1. Home
  2. digital
  3. 190974-70445

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
 

@dhart86 Thank you for your post. Your comparison of the Gustard U26 to the Gaia will be helpful to many. I had some initial difficulty playing DSD files via I2S on the Gustard. After some chat with ChatGPT and an adjustment in JRiver the U26 and DA006 talked to each other without a problem. PCM was easy. (The configuration that worked for both PCM and DSD was mode 3 and flag14 on the U26 and AAAAB and IIS-H data set to IIS32bit on the 006.) DSD played natively through the Lumin U2 streamer and through dop to the U26 to the 006 via HDMI.  

Just curious, how many hours did you break-in the U26 before you felt the sound stabilized? I have noticed some gradual improvement after about 125 hours.

 

dhart86
15 posts
 

@dbb I also have the DA006 pins configured to AAAAB and I had the I2s cable plugged into the U26 via the IIS-G input (which is set to match Gustard standard) however that seemed to match the Musetec AAAAB configuration. For the Musetec I found the flag to be on pin 14. 

I'm still hearing improvement at approx 175 hrs

dbb OP
233 posts
 

@dhart86 I think you mean the IIS-G HDMI output socket (which is set to match Gustard standard). I used the other programable  IIS HDMI output socket on the U26. Interesting, on the U26 we seem to have selected the same settings for different HDMI output sockets. How is your IIS-H data set on the 006?

izgmoen
42 posts
 

@dbb would the output IIS-G HDMI socket be the one to use if you use a gustard dac? Not sure what its for still

dbb OP
233 posts
 

@izgmoen  That's my understanding. Their ad copy says it's the "Gustard pin assignment". I assume that means it's plug and play with all gustard dacs.

More to discover