Today I received a new 005. Before I used f.i. Lampizator, Pegasus, Terminator, Holo Spring 3 L2, Audio-GD, Teac UD-701N, Leaf Audio CMD27 (with Staccato opamps) and ECdesigns PowerDAC-SX. The latter I plan to keep as a parallel all-in-one system). I use a Rose RS130 streamer.
I am surprised that it already sounds so good out of the box. Great detail, natural, coherent and smooth. I expect it to be volatile though in the next few weeks.
Best sound so far with
RS130 > USB > USB-fiber-USB isolator > USB > LKS USB-100 > I2S > 005.
Both I2S-H (with 50 cm Ricard I2S/hdmi cable) and I2S-E (with 50 cm Ali knockoff Nordost Odin Gold ethernet cable) sound great. Slight preference for the latter. I can imagine I could improve on that with another (shorter) ethernet cable.
Al in all no regrets so far :-)
Musetec (LKS) MH-DA005 DAC
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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Glad the 005 and the USB-100 is working out for you. It was a great little I2S converter when I had it. I'm wishing I had kept it to run I2S-E to another component for experimenting. I've since replaced the SMSL I2S converter with an Audio GD DI-24HE and I'm using it's I2S output. I heard an improvement. Then I added an Aune SC1 external clock to the DI-24HE and then converted the clock to use a very low noise DC input. I also added a filter to the clock cable. With each change I made related to the clock, I heard a difference for the better. In my experience, digital improvements seem limitless with the 005. |
Happy that you are liking the Musetec. It's always been surprisingly good out of the box, but will get better with time, Interesting that you are getting good results with USB > LKS USB-100 > I2S > 005. This has ben a topic of discussion before, that is whether the USB conversion to I2S is better done in the LKS USB-100 or on the Amanero board in the 005. Logic suggests it should be better in the 005, but you can't deny your own ears and you are not the first to suggest a preference for the LKS USB-100. It was suggested you try the USB straight into the 005 and report back your comparison. If it remains better with the LKS USB-100 I might inquire with the factory why that might be so. Also, theoretically and logically, to use the I2S input, it might be best to avoid the USB entirely with a streamer going directly from ethernet to I2S. I have been changing my system a lot lately and also experimenting with Iancanada circuits and will soon add an I2S output to see what that yields. Besides great music, it is a great hobby. |
A New Musetec DAC, the MH-DA006 Flagship DAC is here. As usual with Musetec, a lot of new design and details offered in text and in interior photos. Two ESS ES9039pro chips. The price at Shenzhen is $3900. No doubt it is worth a new MH-DA006 thread There is also a MINI version here based on on one ESS ES9039pro chip. |
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