Lumin, Leedh’ing the way

The XU216 itself is not the culprit, its role is like the CPU in your computer. The firmware running on the XU216 has to be programmed carefully to avoid such pops. As a workaround you may force the U1 MINI to convert DSD to PCM by enabling Volume Control. So the DAC only handles PCM and it won't need to switch between PCM and DSD, thereby avoiding any potential DSD-related pop.

Please make sure you're running the latest firmware for the D90 DAC.

There is no pop sound in T2 when switching between any format.
 
Question: With the U1 Mini, is it possible to activate Leedh, and set a fixed volume level (ie: 75%) with the volume circle locked/inactive?

Why: use case is gain staging; if I still want to use my analog preamp volume control but my DAC outputs a hot signal, can I use the U1 Mini to attenuate the digital level via Leedh without worrying about some other user in the household adjusting the LUMIN volume via the circle?
 
Disabling the volume control causes the volume to be 100, so it's not what you need. The next best thing to do is to set the Max Volume % to 75.
 
asiano said:
I'm using a Topping D90 MQA DAC with the Lumin U1 Mini and get loud pops anytime it switches from DSD to PCM (volume control bypassed on both Lumin and D90). Very concerned about the health of my speakers as a result. Any idea why this is happening? The D90 uses the XMOS XU216 USB interface. I've read the XU216 may be the culprit.
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I asked someone to test Lumin USB output to a Topping D90 non-MQA DAC balanced output -> Accuphase balanced pre-out -> Benchmark amp, he reported there is no pop sound switching between PCM tracks and DSD tracks.
 
I am a believer! All electronics have signatures that add to overall system performance and, because I removed the preamp and associated cabling from my system and now go directly into the front end of my monos for all things two-channel, the proverbial veil has been lifted a little bit more. Thanks Lumin!
 
I would just like to chime in and say that the Leedh firmware addition is a FANTASTIC add! My entire music collection has been reborn. I cannot fathom going back to adjusting volume through the pre-amp. Tip of the cap to you guys at Lumin for providing this free of charge. So very unique in this day and age. I purchased the A1 not too long after its inception, and am still enjoying it to this day. The Leedh processing is like an A1 on steroids. Nice amount of veil lifting.

Again, Kudos
 
From a Lumin D2 user on Roon forum:
When Lumin came up with Leedh-processing I tried that and was so impressed with the quality that I actually sold my pre-amp - freeing up some money so that I was able to upgrade to a Lumin’s flagship, the X1.
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I think there's hardly better proof of Leedh Processing Volume than selling the pre-amp.
​
 
From a Lumin U1 MINI user on a Hong Kong forum:
I received the U1 Mini and connected with my Ayer QB-9 DSD now. Very happy with the outcome. Even with switching power supply it sounds really good. With LPSU the tone is now very balanced. Good bass, high freq not bright either.

I think Leedh volume control is a real winner. I decided to keep the Lumin and sell my XXXXXXXX N100 due to this. With the volume control, I can bring my integrated amp to "normal" level like 40% (or like 10-11 o'clock position). Without it, I have to turn down the volume to like 25% or less and we all know that's not ideal [...] So every component now perform at their sweet spots.
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From a Lumin U1 + Chord Dave user from Roon forum: I dare to say I’m happy - Roon Software - Roon Labs Community
With Leedh in my U1 I am able to put the Dave in DAC Mode, thereby bypassing the preamp controls in Dave and going directly to my amp and utilize volume control in Roon. Although I’m still testing, my first impression it is a slight improvement in sound quality and I really like having the volume control in Roon.
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If I get get rid of my pre amp and directly connect X1 to my Pass Labs X250.5 amp, would it be possible to control the volume with some type of a remote? I heard about all the volume problems with the X1 pre amp. My preamp is David Sachs tube pre amp which is very good and my current DAC is Lampizator Big 7, which is also very good. I am considering buying a X1. Let me know what you think?
 
You have the choice of leaving the preamp in the system, just turn the volume way up on your Don Sachs, and use the Lumin app on your I-pad or I-phone for volume level.
I am using my I-pad for Tidal and Qobuz so the volume control is right there also. All in one.
Or Take the preamp out altogether. And just have the Lumin do the volume control.
I prefer leaving the preamp in my system as it greatly adds to the party. YMMV.
Either way I do prefer using the Leedh volume control over my preamp's control.
 
Just a word of caution that if using the Tidal or Qobuz apps on an iPhone or iPad, volume control is done on the mobile device which then uses AirPlay to any Lumin device.

If using the Tidal or Qobuz features of the Lumin app on an iPhone or iPad, then volume control is done on the Lumin device—AirPlay is not used as the Lumin device retrieves the music data from Tidal or Qobuz directly.

If you want to use the X1 volume control then you either need to use the Lumin app (Android or iOS), or you have to use the Roon app (computer or mobile device).
 
NekoAudio said:
Just a word of caution that if using the Tidal or Qobuz apps on an iPhone or iPad, volume control is done on the mobile device which then uses AirPlay to any Lumin device.
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For iPad YouTube AirPlay to Lumin, the volume is done by the Lumin device, using Leedh Processing Volume if enabled. The AirPlay protocol can send a volume attenuation value to the receiver (but latest Lumin firmware rescales this value to a more usable scale). (RAAT also sends a volume number to the endpoint.)
 
NekoAudio said:
Just a word of caution that if using the Tidal or Qobuz apps on an iPhone or iPad, volume control is done on the mobile device which then uses AirPlay to any Lumin device.
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I have to take back this statement. I just tried using the Qobuz app on my iPhone and adjusting the iPhone volume while streaming over AirPlay to a Lumin device just adjust the Lumin device volume. But adjusting the volume of the Lumin device directly doesn't automatically reflect back to the iPhone volume setting. So it can get out of sync. This led to my earlier confusion and incorrect statement, which Peter corrected.
 
Anwo said:
Great support, this fixed the U1 Mini volume control over USB. Thanks.
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Peter,
I have a Leben CS600x integrated amp, U1 Mini, and a Denafrips Terminator dac. I would like to use Leedh processing, but unsure how to do this. I dont see anything in the Leben that allows me to set the unity gain to fixed.

My choice for control is Android OS.

Thoughts?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Mani
 
Please turn down the Lumin volume, then turn up the amp volume. Then experiment to see what combination of the two device volume settings sound better to you.
 
wklie said:
Any kind of digital volume or DSP will destroy MQA integrity, therefore your external MQA DAC will no longer see it as MQA. The "Authenticated" part of Master Quality Authenticated ensures the bit stream is not changed. Digital volume changes the bits.

For Lumin with internal DAC, since the volume is applied after MQA decoding, full MQA decoding to T2 analog output is unharmed by digital volume.
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Does this apply to the D2 as well? I'm trying to decided between the D2 and T2 and would like to know whether it can also do full MQA decoding to the analog output similar to the T2. Also do both the D2 and T2 process DSD without conversion to PCM with Leedh active?
 
I connected Lumin X1 directly to my Pass Labs X250.8 (26 db gain). For most recordings the volume control on the Lumin app is sufficient. However, with Janos Starker cello recordings (Mercury Records), particular his Bach sonatas (on both Tidal and Qobuz), I couldn't get the volume loud enough. I had to insert my preamp to get proper volume. I would like to ask if others also find this to be the case.
 
chungjh said:
I connected Lumin X1 directly to my Pass Labs X250.8 (26 db gain). For most recordings the volume control on the Lumin app is sufficient. However, with Janos Starker cello recordings (Mercury Records), particular his Bach sonatas (on both Tidal and Qobuz), I couldn't get the volume loud enough. I had to insert my preamp to get proper volume. I would like to ask if others also find this to be the case.
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Please confirm you're using the XLR input to Pass, and you've set the X1 Analog Output Level to Normal. For your setup, your Max Volume % setting needs to be 100.

What speakers are you using? And room size?
 
No, I am using RCA. Would this make a difference? Yes, the max volume % is 100%. So, the problem is when the next album comes on, the volume is through the roof.
 
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