Lumin A1

Mike

Mike

Audioshark
Staff member
Joined
Apr 2, 2013
Messages
30,490
Location
Sarasota, FL
Hard to believe it's been almost 4 years since I wrote this review. Lumin (the company was only 6 months old and no one had ever heard of them before I did the review). I stumbled on these guys on the Linn forum.

I'll never forget emailing On Li (I called him Li On for years before I finally met him...ugh) at Lumin and saying "I'm interested in reviewing the Lumin" (at that time there was no A1, S1, D1, T1, etc.). It was just one piece. The Lumin. On Li was too polite to ever correct me. Nelson Choi whispered in my ear "his name is not Li On, it's On Li." Ugh.

I'm not kidding, the next morning (overnighted from Hong Kong), a Lumin arrived. I about sh!t my pants. Who overnights anything from HK? These guys weren't screwing around. They were serious. I have had the pleasure of meeting the brains behind Lumin (On Li and Nelson) many many times. I still want to meet our Peter!!!

But I digress....

Putting the A1 back in my system, I stand by this review more than ever:

http://www.audioshark.org/dac-reviews-93/lumin-review-3787.html


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I bought my S1 based on your opinion, and that seems like at least 3 years ago. Anyway, I have had no problems at all, and have zero desire to even look at something else. Well, maybe the next generation, but even that would have to be exceptional for me to upgrade.
 
Mike said:
I'll never forget emailing On Li (I called him Li On for years before I finally met him...ugh)
Click to expand...

Both are correct. Li is his family (last) name. In Asian convention last name is spoken first. In European-influenced areas first name is spoken first.
 
I personally continue to be very happy with my Lumin. Sounds terrific, looks good, super easy to use and extremely reliable.
 
I am also a very happy owner of an T1 , its a great unit.
Easy to use sound is super and it has so far been very reliable.
 
Would not trade my A1 for anything...ANYTHING.....In addition to the player being absolutely superb, the incredible support from Peter and Lumin...makes it a 'no brainer' for anyone desiring to begin a computer-based system..I would entertain selling my A1 but only if there were an upgrade to the A1...Thank you Peter ...and you,too, Mike..
 
Looking at the new September 2017 issue 275 of The Absolute Sound, on page 70 they give the Lumin S1 a Golden Ear award for 2017. They say it was reviewed in issue 248, but I don't remember that.
 
I have owned several Lumin(s). I currently have an M1 and an S1. They have been the best investment I have ever made in my musical journey. I recently came upon a great opportunity to compare the quality of the streaming function with that of the CH Precision C1 DAC. Should be interesting.
 
I'm considering a Lumin. With all of the new DAC chips/processors over the past four or so years, have the two Wolfson WMB8741's become used in the A1 "obsolete"/surpassed by newer technologies?
 
Other than the WM8741 native DSD being limited to DSD64, there is nothing to complain about it, and people generally like its sound. Otherwise Lumin would not gain the strong market position it has today.

Therefore our latest product Lumin D2 still use WM8741.

I acknowledge there are indeed newer DAC chips with better specs on paper. However, sound-related spec such as THD does not really translate well into perceived sound quality. One should always choose a product based on its actual sound (as long as the functional requirements are fulfilled - MQA Roon Ready Tidal Qobuz Spotify TuneIn AirPlay) instead of specs.
 
Rob

The main difference between the two to my ears would be similar to the basic difference in the sound profile between the AKM and ESS chipsets. I find the Wolfson's to be more toward the AKM side of the road. They are as Mike describes it to the "Analog source" source side of things. If you think you would prefer the Wolfson then you have the choice of the D1, T1 and A1. There is in fact a pretty good deal on an A1 on Audiogon that also includes a Kenneth Lau power supply so you can try both it and the Lumin LPS.
 
For Tidal streaming, MQA decoding is desirable for the 9700+ Tidal Masters available (including duplicates). All Lumin models with analog outputs support Tidal MQA Full Decoding, i.e. S1 / A1 / T1 / D2 / D1.

Please audition them to find type of sound you prefer, and/or consult our dealers with your sonic preferences.
 
A user compared sound quality between Lumin D1 and A1:

https://www.computeraudiophile.com/...k-music-player/?do=findComment&comment=777322

The A1 exhibits a sense of realism and effortlessness that the D1 can't approach. A piano actually 'is' a piano, rather than being just an exceptionally good reproduction of a piano. I've read a review of the A1 somewhere, and the reviewer stated that at times he was convinced he 'was listening to the master tapes'. I couldn't sum it up any better. There is a solidity to the image that is spooky, and you really do feel like you're there in the studio with the musicians, rather than a few degrees or steps removed. I was listening to a 24/96 transfer of an old analogue recording (Linda Ronstadt's 'Living in the USA'), which was recorded in the late-1970's. It was as if I could almost hear the tape pass over the playback heads in the quiet passages, such is the resolving power provided by the A1.

In comparison to the A1, the D1 sounds a little 'coarse' and ill-defined, almost unrefined. BUT it's testimony to the D1 that it gets so close to the A1's performance. If the A1 was '100%', then I think the D1 provides 75% of its performance, I think the D1 is that good.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top