2. digital
  3. 166933-4269

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
 

Thanks for the responses. I am very happy with the USB input that I am using. I was just curious about the direct toslink I am  that I am using from my computer that could be improved with a GAIA. That would also give me the option of hearing AES and I2S for curiosity's sake.

blang
3 posts
 

The Musetec dac I received a few weeks ago seems to be fully (or close to it} burned in.  It sounds great.  I am very pleased with the purchase.  I have very limited experience with other dacs, so I cannot offer comparisons.  However, I can say that it is consistent with what I have read online, here and elsewhere.  I would not classify it as warm or cool.  It seems very neutral.  Lush recordings sound lush. Analytical recordings sound that way.  As described in the comparative review, it produces more of a front row perspective, rather than a middle of the room sound.  That description was one the reasons I bought the dac, and I like it.  Realistically detailed, but not in an analytical way.  It is also very dynamic sounding.  There is a real jump factor to music that should have that.  Overall, very good>

I have tried 3 different inputs-usb, aes and coax.  I currently own only cheap basic usb and aes cables.  The coax cable with bnc and an rca adapter is somewhat better-a Nordost Silver Shadow.  My plan is to buy a better cable to use from my Lumin U1 streamer to the Musetec once I have identified the best input to use.  From online reading I fully expected that to be usb.  However, using the cables I have, usb is the worst of the 3 options with aes very slightly better than coax despite the use of a $40 cable.  Lumin suggests that usb and aes will generally be the best options, and that the dac implementation may cause either usb or aes to be preferred.  I would appreciate your thoughts on this.  Will a quality usb cable make all the difference?  Or should I try to optimize aes?  I sent a message to Jinbo at Musetec about this, but no response yet.  Also, as a way to trial cables, has anyone used the Cable Company lending library, or is there a better way to trial cables?

melm OP
1,082 posts
 

@blang

Nice to hear of your satisfaction with the Musetec.

Jinbo is not Paul McGowan.  He is just a very small designer/manufacturer.  I don't think he gives usage advice, as a dealer might. But if anything goes wrong, or to get it up an working if there's a problem, he will be there.

The consensus seems to be that the DAC is optimized for USB and I think it is fair to say that is way most users go.

As for USB cable, I use and have recommended AudioQuest Pearl. It is a well made solid core copper and I have gotten good feedback abut it. In any event, it is not expensive and, at least, a good place to start.

One of the often overlooked ways to try cable is through Amazon, which has a very liberal return policy.

lordmelton's avatar
lordmelton
877 posts
 

My 005 is just about broken in but I'll give it another week before I give a full review.

The infuriating part is that there is very little difference between AES/EBU and USB. I say infuriating because I would like to be able to choose one so that I can buy a really expensive cable and be done, but it looks like I'll need two cables.

In the meantime I've ordered an Audio GD DI-20HE which is also equipped with an Amanero Board that will give me USB to I2s conversion which should finally put the what's best input to rest.

The Audio GD and Singxer SU-6 were both favorably reviewed by Golden Sound with the Singxer coming in at No.1, but I can't resist the massive power supply of the Audio GD.

These are exciting times.

melm OP
1,082 posts
 

@lordmelton 

Of course, the Musetec already provides an Amanaro board providing USB to I²S conversion.  It may even have better clocks and a better power supply.  But if you come up with a superior SQ, we'll all be watching.

More to discover