Musetec (LKS) MH-DA005 DAC

@sns

I’ve also tried taping over USB pin 1 with no effect before I realized what was going on in th 004. Obviously there’s nothing in the LKS or Musetec at the other end of line 1, so taping has no point.

As for power. The LKS 004 had all but the transformer of an LPS on a card that was placed above the Amanero Board. A 5V tap of the 50 Watt transformer powering the digital side provided the power to that board. A couple of people at head-fi actually mounted a separate small 5V transformer in the case connected directly to the AC power. I don’t think this mod was particularly popular. My recollection is that folks considered the general nature of the power for the board to be fine. IIRC someone tried a Singxer USB to I2S device and it didn’t outperform the on-board Amanero system. That was in the early days when people were wondering whether to buy the less or more expensive version of the 004. Mods, though. for the board above the Amanero seemed to be popular and worthwhile. But it’s been a while as I haven’t followed the LKS discussion at all since getting the Musetec. What seems clear is that fitting a much more powerful system for USB to I2S into the case called for Musetec to reengineer the whole thing and come up with the super capacitor solution.

I believe what I am reading about here IIUC is not a comparison of the USB input with the I2S input. It seem to me rather a comparison of 2 USB inputs, one using the internals of the Musetec USB system and the other using the separate LKS system, both feeding I2S into the internals of the DAC.

I have offered my thoughts on this elsewhere in this thread.

@melm On the taping thing, that makes sense for the Musetec and 004 as I had tried the tape thing with 004 prior to 005 purchase and same thing, couldn't be sure I heard difference. Now, I did do the tape thing with previous Auralic Vega, which also has very nice usb implementation, thought I heard more of a difference. Imagination or real? I came to realize over time that perhaps it was futile to tape over pin since the self powered element, still thought it better theoretically to keep whatever possible contamination out. As mentioned before, not sure I hear difference.

You are absolutely correct as to comparing one usb to another IF USB BEING USED ANYWHERE IN CHAIN. DUH, staring us directly in face.  While I couldn't recall, this was part of my thinking in not even attempting to use my Singxer SU6, it was only the Amanero internal usb I was bypassing, knew it was better than usb board in Singxer. 

@lordmelton I just looked through some threads and can't find, but I assume you couldn't use I2S directly out of Aurrender because of pin incompatibility? This would be ACTUAL  true comparison. Perhaps the entire ramifications of what you're actually doing  has escaped you in excitement to try this new setup? Sometimes the mind does funny things what with expectation bias. Do some more comparisons and report back. Theoretically, using the Amanero board should be much better than that LKS, also adding complexity. The only advantage would be the external LPS. If what you report remains true, I'd find the usb within Aurrender highly suspect. This actually fits in with my research and experience, the typical usb ports on vast majority of servers SUCK. Get the Phoenix and hear what usb is really capable of.

@melm The taping thing is to stop interference between the USB power supply conductors and the signal conductors. Nothing to do with the Amanro Board.

I got a very good result so my USB output must be very noisy.

@sns I would like to take I2s directly out of the Aurender and I think this could be possible because Oppo Mod in Korea is doing this for Oppo players. I will contact them. I'd love to try the Innous USB DDC but it's not going to happen just yet.

I've just ordered a WW Starlight 0.5m RJ45 and 0.6m Furutech NCF RJ45, both for I2s. Going to see if the shorter lengths make a difference. PS Audio recommends 0.5m or less.

There has been no imagination or beliefs of expectation, all the improvements have been very obvious and I've switched back to USB several time for confirmation and it's well below the SQ of I2s.

For $200 the L.K.S. is well worth a try. Soon we should have a report from the chap who ordered the Sonore Digital.

I believe lordmelton’s positive experience with the LKS DDC. The LKS converts and reclocks the digital signal. And perhaps more importantly, it does this powered by its own power supply that is separate from the DAC’s power supply. The LKS can perform its singular function without drawing power away from the DAC’s other responsibilities. I think there would be less noise kicked back to the DAC’s power supply as well. Over the last year or two, I’ve appreciated first hand the sonic benefits of DDC type devices that have great clocks and their own separate special power supplies. The list includes such devices as the Innuos Phoenix USB, audiophile switches, and the Ediscreation Fiber Box II that lordmelton also enjoys. I would throw in the Grimm MU1 streamer into that mix as well. Many folks know that separates sound better than an integrated device. I now believe this applies to DDC type devices as well.

The LKS converts and reclocks the digital signal. And perhaps more importantly, it does this powered by its own power supply that is separate from the DAC’s power supply.

I am not aware of ANY DDC in the market, regardless of price, that does this. I don’t think any DDC consumes from DAC’s power supply. In fact it would be very awkward to do it. Sometimes the USB is bus powered which means it draws <= 500ma (or <= 900ma for usb3) from the source.