Musetec (LKS) MH-DA005 DAC

@jc4659 Hi, yes I may be able to answer questions. Glad to help if I can. The DACs that I have compared the Musetec 005 directly to are the Gustard X26Pro, The Holo Audio Spring 3 and the PS Audio Directstream. The Gustard is not really in the same league in my opinion. It sounded smaller and less engaging.

I was enjoying the Holo Audio Spring 3 and couldn't fault it but I always felt that there was something missing. When I first got the Musetec 005, I brought it in from my icy porch and connected it stone cold. I immediately thought, I like this better. Of course it improved over time but the big differences to me were the increased transparency of the Musetec as well as better PRAT and dynamics. It just sounded more real to me, and allowed a better connection to the music. So, I sold the Holo Audio and became a US Dealer for Musetec.

A customer traded in the Direcstream for the Musetec so I did a comparison between the two DACs. The Directstream is a great DAC and one that I like a lot because it has great musicality and tone. The Musetec also has great musicality and tone, but again, it had a little extra transparency so that I felt that I could hear a little more into the "space" of the recording. I think the Musetec might have been a little more dynamic as well, which to me always makes the music seem more real.

I did have the Holo Audio May KTE a while back and I thought it was really good. I didn't have the Musetec at that time but from what I remember, I believe the two DACs are on par. The one thing that I like about the Musetec that I couldn't do with the May, is connect straight to my power amp. The Musetec has a volume control on the remote and it sounds really good connected direct. I know a lot of people say that a good preamp always improves the sound, but I could definitely live without a preamp with the Musetec.

Persons researching the Musetec and wanting to read everything, and especially Europeans, may wish to know that there is a new thread about the DAC on a German Audio site:  Aktives Hören 

Google the site.  In Google click on  "Bausteine für aktives HiFi" and then scroll to "Qualität von China-Krachern (hier: Musetec DAC)"

Anyone can read it by means of Google Translate.  English readers may be amused by some of the translations.  Breaking in the DAC becomes "rehearsing" it.  Seems logical.
 

Thanks for the info and still on the fence on trying a 005 against my NOS Tube Dac...😏

Wig

@wig Not sure this has any bearing on present day tube dacs, but back in the day I had Audio Logic 24MXL. Also had Perpetual Technologies dac setup modded to the hilt. AL suffered greatly in comparison, perhaps unfairly biased against tube dacs to this day.

Over the years I've come to the conclusion I only want sources to provide maximum resolution and transparency, barring analytical presentation, I prefer to add flavoring elsewhere.

Whether 005 will fit your needs contingent upon your evaluation of present tube dac. If you feel present dac excessively flavored towards warmth or lacking transparency and resolving power 005 could be for you.

Update on mine, not much to tell. I listened for a little bit but my main speakers are out of the system because I am burning in a pair of Polk R600s for my son. I have about 120 hours on mine. I had some Pink Floyd on, It sounds very detailed, even at the lower volumes I was listening at (tinnitus is bothering me). I don’t notice exceptional staging capabilities others have reported yet, but I am with unfamiliar speakers too, and I haven’t messed with optimal placement yet with those either.

I have a photo of the 005 in the system on my virtual systems page.  Last pic at the bottom.  IMO, photos do not do it justice.