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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."

melm
yyzsantabarbara
4,825 posts
 

@fl_guy  I only have a few hours on the Freya+ with the stock tubes. I have not had a tube preamp before, so this is a little new to me. As I posted above, the Freya+ allowed me to use the RAAL SR1a with the Benchmark AHB2 and it sounds different and great from my other SR1a amps, CODA #8 and KRELL K-300i (and soon KRELL 175XD). Since the AHB2 is my fav amp the Freya+ is bringing me lots of happiness with the SR1a.

I cannot say for sure yet if the Freya+ and AHB2 is my fav combo but I did sell another preamp yesterday, Topping pre90, because the Freya worked so well in the first few days. It also looks like I have a buyer for my second AHB2 amp. By coincidence that gives me just enough money to buy a second 005. I already miss it in the office system. I am using the Benchmark DAC3B in the office. It stays but the 005 will get most of the action once I get a second one.

 

yyzsantabarbara
4,825 posts
 

I should add that I will be using the CODA 07x preamp and Benchmark LA4 preamp with the 005 in my office. I was doing this with the first 005 before I moved it to the bedroom with the Freya+. The 005 can output both RCA and XLR at the same time (like the Benchmark DAC3B). I have the 2 preamps setup nicely with a mix of RCA and XLR sources. Some of my source's support both RCA and XLR output at the same time.  It is a simple matter of changing to one of the two 15-foot XLR cables from the preamps to the single amp between the speakers.

The CODA 07x is a bit noisier than the LA4 but it has a very beautiful sound. Whatever is added, some warmth et al, is a nice addition. The LA4 is stark neutral and does not seem to add anything, It is also totally silent. I like both and I seem to switch preamps each morning.

fl_guy
33 posts
 

Thanks @yyzsantabarbara, I appreciate the info and your impressions with the preamps you have at hand. It sounds like you have a couple of great options, and you're well set with two really great systems. That's awesome - enjoy.

fmzip's avatar
fmzip
12 posts
 

Curious, are any of you using your -005 with DSD512 material? I have a highly modified LKS -004 with a Kitsune Singxer SU2. I am using the  SU-2 i2s to feed the -004 from a Mac Mini, running Roon/Tidal and HQ Player. I am upsampling  everything to DSD512/ASDM7/poly-sinc-xtrr-mp-2s via HQPlayer. I really couldn't be more happy with the sound, just wondering if there really is more to be had with the-005.

 

The rest of my system: McIntosh Mx-150/MC312 B&W Nautilus 803's

melm OP
1,082 posts
 

@fmzip

You may find some folks having more experience with the 005 over at the head-fi 005 thread. If you want comments about whether "there is really more to be had with the 005" you might want to summarize the modifications you have made to the 004. IIRC there are those who have modified the 004 extensively and maintain they have achieved even more in SQ than has the 005. In any event, a couple of folks over there will probably understand what you have done.

You write that you are going directly from a Mac Mini to the 004. Are you using a decrapifier of some kind, or have you considered something like a DLNA bridge? Or does the use of HQPlayer make those unnecessary or undesirable?

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