Lumin P1 Reviews

Mike,

I know you are a big fan of the MSB Discrete; how would you compare to the P1? I am looking for a new DAC, and these are on my shortlist.
 
Mike,

I know you are a big fan of the MSB Discrete; how would you compare to the P1? I am looking for a new DAC, and these are on my shortlist.

If you need more preamp functions in an all-in-one, the P1 is it. If it’s just a DAC you want, they are both winners. Both system dependent.


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Read the review. Makes a powerful argument for eliminating a preamp and going direct using Leedh processing. Would love to hear Lumin owners’ experiences and preferences. I’ve been going direct from my X1 into a pair of Levinson monoblocks vs. a tube preamp and Lampizator DAC and both sound lovely. But I do appreciate the simplicity of going direct which is why I ordered the Lumin remote control from Mike yesterday. Cutting out another two sources and eliminating two pairs of interconnects and a digital cable out of the signal chain and going balanced out of the X1 directly to the power amps does seem to make a lot of sense and bodes well for an overall clearer and less colored music portrayal. BTW, 90% of my listening is through the Lumin so no need for another source.

Thoughts?
 
going balanced out of the X1 directly to the power amps does seem to make a lot of sense and bodes well for an overall clearer and less colored music portrayal.

Yes, I think this is exactly what the benefits are.
 
Read the review. Makes a powerful argument for eliminating a preamp and going direct using Leedh processing. Would love to hear Lumin owners’ experiences and preferences. I’ve been going direct from my X1 into a pair of Levinson monoblocks vs. a tube preamp and Lampizator DAC and both sound lovely. But I do appreciate the simplicity of going direct which is why I ordered the Lumin remote control from Mike yesterday. Cutting out another two sources and eliminating two pairs of interconnects and a digital cable out of the signal chain and going balanced out of the X1 directly to the power amps does seem to make a lot of sense and bodes well for an overall clearer and less colored music portrayal. BTW, 90% of my listening is through the Lumin so no need for another source.

Thoughts?

More than 10 years ago I eliminated my Audio Research Ref 3 preamp and went straight from my DCS Puccini + Clock with balanced cables into my (now old) Pass XA 100.5. I liked it a lot.... until I tried the Grandinote preamp which added some weight and body to the sound. In addition instruments and voives are now better delineated from each other without losing transparency.

After changing from the DCS combo to a TAD D1000 MKII (with variable output), I experienced the same improvement with a preamp vs. going directly into my Grandinote Demone.

Recently I had a Lumin P1 at home for a couple of months and once again preferred the more balanced and more palpable, three dimensional sound of the pre. But: I'd guess that you'll need a pre in the >5k range to better the build in volume control.

Just my 2 cents ;)

Martin
 
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