First impressions of new MH-DA006, Musetec flagship

sns how do you sync the 006 to the Gaia clock?

Where is the review?

I will be interested in your impressions of the Gaia with the 006 via i2S.

I'm still loving my 005 and feed it through i2S.

Thanks, interesting review/impressions of the Gaia-Harmony combination.  I will also be very interested in your impressions of the 006-Gaia combination.  

Any conclusions re Gaia-006 vs Gaia-Harmony, ie is the Gaia that special in what it brings to both DACS?

Thanks, sns, these are very interesting conclusion and may well cost me some money!

As I've said previously, I settled many months ago on feeding my 005 through I2s using the LKS usb 100 with matching power supply as my DDC.  It beats usb in my system, which is quite incredible.  But, I sense there is more available and I may buy a Gaia after returning from an international trip I am taking next week.  That may be followed by an 006.

Please continue to offer you impressions as you listen more.  Your reports are much appreciated.

I'm sure I can do better than the lks 100.  It provided a very happy stopping point a couple years back.  But, now that we are moving into the winter, and I am developing an itch to see about improving the system, I will likely get the Gaia.  I learned long ago that there getting a lesser quality alternative always costs more in the end. 

Thanks for the response.

I had an SU6 and sent it back.  Sonically in my system, the LKS bested it.  I had them both at the same time and spent a fair bit of time swapping and listening.  The LKS has been in the system for several years at this point.  I'm very interested in trying the 006 and gaia together.  But, after property taxes, helping my daughter buy her first piece of real property, and needing a new furnace, it might have to wait for a little bit. 

Excellent report, sns, appreciate the thoughts.  Enjoy!

I have an 006 incoming.  Are there any recommendations of best places to shop for a gaia? 

Thanks, sns.  I spoke with Paul today and have a Gaia incoming.  I expect it will arrive before my 006 thus I will get a chance to run it in on the 005.  Paul spoke highly of the tubulus I2S cables.  I will hold off for the moment.  I'll post impressions as I get to know the Gaia and the 006 when it arrives.  I'm definitely looking forward to these next steps.  Thanks for all of your guidance and reports.  

sns, with the 006 are you running pin mode 5 on the Gaia?  And, is the pin mode the same on the 005 if you know?

I believe I've answered my own questions--yes, and yes.

I received the 006 several days ago, and the Gaia a day later.  Immediate impression of the 006 with the lks 100 was that the 006 provided a wider more distinct soundstage and more defined images than the 005 but was somewhat less involving and musical that the well broken in 005. I remember the same initial impression when the 005 was new in contrast with the internal DAC in my aurender A10, but that the 005 became more engaging and involving as time went on.  It;s really a stunning DAC.  As time went on and the 005 settled in, it far surpassed the aurender.  It also took hundreds of hours to fully settle in.  I have since passed the A10 on to a friend and bought an N200, which I love.

Inserting the Gaia definitely elevated the 006.  The Gaia really seems to be quite an exceptional DDC even though brand new.  Incidentally, I ran a $10 HDMI cable for a day until I finally found a Wireworld silver cable (2 meters long) I had buried in a cable box and that cable improved the presentation.  I will likely get a 1/2 meter tubulus.

I am, however, having a pin issue that has me stumped.  The default pin mode on the 006 is AAAAB.  This coincides with mode 5 on the Gaia.  However, when running these modes, the channels are inverted.  I tried sns's settings and again the channels are inverted.  I can correct the inversion by switching LRCK settings.  However, I am worried this may be introducing timing errors, which is one of the reasons to use a DDC.

I have checked my interconnects from the 006 into my preamp (and from preamp to amp) at least a dozen times and they are correctly configured.

Thoughts? 

I have a joule electra marianne edition preamp and it does not invert channels. It does invert phase which requires reversing speaker cable polarity. But l-r channel orientation has always been correct and consistent for various inputs and the problem has only manifested since installing the 006/gaia combination.  

Running the correct pin settings indeed inverts channels compared to before putting the 006/gaia into the mix, and compared to my vinyl rig. I have corrected the inversion by reversing the setting on the LRCK wires; I’m concerned that is introducing timing errors. I could revert to "correct" pin settings and reverse l/r interconnects between the DAC and the pre but I’m trying to get to the bottom of the issue.

I will keep fiddling and burning everything in a I will keep puzzling over the inversion. It’s quite strange and unexpected.

The joule gear is excellent, I had an LA 100 first generation and am sorry I sold it. It was magical with my music reference RM 10. I still have an LA 150, which is in storage. The La 300 ME is quite a bit better than the 150.

I also had rites of passages and let them go. I swapped my VZN 80 with my brother. I actually prefer my first watt sit-3, it’s quite an amazing amp.

RIP Judd, he was a good man.

I’m really not hearing any difference changing the LRCK pin configuration. But, I haven’t really sat down and listened critically. I’m concentrating on run in.

I did order a 1/2 meter tubulus today.  Sounds like it will take 3 or 4 weeks to receive the cable.  Patience...

I ordered an argentus.  I couldn't talk myself into a ximius. 

I agree it's likely some sort of wiring issue.  I'm not going to worry about it for now.  And as I said, I couldn't hear a SQ difference switching the LRCK pin configuration.  I'll do more discerning analysis after I get a couple hundred more hours on the units.

Quick update, I've got about 150-200 hours on the 006/Gaia combination.  Things are settling in.  I'm noticing a developing sense of increasing ease and coherence to go along with the incredible detail, soundstage and distinct vocal and instrument placement that has been present since startup.  It surpasses the 004 and prior DDC by a good bit.  But, I believe there is more to be gained based on my recollection of break in with the 005, which continued to develop in its musicality and its ability to draw the listener in for probably about 600 hrs or perhaps more. 

I'm definitely enjoying the new combination and look forward to continuing positive evolution as well as my tubulus cable.    

Perhaps look at a used 005 if you don't plan to upgrade the rest of the system.  The 006 (and the 005) definitely benefit from superb associated equipment.    But you can get a used 005 for quite a bit less than a new 006.  And, you might not hear the differential gains of the 006 vs the 005 given the rest of the system.

I agree with dbb re the gaia.  

If you want an 005, you could contact Jason Walker in Indiana, the US dealer.  He has a couple used 005s, including my old black one.  It's a great DAC.

Yes, that's Jason's company.  He's a great guy, straight shooter, very good to deal with.  The 005s are great, similar to the 006 but just a little less of everything.  I was extremely happy with mine and my system is extremely good, I just got upgradeitis. 

Very quick update, the system continues to evolve for the better at about 200hrs on the 006 and Gaia. Incredible detail and stage but the sound, particularly vocals, continues to develop more realism and involvement.

I’m very happy with the upgrade and look forward to receiving my tubulus and a few other upstream changes I'm going to try.

I'm fairly certain I will hear the difference with the tubulus and will report my impressions when it arrives.

In incorporating the 006 and gaia, I temporarily downgraded the power cord on my N200 just out of convenience.  This morning, I went back to one of my better power cords on the N200 and was quite shocked at the improvement even though I know the difference cords can make. 

It reinforces that everything matters. 

The system is sounding exceptional. 

I continue to be impressed with the 006/gaia combination as it keeps positively evolving at around 250-300 hrs.  Microdynamics, detail, resolution and soundstage are truly off the charts while also allowing profound involvement with the musical performances.  There is nothing "digital" about the musical presentation.  Rather, the system allows even more of an immersive experience than ever before.  I agree with sns that my digital system rivals or perhaps surpasses my vinyl rig (tw acustic raven, graham phantom, benz ebony lp, steelhead.) 

Listen to I'm With Her performing Crescent City, it is extremely easy to locate Sara, Sarah, and Aoife arrayed before you.  In fact, many I'm With Her songs are good tests of the resolution of your system, and the ladies are astonishing talents.

Another of my favorite test songs is Guy Clark performing The Dark.  His band is filled with amazingly talented musicians.  I love to listen to Darrell Scott playing rhythm in the right channel and Verlon Thomas playing lead in the left channel. 

In the last several days,  also swapped out a cisco switch for a second sonore opticalRendu deluxe as part of my "optical moat" and it had profound positive effects.

I'm extremely happy with the system and look forward to continued break in as well as receipt of my tubulus cable. 

sns, nice vinyl rig.  I forgot to mention I already have finisar spf1475 installed in the sonores.

I'm heading to my dedicated room for a listen.

My tubulus has shipped.

I've got perhaps a dozen hours on the tubulus, and less on the new optical module deluxe, but I can assuredly say that my system has reached new heights--new levels of detail and resolution with even more involvement than ever before.  Some of the challenges we sometimes face when chasing extreme resolution is the loss of involvement with the music, cookie cutter imaging, harshness, and other features we label digititis.  My system is displaying none of those symptoms.  Attack and decay sound real.  It is very easy to pick out every expression and nuance contained in a recording.  Yet, I find myself drawn into the music and able to let it wash into me without focusing on every little detail, yet the details are there.

The tubulus cable seems to bring more of these positive qualities but with a lot of subtly.  It replaced a wireworld silver starlight, no slouch, but the tubulus is already better.  It was worth the cost to me.  YMMV.  And I look forward to continuing evolution as the cable and the rest of the system keeps settling together.  I do feel the 006 and gaia are mostly stabilized with at least 400 hours of running time.

I did run the system for a short period of time without my optical moat in place.  I moved a few components around.  It was a big disappointment running ethernet straight into my aurender.  I lost many of the good qualities that are present with the moat in place.

Optimizing streaming can be daunting and expensive with much trial and error required.  However, it is definitely worth the effort.    

Just spent an hour in the sweet spot, sounding absolutely amazing.  Definitely sweetening, softening, focusing even more.

I tried async when I first fired up gaia and 006 but haven't tried it since.  Sync was better out of the gate and I'm still using the gaia clock..  You are as well, aren't you?

What I'm hearing is truly astonishing.  I've never heard my system sound better.  

brbrock, I said that my current streaming setup is the best digital I have ever had and that it rivals and perhaps bests my vinyl, although source quality has everything to do with what sounds best, as I expect you know. Some records are not bettered by their streaming counterparts, and vice versa, because of source quality.

My benchmark for comparison is vinyl, which is what I listened to primarily for many years.

I have a CEC transport and used a John Wright hot rodded musetec bidat for many years, prior to entering the streaming world 3-4 years ago. The bidat is a redbook DAC known for its analog like qualities.

My contemporary DAC experience includes Aurender A10 (passed on to friends), Rose 250 (second system), 005 (sold) and now 006.

What DACs have you used? What is the rest of your system comprised of? How is your room? Your power?

If your 006 is harsh, I fully agree with sns that it is probably an issue elsewhere in your system. Specific to streaming, I can say with certainty that I would not be hearing what I am hearing out of my 006 without my sonore optical moat, the signal and power cables I have in place, or my gaia. I have tried the 006 without same.

Of course, I would not achieve my current level without my power conditioning, room treatment, rack systems, other components, and a whole lot of tuning and tweaking.

Following up on what dbb said, I think all of us have had our 006s go through a "dumb phase " (to borrow a phrase from the wine world) where the DAC goes up and down.  I had some moments of harshness and vocal sibilance, which have completely disappeared.

My 006 has come into its own.  I've got at least 500 hours on it (and the gaia) and it has become terrifically sweet and smooth with great resolution and nuanced expression.  Any hint of harshness and grain are completely gone.   

My 006, Gaia, tubulus cable, optical modules, power supplies, and ethernet cables are run in and settled and I must say my system is sounding simply superb, smooth and involving, wide, deep and layered, while allowing, if I want to think about it, a very focused view into the music.  Typically, however, I find myself just listening immersed without needing to seek out particular voices or instruments although they are certainly there. 

I'm really not interested at the present time with fiddling with my streaming setup any longer.  I am hankering though to spin a few albums that are not available on Qobuz, such as Old Kit Bag by Richard Thompson, In Stereo by Tom Bukovac and Guthrie Trapp, New York Reunion by McCoy Tyner, and the Beatles Mono Box, among other vinyl gems.