@yyzsantabarbara When you become not done with streaming, if you like, I can share my experience with USB chaining beyond the oR to improve the listening experience.
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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- 1528 posts total
One of my first audiophile experiences was listening to headphones on the Benchmark DAC2 HGC. At first, I didn't wholeheartedly like the sound because it was so different from what I was used to but over time, the sound became addictive. So when Benchmark came out with the DAC3 HGC, I bought it a month later. I currently own the DAC3 DX. This is the only variant with an AES input. I have a Grimm MU1 streamer that is optimized for AES. Over the past 2 years, I've bought other DACs to try to dethrone the DAC3. I've tried an RME, a Denafrips, and an SMSL. Given my musical preferences, none really came close. Enter the Musetec 005. I'm currently burning in the 005 and other cable upgrades so I will reserve final judgement but I'm 95% sure the 005 is the new king. After everything settles, including the new network switch coming next week, I will switch back to the DAC3 to determine what I would miss without the DAC3. |
@sns My issue is having too many boxes in the system. My son is already sitting on my office audio rack (with my blessing) and accidently kicking some of my streaming gear. @sirnui I also have the Benchmark DAC3B (owned the DAC3 HGC, the DAC2, DAC1). The DAC3B is a little too hot on top compared to the 005. I love the DAC3B for what I am now using it. However, if you try to use it with a hot speaker, like my RAAL SR1a headphones, the sound becomes fatiguing. Put the 005 in place of the DAC3B and the system will sound great. The 005 is not shy on top and not missing anything, it just sounds right. Even though my DAC3B is not perfect, the DAC3B and the 005 are my long-term DACs. |
@yyzsantabarbara It seems separate or discrete components and increasing complexity always goes hand in hand with our ever evolving systems. Many years ago stereo receivers were state of art, an all in one component. Then along comes integrated amps and discrete source equipment, then we separate preamps from amps, and we have phono preamps and phono SUT. I guess we shouldn't expect any different in streaming. Crazy, but there are ten separate actions to get my system up and running! Even an experienced audiophile would be extremely challenged to get my system up and running! |
@auxinput Hi, I can only tell you what I heard and I've never experienced this behaviour from any DAC before. |
- 1528 posts total