Has Anyone Auditioned an LKS MH-DA004 DAC?

@sns

Yes, someone has seen this, and thank you for writing about the new 005 DAC.  I think I've read all the printed material about it though, as you know, very little has been written by anyone who has heard it.  As with the 004 it probably has its greatest market in Asia.

As I see it, the 005 is a substantial refinement of the 004.  It is still a two  9038pro chip with discrete analog section DAC.  The power supply has been upgraded and IIUC it has been further insulated from the incoming AC current.  Metal walls separate the transformers and circuits, which many of us did on our 004s.  That alone makes a clearly discernable difference.  Also the clocking, including on the USB input, has been upgraded in a very major way.  Fundamentally that's what has to be done to minimize jitter in the DAC which is what stands between good and great music reproduction from it.  It might be mentioned that many of these changes have been done to the 004 by hobbyists on Head-Fi.

I am concerned about the pricing (2.2 times that of the 004) which will keep it from popularity, and wonder whether it was actually necessary.

You use the expression "more forgiving."  Can you explain?

Again, thanks for reporting on this important DAC.

Melm, thanks for responding.

I have a more in depth review of 005 over at head fi under 'Four years after lks 004.

More forgiving in my use of word can mean one of two things. Less resolving equipment can be more forgiving as it can make lesser quality recordings sound less ugly, where as a more resolving piece can expose all the warts.

Ultimately, we'd all like equipment that's both maximally resolving and forgiving of the warts. I think the 005 comes very close to reaching both goals; certainly maximally resolving to the point where it replicates living, breathing human performance. The sense of organic presentation makes even lesser recordings sound more forgiving, my attention always goes to the performance. I've now have well over 200 hours listening to 005, long term listening sometimes brings out downsides you didn't hear initially, this dac not doing that. 005 is simply a musical piece.

I would add one needs a quality preamp to hear at it's best. I never find dacs direct to amp to be preferable. In the case of direct, I'd describe the 005 as slightly analytical, per usual with every dac I've used in this manner.
I purchased 004 with the intent of modding, so I've read the entire 200 page plus thread over at head fi. I determined you could never replicate the 005 with any amount of modding of 004, and I've done a whole lot of modding over many years. Beginning with power supply, you could never replicate the ps of 005 with any amount of mods. The power supply is where much of the magic of 005 exists. The noise floor seems limitless black, performers simply exist in a much more holographic sound stage. Awesome micro dynamics give performers the breath of life. Beyond that, I couldn't replicate the clocks or the analog section, boutique capacitors, resistors and other parts can only do so much.
Whether $3300 is expensive needs to be applied in the proper context. There can be no doubt 3.3k price is steep for many. I would say the 005 plays in an entirely different league from 004, and a much better value in it's price range than 004. The Okto dac8 stereo is much better value than 004. Obviously, I can only compare Okto to stock 004. The only way a 004 can be considered a good value is diy modded 004, and then only if you value your time modding as a freebie. It would have been an easy choice to keep the Okto and sell the 004 if I hadn't purchased 005.

Finally, the 005 may not be a wise purchase for some, it requires top notch resolution from rest of system to hear much of the nuanced  performance increase of 005. I can imagine many would hear the Okto as an equal to 005 in a less resolving system, and so a $1500 dac would be preferable to $3300 dac.
I'd sure like to see some high profile reviews of 005, it's obscurity is a crime. Both the Okto and Holo May have gotten some high profile reviews lately, selling like hotcakes! Being a relatively high priced Chinese dac without high profile reviews will maintain this obscurity.
Perhaps you're correct in assuming greater sales in Asia, although I've not seen any Asian reviews. Shenzhen and Apos audio should market this dac in USA.

Just a few brief points.  I've had a good deal of very positive interaction with Jinbo, the designer and (I think) head of LKS.  He has been very helpful and will provide whatever support his customers need.  I wish him well with the 005.  As for pricing on the 005, he'll figure it out. 

As a refinement of the 004, which itself is a VERY conservative design though well executed, its hard to see the justification of a 120% increase in price.  If, as you suggest, the price of the 004 may no longer be competitive as it was upon launch, then the 005, remaining with its conservative design but better executed, is priced at considerably more than 120% of the 004's worth.  The digital world moves very swiftly.  

I said I had read all the printed material, including what's on the new thread at Head-Fi and some of the 005 comments on the 004 thread.

He should understand high profile reviews will be needed to sell in numbers. As it is, I can only state how 005 compares to a couple of $1500 dacs, well worth the extra money for me. My present plans are to get a Holo May in fall, definitely want to compare a ladder dac to what I consider top Sabre dac. Holo May competes with Mola Mola Tambaqui and Totaldac, give me a better idea where 005 stands in dac hierarchy.
For sure, dac world moving fast at the moment!

sns,

Stereophile had to violate one of its cardinal rules to review the Okto, to wit no US distribution=no review. I wouldn’t be surprised if they hear from their advertisers. It’s tough enough for US manufacturers to compete with importers. So it’s not all that clear that they are prepared to do that again. Besides, some small operators (though larger than LKS) have written that they prefer not to have a high profile review. A good review could result in more orders than they can deliver dragging down customer relations. A bad review can put them out of business. LKS might just prefer to have you and others continue to post here and elsewhere.

AIUI LKS is a very small operation.  Interesting that their 004 price has held steady.  They make so few units that they can sell what they make.

In any event it looks like you’ll have a lot to say comparing DACs on a very good system. I’ll be looking forward to good reading. You might just want to start a new thread here or elsewhere comparing them.