It's an intriguing streamer but it's slightly more costly than the Holo Streamer and its I2S output doesn't perfectly match the 005 so I passed. Being able to experiment with I2S is one of my requirements.
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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My LKS USB-100 DDC came in the mail today. I let it warm up with the LKS linear power supply while I watched a movie. Later I hooked up the wireworld platinum starlight ethernet cable, the wireworld platinum starlight 48 hdmi cable, and the Shunyata Clock 75 (acting as spdif) cable with Canare BNC to RCA adapters between the USB-100 and the 005. I will provide more details later but long story short, the wireworld hdmi cable and the DDC were an amazing pair and I2S over HDMI was the connection I used most this night! The improvements compared to what I've been use to the last few weeks were NOT subtle. In the past, I mentioned that I listened to nuances in the music. Some of these nuances went missing for me after I sold my TOTL Shunyata power conditioner. I've slowly been tweaking the system to get these nuances back but it was not until tonight that a boatload of these nuances were heard again. The LKS DDC, LKS LPS, and the wireworld platinum starlight 48 hdmi cable were less than $900 for me. The cost was well worth it compared to my other experiments. The music was more dynamic, bass was better defined, I heard better resolution and clarity, there was a better sense of ease to the music... these were some of my listening notes. |
@sirnui I don't doubt you're getting fine quality sound, but I still believe the usb input on 005 is optimal setup, only input galvanically isolated with dedicated power supply. Much depends on usb feeding it however, streamer needs to treat it with same care as 005 treats the input.
My experiment with suspending 005 is simply matching or exceeding my expectations! As I discovered years ago, the best footer is no footer. I've used stock, softer footers in Herbies form, BDR cones, Finite Elemente and Aurios ball bearing devices, Ceraballs, and Stillpoint Ultra SS both with and without Ultra footers. I've tried various boxes filled with sand, maple, birch ply and aluminum top plates for these sand boxes, also tried various pneumatic devices over the years. This over many years with various cd transports, players and dacs, and all other components. 005 specifically used with best standing footer which have been the ceramic ball devices such as Ceraballs and Stillpoints, metal ball bearings meaning Aurios, also forgot the Nobsound spring devices (actually pretty nice low cost option).
005 suspended via HD monofilament fish line is without a doubt least colored most natural sound, every last bit of residual hardness or digital sound is eliminated via suspending. SQ of my new streaming setup remains revelatory with over 100 hours listening time, and things are continuing to improve with Coincident Statement pre now suspended and burn in of Duelund Cast capacitors in 300B amp, couple new power cords and JCAT Optimo S ATX power supply for streamer and Sonore OpticalModule. More upgrades coming via Finisar enterprise level transceiver modules for OpticalModule and OpticalRendu, lower jitter vs stock modules.
006 continues to amaze me, only become more convinced I have no need to spend $20k plus on dac. I've never had this relatively long term satisfaction with any so called 'budget' component in over thirty years now involvement in high end audio, 005 is the REAL DEAL, not out of place with any system at any price. |
Forgot, but Coincident pre now also suspended same setup as 005, effective here as well, only slightly less than 005 suspended. 300B amps now on Stillpoints vs Aurios, more improvement here. I'll add Stillpoints Ultra SS are nice footers for 005 if staying with footers, more natural presentation, transparency, resolution, sound staging and imaging all improved, much more engaging overall sound quality with the Stillpoints! Stillpoints on 3" maple block in birch ply sandbox was very, very nice. |
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