Thanks Melm
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 $$ by research, and by satisfaction with the MH-DA004. Frankly, I have been overwhelmed by the improvement; just didn't think it was possible. Fluidity, clarity, bass extension. A post to another board summed it up better than I can after listening to piano trios: "I have probably attended hundreds of classical concerts (both orchestral and chamber) in my life. I know what live sounds like in a good and bad seat and in a good and mediocre hall. All I can say is HOLY CRAP, this sounds like the real thing from a good seat in a good hall. Not an approximation of reality, but reality."
Meanwhile, during the 4 years after release of the MH-DA004, LKS (now Musetec) worked on the new MH-DA005 design, also with a pair of ES9038pro chips. This time he used more of the best components available. One torroidal transformer has silver plated copper. Also banks of super capacitors that act like batteries, solid silver hookup wire, 4 femtoclocks each costing multiples of the Crysteks, a revised Amanero board, more of the best European caps and a new partitioned case. I can't say cost NO object, but costs well beyond. A higher price, of course. Details at http://www.mu-sound.com/DA005-detail.html
The question, surely, is: How does it sound? I'm only going to answer indirectly for the moment. I thought that the MH-DA004 was to be my last DAC, or at least for a very long time. I was persuaded to part with my $$ 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."
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@lordmelton Now that I know a bit of echo is there in the song I listened to it with an identical setup but this time on my Thiel CS3.7 speakers. I can also hear it there, though a little less pronounced. This afternoon I picked up a headphone amp that will be getting rave reviews everywhere soon, the RAAL VM-1a. I am going to decide between the Musetec 005 and my Benchmark DAC3B as to which one will be the winner to pair with this amp. I think for this tube amp the DAC3B should be the winner. BTW - If a CanJam headphone show comes to a town near you (Chicago next), go and have a listen to the RAAL VM-1a amp and SR1a or SR1b headphones. This pairing rivals the best of any gear at any price.
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@yyzsantabarbara Just to be sure is the echo present throughout the whole track of Band on the Run or just at certain points? Which copy of the album were you listening to? Headphones, sorry I can't wear them, they make me feel claustrophobic. Thanks for your recommendation. |
It was just a stream from ROON. WingSpan FLAC Tidal 44.1 kHz 16 bit. So nothing special. The best thing I can say about the RAAL SR1a is that they are nothing like headphones. There is a new model coming out that are like headphones for people who crave a headphone sound. What I have is more a 2-channel sound with an open baffle 'ear speaker'. I am incredibly impressed with even the Benchmark DAC3B tonight. I am now listening to Band on the Run on the VM-1a and the DAC3B. The echo that I hear is even more pronounced on this setup. It starts at around the 2:20 mark. This maybe the best MUSIC I have ever heard anywhere. A buddy of mine has a problem playing music on his 2-channel since his kids cannot sleep. I am going to tell him to sell all his gear expect the DAC and get the vm-1a and SR1a. Next up is the Musetec 005 and the VM-1a.I can also improve the streaming slightly in my current setup. I will do that tomorrow. Cannot stop the music tonight.
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@yyzsantabarbara At 2.20 and later I find the PMc's vocals extended, sustained but what I hear I can't really call an echo. However the electric guitar I'm sure is using an echo pedal. |
- 1537 posts total