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Musetec (LKS) MH-DA005 DAC

Some history: I was the OP on a four year old thread about the Chinese LKS MH-DA004 DAC. It achieved an underground buzz. The open architecture of its predecessor MH-DA003 made it the object of a lot of user mods, usually to its analog section, rolling op amps or replacing with discrete. The MH-DA004 with its new ESS chips and JFET analog section was called better then the modified older units. It has two ES9038pro DAC chips deliberately run warm, massive power supply, powered Amanero USB board, JFET section, 3 Crystek femtosecond clocks, Mundorf caps, Cardas connectors, etc., for about $1500. For this vinyl guy any reservation about ESS chips was resolved by the LKS implimentaion, but their revelation of detail was preserved, something that a listener to classic music especially appreciated. I made a list of DACs (many far more expensive) it was compared favorably to in forums. Modifications continued, now to clocks and caps. Components built to a price can be improved by costlier parts and the modifiers wrote glowingly of the SQ they achieved.

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."

melm
melm OP
1,057 posts
 

@jc4659

A distinguishing feature of Curious Cables is that the 5V line is run outside of the cable, presumably so as not to compromise the flow of digital data through the cable.

In the case of the Musetec, and some other fine DACs, the 5V cable is superfluous; it is not used at all. The 5V is provided for internally in the DAC. This is a far better solution. Otherwise a Curious cable is a fine cable. If you have one, it can surely be used.

My personal recommendation is for a solid core cable. These come in copper, silver plated copper and pure silver. I currently use one in copper, but will be experimenting.

As for a reclocker, I’m not sure I understand exactly what you have in mind. Some of us use bridges or streamers or decrapifiers that do have clocks in them.

jc4659
515 posts
 

@melm 

Thanks!

wharfy's avatar
wharfy
295 posts
 

@melm -"As for ripping disks, if you want to experiment, the popular free computer program for doing that is Exact Audio Copy."

Thanks for the info. Next opportunity I'm going to get an external disk drive and use it and Exact Audio Copy to try this out. My Aurender has 2TB of storage. 

"Of course a benefit of playing your own music from a hard disk is that it can be done from your easy chair."

That's more than one person's idea of nirvana.

One more update--played my better half her CD copy of The Nutcracker. She remarked that she heard instruments she did not know were there. 

sns
3,003 posts
 

Playing my 2500 cd's from rips so much better than physically searching through that muddle, only took me something like a year of off and on ripping to get all on NAS, terrible ordeal.

 

@jc4659 I use Audioquest Diamond usb, just tape off 5v power pin on this or any usb with power. Special order usb without power available from some manufacturers. Worthwhile to get rid of noise injected into dac. Some dacs don't need the 5v power, but need the handshake so needs to remain intact, 005 not needed.

 

If I understand you correctly, added clocking may or may not be desirable, usb clocking within 005 is top notch. My recent less than good experience with added clocking did not go well. At this very moment in contact with owner/operator of Network Acoustics, discussing this very issue of clocking. Looks like I'll be trying their Eno filter, very well reviewed here!

Update on my tube burn in. Tubes beginning to come in just now, bloom just underway, 005 sounding better than ever. Already even more natural timbre along with added resolving powers of boutique tubes. 005 magnificent, and to think more bloom on way! And so, yet to find a single fault of this dac,

jc4659
515 posts
 

@sns 

I was using an Uptone Audio IsoRegen with my Ayre Codex so that's why I asked. I'd prefer not to use add-on devices if they can be avoided but the IsoRegen made a significant and audible improvement.

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