First impressions of new MH-DA006, Musetec flagship

@dbb 

I might mention that before going the Iancanada route I wanted to try the Magna Mano Ultra mk3 Farad network bridge that has both I2S and sp/dif outputs.  It seems to be a very good unit (with a fine power supply) that doesn't break the bank.  The problem for me was that the I2S output on the Magna requires an HDMI cable with the PS Audio pin-outs and the 005 requires the Gustard pin-outs.  I looked far and wide for someone to make up a cable going from one to the other and came up empty.  Since the 006 has pin-out options you also have more options.

As I understand it, the sp/dif standard takes the 4 signals from the raspberry pi (or other similar mini-computer within the device-often a raspberry pi) and combines them into the one sp/dif signal.  Then the DAC internally separates them back to I2S within.  Thus I2S direct avoids these two conversions.  There are those who hear no difference; there are those who do.

@car123 Not really a complete review, rather more impressions, more thorough review earlier. Thread is under Laiv Harmony.

I agree an I2S directly out of streamer, avoiding usb altogether would be a simpler solution. Issue is the quality of that I2S in streamer, does it have FIFO buffer FPGA logic and dual OXCO clocks like Gaia?  I don't doubt you can diy build many streaming components, I've done and still do, just don't believe qualities of Gaia easily duplicated, I acknowledge there is steep price to pay with Gaia. I considered purchasing Pink Faun I2S card for my custom streamer (at present use only as server, Roon core), this would negate use of Sonore OpticalModule, OpticalRendu (this is my streamer/Roon endpoint) (optical conversion) and usb. The lesser quality implementation of I2S vs Gaia and loss of great benefits I hear from the optical conversion dissuaded me from going this route.

@melm I visited some cable site, somewhere in Asia, that builds I2S cables to spec, I'll try to recall site  later today. Both Gaia and 006 allow custom pin configuration, my Gaia is 12th generation.

I now have Gaia connected to 006 via I2S, plan listening session soon.

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

@sns Sorry if I missed it, but did you decide on an i2s cable you like with the Harmony?

@sns 

Not sure I understand the value of fpga on a streamer, which should be a very simple device.

The unit I am now using also has a fifo buffer and uses 2 clocks, but I'm not sure they qualify as OXCOs.  They are easily user replaceable and I am now using two Accusillicon clocks, a 45 and a 49.  Though the Accusilicons are very good, I may very well move on to even better clocks.  The Accusilicons, and any other clocks I may use, publish their phase noise data, which gives at least a hint as to their quality.  What is known about the clocks in the Gaia?  Also the PS in the unit I'm using is much like that on the digital side of the 005 and is further upgradeable.

In any event the first thing a DDC has to do is clean up the USB stream.