Lumin X1
- Thread starter wklie
- Start date
Puma Cat
Well-known member
Lumin provides firmware updates of their products on a regular basis. And it's easy and fast to do, you can do the upgrade from your smartphone.
It is hardware upgrades , I am talking about
I know about firmware updates . I own a LuminX1
The boards inside the X1 are easily swapped over. However, very few Manufacturers will sell you the latest internal boards or any other components required. That is unless you get confirmation that the mounting points are the same and you have a really good connection in the industry.
I see no need for them to be upgradable like this as all Lumin products hold their value. Just sell and buy new.
We live in a world of ´´buy , sell and buy again ´´
I prefer to ´´ buy and upgrade ´´
Same thing with my Home Theater processor : Acurus ACT4 Upgradable
This is a different paradigm than buy-buy-buy
I drive a Mazda B-4000 1999 on a daly basis. I intend to keep it until 2029
Bartok Apex
Merason DAC1 mk2
Very good brands .....
Then you are the minority… and DCS is a very good brand? Apparently you havent had any issues with them. They are a small Company and they cut corners each and every day. John was a nightmare to deal with but he’s long gone so it doesnt matter.
And the reason the upgrade model works for them is because otherwise they wouldnt survive. Their products and retail prices are not targeted to work on a “buy, sell, buy” model as youve identified. Their products depreciate too quickly and have a tiny market, I dont know of anyone who would lose $5-10K by selling and then buying a new, incremental, model.
still-one
Active member
If I am reading this correctly you don’t have a clue. Further if the John you note is John Quick as far as I and many others are concerned he is definitely missed . He knew how to take care of dCS customers.
Ok.
rowlegg
New member
Hello,
Although I have followed the Lumin forum for quite some time, this is my first post. My system has evolved a great deal over the years, but in recent times has reached somewhat of a steady state. The basic elements of my current system are:
Lumin U1 --> Berkeley Alpha Dac 2 --> Rowland Continuum S2 integrated --> Harbeth Super HL5.
I used to have (various) Rowland separates, but in a move towards simplicity, some time ago I
purchased the Rowland integrated. The Lumin U1 is a relatively recent purchase, and I've been very happy with it. (I also have a D2 in my bedroom system.)
Thinking again in terms of simplicity, and reading all the wonderful reviews and comments about the X1, I'm wondering what it might be like to replace the U1 and Berkeley Dac with an X1. It would be a hard move to make without a serious audition. However, I would greatly appreciate any thoughts or comments from any of you that have perhaps been through a
similar kind of change. Thanks!
Although I have followed the Lumin forum for quite some time, this is my first post. My system has evolved a great deal over the years, but in recent times has reached somewhat of a steady state. The basic elements of my current system are:
Lumin U1 --> Berkeley Alpha Dac 2 --> Rowland Continuum S2 integrated --> Harbeth Super HL5.
I used to have (various) Rowland separates, but in a move towards simplicity, some time ago I
purchased the Rowland integrated. The Lumin U1 is a relatively recent purchase, and I've been very happy with it. (I also have a D2 in my bedroom system.)
Thinking again in terms of simplicity, and reading all the wonderful reviews and comments about the X1, I'm wondering what it might be like to replace the U1 and Berkeley Dac with an X1. It would be a hard move to make without a serious audition. However, I would greatly appreciate any thoughts or comments from any of you that have perhaps been through a
similar kind of change. Thanks!
The X1 has a really nice DAC. For simplicities sake, it’s great to have less boxes and cords. You can also elevate the quality of the stream at the X1 with SFP and signal clean up, but then you go back to having more boxes lol! But the X1 by itself is solid. Hopefully, you can demo one in your room to help you decide.
Puma Cat
Well-known member
I replaced my Lampizator Baltic 3 DAC, which in my experience, was one of the best DACs I've ever heard, with the DAC in the P1, and I don't feel I am giving up anything whatsoever. It's superb in my experience, and my guess is the DAC in the X1 would be even better as it uses the higher-specification ESS 9038s in a fully dual-mono configuration.
I'm also now firmly of the view that the LEEDH technology used by Lumin (as well as Soulution, Veermeer Audio, Wattson Audio, Metronome, etc), is the finest means to control output volume yet devised.
So...I'm done. With the wonderful Lumin P1 as my streamer, DAC, and pre, I spend my time listening to a superbly accurate, relaxed (as Hans Beekhuyzen says) and engaging musical presentation from an absolutely wonderful-sounding system and don't think about "gear" anymore. Just music...
MtnHam
New member
ozzy
Member
Sounds like a very good price to me.
ozzy
ozzy
rowlegg
New member
I replaced my Lampizator Baltic 3 DAC, which in my experience, was one of the best DACs I've ever heard, with the DAC in the P1, and I don't feel I am giving up anything whatsoever. It's superb in my experience, and my guess is the DAC in the X1 would be even better as it uses the higher-specification ESS 9038s in a fully dual-mono configuration.
I'm also now firmly of the view that the LEEDH technology used by Lumin (as well as Soulution, Veermeer Audio, Wattson Audio, Metronome, etc), is the finest means to control output volume yet devised.
So...I'm done. With the wonderful Lumin P1 as my streamer, DAC, and pre, I spend my time listening to a superbly accurate, relaxed (as Hans Beekhuyzen says) and engaging musical presentation from an absolutely wonderful-sounding system and don't think about "gear" anymore. Just music...
Thanks Puma Cat for your very helpful comments. I just now noticed that the X1 is more purist in its design than I had realized. My Berkeley Dac has four inputs: toslink, AES and 2 bnc SPDIFs. I currently use two of those, one being for my U1. No such inputs are available on the X1. My main audio system is in the living room, and is, in fact, part of a home AV system, which includes an Apple TV, Oppo disc player, and an Xfinity cable box. It seems that what I really could use is a P1. (In particular, it would be helpful to have some HDMI inputs.) But from your comments about the P1, and various reviews, it seems that to get the best out of the P1, one should run it directly into an amp, and take advantage of the Leedh volume control. In my case, I have a Rowland Continuum s2 integrated amp, and I don't think the preamp section can be bypassed. Now what to do... Maybe stick with the U1 and get an X1 PSU.
Puma Cat
Well-known member
In my case, I have a Rowland Continuum s2 integrated amp, and I don't think the preamp section can be bypassed. Now what to do... Maybe stick with the U1 and get an X1 PSU.
That's an easy fix. I'm using a Constellation Inspiration integrated amp with superb results. What i do is set the volume control on the Inspiration integrated to unity gain (turned all the way up) and then use the LEEDH volume control on the P1 to set the actual playback volume. This sounds better than turning the LEEDH off or, the P1 to "unity gain", and then using the Inspiration's volume control to set output volume.
IMHO, the LEEDH volume technology is the best and best-sounding, and, most transparent, means to control output volume I've ever heard.
If you like, I can post a white paper from the group in Switzerland that developed LEEDH. It's a very impressive technical achievement.
rowlegg
New member
Thanks for the very encouraging comments. I'm happy to have you post any literature. I've now been spending some time reading up on the various input and output connections, and how they're handled within the P1. Some clarifications by wklie I've come across have been helpful.