Advices on Upgrading my Music Server/Streamer?

Mr. Panda said:
My question is can I run Audirvana on a Lumin or Innous Etc?

I do think it might be good idea to get dedicated streaming device.
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I don't think you can run Audirvana or JRiver on a Lumin or Innuous. If you could, you would see Lumin and-or Innuous as a supported platform (like Win10 and iOS) on their Web site or see Audirvana -JRiver mentioned on the Lumin or Innuous Web sites. The Lumin U1 Mini uses the mobile app as its only interface. It is not 100% stable, but I find it more stable than JRiver's . When it is stuck, it is simple to get it back on track and it will likely improve as time goes on.

The platform's upgrades are simple and under Lumin's full control, with no superfluous features that could cause problems. Besides the small issues with the app, I love the U1 Mini. The app is intuitive and easy to use. The resulting sound is better than with the previous JRiver setup. All you need is power the U1 and your mobile device and pick your songs or playlists. I only use my own flac files, but if I decide to subscribe to Tidal, Spotify, etc... the U1 will handle it as is.

When looking for a music server, I found the U1 Mini to be a full-featured product, with a wide choice of interfaces, no DAC, great reviews, and a nice price. That's what I needed. I might have missed a better product out there, but I am happy with my purchase so far. That's all that matters...

I also think keeping the JRiver-Win10 platform is useful for playing my videos.

Hope this helps,
 
Mr. Panda said:
My question is can I run Audirvana on a Lumin or Innous Etc?
Click to expand...

For Lumin, yes you can use JRiver UPnP and latest Audirvana Plus UPnP to control it.

Lumin supports the widest range of control point software. You may also use Linn Kazoo app, Bubble DS Next, Roon, etc. if you don't like Lumin app for any reason.
 
Wow!

This is great information.

There really does not seem to be any other or very few devices that can do this.

I really have no interest in JRiver for audio.
But yes,
it can do video.
Since I already have subscription,
I might as well use it for something.

But my audio person said he does not know if I can use both.
They might confuse each other.
Any thoughts?

Would adding a Lumin and taking out my Mac Mini be and improvement in SQ?

What are the differences between the U1 and the Mini?

The Innuous seems to have a lot of things I do not need.

I have been told the Linn Kazoo is also an excellent piece of software and am very pleased it can work with a Lumin.

Most appreciated
 
Mr. Panda said:
Wow!
I really have no interest in JRiver for audio.

But my audio person said he does not know if I can use both.
They might confuse each other.
Any thoughts?

Would adding a Lumin and taking out my Mac Mini be and improvement in SQ?

What are the differences between the U1 and the Mini?
Click to expand...

You can have multiple audio control point computer software installed, but they must not be running at the same time. To use one, please close the others.

I have multiple confirmations of SQ increase from Lumin customers, who migrated from a Mac -> USB DAC configuration to a Lumin -> USB DAC configuration.

The differences between the U1 and U1 MINI are: LPS vs SMPS, heavy aluminium chassis, and DSD512 (for Linux native DSD DAC only) vs DSD256 (for Linux native DSD DAC or DoP).

You may also consider a Lumin T2 - you can select between analog, USB or BNC output.
 
Mr. Panda said:
My question is can I run Audirvana on a Lumin or Innous Etc?
Click to expand...
As I think it may not have been answered exactly as you asked, you need two things: a hardware component that provides the music to your processor, and a software component with a user interface that you use to control the hardware.

Your Mac mini, or a Lumin or Innous device, is the hardware. So you can swap a Lumin in for the Mac mini, for what is connected to your processor.

But you still need the software and its user interface. You could run Audirvana on your Mac mini (using a connected monitor, keyboard, and mouse) to control what music is played via the Lumin. Or you could use the Lumin iOS/Android app on an iOS or Android device to control what music is played via the Lumin. There are many other choices like Peter has mentioned: JRiver BubbleUPnP, Roon, Linn Kazoo, Glider, etc. But these are all installed onto and used via something like a laptop/desktop computer or phone/tablet.
 
One again,

More excellent information.

I probably should have listed my components in my signature but I would have never listed a remote control there or I pad. Etc.

Am interested in pulling out my Mac Mini from the system.

Yes,
I use an I pad.

The Lumin does seem to be one if not the only device that can do what I am looking for.

I am not interested in the T2 because I do not want a Dac.

Most appreciated
 
Randy Myers said:
I am well aware that the 9028 and 9038 chips (along with the 9026) came out at the same time. I have had DACs using both of these. And I am also very aware that the chip in and of itself does not make or break a DAC. I have compared DACs from the same company using the 9028 and 9038 chips and the 9038 is far superior, however I agree with Mike in that Lumin would be wise to explore other DAC options. Many company chose to use the 9026 or 9028 because they were pin compatible with ESS previous generation chips, while the 9038 is not and would require more work redesigning.

Higher end digital companies (you know the names) use custom built DAC decoders because in every case they are superior to the off the shelf chips no matter which one is used. Certain DACs tend to lean towards certain duties better than others in my view. T+A for example uses total separate signal paths depending on if a PCM or a DSD file is being decoded. I would also add that I believe T+A is a DSD specialist which definitely is a reason that I gravitated towards their products.

The bottom line is that Lumin is a good product but I believe it is important that Shark members receive good accurate info so that they can decide for themselves on which merits in a particular product is right for them. I know how difficult this can be especially when discovering (or rediscovering which is what my situation was) this whole new world of audio enthusiast equipment. I know first hand how difficult it is especially when many manufactures put out misleading or at best half truths about their products.
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If I might ask, what inaccurate information and/or half-truths are you referring to?

And correct me if I'm wrong, but Lumin uses the 9038 chips in the flagship X-1. You say that:

"And the Lumin is not using ESS's top chip that has been out for a number of years now."

This proclamation doesn't include a quote from a specific post mentioning a Lumin model number.

Maybe quoting directly when debating specific points would lead to less confusion and misinterpretation for other readers. For example, I had to go back through the thread to discern that you were most likely referring to the T2 not using the 9038 chips (but not completely sure).

What drew my attention, and why I wish to get clarification, was that it seemed that you may have possibly suggested that Peter and/or Lumin showed a lack of design expertise and/or honesty in their assertions. I don't see any evidence of either.

Thanks for your valuable input. You are light years ahead of me when it comes to IT and digital audio, thats for sure.
 
Hello,

I dd not mean to bring up a can of worms here.

Again,
I was not asking about DAC's just looking for device that did not have one.

I would assume the Lumin DAC's are very good but that is not the route I want to take.

From what I have learned,
I think the Lumin may be the only or one of the few devices that can do what I am looking for with no DAC.

They also seem to be quite good products as well.

Most appreciated
 
Mr. Panda said:
Am interested in pulling out my Mac Mini from the system.
Click to expand...

If you mean merely replacing the Mac with a streamer as the source to your USB DAC, that is fine. You can use Lumin app on iPad to control the Lumin streamer to play music stored in your Mac via network, if you install the free MinimServer on the Mac.

If you mean removing the Mac from the network, then you cannot use Audirvana on Mac - I assume it's your intention to use Audirvana as a control point on Mac to control a streamer such as Lumin. Edit: If you want to use Audirvana Remote on iPad, you still need Audirvana running on Mac.
 
Have you purchased a streamer yet?
I see all the suggestions about streaming, but nothing about adjusting the individual audio track sound levels. I simply stream from my pc using VLC (thru the USB port), I prefer wav files, and usually "edit" the sound level. I'm not talking about "normalizing" either.
One streamer I've always been interested in is a TuneTracker radio automation software suite and pc with "Haiku" operating system. It will import audio files, rip cds, and allows individual file audio level adjustment (if I'm reading the info correctly), can be controlled remotely, and of course allows playlists. The web site is tunetrackersystems. You might find it interesting. Does anyone have experience with radio automation systems?
 
rhd1953 said:
Have you purchased a streamer yet?
I see all the suggestions about streaming, but nothing about adjusting the individual audio track sound levels. I simply stream from my pc using VLC (thru the USB port), I prefer wav files, and usually "edit" the sound level. I'm not talking about "normalizing" either.
One streamer I've always been interested in is a TuneTracker radio automation software suite and pc with "Haiku" operating system. It will import audio files, rip cds, and allows individual file audio level adjustment (if I'm reading the info correctly), can be controlled remotely, and of course allows playlists. The web site is tunetrackersystems. You might find it interesting. Does anyone have experience with radio automation systems?
Click to expand...

Perfect timing.

Been thinking about this for quite some time now.

I have an Auralic G2.1 arriving this week.
 
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