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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
toddk31
36 posts
 

Jeez can u people read!   I bought the dac because I own the earlier iteration the lks 004. Which I like very much. I bought the dac because I like his work. I like my lks more than my holo spring v1 kte.  I am not trying to slam or put down musetec.  I’m sorry some of u are not happy with an outside independent review. I would love for one of you audiogon members to send your 005 dac to a different person that could conduct independent testing. I hope jinbo can correct this anomaly or someone can show that Amir’s measurements are a one off. I think jinbo will correct the dac and fix the issue. I know he takes pride in his work.  Who knows this whole episode could be a win win for everyone. I certainly hope so. Any anger directed at me is misguided. I have stated more than once  how good jason and Midwest audio have been. Just put on some good music and relax.  

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,229 posts
 

@toddk31

Your comments are interesting. You readily acknowledge that the Musetec 005 very likely sounds great (A worthy not easily achieved outcome). That would seem to be the overwhelming objective for an “audio “  component to do. If it sounds “great “ why would one get rid of it? Great sound, but disappointing measurements so it is a no go?

Did you have a listen to it within your audio system? How was it? I’m just curious as to what criteria you deem most important and necessary to enjoy listening to your preferred music reproduced and provide joy and happiness. It would seem that sounding great is a very good place to start. This has been a good discussion folks.

Thanks

Charles

melm OP
1,057 posts
 

Yes, there are definitely two camps.

I have to admit that I should have stopped reading ASR. But some of the opinions there are unforgettable so I had ti go back. On p. 15 there is a post by AudioEd. He says he has a number of fine DACs including the Musetec and he likes how the Musetec sounds. He likes it better than his Chord Dave, an RME ADI-2 Pro FS B and a Topping, but not quite as much as his Holo May KTE. The responses he gets are so typical from that site.

Here’s the first:

"Perhaps you should make reasonable statements? How many times does it have to be pointed out that a state of the art dac has no proper sound? You just provide a list of several very costly dacs and then throw out wild guesses about their sound quality. . . You can go on and burn your money, but please, spare us with your dac sound quality nonsense."

And then another:

"Here we go again. Please go back and review prior comments (and perhaps the educational section offered to you elsewhere on ASR pertaining to the technology behind DACs) to comprehend that DACs shouldn’t have a ’sound’"

And another:

"People will probably bet big money that you won’t be able to distinguish any of the DACs in a controlled blind listening test. . . Every alleged sound difference you perceive today is due to unconscious bias of a sighted test. No human is immune to that. Therefore only ABX Tests are meaningful."

I could go on, but you get the point.

debjit_g
247 posts
 

Jeez can u people read! I bought the dac because I own the earlier iteration the lks 004. Which I like very much. I bought the dac because I like his work. I like my lks more than my holo spring v1 kte. I am not trying to slam or put down musetec. I’m sorry some of u are not happy with an outside independent review. I would love for one of you audiogon members to send your 005 dac to a different person that could conduct independent testing. I hope jinbo can correct this anomaly or someone can show that Amir’s measurements are a one off. I think jinbo will correct the dac and fix the issue. I know he takes pride in his work. Who knows this whole episode could be a win win for everyone. I certainly hope so. Any anger directed at me is misguided. I have stated more than once how good jason and Midwest audio have been. Just put on some good music and relax.


 

stop accusing everybody because some individuals said something to you. I had put an honest question and the fact that you are going in circles says a lot. Does it really matter what you think of the designer, how good and faithful he is or how good the dealer is ? The question is about a DAC you purchased based on certain technical numbers and knowingly would get ASR to review. You didn’t even bother to listen to it before sending it back and yet you say you have and like the 004 ? Something just doesn’t add up. I am not sure about your intentions but for the record I don’t even own the 005 nor any LKS products.

toddk31
36 posts
 

I accused no one of anything. No I did not listen to the dac. An independent review brought out a different set of specs other than was published . Again I very much enjoy my lks dac.  Jason an jinbo have been upfront an admirable. Why do u people keep piling on. Did not meet published specs.  They honored my return an they gained respect in my eyes. I hope if u guys bought a $3000 piece of equipment that the seller would be as upstanding as Jason.  I’m done with this. It seems the only peeps upset are the ones who don’t like the outcome of Amir’s measurements. Prove him wrong please. 

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