@americanspirit Looks like contender, but what I'm really after is more diy solution. I want all components and parts to be top grade, audiophile grade, batteries alone over $500 for what I've been looking at. We have audiophile grade off the shelf already with this, http://s1000 Problem is I'm not spending $15k and up!
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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Sorry, that link doesn't work, lets try another, https://stromtank.us/ |
the product that I have proposed is not a simple distributor, but an efficient current conditioner. at its output it supplies alternating current with a perfectly sinusoidal constant voltage and frequency. the features can be found here https://www.online-usv.de/kategorie/usv-xanto |
I’m using an lks 100 and lks power supply between my aurender a10 and my 005 using i2s output. I find it provides a slighter sense of ease to the music than usb. I just tried straight usb again—not 5 minutes ago— and went back to the lks ddc. Ymmv. This is all system, room and taste dependent. I recently listened to my brother’s system on Kauai. It is similar to mine in that he uses a joule la300 preamp, quintessence speakers (although mine are further down the evolutionary path), and a joule vzn80 amp. I have a similar amp in my closet; I currently am using a first watt sit-3, ooh la la what a great little amp.
Back to my point; based on my rave recommendation, my brother bought an 005 and quickly switched to a very expensive EMM streamer/DAC combo. He loves it and describes it as more analog than the 005. His system is wonderful and perhaps softens the leading edge of notes ever so slightly in comparison to my system. But I prefer my system. It seems a bit more detailed and real to me. I was happy returning home and sitting in my listening chair. I was also very happy I didn’t need to start shopping for some EMM gear! This hobby is very individualistic. I’ve learned long ago that I listen with my own ears and they are the ultimate determinator of what’s best for me. I’ve got Tim o brien another day playing and when I close my eyes he is in my room with me. |
A lot of great suggestions in the last few posts. I will try the no footer test on the 005. It's potentially a free upgrade. I'm no stranger to AC conditioners and power cables. For me it has mostly been Shunyata gear. Over the years, I have gone through about 10 Shunyata conditioners and many more Shunyata power cables. Each generation was leaps and bounds better than the prior. I'm heavily biased toward this company. They make my favorite digital cables as well. I took the plunge and ordered the HoloAudio Red streamer. It supports Roon and it also supports Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect. My old streamer never had the last two features. Red also has a plethora of digital outputs I can play with. It's going to be a fun winter for me.
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