow the DA-06 to get at least a 100 hours on it again, since it has been quite some time since I have had it in the chain.

@arize84, your comments on the D10x are probably the most negative I have read on it.   I have read some who have preferred newer Esoteric CD/SACD players and    DAC's as well as others, but also have read highly enthusiastic owner reviews as well.   Out of curiosity, did you get yours directly from Japan and needed to make power modifications, or was it purchased factory configured for your local power requirements?   In any case, sorry to read it did not work out for you--not an inexpensive piece.