First impressions of new MH-DA006, Musetec flagship


I have received the 006 almost a week ago and have been breaking it in. The price at Shenzhenaudio is $3,900.00 USD, $600 more than the 005. The ad copy states:

"DA006 is a new generation of flagship DAC developed by Musetec over three years and launched in 2024. During this period, it has undergone more than ten revisions and adjustments.

Compared to the previous DA005, the listening experience of DA006 has been improved in all aspects. DA006 has clearer and richer details, a stronger sense of texture, a more stable sound base, better detail control, a wider soundstage, fuller and more powerful, smoother and more natural. . ."

Some brief listening during break in has been very very positive. I will report back when it has run at least 300 hours.

dbb

@noelpastor

I’m a happy owner of an 005 who has only been a casual contributer to this thread. What you write is not unlike what was written by some about the 005 in the very long 005 thread. So just a comment here.

You write that the 006 "unlike the Gustard (X30) does not have any pro reviews." Let’s get serious here. Anyone with a laptop or an iphone can call himself a "reviewer." These guys are all over the internet and one thing in common is that there is no supervision by another person, a serious editor, as in the legacy publications. The first printed review that comes up if you google "Gustard X30" is written by a guy for whom each new component is the best ever, thinks he is being paid by the word, repeats much of a manufacturer’s promo material, and like others of his ilk has gotten many of his review samples as gifts rather than loans from the manufacturers. A while ago there was a lot of discussion all over about that. A good review promotes a good resale value. That reviewer, like so many other internet reviewers, does so many reviews that they use each component for just a short time. Like the old reviews in Stereo Review and High Fidelity, they are only useful to learn what knobs and connectors each one has. Moreover, they know that the moment they do a critical review no manufacturer will again send them a component for review! Asking an 005 or 006 owner if they have compared to another recent component usually comes up empty as they are not reviwers. They only know what they have used, long term, before.

In another post you ask about the possibility of a malfunction. I don’t know what your options generally are where you live. However, you should be aware that with all that has been written about the 005 and 006 I don’t believe anyone has ever written of a problem with these units. Quality parts and quality control seems to be at a very high level. I write here about the 005 since I have not examined an 006. Like many other quality units from China, it is built in a very modular way. Therefore if there is a malfunction it can usually be traced to a circuit board tha can be lifted out and sent in for inspection and repair. So one does not have to send in the complete unit. But one should be comfortable doing that. 006 owners may want to comment here.

Of course it is comforting to have read praise from the "pro reviewers" before a purchase. However many of us have found comfort in reading of long term satisfaction such as is found in threads like this even though the contributers don’t have experience with many different units. Here in the US one can buy a Gustard from Amazon with an easy return. You should do what you are comfortable with. Your money, your anxiety, your choice.

As @melm  mentioned modular aspect of build important for ease of repair, same as my Laiv Harmony, DIY for some.

 

The lack of pro reviews is the one thing I absolutely don't get about Musetec. Laiv flooded youtube and other reviewers with demo Harmony dacs, result much hype and sales. I've seen the same thing with Holo, Gustard, SMSL, etc. seems many ascribe great authority to 'professional' reviewers.

 

Pro reviewers should be taken with a large grain of salt, negative reviews ensure manufacturers won't send you equipment and alienate fan boys. Danny at GR Research has many enemies what with his critiques of loudspeakers. Another outspoken one is Mike Powell, OCD HifFi Guy. These guys may or may not be correct in their criticisms and/or solutions but the point is they come under attack for negative reviews. Pro reviewers want to be liked, brings in more subscribers. Musetec doesn't play the game so its left to owners to spread the word, I can see why some skeptical with this, owners of equipment often morph into fan boys.

@sns 

You write, "The lack of pro reviews is the one thing I absolutely don't get about Musetec."

It's been written many times: Small manufacturers don't want pro reviews.   

A bad review and they're done.  You don't have to look far to have seen that.   A sterling review and they have more orders than they can handle.  Then they have to deal with a crowd of unhappy folks.

I do believe a good percentage of so called pro reviews have some bias one way or the other and at varying levels, but as long as one is aware of this these can still be helpful especially when gears are compared. Like when the X30 is compared w/ the May it is often described as more open, incisive and detailed presentation while May bloomy, warm and spacious. This tells me in my system (mildly warm) the X30 will likely be a better match. It is from these reviews I eliminated the May as an option w/c I originally were keen. 
 

Musetec do seem to be a smaller outfit than Gustard w/ only 3 products. W/c could explain why they would rather sell units rather pass around for reviews. I sent them a couple of emails and got prompt decent response. My email to Gustard still no response. I buy lots of stuff all the time from Amazon but the X30 is not an option. In email Musetec advise they have been partners for years w/ Shenzenaudio and they are reliable. 

@noelpastor Midwest Audio out of I believe Indiana also dealer for Musetec.

 

I'd find it hard to believe reviewers praising $1-2K Chinese dacs would find fault with Musetec's, sound quality, perhaps some would claim they heard no difference vs those dac's, therefore, Musetec over priced. Issue of production capabilities may be valid, perhaps they're already maxed out, we don't have any idea of sales numbers in China.