Musetec (LKS) MH-DA005 DAC

@sns - thanks, yes I have it hooked up and have the transport playing on repeat.. My transport does not ouput usb however, for which I understand the 005 is optimized. Looking at upgraded streaming options. Out of the box and cold the 005 already handily bests my previous Wyred4Sound Dac2DSD.

Wyred4Sound SE version was on my short list of dacs at one point, same 9038 Sabre chip as 005 and Vishay Z foil resistors, never heard one.

I'd expect you'll still undergo some time with burn in on usb input, both power supply and clock on usb board need time.

I'm finding 005 resolving/transparency potential seemingly bottomless with my new setup, every listening session a revelatory experience with nearly 100 hours listening time, and some components still going through burn in transition.

I sold my Grimm MU1 streamer for funds and now I'm using parts of my old USB chain to feed the 005.  My NUC running Roon ROCK feeds the Uptone ISO Regen which connects to the 005 via a Cardas Clear USB cable.  The NUC is using it's standard SMPS and the ISO Regen is fed power using daisy chained ultra low noise linear regulators.  Is the music now just as good as when I had the MU1?  No, but the music is still very enjoyable, almost surprisingly so.  But I am also being very strategic with how I'm putting my system together and it's still changing.  The point here is one doesn't need to spend megabucks on any part of an 005 based the system to immensely enjoy the music and it helps to be strategic with where the money can be spent to maximize the system.

One function the MU1 did was upsample my Tidal streamed 16bit 44.1/48KHz files to 24bit 176.4/192KHz.  I always thought this helped the 005 perform better so tonight I configured Sample Rate Conversion in Roon and now the Tidal streams are coming in at 32bit 176.4/192KHz.  I prefer Roon upsampling than without it and I also have Headroom Management turned on.  I also tried conversion to 24bit but I slightly prefer 32bit.

On yet another note, I recently bought an LKS USB-100 DDC and the LKS LPS-25-USB power supply to power it.  They should be arriving in the days and weeks ahead. I've already bought a 0.5m Wireworld Platinum Starlight Ethernet cable and a Wireworld Platinum Starlight 48 HDMI cable so I'm ready to experiment with I2S when the LKS devices arrive.  I also have my eye on the new HoloAudio Red streamer and the Pi2 Design Mercury V2 streamer that both output I2S but if these LKS devices hit it out of the park, then I will stay put.

@sirnui 

THERE IS NO NEED TO INSERT LKS USB-100 DDC and the LKS LPS-25-USB IN THE CHAIN, THE DA005 ALREADY HAS EVERYTHING INSIDE, TOP QUALITY

I have ability to use a variety of music players and configurations with new streamer. I've tried both Roon and HQPlayer embedded within Roon with up and oversampling, HQPlayer far superior to Roon here. Thus far greatest resolution I've experienced has been HQPlayer  sending 32/768khz to 005, not sure I prefer to Roon doing minimal processing, no dsp. HQPlayer with dsp activated somehow sounds more artificial less analog like vs Roon with no dsp, still experimenting so haven't made final decision. By the way, for anyone using dsp, 32bit is correct setting for ESS Sabre chips.

@americanspirit  I was arguing this very thing with some poster here claiming usb sucks. 005 does have everything needed for top tier usb rendering, the Amanero board is nice board, feed it top quality usb rendering via streamer for top tier sound.

@sns 

I'm sorry that there are those who are not able to understand the AMANERO board that is inside the DA005 with the upgrades made by the MUSETEC designer, it is superior to any other USB interface on the market.

the same AMANERO is used in all DACs produced by AUDIOGD designed by the legendary KINGWA.

as I have already written, to have the best possible USB connection it is necessary to remove the +5V PIN from the cable.

I ASK ALL DA005 OWNERS TO TRY THIS MODIFICATION, YOU WILL THANK ME FOR THE RESULT OBTAINED

AFAIK, the 005 is not a NOS dac and has an in-built SRC which can't be bypassed. All external s/w based conversion may either be not beneficial or might have a -ive impact on the SQ or you may not see any difference depending on the bit rate and rest of the system.

Here you will find discussion of using HQPlayer with Sabre chip dacs, much more can be found at various forums and HQPlayer literature. https://audiophilestyle.com/forums/topic/26718-hqplayer-favorite-settings/page/2/

@americanspirit 
I agree with you that the USB to I2S conversion is best made within the Musetec DAC.  There it will find SOTA conversion and about as good a power supply as can be (and unique to this DAC), using a bank of super capacitors for the digital side.  Logic should point in that direction and I have written so here.  However, at least one contributor to this thread wrote of his satisfaction using the separate, and quite old, LKS DDC.  Audio sometimes gives strange results and that is where we are.

You also write of removing the +5V pin (pin 1)  from the USB cable.  Did you remove it from the Type A connector or the Type B connector or from both?  In the past I have blocked pin 1 of the A connector without discernible results.  But my system has improved since and I will try again.

@melm 

I confirm that the cable that carries the +5v you have to unsolder it from both connectors (both type a and type b) otherwise it can work as an antenna and make the situation worse.

further advice, you can connect the unsoldered cable to both the shield and the ground.

if you have problems making the cable, I can do it for you for free

@melm I believe it was Lordmelton who tried the conversion? I also believe I recall him or whoever it was went back to using usb.

With recent thread about measurements and how they affect both digital and analog sound quality, ASR measurements of 005 were recalled. The SNR measurements relatively unimportant, but I feel the somewhat poor jitter measurements may be impacting 005 sound quality. If I have a single nit with 005 it would be the slightest tilt toward precision vs. forgiveness. With insertion of new streamer and it's microscopic attention to minimizing jitter I'm hearing much greater flow, relaxation, much more analog like presentation. It would be interesting to hear a 005 with improved jitter measurements, something the engineers could implement mid model. I suspect this 005 would retain all it's goodness while adding more analog like presentation.

@sns 

Amir's tests leave the time they find, they are not science, they are baseless tests performed by a child who bought a signal analyzer and uses it as a toy.

metaphorically it is as if Galileo, having his telescope of the time at his disposal, had stated that there are no distant planets because his instrument does not allow him to see them...

I'm tired of talking about it again, they are bogus tests built ad hoc to sell low-level Chinese products.

the MUSETEC MH-DA005 is perfect as it comes from the factory, all you need is a little care about the cables to be used and the quality of the power supply that is supplied to it.

@americanspirit POST OF THE DAY MY MAN!!!!

Amir's tests leave the time they find, they are not science, they are baseless tests performed by a child who bought a signal analyzer and uses it as a toy.

metaphorically it is as if Galileo, having his telescope of the time at his disposal, had stated that there are no distant planets because his instrument does not allow him to see them...

I'm tired of talking about it again, they are bogus tests built ad hoc to sell low-level Chinese products.

the MUSETEC MH-DA005 is perfect as it comes from the factory, all you need is a little care about the cables to be used and the quality of the power supply that is supplied to it.

@americanspirit I will see/hear if the LKS DDC is better or worse.  If I've learned anything in this hobby it is to take everything reported online with a grain of salt and reserve my own judgement until I demo the gear in my own system against my own musical preferences.  For this reason, I have a constant monthly flow of new gear/ideas coming in and out.  My wife can attest to this.

It was indeed @lordmelton who had great results with the LKS DDC.  At the time he first reported his good results, I was using the MU1 streamer which I was very happy with so I stayed put.  Now that the MU1 is gone, this is a good opportunity to demo the LKS DDC.  I will report back what I find.

Speaking of new gear, I also bought a Shunyata Typhon T2 power conditioner and it should be leaving the factory this week.  I'm hoping I can get back the resolution and low level details I lost after selling my Shunyata Everest with Omega XC cable.  I plan to test the Typhon T2 connected to my Puritan PSM 136 conditioner via the umbilical cable.  The Typhon T2 has two AC outlets itself so I will try putting the 005 and other components into the Typhon T2 directly and also into Puritan PSM 136.  For anyone that cares, I can report back the results.  But I doubt anyone else plans to use a Giandel 5000 inverter with battery feeding a Typhon T2 feeding a Puritan power conditioner.  This is the kind of journey I'm on...

Yes, I am no longer using the LKS 100 although I expect to revisit it later. I used it to great effect for many months but I decided to re-try the USB with some different cables. Some were much more expensive than a solid silver cable, but that's what broke in the Amanero board.

My 005 is fully broken in now and will be one year old next month. I have heard many DACs in the meantime and I can honestly say I absolutely no desire to change it.

The 005 uses ESS 9038 Pro chips, some cheap Chinese DACs are already implementing the latest ESS 9039 Pro chips. I look forward to Musetec implementing this chip which will provide full MQA unfolding.

I can confidently promise that there isn't a better DAC unless you start getting into stupid money.

@americanspirit  It is not necessary to cut and solder USB cables, just use electrical tape to cover the contacts.

You can do this on even very expensive cables.

@sirnui Good luck on your journey, it makes sense to start with power supply and power cables.

I would suggest you also experiment with Audioquest PCs and the Niagara Power Conditioners.

I am embarking on that journey now. Start with your power amp.

@sirnui I went through a period of auditioning power conditioners a few years ago, Shunyata, PSAudio, Audience, some others forgetting at this point. I settled on transformer based solution, self modified BPT 3.5 Signature.

Power amps should go direct into wall, every single PC I tried diminished transients to some degree. I like your idea of the Giandel inverter, have been following the battery thread here. I did try battery pack power at one time for Auralic Vega dac, interesting results, went back to BPT for power. Higher quality inverter should help, I'll get around to it some day. Quality batteries would also be important if I end up trying it.

I also went through years of auditioning cabling of all types some years ago, power cables are easily most important.

Footers for the 005 also have fairly large impact on SQ, as they are for all components. I've gone no footer route with 005, no footer is best footer, more natural SQ vs stock, various Aurios, Finite Elemente, any soft footer, BDR cones, Stillpoints Ultra SS with and without UltraBases. Really amazing sound from my system at this point, 005 not going away any time soon.

@lordmelton ​@sns 

since I love you, since I've done 6 months of testing on the MUSETEC, since I'm lucky enough to have a premium hifi dealer friend, I want to offer you the best advice regarding power supply.

with an expense close to 1000$ it is possible to buy one of the best mains conditioners on the market (German product for hospital use) which you can also find on Amazon.

the product in question is called XANTO and is available for different potencies.

in my system I use a XANTO X2000

@americanspirit Looks like contender, but what I'm really after is more diy solution. I want all components and parts to be top grade, audiophile grade, batteries alone over $500 for what I've been looking at. We have audiophile grade off the shelf already with this, http://s1000   Problem is I'm not spending $15k and up!

Sorry, that link doesn't work, lets try another, https://stromtank.us/

@sns 

the product that I have proposed is not a simple distributor, but an efficient current conditioner. at its output it supplies alternating current with a perfectly sinusoidal constant voltage and frequency.

the features can be found here https://www.online-usv.de/kategorie/usv-xanto

I’m using an lks 100 and lks power supply between my aurender a10 and my 005 using i2s output. I find it provides a slighter sense of ease to the music than usb.   I just tried straight usb again—not 5 minutes ago— and went back to the lks ddc.   Ymmv.    This is all system, room and taste dependent.  
 

I recently listened to my brother’s system on Kauai.   It is similar to mine in that he uses a joule la300 preamp, quintessence speakers (although mine are further down the evolutionary path), and a joule vzn80 amp.  I have a similar amp in my closet; I currently am using a first watt sit-3, ooh la la what a great little amp.   

Back to my point; based on my rave recommendation, my brother bought an 005 and quickly switched to a very expensive EMM streamer/DAC combo.   He loves it and describes it as more analog than the 005.   His system is wonderful and perhaps softens the leading edge of notes ever so slightly in comparison to my system.   But I prefer my system.   It seems a bit more detailed and real to me.  
 

I was happy returning home and sitting in my listening chair.  I was also very happy I didn’t need to start shopping for some EMM gear!
 

This hobby is very individualistic.   I’ve learned long ago that I listen with my own ears and they are the ultimate determinator of what’s best for me.  
 

I’ve got Tim o brien another day playing and when I close my eyes he is in my room with me. 

A lot of great suggestions in the last few posts.  I will try the no footer test on the 005.  It's potentially a free upgrade.

I'm no stranger to AC conditioners and power cables.  For me it has mostly been Shunyata gear.  Over the years, I have gone through about 10 Shunyata conditioners and many more Shunyata power cables.  Each generation was leaps and bounds better than the prior.  I'm heavily biased toward this company.  They make my favorite digital cables as well.

I took the plunge and ordered the HoloAudio Red streamer.  It supports Roon and it also supports Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect.  My old streamer never had the last two features.  Red also has a plethora of digital outputs I can play with.  It's going to be a fun winter for me.

I had Shunyata Anaconda and Python in my system for years, still use a Python VX on lps for NAS.

Critical thing in consideration of inputs on dac is quality of rendering in streamer. The quality Amanero usb board in 005 absolutely requires the best quality rendering from streamer. Far too many usb ports on dedicated streamers come directly off motherboard, motherboard directly transfer any noise on them to that port. Optimized usb ports on streamers must be treated exactly like optimized ports like Amanero usb in005. This means having it's own dedicated board with power supply and femto or OXCO clock, even more optimization can be obtained if this board can be powered via external lps. You will only see this level of optimization with Taiko Extreme, Wadax level streamers, Aurender W20SE has next best optimization I've seen via off the shelf combo server/streamer or one computer setups. For me this rendering deficiency is the greatest liability of nearly all off the shelf streamers, a real shame they charge so much and then have this glaring mistake, charge me the extra $1-2K, but don't leave out a critical function! They do good job with minimizing noise, optimizing software and simplifying user interface, providing nice looking enclosure, but skimp here. Some understand what they're leaving out offering external lps and usb,  Innuos being but one example, others don't even have these options, ridiculous.

With my new streamer I have choice between the absolute best usb optimization via drop in PCIe card, in this case JCAT or Pink Faun usb cards, both include all the optimizations I listed above, and with the capability of being powered via external lps, no power off motherboard power supply.

The other option for optimized usb rendering is via dedicated streamers such as SOTM, the Holo mentioned above, Sonore, and others. The good dedicated streamers do all the optimizations listed above. and the SOTM and Sonore OpticalRendu I'm using at present which I've directly compared to usb out of my previous streamers and present new streamer, which has only somewhat optimized usb are far superior in sound quality.

So, bottom line, you are not hearing full potential with your 005 unless your taking equal care with usb out of streamer. This is not a small upgrade assuming your system is resolving/transparent enough! Get optimized rendering via usb and I guarantee you it will beat any other input on 005, to repeat Amanero board is optimal input with 005, designed to specifically use it. The I2S or other inputs may bypass certain functions within 005, but simpler doesn't always mean better. Also, ask yourself is bypassing this function within 005 really worth the effort of adding more complexity with whatever optimized I2S rendering device one is using. This was my calculation when I decided to not even bother trying I2S with my Singxer SU-6, reportedly one of best I2S renderers out there. Power supply and clock on Amanero board superior to that on SU-6. This became even more clear to me when I observed various experienced users having to modify these I2S devices to overcome sound quality limitations they heard.

@car123 The way you describe 005 is exactly  how I hear it, no softening or hiding anything, simply getting the real thing, more live sounding than any other digital I've ever heard in my system or any other system. I'd not even trade better jitter measurement if it took away any of this sense of liveliness. The greatest thing is the more I expose the 005 the better it gets, no hidden flaws with this dac.

As for battery power vs AC :PC. Symetrical sine waves are one thing nearly all these portable power supplies supply. how that is achieved is another. I and others have heard the liabilities of inferior inverters. I presume there is reason the Stromtanks so costly, superior sound quality vs other battery supplies is that reason. I'm sure there are various levels of sound quality vs various other battery supplies, my motivation isn't high to experiment at this point since I'm so enamored of present sound quality, remains in revelatory territory since new streamer and footer/isolation solutions. Towards that end, just added suspended solution for signal enclosure of Coincident Statement, power supply enclosure continues to use Aurios Pro to diy sandbox. Expect this to be another upgrade vs Stillpoints to maple cutting board sitting in diy sandbox coupled via amp stand to fireplace hearth which is sitting on suspended floor sitting on floor jacks.  All my suspended supports sit on this fireplace hearth. If this works out well, new Thoress phono stage will also be suspended. All  components are being compared to either Aurios or Stillpoints Ultra SS in diy sandboxes with either Birch ply or 1/2" aluminum top plates with integrated vibration planes in diy sandboxes. Already wrote off a multitude of other type footers used over the years, these two are last standing. Aurios can add hard edge, some state metallic sound, but damn things are spacious,open, transparent. Stillpoints keep most of the open, spacious, transparent sound, add greater stability to images within sound stage, mitigate the hard edge. No footers retain all the good things of both, no colorations of any kind, why I maintain no footer is best footer. So far I only maintain this for source components, other components may benefit from being mass loaded and anchored to something solid.

In my server the JCAT XE USB card adds only 10% of the improvement that can be had from the server when powering from the mother power. Another 10% improvement when powering it with a high quality LPS. The majority comes from the s/w & network optimization and a high power power for the server itself. I could still live with the motherboard USB port if I didn’t want to spend money on the JCAT. The motherboard USB sounds as musical, just not as much details I get from JCAT.

I can’t stress enough the importance of a good power supply for any digital components and the Musetec 005, or for that matter most of today’s DAC, will scale very nicely when fed with quality signal and it doesn’t have to be SPDIF. A good USB implementation can work wonders. Apart from the power supply, the two other things that will do the most for any streaming system is by taking great care of s/w and network optimization.

@debjit_g  Very interesting! I've not felt the need to even try the USB cards as I'm so enthralled with using new streamer as server only, Sonore OpticalModule and OR doing rendering duties, thus far beats several permutations via motherboard usb out. Thanks for the input!

Still, at some point my intention is to try one computer setup, there are some Euphony OS permutations that may allow for better SQ vs two computer setup.  Less complex setup may also provide for better SQ, in any case I have so many options to choose from with new streamer, have this need to explore all, just not motivated at present. I totally agree on network optimization and quality power supplies, optimal streaming requires all i's dotted and t's crossed!

@sns you will be surprised to know that the performance of motherboard usb really depends on a lot of variables, like the motherboard, chipset used, quality of onboard clock, Operating system used etc and off-coarse the big demon power supply. I have gone through a varied different types of x86 motherboard over the yrs and I am amazed to see how much different they can sound. Even which usb port you are using changes the sound. Its not just possible to comprehend and hence an audio grade quality USB pcie card solves this part of the puzzle.

On the OS, I was an avid Euphony v3 user and Windows server 2012R2 prior to it. When I changed by motherboard later at some point and incorporated a newer Intel proc, Euphony v3 sounded really bad. The v3 was using older kernel which just didn’t optimize the system in a way it should have been with newer generation of hardware. I moved back to Windows and experimented with 10 ltsc, Server 2019 and WinPE with variety of optimization over the months, until recently when Euphony v4 was released. I did the trial and it indeed sounded very good and a lot lot better than the v3, almost same as my optimized Windows. Unfortunately, Euphony v4 moved to a subscription model which is a recurring cost and not cheap either. I am still undecided at this point.

If you want to put all hands on deck with DIY, I would suggest experiment with JCAT or Pink Faun w/ ultra ocxo clock. You never know what you are missing (I used to own the Rendu). Whatever route you go, DIY or OR, getting a quality power supply (with low impedance) will be the key to how your DAC might sound.

@debjit_g I may try another motherboard at some point, one I'm using at present was chosen by original  streamer builder. He and the subsequent owner both compared to many off the shelf streamers, only the Taiko Extreme bested this custom build, both purchased the TE. Both compared when this custom build was using HDPlex internal SMPS and outboard LPS. Since I purchased added JCAT Optimo to power it, far superior to HDPlex and the outboard LPS they used.

The Euphony subscription model is kind of a bummer, but for just over $200 per year I don't need to screw around with diy OS. Convenience is nice and SQ is superb, never had V3, but V4 has many nice reviews.

The usb boards you mentioned are the ones I'd go for, no sense in going for less than best here.  I went with JCAT net xe board vs the lesser  JCAT net board, previous owner of streamer  had both available.

Powering OR and JCAT net card with Uptone JS2, choke based ps vs cap lps, sure that's not hurting OR and JCAT performance!

Sometime down the road I'll probably try out other boards, for now completely satisfied with SQ with custom build used as server only with the OR as Roon streamer via Sqeezelite adapter. Prefer over custom build streamer running Roon and embedded HQPlayer, custom build server duty only, HQPlayer Roon embed via OR, and custom build server only, Euphony Stylus via OR. Haven't even tried full Euphony Stylus on custom build, made a disaster of my local library on importing from NAS. Full Stylus via custom build using only Qobuz and Tidal libraries is fine interface, problem is I'm addicted to Roon interface and have too much good music in local library. Running full Stylus reportedly best SQ, have to experiment with this sooner than later.

I have tried 2 USB cables without the 5V, that being the Acoustic BBQ Full Rack and Sablon 2020. I have also tried the following powered cables Audioquest Diamond, Supra Excalibur and a couple of generic cables. I found in both circumstances with the non powered cables that it smoothed out the sound. Perhaps too much for my ears. The silver wire Diamond and Excalibur were too sharp or bright to my ear. I ended up preferring a generic Chinese cable.Goes to show you don't ever know ... 'til you try.

@sns 

I am interested in trying the RED by HOLOAUDIO.

have you already tried it?

I'm interested because the cost is not excessive for my pockets and I would like to use it instead of the PC

Here is another well regarded streamer in same price ranges from the Netherlands. their MK III version comes with a Farad LPS.The MK II is a one box streamer with on board R-core transformer based LPS.

Mano ULTRA mkII Music Streamer (High-Res) • Magna Hifi

https://magnahifi.com/mano-ultra-mkii-music-streamer-high-res

@charles1dad Very interesting piece at that price coming from Netherlands, home of some of best digital designers, for instance Taiko, Farad. Good find!

@americanspirit  Either the Mano or Holo would be big upgrade over any PC. I've not tried the Holo, but expect it to be nice piece. The other option for those using PC's is to go to server/streamer combo, this gets rid of PC altogether. The PC will always be a weak link in system, regardless of dedicated streamer used.

@sns 

The MK III version is very new. Separated streamer box from the Farad LPS via DC cable. This company is much more familiar in Europe than USA. They have a reputation for high quality engineering/design. Can be used with Wi-Fi or Ethernet wired.

Charles

The link above is to the MKII. 

Here is the MKIII

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. 

I was just offering alternative suggestions.MK II is one box model. MK III 2 chassis. Lots of good quality stuff available. Very good LPS attention (Farad) at this price point. I’m sure the Holo has a nice power supply as well.

Charles

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.

@sns I agree regarding the 005.  I am beyond satisfied with this DAC and it responds so well to tweaks done around it.

I no longer have my superb USB chain that included an Innuos Phoenix USB and an opticalRendu but I'm sure it would've been amazing with the 005.  That would've been a nice comparison between that USB chain and the current USB/I2S chain I'm using now.  Better yet, it would be even more interesting to test extending my old USB chain with the current I2S chain.  There are just so many possibilities and not enough time and money :)

For anyone with cash burning through their wallet and who wants to experiment with I2S, I highly recommend trying the LKS USB-100, the LKS LPS, and a short Wireworld Platinum Starlight 48 HDMI cable.  For me, they too are the real deal.

Going back to what I’m hearing with the LKS USB-100, for critical listening, I use my headphone system because it offers much more transparency than my 2-channel. It makes discerning differences and nuances easier. I use Sennheiser IE900 IEMs so the only "room acoustics" is inside my ear canal. Not even my outer ear is allowed to cause acoustic interference. I want to really stress that when I’m reporting hearing more nuances, I’m using these highly transparent IEMs that allow the tiniest of nuances to come through easily. The IE900s contain a single dynamic driver and they are able to play bass with force that would put some full sized headphones to shame. My current speakers are the Zu Audio Soul 6’s and they too display the same types of improvements with the LKS USB-100.

Amp for IEMs and speakers: Enleum AMP-23R

Ethernet/USB/I2S chain: Ediscreation Fiber Box II > Intel NUC > ISO Regen > LKS USB-100 (Fiberbox II and ISO Regen galvanically isolates the NUC from the system; NUC power is from the wall and not from the inverter/battery system)

Digital cables: Straightwire and Cardas Clear USB cables around ISO Regen, Wireworld Platinum Starlight 48 HDMI into 005

AC Conditioning: Giandel 5000W Inverter and LiFePO4 battery, Puritan PSM 136

Power cables: Furutech DPS4.1 with FI 52 NCF connector between inverter and PSM 136, Zavfino Silver Darts into LKS LPS/005/AMP-23R (all Silver Dart PCs powered by PSM 136), Shunyata V14 Digital into Fiberbox II and ISO Regen SMPS

Interconnects: Zavfino Silver Dart RCAs

Side Note: the 005 is a match with the Enleum AMP-23R and high sensitivity headphones ONLY if line level attenuators are used between the 005 and AMP-23R. Without the attenuators, the signal for the IEMs was too hot and the gain/volume selector on the AMP-23R was too sensitive.

I need a high end DAC and I have been reading about the Musetec (LKS) MH-DA005 DAC.

Would anyone have a link to the manufacturer for a direct discussion on this unit?

@kishan - http://www.mu-sound.com/DA005-detail.html

@kishan 

Contact the company if you wish, but you may find that the designer/manufacturer runs a very small operation and marketing is not its strength. 

I suggest that here on this thread there are many users, some with considerable technical expertise, who would be happy to discuss and/or explain about the DAC.  Members here have all sorts of set-ups and seem to cover almost any possible use of the DAC.

Another possibility might be speaking with the US distributer, Midwest Audio at 574-329-1850.

@kishan What gear are you going to use with the next DAC you buy?

I had some interesting gear combos with the 005. I tended to like it best with some gear that was a bit on the warm side of neutral. These included the following:

• CODA 07x preamp
• CODA #8 amp
• CODA #16 amp (have this now)
• KRELL Duo 175XD amp

I hated it with my RAAL VM-1a tube headphone amp which was surprising. Even the RAAL VM-1a manufacturer did not like it. I lent him my 005 for a month because it sounded so good with the gear I listed above. The caveat being that my fav DAC with the VM-1a is the bright Benchmark DAC3B. The DAC3B is not as good as the 005 with the gear listed above.

I also have a Lumin X1 DAC and I prefer it to the Musetec 005 with my Benchmark LA4 preamp and AHB2 monos. This is an amazing combo. I thought the Musetec 005 was also very good with the Benchmark gear, but for my ears, the Lumin X1 matches better with the neutral Benchmark gear.

I need to get a DAC in September timeframe since I sold my 2 Musetec DACs last week to pay some audio bills. I need a new DAC to pair with the CODA #16 and the KEF Blade 2 Meta. At the moment, it is a coin toss between the Musetec 005 and another X1. 

Keep in mind @yyzsantabarbara  comparing $14k Lumin to $3k 005. Still, this interesting comparison as Lumin also uses 9038 Sabre chips.

Based on my comparisons to other dacs and allied with a variety of different components in my system I'd confirm 005 voicing as neutral to slightly cool side of neutral. For most listeners I'd think 005 would work best with slightly warm system, preamp being the critical component. I'm using with DHT Coincident tube pre. Save your dollars on dac and splurge on pre is best path with Musetec.

Musetec not just value dac, but dac that can be home in any system, regardless of cost. Until I see 005 completely over matched in comparison reviews I'll continue with Musetec.

My 3 DACs as of last week were Lumin X1, Musetec 005, and Benchmark DAC3B. Today, I only have the X1 and DAC3B left.

The Musetec is smoother and warmer than the Lumin X1. The Lumin X1 is not as hot on top as the DAC3B, nor is the 005.

005 (warmer) | X1 (neutral) | DAC3B (cooler). They all use ESS chips. I am not saying that the 005 or for the matter DAC3B are worse than they X1. They sound different and each is better in a specific way.

- 005 seems best with CODA #16 amp (that is why I may buy it again in Sept)

- DAC3B 100% better with the RAAL VM-1a tube headphone amp

- X1 with Benchmark AHB2 amps

Other combos are also good (except 005 + VM-1a) but the very best combos for my ears are the ones above.

BTW - I got the used X1 for $7250 and when I include the 2 streamers it replaced (actually 3, but I am only using 2 with the X1). The used X1 is cheaper.

005 (warmer) | X1 (neutral) | DAC3B (cooler). They all use ESS chips. I am not saying that the 005 or for the matter DAC3B are worse than they X1. They sound different and each is better in a specific way.
 

this is an excellent way to demonstrate that the DAC chip is not as important as we think in determining the final sound of the DAC. They all use the same chip, except the DAC3B which uses 9028pro, but have vastly different analog implementation. The power supply, clock and analog section is paramount in determining the final sound.