Musetec (LKS) MH-DA005 DAC

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?

@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.

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.

@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.

@melm I don't understand what you mean. Are you saying that the Amanero board in the 005 converts USB to I2s internally? Because the specs for I2s are much higher.