LUMIN: USB or COAX output?

[skbe]

Hey all music lovers

For Lumin transporters ie U1 and U1MINI.

1- USB vs COAX
Do you advice USB output or COAX output?
What are your tests about SQ?
What advice do LUMIN designers give?

2- COAX vs COAX BNC
What is the difference between COAX spdif and COAX BNC?
Which is better when it comes to SQ?

Thanks for your documented advice
Best
skbe

[Phil A]

The type of connector shouldn't be the determining factor. There are different qualities of each cable type. What DAC will you be using with the Lumin transport?

[wklie]

1. This is setup dependent, try both and let us know which sounds better to you.

2. Generally, avoid conversion connector if possible. If your DAC has an AES input, use it. If your DAC has a BNC input, use the BNC output. If your DAC only has a RCA SPDIF input port, use the RCA output. Usual preference for non-USB outputs: AES > BNC > RCA > Toslink, unless your DAC designer says differently. (USB is compared separately so not included.)

[Mike]

Peter, are you not a fan of the USB? Have you found AES and BNC to sound best?

[wklie]

Based on customer feedback, some prefer AES/coax, some prefer USB. More customers told me they preferred AES/coax to USB than the other way round.

[M1k3]

1. This is setup dependent, try both and let us know which sounds better to you.
...

Very good advice. I spent a lot of time comparing LUMIN U1 Mini’s Coax and USB outputs connected to an RME ADI-2 DAC (per your advice, never connected both at the same time). Both outputs are great and it’s splitting hairs which is better. FWIW I found that USB into the RME ADI-2 DAC was better than coax. The DAC does not have AES/EBU with an XLR connector so I could not test that connection (unfortunately, since it seems to be the preferred connnector).

IF choosing a USB connection for the LUMIN, I think the DAC’s internal clock implementation for USB is the key: the RME ADI-2 DAC has a great clock implementation and very low jitter and was IMHO better than coax.

Cheers,
M1k3

[skbe]

Thanks Peter
I feel USB sounds better, clearer, less noise. This is a first feeling. But I will continue testing.
I am connecting my Lumin to 2 different DACs. I use USB for one device and COAX RCA for the other device (if my USB DAC is shutdown, Lumin COAX output still works).
I am thinking about buying a COAX BNC to COAX RCA cable, made by Atlas (Atlas Hyper DD Integra Digital RCA-BNC). Do you think that a cable of this has a conversion connector inside and should be avoided?

[schmidtmike76]

I have tried both and did multiple USB vs AES. The AES was fuller and more smooth by a lot. I’ll be honest what I think and where I was on this. USB artificially sounds cleaner, only because the mid and lower end suffers. I have a Bryston BDA3 which has a really good USB section maybe one of the better ones at any price. After some soul time with the mini it was easy the AES. Best way to describe the sound is welcome back to analog. I did try the ab with nordost hemidall 2. Didn’t like the nordost so I moved to a very pricy siltech golden ridge 2 and found nirvana

[M1k3]

... The AES was fuller and more smooth by a lot. ... Best way to describe the sound is welcome back to analog.

I’ll remember this when I get a DAC with AES input. The Bryston BDA3 in a very nice DAC.

[Andik777]

Excuse me skbe for the off topic, I just wanted to ask you, with the X1 can I send DSD 512 through the external disk? Thank you

[skbe]

Hey Andik. Sorry I don’t know. I am not Lumin staff. I don’t have X1 (u lucky!) just a U1Mini. Best

[wklie]

Excuse me skbe for the off topic, I just wanted to ask you, with the X1 can I send DSD 512 through the external disk? Thank you

I can only say that with MinimServer and Roon: DSD512 works. I cannot guarantee the performance from USB storage.

[Andik777]

I can only say that with MinimServer and Roon: DSD512 works. I cannot guarantee the performance from USB storage.

Thanks Peter.