Thread: Lumin T2 - any specific recommendation for XLR cables ?

Hi all,

Already owning a Lumin U1 Mini (with Sbooster Mod) going into a Mcintosh C8 with DA2 and MC275 MKVI, I just ordered a T2 to go with a McIntosh C70 and Anthem STR PA to replace another-brand streamer / DAC.
I plan to hook it up balanced /XLR and currently have QED Reference 40 cables (RCA / XLR) throughout all my systems plus QED Genesis Silver Spirals for my speakers.
The only deviation from QED is the Audioquest Diamond Coax between the U1 Mini and the C8.

Overall I am happy with QED re soundstage and ROI but of course with the T2 about to arrive I was starting to read again through reviews / opinions on XLR cables, which to me are less conclusive vs RCA and hence I was wondering if there are specific recommendations for a XLR IC to go with the T2 ?

Many thanks

Thanks both for the replies.
Well, reading more and more reviews on XLRs actually triggered my post here, but ok yes, I guess in the end it is and remains a purely subjective topic.
Hence I ordered my current used brand QED plus my McI dealer has Shunyata and Audioquest in use in some of his display systems which he agreed to lend me over the weekend so I can do some testing.
Thanks also for the hint re HiDiamond, I will try to get a hold of this one as well.
And yes, I have a full set of Inakustik (RCA, XLR, Ethernet, USB) on stock, I used Inakustik before switching to QED.

Originally Posted by Protyreus

Thanks both for the replies.
Well, reading more and more reviews on XLRs actually triggered my post here, but ok yes, I guess in the end it is and remains a purely subjective topic.
Hence I ordered my current used brand QED plus my McI dealer has Shunyata and Audioquest in use in some of his display systems which he agreed to lend me over the weekend so I can do some testing.
Thanks also for the hint re HiDiamond, I will try to get a hold of this one as well.
And yes, I have a full set of Inakustik (RCA, XLR, Ethernet, USB) on stock, I used Inakustik before switching to QED.

Hi, did you receive your T2? I'm curious how you are liking it, considering one as well have an MA8900 integrated with a DA1 not the DA2. I may skip the DA2 and opt for something like the T2 or different DAC and also via XLR. Curious how you like it and how it compares to the DA2 via USB to compare. Cheers!

Hi, thanks yes I did, I have it in service for roughly 1.5 months. To make it short, the T2 upgrade was unexpected significant, it surpasses all previous DACs I owned and is also owning the DA2 by far despite using the same chip, the DAC integration in the T2 and the components are used just superior to the DA2. I love my McI Preamps / Amps, but on the digital front, Lumin clearly leads the way. So if you are considering DA2 vs T2 - from an owner of both - no brainer - go for the T2.

Originally Posted by Protyreus

Hi, thanks yes I did, I have it in service for roughly 1.5 months. To make it short, the T2 upgrade was unexpected significant, it surpasses all previous DACs I owned and is also owning the DA2 by far despite using the same chip, the DAC integration in the T2 and the components are used just superior to the DA2. I love my McI Preamps / Amps, but on the digital front, Lumin clearly leads the way. So if you are considering DA2 vs T2 - from an owner of both - no brainer - go for the T2.

This is great feedback thank you. Are you running the T2 via XLR or RCA ? Great to know as I was debating the DA2 but haven't seen much info that the DA2 is quite the upgrade over DA1 but every T2 owner with McIntosh amps seems to be happy with the pairing and DAC in the T2. The comments were the T2 is a bit more detailed to the MCI's warmer sound so it's a good pairing vs the lower D2 was also warm and not a good pairing. Thanks again for the advice.

Sorry I never had a DA1, just the DA2. I use the T2 actually in parallel with XLR and RCA, both going into McI PreAmps.
For a single connection, I would highly recommend XLR as the lead because of the specific balanced T2 design.
There are some reports that certain preamps struggle with the T2 XLR output level (the Lumin app has a setting to adjust / lower this though) - but no issues at all with McI‘s on that end.
For the cables (both XLR and RCA) I settled with Shunyata Venom in the end. For me the best ROI ratio and acoustics in my opinion.
And to your point, yes, I find the McIs and the T2 a perfect pairing. My wife thinks I am crazy with my audio stuff, but the upgrade go the T2 did not go unnoticed, her unprompted comment was that the sound all of a sudden has much more presence in the room (without knowing that I switched the Aries G2.1 and DA2 to a T2)

I also need to confess that I tested both the X1 and T2 in parallel - and I actually kept the T2 in the end, simply because it sounded better to me.

Originally Posted by Protyreus

Sorry I never had a DA1, just the DA2. I use the T2 actually in parallel with XLR and RCA, both going into McI PreAmps.
For a single connection, I would highly recommend XLR as the lead because of the specific balanced T2 design.
There are some reports that certain preamps struggle with the T2 XLR output level (the Lumin app has a setting to adjust / lower this though) - but no issues at all with McI‘s on that end.
For the cables (both XLR and RCA) I settled with Shunyata Venom in the end. For me the best ROI ratio and acoustics in my opinion.
And to your point, yes, I find the McIs and the T2 a perfect pairing. My wife thinks I am crazy with my audio stuff, but the upgrade go the T2 did not go unnoticed, her unprompted comment was that the sound all of a sudden has much more presence in the room (without knowing that I switched the Aries G2.1 and DA2 to a T2)

I also need to confess that I tested both the X1 and T2 in parallel - and I actually kept the T2 in the end, simply because it sounded better to me.

Wife also thinks I’m crazy. That’s interesting that you kept the T2 over the X1 there’s of course a nice cost savings but really good feedback. I guess it’s time to find one to audition in the house and see how I like it. Did you get the Sbooster power supply addon with it ? Seems popular no idea if it helps.

Shunyata Venom are nice cables. Also curious did you upgrade your amps power cable vs the stock cable was told that helps but curious if others actually found a difference or just good marketing. Really appreciate the advice.

Great feedback I haven’t found anyone with mcintosh power who wasn’t happy with the T2 seems like the sweetspot. Are you also running it via XLR? Thank you:

Re the T2 vs X1, it was not about the cost, I purely decided based on my listening preference, the T2 had more sizzle, sharpness and presence.
I did not tamper my T2 with SBooster, I did it for the Lumin U1 Mini and it did not make any difference for me.
2 years of Lockdown / Corona - my big project was to try out ALL the Audio Vodoo in real and form my own opinion / find my own truth - of course subjective and only valid for myself. Hence yes, my whole audio infrastructure is power management upgraded with audiophile filters and cables. Did it make any difference for me ? Nope, ZERO. I live in an old large farmhouse built in 1870, but I also live very remote, hence there is almost no neighbor static interference to filter out I guess. My inhouse electric installation is not state of the art at all. My house is full of home automation stuff, from vacuum cleaner bots, to blinds, windows, heating, security systems, air treatment. Hence I would have expected a power purification effect, but none observed.

This is great info especially on the T2 vs X1 goes to show things must be auditioned. Also thank you on the power honesty, reason I asked is I bought a nordost digital cable and I couldn’t for the life of me tell a difference between the cheap cable I had before. Was advised to upgrade power cords and so forth but I bet my results will be similar. I’m looking at the T2 and room acoustic treatment which should help. Any tips and tricks you can share in your past two years of experimenting that really improved the sound ?
Thank you again.

I think sound improvements are also subjective, based on personal preference.
Before I started the journey, I gave it some thought of what I actually want to achieve. As mentioned, I live in an old farmhouse and my living room is the previous stable / haystack - 80m2 and 12 m high. I also got tired of sitting tight in the stereo sweet spot. I wanted less sterility and more of a concert / concert hall ambiance plus versatility of soundstage produced, I noticed my preference to vary from day to day based on the mood and also the kind of music I listen to.

What made the biggest difference for me:

- Speakers (I use a versatile / massive speaker from Nubert, the NuPyramide 717 which can be used in either surround firing or direct mode)
- Measuring the room with DIRAC and finding the peaks / drops
- Potent amplification that really owns & controls the speaker
- DAC (the T2 leading the way)
- Source quality (my NAIM Unity Core sounds superior to both Qobuz and Tidal)

To put on an additional reality filter - from all the above, the missus only commented twice noticing a significant difference - the speakers and the T2. However she might have been biased with the speakers, they are 70kgs each and she helped me carry them 3 levels up…

From the Voodoo section:

- Interconnects made a certain difference - after testing several sets, I settled with medium price range using QED and Shunyata
With the interconnects, I found that it is more important on how two devices are connected vs. the price range of the cable (f.e. the T2 via XLR)
- Speaker cables, as I need to bridge a large distance between amp and speaker. Diameter and silver content of the cable made an audible difference
- Ethernet cables - tested but no real difference noted, I kept the Audioquest Vodka
- I already commented on the power mgmt / filtering