I finally received a reply from Shenzhen Audio when I emailed them directly and not via their website. Nothing definitive as far as the wait time from the manufacturer but others here have posted several weeks so I am guessing this will be the case here. I pulled the trigger and ordered a Musetec DA-005 and anxiously await the new DAC. I'll post my impressions here at the appropriate time. Thanks to all above who have chimed in on their experiences!
Musetec (LKS) MH-DA005 DAC
Some history: I was the OP on a four year old thread about the Chinese LKS MH-DA004 DAC. It achieved an underground buzz. The open architecture of its predecessor MH-DA003 made it the object of a lot of user mods, usually to its analog section, rolling op amps or replacing with discrete. The MH-DA004 with its new ESS chips and JFET analog section was called better then the modified older units. It has two ES9038pro DAC chips deliberately run warm, massive power supply, powered Amanero USB board, JFET section, 3 Crystek femtosecond clocks, Mundorf caps, Cardas connectors, etc., for about $1500. For this vinyl guy any reservation about ESS chips was resolved by the LKS implimentaion, but their revelation of detail was preserved, something that a listener to classic music especially appreciated. I made a list of DACs (many far more expensive) it was compared favorably to in forums. Modifications continued, now to clocks and caps. Components built to a price can be improved by costlier parts and the modifiers wrote glowingly of the SQ they achieved.
Meanwhile, during the 4 years after release of the MH-DA004, LKS (now Musetec) worked on the new MH-DA005 design, also with a pair of ES9038pro chips. This time he used more of the best components available. One torroidal transformer has silver plated copper. Also banks of super capacitors that act like batteries, solid silver hookup wire, 4 femtoclocks each costing multiples of the Crysteks, a revised Amanero board, more of the best European caps and a new partitioned case. I can't say cost NO object, but costs well beyond. A higher price, of course. Details at http://www.mu-sound.com/DA005-detail.html
The question, surely, is: How does it sound? I'm only going to answer indirectly for the moment. I thought that the MH-DA004 was to be my last DAC, or at least for a very long time. I was persuaded to part with my $$ by research, and by satisfaction with the MH-DA004. Frankly, I have been overwhelmed by the improvement; just didn't think it was possible. Fluidity, clarity, bass extension. A post to another board summed it up better than I can after listening to piano trios: "I have probably attended hundreds of classical concerts (both orchestral and chamber) in my life. I know what live sounds like in a good and bad seat and in a good and mediocre hall. All I can say is HOLY CRAP, this sounds like the real thing from a good seat in a good hall. Not an approximation of reality, but reality."
Meanwhile, during the 4 years after release of the MH-DA004, LKS (now Musetec) worked on the new MH-DA005 design, also with a pair of ES9038pro chips. This time he used more of the best components available. One torroidal transformer has silver plated copper. Also banks of super capacitors that act like batteries, solid silver hookup wire, 4 femtoclocks each costing multiples of the Crysteks, a revised Amanero board, more of the best European caps and a new partitioned case. I can't say cost NO object, but costs well beyond. A higher price, of course. Details at http://www.mu-sound.com/DA005-detail.html
The question, surely, is: How does it sound? I'm only going to answer indirectly for the moment. I thought that the MH-DA004 was to be my last DAC, or at least for a very long time. I was persuaded to part with my $$ by research, and by satisfaction with the MH-DA004. Frankly, I have been overwhelmed by the improvement; just didn't think it was possible. Fluidity, clarity, bass extension. A post to another board summed it up better than I can after listening to piano trios: "I have probably attended hundreds of classical concerts (both orchestral and chamber) in my life. I know what live sounds like in a good and bad seat and in a good and mediocre hall. All I can say is HOLY CRAP, this sounds like the real thing from a good seat in a good hall. Not an approximation of reality, but reality."
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For wharfy it was 12 days from ordering until delivery. That doesn’t mean it will be the same for you, but it looks good. Shenzhen seems often to give a longer expected delivery date so as not to be bothered with Where’s my stuff? emails. Good luck. As you can see by the responses, it’s worth the wait. Could be the last DAC for many people, including me. |
"One more update--played my better half her CD copy of The Nutcracker. She remarked that she heard instruments she did not know were there." How reminiscent of the golden analog days. We used to purchase a new cartridge, perhaps our first moving coil (expensive and consumable), and rush to hear what it does on familiar disks. What would we hear that was formerly hidden in those grooves? I trust all still goes well with the DAC. |
@melm This hearing of the formerly unheard continues to amaze me with 16/44, 005, network and general system improvements. My recent boutique tube purchases uncovered another layer of the lowest level details, performers in room becoming flesh and blood, more timbral color. This cannot happen if source obscures, 005 is amazingly resolving piece.
My analog setup only fell further behind with 005 in system, now presume it will take minimum $3.5K cartridge and planned mods to phono stage to get back in running. For all possible future purchasers of 005, expect to hear the previously unheard. And not in a clinical, analytical manner, assuming one's present system not voiced in this manner. |
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