2. digital
  3. 166933-4269

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
americanspirit's avatar
americanspirit
64 posts
 

@melm 

I confirm that the cable that carries the +5v you have to unsolder it from both connectors (both type a and type b) otherwise it can work as an antenna and make the situation worse.

further advice, you can connect the unsoldered cable to both the shield and the ground.

if you have problems making the cable, I can do it for you for free

sns
3,244 posts
 

@melm I believe it was Lordmelton who tried the conversion? I also believe I recall him or whoever it was went back to using usb.

 

With recent thread about measurements and how they affect both digital and analog sound quality, ASR measurements of 005 were recalled. The SNR measurements relatively unimportant, but I feel the somewhat poor jitter measurements may be impacting 005 sound quality. If I have a single nit with 005 it would be the slightest tilt toward precision vs. forgiveness. With insertion of new streamer and it's microscopic attention to minimizing jitter I'm hearing much greater flow, relaxation, much more analog like presentation. It would be interesting to hear a 005 with improved jitter measurements, something the engineers could implement mid model. I suspect this 005 would retain all it's goodness while adding more analog like presentation.

americanspirit's avatar
americanspirit
64 posts
 

@sns 

Amir's tests leave the time they find, they are not science, they are baseless tests performed by a child who bought a signal analyzer and uses it as a toy.

metaphorically it is as if Galileo, having his telescope of the time at his disposal, had stated that there are no distant planets because his instrument does not allow him to see them...

I'm tired of talking about it again, they are bogus tests built ad hoc to sell low-level Chinese products.

the MUSETEC MH-DA005 is perfect as it comes from the factory, all you need is a little care about the cables to be used and the quality of the power supply that is supplied to it.

jerryg123's avatar
jerryg123
3,429 posts
 

@americanspirit POST OF THE DAY MY MAN!!!!

 

Amir's tests leave the time they find, they are not science, they are baseless tests performed by a child who bought a signal analyzer and uses it as a toy.

metaphorically it is as if Galileo, having his telescope of the time at his disposal, had stated that there are no distant planets because his instrument does not allow him to see them...

I'm tired of talking about it again, they are bogus tests built ad hoc to sell low-level Chinese products.

the MUSETEC MH-DA005 is perfect as it comes from the factory, all you need is a little care about the cables to be used and the quality of the power supply that is supplied to it.

sirnui
82 posts
 

@americanspirit I will see/hear if the LKS DDC is better or worse.  If I've learned anything in this hobby it is to take everything reported online with a grain of salt and reserve my own judgement until I demo the gear in my own system against my own musical preferences.  For this reason, I have a constant monthly flow of new gear/ideas coming in and out.  My wife can attest to this.

It was indeed @lordmelton who had great results with the LKS DDC.  At the time he first reported his good results, I was using the MU1 streamer which I was very happy with so I stayed put.  Now that the MU1 is gone, this is a good opportunity to demo the LKS DDC.  I will report back what I find.

Speaking of new gear, I also bought a Shunyata Typhon T2 power conditioner and it should be leaving the factory this week.  I'm hoping I can get back the resolution and low level details I lost after selling my Shunyata Everest with Omega XC cable.  I plan to test the Typhon T2 connected to my Puritan PSM 136 conditioner via the umbilical cable.  The Typhon T2 has two AC outlets itself so I will try putting the 005 and other components into the Typhon T2 directly and also into Puritan PSM 136.  For anyone that cares, I can report back the results.  But I doubt anyone else plans to use a Giandel 5000 inverter with battery feeding a Typhon T2 feeding a Puritan power conditioner.  This is the kind of journey I'm on...

More to discover