Has Anyone Auditioned an LKS MH-DA004 DAC?

@stray_cat

It looks like you may not hear from Ric.

I would read what he wrote to mean that the modified LKS is better than the unmodified LKS and that the modified Sonica is also better than the unmodified LKS.  But I take that with a grain of salt.   I think I have read everything written on the net about the LKS, and in more than one language. I have never seen a comparison of Ric's modified to an unmodified LKS written by a user.

Read above in this thread what Ric wrote about the unmodified and the modified LKS in the What's Best Forum.  

Keep in mind that Ric's modification market for the LKS is infinitesimal. Not only are there very few, but it has been much praised in unmodified form, surpassing its predecessor (LKS 003) as modified substantially.  Moreover due to its very large size, quality parts, functional simplicity (compared to the Sonica) and very simple layout it is relatively easy for hobbyists to modify on their own.  The unmodified LKS is already like a Sonica on steroids!

The modification market for the Sonica (and 205) is much larger.  So a little puffery on Ric's part can be excused.

I’m just curious if the LKS would benefit from the use of silver transformers like the Kitsune modded Holospring Level 3 has, or are the existing transformers that are in place the best option?

An unanswerable question.

The LKS has two 50 watt toroidal transformers.  One is for the digital circuits; one for the analog circuits.  The Holospring appears to have one transformer about that size (Is it, in fact?) and one quite a bit smaller.

What would be the advantage of a silver v. a copper transformer of the same power?

In any event, to answer your question I suppose you'd have to buy an LKS and substitute in a silver transformer.

 Can this Dac sound harsh In anyway?
especially in upper mid and lower treble?
Have had a Primare Dac 30 for the last 4 years, a nice dac, just wondering if LKS would be more analog sounding?

The DAC has been in my system for about 2 years. I have been mostly an analog guy. Previous tries at digital didn’t get much listening but this DAC does. My analog system is VPI TNT, AT Art-9, three stage all tube (no SUT, no transistor) phono pre. Rest of the system is solid state. As for SQ I am currently indifferent as between listening to the DAC or to LPs. Since getting the DAC I have accumulated a lot of CD/SACD files (a good many from local libraries) and listen to LPs because they are old friends. SQ from files is better than from silver disks.

The answer to your direct question is the same I would give about my analog system, it depends on your software. It will be revealed, quality, warts and all. The LKS is not a euphonic device. To a very very small extent with the DAC, as I live in a large crowded metro area performance may vary with quality of the electricity and the unit may sound better at certain times. Some have put electricity re-generators in front of this and other DACs.

The problem with buying the LKS DAC is that there are very few of them so it’s hard to get opinions. But as compared to your DAC, it has a much more robust power supply, 2 DAC chips each costing 5 or so times what the DAC chip in your unit costs (though correlation between price and SQ is questionable) and a fully discrete FET analog stage as compared to chip implementation. Anyone getting the LKS should shield the transformers, very easily done.