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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
lordmelton's avatar
lordmelton
877 posts
 

@sns Hi, The only way for you and @melm to put this matter to rest is to get a LKS 100 and see for yourselves.

All I can say is it's the best sound I've ever heard in my system and it's significantly better than only USB. We all know that USB is jitter central so there are major changes at work here.

I've learned I2s has different requirements from regular Ethernet. Firstly I2s doesn't like the Telegartner cast alloy type plug headshells. Gold plated types give much better results.

Finally it's a much better sound, everything is multiplied, detail, texture, timing, soundstage, imaging....everything, not just a different sound.

redspot
2 posts
 

Hello,
I am a user of 004, but I use an external USB-DDC instead of an internal USB-DDC. I use an old model called MX-U8, and make my own RJ 45 cable and connect it at a distance of 20 cm. I listened and compared many times, but the sound of the external one was better.
For your reference.

sns
3,003 posts
 

@lordmelton I'll never do the comparison unless I was using usb out of server, this is where my main beef with usb resides. You're still essentially using usb out of server, just switching LKS for Aurrender, to my mind you're comparing LKS and the external power supply to Aurrender usb as much or more than usb to I2S in 005.

 

In my setup I avoid ALL usb prior to OpticalRendu, I have totally optimized usb with total 100% galvanic isolation prior to usb using optical conversion, and have avoided any conversion schemes within server, server is only network device and place for Roon core and library. So server is minimal device, least imposition of noise or imprint on final sound, then 100% galvanic isolation of the maximally minimized noise emanating from server, and this noiseless signal being reclocked in OR using very good clocks and power supply (Uptone JS2), which is last thing in chain just prior to excellent usb board in 005.

 

End result for me is just incredible sound quality, so far above prior usb and ethernet schemes I've tried. I really have no motivation to ever use any usb out of a server again. If I did it would have to be custom atx build with totally optimized usb. 

 

Until you all have heard the advantage of forgetting server conversion using usb or I2S or any other conversion scheme you won't know what you're missing. I'll mention again, the only off the shelf server with a second ethernet port I'm aware of is Antipodes, otherwise custom atx build is only way. The way most servers are built today means they are main bottleneck to getting full potential out of streaming, assuming one has good network and dac.

 

For someone willing to experience this, try the Antipodes K50 for all in one server, K40 or 41 for server only with one's choice of streamer.

 

 

lordmelton's avatar
lordmelton
877 posts
 

@sns Despite several people fully agreeing that they prefer the USB/I2s setup I find it quite disconcerting that you don’t believe us. I think the LKS 100 works so well is because it’s a simple design, basically straight through with quality Crystek 957 oscillators. I’m in an extremely happy place right now.

Let me explain my setup once again.

1. 5G Optical straight into my rack, terminated in my router.

2. 1.2m Furutech Ethernet from router to Ediscreation Extreme with Galvanic via Optical isolator.

3. 0.4m WW Starlight Ethernet to galvanically isolated RJ45 input on Aurender N20

4. From N20 Crystal Clear Cables USB without power conductor to LKS 100

5. LKS 100 to 005 via RJ45 Furutech 0.6m Ethernet cable.

I listen to my ripped CDs and SACDs, played from the N20 SSD, combined with Tidal/Qobuz. I am getting excellent results with all.

Again I would like to thank @debjit_g for his WW Ethernet recommendation, it really synthesizes with the Ediscreation Extreme. I guess I’ll get the Platinum soon. The Starlight is crazily good for the price.

sns
3,003 posts
 

@lordmelton Quite the contrary, look at my prior post, I presume what you're hearing is valid. My only issue is, and as Melm pointed out, since you still have usb in stream, you're comparing two usb solutions, at least to some degree. I have no arguments with subjective best solutions. It seems you're making claim I2S input superior to usb input with 005, I find that claim dubious until you've eliminated any usb in chain.

 

I'm curious as to some OBJECTIVE streaming guidelines, at least as it pertains to 005. I'd like to know if I2S or usb is best input on 005. I have ability to do some comparisons, but my setup is too unique to have validity for others. For those presently using usb or I2S out of servers I'd like to see exclusive I2S to usb  setup, both fully optimized. The only generalization I can make based on my experience is vast majority of usb setups aren't optimized due to usb server flaws, this gives great usb inputs on dacs a bad name. I hear far too much bad mouthing of dac usb, I believe it wrongheaded.

 

As things stand, at least Melm and I are getting fine results with usb, you and others? fine results with I2S, perhaps both are indeed great inputs, ok with me.

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