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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
3,241 posts
 

@debjit_g I may try another motherboard at some point, one I'm using at present was chosen by original  streamer builder. He and the subsequent owner both compared to many off the shelf streamers, only the Taiko Extreme bested this custom build, both purchased the TE. Both compared when this custom build was using HDPlex internal SMPS and outboard LPS. Since I purchased added JCAT Optimo to power it, far superior to HDPlex and the outboard LPS they used.

 

The Euphony subscription model is kind of a bummer, but for just over $200 per year I don't need to screw around with diy OS. Convenience is nice and SQ is superb, never had V3, but V4 has many nice reviews.

 

The usb boards you mentioned are the ones I'd go for, no sense in going for less than best here.  I went with JCAT net xe board vs the lesser  JCAT net board, previous owner of streamer  had both available.

 

Powering OR and JCAT net card with Uptone JS2, choke based ps vs cap lps, sure that's not hurting OR and JCAT performance!

 

Sometime down the road I'll probably try out other boards, for now completely satisfied with SQ with custom build used as server only with the OR as Roon streamer via Sqeezelite adapter. Prefer over custom build streamer running Roon and embedded HQPlayer, custom build server duty only, HQPlayer Roon embed via OR, and custom build server only, Euphony Stylus via OR. Haven't even tried full Euphony Stylus on custom build, made a disaster of my local library on importing from NAS. Full Stylus via custom build using only Qobuz and Tidal libraries is fine interface, problem is I'm addicted to Roon interface and have too much good music in local library. Running full Stylus reportedly best SQ, have to experiment with this sooner than later.

rrboogie
44 posts
 

I have tried 2 USB cables without the 5V, that being the Acoustic BBQ Full Rack and Sablon 2020. I have also tried the following powered cables Audioquest Diamond, Supra Excalibur and a couple of generic cables. I found in both circumstances with the non powered cables that it smoothed out the sound. Perhaps too much for my ears. The silver wire Diamond and Excalibur were too sharp or bright to my ear. I ended up preferring a generic Chinese cable.Goes to show you don't ever know ... 'til you try.

americanspirit's avatar
americanspirit
64 posts
 

@sns 

 

I am interested in trying the RED by HOLOAUDIO.

have you already tried it?

I'm interested because the cost is not excessive for my pockets and I would like to use it instead of the PC

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 

Here is another well regarded streamer in same price ranges from the Netherlands. their MK III version comes with a Farad LPS.The MK II is a one box streamer with on board R-core transformer based LPS.

Mano ULTRA mkII Music Streamer (High-Res) • Magna Hifi

https://magnahifi.com/mano-ultra-mkii-music-streamer-high-res

sns
3,241 posts
 

@charles1dad Very interesting piece at that price coming from Netherlands, home of some of best digital designers, for instance Taiko, Farad. Good find!

 

@americanspirit  Either the Mano or Holo would be big upgrade over any PC. I've not tried the Holo, but expect it to be nice piece. The other option for those using PC's is to go to server/streamer combo, this gets rid of PC altogether. The PC will always be a weak link in system, regardless of dedicated streamer used.

 

 

 

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