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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
dbb OP
233 posts
 

@shmeet  In my system clearly better with the preamp in. More atmospheric, more natural timber, and texture. As you said, maybe a matter of system differences. 

izgmoen
42 posts
 

@dbb i'd opt for the gustard's new u26 ddc instead

dbb OP
233 posts
 

@izgmoen  Thanks for the suggestion of looking into the new Gustard U26. It seems like it could make a USB signal out of a noisy computer compete with a streamer and play DSD up sampled files to 2048 from HQ player. I think the 006 would be limited to 1024. I don't use HQ player. Still, it might give the Gaia I run for it's money. Have you heard it?

 

Post removed 
dbb OP
233 posts
 

I received the Gustard U26 a few days ago and have been breaking it in. I bought it through Amazon, so returning it would not be a problem if it didn’t make a noticeable improvement. I’ll wait awhile before I report back, but I’m pretty sure I’m keeping it. Instruments are more distinct, a bump up in resolution, easier to hear hall decay. Sound stage depth sounds different, but not exactly sure how it is different. I’m streaming into the U26 via a Lumin U2. As good as the 006 sounded before, it’s clearly improved. 

After about 100 hours of break in, I’m almost  in a state of rapture. (Somebody slap me. Thanks, I needed that.) This combination of the Lumin U2 feeding the U26 then I2S to the 006 is one of the more dramatic improvements I’ve experienced. The 006 seems to have no limits. I try to report back in about a week or so when I will likely have a more sober perspective.

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