Thread: Lumin T2 + Farad PSU vs P1

Hello, everyone

I have been using the T2 equipped with my Farad Super 3 power supply for two years. Now I wanted to go further in terms of sound and have to test the P1 here.
I have to say I expected a little more. I can hardly make out any differences. Perhaps the P1 draws a slightly larger stage and resolves slightly higher. But I think that my T2 with the PSU offers more control and attack in the low frequency range and is almost in no way inferior to the P1.
Does anyone have similar experiences?
The P1 is also completely burned in.

I go straight from the Lumin to my Audion 300B se mk4 and speakers are Spatial Europe No. 7

best regards
Christian

Originally Posted by Happajoe

Hello, everyone

I have been using the T2 equipped with my Farad Super 3 power supply for two years. Now I wanted to go further in terms of sound and have to test the P1 here.
I have to say I expected a little more. I can hardly make out any differences. Perhaps the P1 draws a slightly larger stage and resolves slightly higher. But I think that my T2 with the PSU offers more control and attack in the low frequency range and is almost in no way inferior to the P1.
Does anyone have similar experiences?
The P1 is also completely burned in.

best regards
Christian

They do void the warranty, Lumin has stated this in a comment to Vinshine Audio's YT video showing modding a U2 Mini to use a linear power supply.

A key differentiator between the T2 and P1 is that the P1 has true preamplifier functionality, it's not "simply" a streamer/DAC. I know some folks view the P1 as a "souped up" T2/T3 with a linear power supply, but the P1 has more features and functionality, and the preamplifier functionality is a key differentiator. I use my P1 strictly has a preamp in conjuction with my TT and E.A.R. 324 phono stage and it's absolutely superb in performing that function. I and an audio buddy I had over one evening to listen to LPs on the P1, and we heard details and nuances on LPs we know really well that we had never heard before on other preamps (and I have another REALLY good preamp). It has sufficient no. of analog inputs that you could also use it as a preamp for a tape deck as well.

Lastly, but not to be overlooked, IMHO, is that it has an SFP cage so you can install an optical transceiver and connect to an upstream network music server or NAS using LC/LC specification optical fiber. In the experience of Robert Harley who did the TAS review of the P1 using the optical interface and generic $40 upstream FMC, and Hans Beekhuyzen who has examined use of optical compared to Ethernet, they both found optical provides superior audio quality through improved noise rejection (specifically, preventing the passage of impedance leakage current), and less threshold jitter, and this results in a notable improvement in audio quality. A number of my audio buddies and I have found the degree of improvement from using optical is even greater using an audio-quality FMCs, e.g. those in EtherREGEN and the SOtM sNH-10G Ethernet switch that are powered by linear power supplies and have audio quality SFP cages in addition to superior clocks and isolation transformers. Plus, it's considerably simpler than requiring Ethernet switches, network bridges, and their attendant digital signal cables, external linear power supplies, and those LPS' attendant power cables, and all that cr*p in the rack.

Geinrich Altschuler and Nelson Pass are right: Simpler is Better.

Originally Posted by Mike

Go P1. Add on PSU’s likely void the warranty.

100% agree, Mike.

They do void the warranty, Lumin has stated this in a comment to Vinshine Audio's YT video showing modding a U2 Mini to use a linear power supply.