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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
sns
3,338 posts
 

Making generalizations about usb cables, as you mentioned is system specific. I experimented with usb cables prior to 005, the one generalization I could make is, the more silver content the better for me. All my ethernet cables silver clad copper, AQ Diamond usb,pure silver wire. I find silver content in  streaming system cables superior to pure copper, with many of the sound properties you speak of. Pure copper always dull and less involving in my streaming setups.

 

I do think the usb rendering device is far more important than the usb cable, and imparts far more of it's signature than the cable. So, for me, key is get best usb rendering device one can afford, I'll reiterate for the umpteenth time, forget about usb direct out of vast majority of music servers, dedicated or general service computers. If usb is not optimized within server, must get nice streamer/usb renderer, various usb cleaners alone won't result in optimized usb. Once you get usb feed in order, which usb cable to purchase becomes most salient.

 

I presume non-optimized usb solutions would sound best with pure copper or mostly copper usb wire, silver or silver clad copper far better chance with optimized usb. Silver in cables, in general,  will expose every single mid high to high freq. anomaly in one's system, bass can also be somewhat thin compared to copper. Get your system right and the mid highs to highs will sparkle in a most natural non fatiguing manner. Point is, get the noise out streaming chain, silver is wonderful, noise is silver's worst friend. 

boxer12
8,656 posts
 

Question: How do I get this DAC to see the USB signal from my streamer? Setup:

Roon loaded on laptop / IFI Zen stream / DA005

It sounds wonderful with the rca digital cable already but would like to try the USB (since that is what most of you are doing) to see what I'm missing. 

sirnui
83 posts
 

I think it's as simple as connecting a USB cable from the lower USB port on the Zen Stream to the USB input port on the 005 then pressing the Input button on the 005 until you see USB on the display. Play music like you normally would and you should get music. 

lordmelton's avatar
lordmelton
877 posts
 

@boxer12 It's the bottom USB out to your DAC. IFI don't say what OS they are using. If it's windows you need an ASIO driver.

Our ‘exclusive modes’ give you individual settings dedicated to specific modes of operation to deliver the purest possible performance.

All-in-one
This non-specific mode is great for all platforms, audio formats and devices.

DLNA streaming
Select this mode to optimise performance when using the ZEN Stream with DLNA-compatible apps and devices.

NAA streaming
Select this mode when using the ZEN Stream as a Network Audio Adapter in conjunction with Signalyst HQPlayer software.

Roon Ready
Select this mode when integrating the ZEN Stream into a ROON environment.

Tidal streaming
If you are a subscriber to Tidal’s Masters Tier, this is the mode for you.

lordmelton's avatar
lordmelton
877 posts
 

@melm Try taking WW for a spin I've been very surprised how good their Ethernet cables are.

I never paid WW any attention before because I thought they were like AQ,

I don't like the way AQ market cables with dozens of different series, then upon that they have different editions.

WW are IMO in a higher league and their service is fantastic. Call Larry at WW and they'll cut custom length cables and you'll usually get them the next day.

WW will give you sparkle I'm sure, AQ Diamond Ethernet is dark.

Never tried WW or AQ USB cables.

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