🔥$2,200 STREAMER - WORTH IT?!?!

[@qualifierswedenab8767]

I recently tested both the Lumin U1 mini and Jays cdt2 mk3 with Audio GD di20he galvanic isolator med that is a huge upgrade. So before you give up you should try singxer su6 or som othere isolator.

[@abxaudiophiles]

Thank you for the tips.. :)

[@BrianHall-Oklahoma]

Obviously not worth it. The Eversolo DMP-A6 and now the Wiim Ultra are better options and cost a lot less.

[@abxaudiophiles]

@@BrianHall-Oklahoma - Yea A6 and Wiim streamer sections are LIGHT YEARS behind the Lumin. Don’t take my review the wrong way. 😂👌

[@EricRhodeslives]

Amazing how that basic card bridge is better than the larger, newer Lumin. Not.

[@abxaudiophiles]

Guess you would really have to compare the two in real time to comment. But yea, a $1000 streamer 7 years ago. I can imagine it.

[@GavinMarkable]

I use a lumin t2, and u1 mini + u1 LPS. My experience has been opposite

[@abxaudiophiles]

Interesting! You would be the first of about 10 people who I know have had the U1 to say so.. What downstream gear are you running?

[@GavinMarkable]

@@abxaudiophiles merason dac1> soulnote A2> von Schweikert unifield 3 mk 2

[@luisrodrigonunezolguin7038]

Dude, I can say that the Lumin U1Mini sounds only 40% as it comes, but with the LPS + Filter (about $200 extra) it blows your mind. Another level of definition, naturalness, soundstage, I love my LUMIN connected to my server with a fiber optic converter for network transmission. Do that first and I assure you that you won't change it for years...

[@PaoloCaminiti]

The DSD only sounds good with i2s and decent with optical/coax. The usb is basically broken and that's an acknowledged thing from PSAUDIO, as well as the Bridge card being just mediocre.

[@abxaudiophiles]

Yea, our experience doesn't really align with that. Actually, in our experience, the DSD sounds damn good on all outputs, some better than others depending on downstream gear. And the MB streamer easily beat out the Lumin U1 mini and ARCE in a panel of 5 listeners during one of our get togethers..

[@PaoloCaminiti]

@@abxaudiophiles lot's of info on PSAUDIO forums to get the best out of it

[@PaoloCaminiti]

@@abxaudiophiles You know what? I tried the Bridge II back out of curiosity and it's way better than I remembered. I would still suggest testing an i2s with an external streamer that does it (the Bridge is internal i2s if I'm not wrong), in my experience it's the most relaxed input, something very appreciable in long term listening.

[@abxaudiophiles]

@@PaoloCaminiti Great stuff!! 👌😊

[@davelindhorst5897]

If he has to buy it himself it doesn't get as good of a review.

[@abxaudiophiles]

Actually, I often discuss being aware of pairing and utilization issues in most of the gear I review. This was more about sharing my personal experience with friends about a product we sent around to a few of us. Maybe you missed the part about it still being one of my favorite streamers and really appreciating its performance and niche.. ;)

[@EricRhodeslives]

Media Bridge is so bland. As is the Directstream.

[@abxaudiophiles]

Now you’re just trolling. So not true. Maybe expand your gear experience.

[@EricRhodeslives]

@@abxaudiophiles I've definitely expanded. Even using Evoke 50's. Sold that gear pretty fast. Kept the Dyno's though. Replacing them next week with Borresen.

[@abxaudiophiles]

@@EricRhodeslives Keep us posted. I much preferred the Evoke 50 over the X2. Much better tower for my flavor.

[@bengleason508]

Thank you James

[@abxaudiophiles]

My pleasure Ben.. :)

[@cdbeen123]

What happened to the Denafrips Arce review ? I absolutely love mine , was wondering what you thought of it ?

[@abxaudiophiles]

Such a great streamer! Did i not do a review on it? I swear I did. lol. 😝

[@Pok-001]

I like the over hang on the top. I’m sure I’m not the only one that has their DAC on top of their system. The over hang gives it a cleaner look.

[@abxaudiophiles]

@@Pok-001 funny. I was actually thinking about that after I shot the review. Great point

[@connorduke4619]

I often find gear with a tilted upper mid has the superficial appearance of being highly detailed, but that is not always borne out once you allow for that. For example there is a classical demo of a Yamaha amp sound initially more detailed than a Rotel amp, until it becomes clear the Rotel is both more engaging and also more detailed(!)

[@abxaudiophiles]

@@connorduke4619 it’s a funny hobby for sure. 👌☺️🤣

[@Ab-ye5th]

@abx audiophiles Why did you put in a misleading thumbnail?

[@abxaudiophiles]

Misleading ?

[@nickjcresswell]

The ever complex world of component matching!

[@abxaudiophiles]

Totally!! And we did have the Lumin on a vast variety of gear and configurations. Awesome streamer, just not my flavor. :)

[@middleearthltd]

Low key streamer here so the Lumin is way beyond my needs or desires. Somewhat surprised you did not bond with it but I do have big respect for you and people like you who don’t buy something higher end like this and say it is the be all end all based on confirmation bias. No doubt it sounds really good and might suit some people perfectly. Hope it finds a good home.

[@abxaudiophiles]

@@middleearthltd Well said and THANK YOU. 🙏🏼

[@howardmims8376]

Harmonics is the problem. Some equipment just does not have musical hermonics

[@abxaudiophiles]

It is a thing for sure.. :)

[@ascubapro]

That’s really to bad Lumin. But thanks 🙏 James for another awesome review.

[@abxaudiophiles]

My pleasure

[@DeMorcan]

Thatis the old streamer and DAC. The U2 mini may be better. I find a nice synergy from my old U1 into a Qutest with my amp and speakers in my room.

[@abxaudiophiles]

Yea, it’s not bad at all. Just not my flavor. I need more organic realness and life. 😉😊😊

[@jakus514]

If you wanna try bang for your buck, but still kinda stupid expensive for just a streamer, nab a used Auralic Aries G2.1, and install the aftermarket hoer-wege power supply. So incredibly natural, resolving, layered and dynamic. Closest thing to analog sounding ive heard, and soul for days ❤

[@abxaudiophiles]

Ohhhh. Now you got my ears perked up.

[@jakus514]

@@abxaudiophiles Check it! The stock 2.1 is pretty good, but that power supply takes it to another planet 😜

[@ramanujsinha9971]

Exactly how I felt when I listened to a Boulder 2150 over the 2050.

[@abxaudiophiles]

Interesting. Funny how some things get us, and some don’t. Not that they are good or bad, they just don’t align with our musical soul.

[@OldGuyHifi]

Another great video my friend. Good job.

[@abxaudiophiles]

Thank you sir.. :)

[@jerrysnead2842]

Wait until you hear the AirLens with the Stellar Gold Dac

[@abxaudiophiles]

Now that would be AWESOME!!!!

[@harleyguy071]

I own the Airlens! Reviewed it and bought the review sample. Couldn't let it go. It gives me all the detail I can handle but keeps it musical and natural.

[@abxaudiophiles]

@@harleyguy071 Now that’s great to hear. One of the reasons I love my DirectStream with media bridge. I imagine the new AirLens is a good move up on all fronts. Hard the beat the DSD from PS Audio fully refurbished and warranty with media bridge streamer, all for $1600 🤗🤗🤗

[@jaysullivan9545]

Yep. Our experience too. Good job. 👍 🐻

[@abxaudiophiles]

Interesting... ;)

[@ericelmore887]

How does a compare to the streamer only of the Eversolo A6 with LPS? Does the eversolo possess more soul to the music?

[@abxaudiophiles]

Leagues better than the A6.. In all capacities

[@ericelmore887]

@@abxaudiophiles that’s good to know that I have room for improvement in my system. I have a Weiss 204 with plixir power supply going in eversolo master A6 with LPS. I always wonder what the Aurender, Auralic, Grimm mu1, and lumin would sound like in my system. Thank for review

[@Feliciano12v]

Like everything else in life, synergy is key.

[@abxaudiophiles]

100% Agree!! It is interesting, and in my experience, most gear has a general inherent characteristic, sound, or effect. This can be enhanced or compressed based on synergy with other gear. But when you move components across as much gear as we do during audition, you get really good at defining that generality. The Lumin definitely pairs better with some things than others, but overall, that "generality" of the Lumin is just not my flavor. It's an AWESOME unit, tho!! So many love it, and by all rights should!... :)

[@User_not_found_403]

Was it burned in? I found my chord quest way to incisive when I first got it. Had to use the warm filter, however, it was new at the time and not burned in. Now incisive filter is great. I think it was burn in.

[@abxaudiophiles]

Yes it was totally burned in, hundreds of hours

[@joecorona2818]

I agree.... One of my best friends refers to it's sound of the Lumin as a WARM HUG of Music, & I have to agree !

[@abxaudiophiles]

@@joecorona2818 We had five of us spend hours and hours with this streamer, it is anything but a WARM HUG... That is NOT the Lumin sound. I would never tell my viewers that it was so.

[@hificave]

Hmm, I am curious how the soul gave way to resolution and detail. What was the connections used mostly? Coax, usb?

[@abxaudiophiles]

@@hificave Hi End USB mostly, but coax as well. Need to mess around with AESS I suppose. 😁

[@hificave]

@@abxaudiophiles not saying that, just curious.

[@abxaudiophiles]

@@hificave - Oh, I know bro.. ;)