Lumin P1 vs. X1

Remi said:

Has anybody had the chance to compare the sound quality of both units? The reviews of the new P1 are stellar. I believe there is a $4K difference between the two. Are you chasing diminishing returns by going with the X1?

Thanks!

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Hi Remi,
I've not had the opportunity to audition the Lumin X1, but I have the P1 here for review, and I am very impressed with it. The key difference between them is that the P1 is also a preamplifier, so if that something that aligns with your specific requirements, factor that into your decision-making process. If you don't need a preamp, and have the budget, then the X1 would be best-suited to your requirements.

With respect to audio quality, I find the P1 to be superb: it's very, very quiet, with superb transparency, resolution, clarity, with excellent accuracy and refinement in rendition of tone, timbre, and harmonics, precise, stable, and finely layered imaging, deep, wide and tall soundstaging, and any other attributes we care and/or obsess about.

It's also superbly designed and...engineered. Things like...having an SFP cage on the back so I can go direct in with optical fibre (NOT TOSLINK) from the music server in the remote server room without the need for a downstream FMC, power supply for FMC, Ethernet cable to connect to network bridge, USB cable to connect network bridge to DAC, etc., etc. And...I don't need power cords for the FMC and network bridge power supplies.

Moreover, it has a proper chassis ground terminal on the back so I can run a ground cable from it to my Shunyata Everest's GP-NR system. Why doesn't every manufacturer do this? Anyway, thank you, Lumin. :thumbsup:

I've had some really great "music streamers" here of late, the Linn Klimax DSM/3, the Aurender N20, and the Lumin P1. They're all truly superb, and the two I was personally most impressed with are the Aurender N20 and the Lumin P1. If I had to choose between them, personally, I'd take the P1 because I'm already set up for optical and being able to remove...8 "devices" between the music server and the P1 is a big plus.

On the whole I am very impressed with how well-engineered, well-executed, and most importantly, how well thought-out the Lumin P1 is.

Cheers.

The X1 is definitely the Lumin signature piece, but we are LOVING the P1.


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Mike said:

The X1 is definitely the Lumin signature piece, but we are LOVING the P1.

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Yup! Right there with 'ya, Mike!

Puma Cat said:

Yup! Right there with 'ya, Mike!

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4/5 people, even with the right system and ears, wont be able to tell the difference. That doesnt mean there isnt one, a dense milled chassis, an external power supply and only relevent digital boards all add up to sonic benefit. Dont buy the P1 with its digital input board unless youre actually going to use it or the extra couple grand is a breaking point for you. For any one who has a system that warrants an X1, the additional cost shouldnt be of any concern. Additionally, packing various electronic boards closely together doesnt help you to get the best performance. In the X1 even the digital and analog boards are seperated by the milled chassis.

I, personally, am waiting for Lumin to release a TOTL player at around the $20-$25k USD retail point. Thats assuming theyre actually able to improve upon the X1 substantially enough.

dznutz said:

I, personally, am waiting for Lumin to release a TOTL player at around the $20-$25k USD retail point. Thats assuming theyre actually able to improve upon the X1 substantially enough.

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That would be cool. I wonder what the DAC section would look like. Hopefully something totally cool and different. Maybe R2R? Master Discrete type tech?


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dznutz said:

I, personally, am waiting for Lumin to release a TOTL player at around the $20-$25k USD retail point. Thats assuming theyre actually able to improve upon the X1 substantially enough.

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I wouldn't mind something better than the X1, however there is no reason why the next file player has to cost twice as much as the X1.

BlueFox said:

I wouldn't mind something better than the X1, however there is no reason why the next file player has to cost twice as much as the X1.

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There most certainly is plenty of reason, thankfully people always have the choice to buy or not.

I've yet to hear a digital front end I prefer to the X1. My Audio Note DAC 4.1 LE was in the same league but limited to redbook, and had the edge as far as most natural, organic digital I've heard anywhere, but less of some other things. Pros and cons to each but technology ultimately outpaced the AN in the end.

U1 into PS Audio DSD was excellent also and did nothing "wrong" but the X1 is just a few steps up all around imo.

Agree with everything Puma and dz said about the P1 and X1.

Lots of rooms at the FL Audio Expo were playing digital front ends (Lumin nowhere in sight, which was concerning to me), and while none had the same amplification and speakers as I have at home, I'd take my fairly humble X1-centric home system over all but 3 or 4 of those rooms. I think a big part of the sound I enjoy at home is what the X1 is delivering. I'd be very impressed if Lumin can appreciably improve on the X1.

The better comparison might be the P1 against the MSB Discrete.

VT Skier said:

The better comparison might be the P1 against the MSB Discrete.

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Better comparison how so?

Firstly, the comparison request was very specific, so not sure why MSB is being brought up.

Secondly, now youre asking to compare a completely different product, with completely different hardware, software, support and ability.

jmusica said:

I've yet to hear a digital front end I prefer to the X1. My Audio Note DAC 4.1 LE was in the same league but limited to redbook, and had the edge as far as most natural, organic digital I've heard anywhere, but less of some other things. Pros and cons to each but technology ultimately outpaced the AN in the end.

U1 into PS Audio DSD was excellent also and did nothing "wrong" but the X1 is just a few steps up all around imo.

Agree with everything Puma and dz said about the P1 and X1.

Lots of rooms at the FL Audio Expo were playing digital front ends (Lumin nowhere in sight, which was concerning to me), and while none had the same amplification and speakers as I have at home, I'd take my fairly humble X1-centric home system over all but 3 or 4 of those rooms. I think a big part of the sound I enjoy at home is what the X1 is delivering. I'd be very impressed if Lumin can appreciably improve on the X1.

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We hope the Lumin distributor will take a room at the show next year. I think this year he had some Covid concerns, so hopefully next year we will see a Lumin room. That would be great!


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dznutz said:

Better comparison how so?

Firstly, the comparison request was very specific, so not sure why MSB is being brought up.

Secondly, now youre asking to compare a completely different product, with completely different hardware, software, support and ability.

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All good points.

Okay, I'm going back to listening to the P1 as write this.

Go ahead, twist my arm...LOL.

are folks feeding the X1 through USB or network (copper or fiber) ? Is there a big difference in SQ between them depending on the quality of source ?

Devg said:

are folks feeding the X1 through USB or network (copper or fiber) ? Is there a big difference in SQ between them depending on the quality of source ?

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Both USB and "copper" Ethernet cables can have a notable impact on sound quality, and both can pass high-source impedance leakage current (usually from switch-mode power supplies). Fiber cannot pass this leakage current, but it can pass phase noise from el cheapo clocks in the networking "signal path" in the same manner copper Ethernet or USB cables can.

Both phase noise and leakage current have an audible impact on audio quality.

Devg said:

are folks feeding the X1 through USB or network (copper or fiber) ? Is there a big difference in SQ between them depending on the quality of source ?

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I only listen to files on a hard drive, and that drive is directly connected to the back of my X1. Sounds great to me.

I stream over fiber (eg Qobuz) and have the L1 NAS connected directly via copper ethernet. I'd be hard-pressed to tell you which is playing, but I sometime feel like the direct-connect L1 sounds a little better.

The X1 is an excellent server/player. We liked it so much that my brother and I bought X1s.

Fast forward a few years, the X1 remains an excellent player. But, the competition has intensified with players like the Esoteric N-05XD and N-01XD.

Ritmo said:

The X1 is an excellent server/player. We liked it so much that my brother and I bought X1s.

Fast forward a few years, the X1 remains an excellent player. But, the competition has intensified wit players like the Esoteric N-05XD and N-01XD.

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There will always be different... and better. But at what price? And what difference? I have owned the N-01XD and although a great product, its more expensive and nowhere near as well integrated between the hardware and software or even supported. I should not have to use the physical front screen buttons to makes changes to the device, by navigating 3 sub menus, before I can control and operate it the way I want on my tablet. They could've simplified this by including a remote control, but they didn't. So its not such a simple comparison. Its not all about just the sonics, which always have and always will be completely subjective, the operation of a device is objective.