Lumin T2 or preowned mint Lumin S1 ?

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pontusjakobsson

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Hi,
im planning to do my next upgrade in my system sometime during this year. Running pass labs, Focal Scala Evo and Ansuz+Wireworld cablage plus the NAD M51 DAC.
The NAD M51 is awesome but the limiting factor in the system. haven't auditioned any Streamers/DACs yet but have been reading about the new Auralics, Aurender, PS Audio and of course Lumin.
Lumin based purely on what others say (i have to make up my own mind by listening of course), seems like the best fit for now.

the Lumin S1 seems like a fantastic piece of equipment, but i wonder, since the new T2 is released, and the T2 is somewhat the same price as a preowned mint condition S1 sold by a audio dealer.
strictly from a sonic perspective, what would be the best buy ? new updated tech in T2 or the costlier construction of the S1 ?

What im looking for in an upgrade is a bit more sense of immediacy and presence, more slam in live drums.
 
Well i haven't owned the S! but from listening to the X1 , i would guess that the T2 would get you in the right direction....hopefully someone else with more experience than me will chime in.
 
The A1 also seems to be discounted in many places since the release of the T2 and X1. I have just bought a heavily discounted new A1, since I do not like ESS chips and so did not want the T2 or X1 (or S1). The A1 is stunningly good.

But if you do like the sound of ESS chips (for whatever reason) I would go for the T2 over the S1. The T2 has the newer sabre DAC chip which is a considerable improvement over the previous generation (I have owned both, hence my comments above).
 
I plan on, eventually, upgrading to the X1, but I am totally impressed by my S1 every time I play it. Especially after I upgraded the S1 power supply to the X1 power supply. It just sounds so darn good.
 
I was considering buying a second hand S1 for a good price this summer, but I decided to go temporarily with a D2 while waiting for the T2. I'm sure the S1 is still a great device, but personally I wanted a refresh with newer hardware like DSD512 capabilities etc, the T2 came to be everything I could have asked for and I'm very happy with it.
 
The biggest difference in sound is going to come from the use of the Lundahl output transformers in the S1, versus the T2 which does not have any output transformers. I don't know if anyone else can say what you'd prefer, but the use of the transformers does mean the S1 doesn't sound like other ESS Sabre implementations.
 
Has anyone come across those 2 Lumin streamers the OP , mentioned ?

I am probably going to have the chance to listen at a dealer event where they plan to try out different Lumin Streamers , and told me that they would probably include both T2 and S1....so in 2 weeks time i would maybe have something to say about those 2 streamers.
 
Awesome, would be very interested in your findings.


speaking of Lumin devices, recognizing they are streaming + DAC devices well equipped.
But, if you want to play other than streaming sources ? Like anything digital fed via USB / AES / TOSLINK etc. your Netflix series via your PC/Mac or Smart TV, your Cable TV etc.
No way of doing it? having issues with the idea of having a very strong competent DAC for streaming music, but needing getting another DAC for the rest of my media consumtion, since i do everything in one single system, movies, music, TV shows, what have you.
 
Never heard the NAD so no idea how the two DAC sections compare but the Teac does fit the bill in terms of a streamer that has inputs for other sources in your system. Sounds fine to me.
 
FDPDK said:
Has anyone come across those 2 Lumin streamers the OP , mentioned ?

I am probably going to have the chance to listen at a dealer event where they plan to try out different Lumin Streamers , and told me that they would probably include both T2 and S1....so in 2 weeks time i would maybe have something to say about those 2 streamers.
Click to expand...

Haven't heard the T2, but I own the S1. As of today it is second in the Lumin line with the X1 being the top of the line. I recently upgraded my S1 power supply to the X1 power supply, and it took the S1 to a new level for only a modest cost.
 
pontusjakobsson said:
Awesome, would be very interested in your findings.


speaking of Lumin devices, recognizing they are streaming + DAC devices well equipped.
But, if you want to play other than streaming sources ? Like anything digital fed via USB / AES / TOSLINK etc. your Netflix series via your PC/Mac or Smart TV, your Cable TV etc.
No way of doing it? having issues with the idea of having a very strong competent DAC for streaming music, but needing getting another DAC for the rest of my media consumtion, since i do everything in one single system, movies, music, TV shows, what have you.
Click to expand...

There are some Lumin streamers with no DAC build in , if i remember correct. I only use it for streaming music , so i dont have the same need as you have...therefor i am not into which model in Lumin lineup that could be something for you.
 
BlueFox said:
Haven't heard the T2, but I own the S1. As of today it is second in the Lumin line with the X1 being the top of the line. I recently upgraded my S1 power supply to the X1 power supply, and it took the S1 to a new level for only a modest cost.
Click to expand...

Thank you for that info , but then i would start wondering if one should just make the last jump in the lineup and take an X1 .
 
I just purchased T2 last month - it’s been on 7/24 last week and listening now is pure bliss.
streaming Tidal most of the time and using its DAC for MQA as I have c2600 Mcintosh.
Hard for me to provide valuable insight into comparison with x1 as I never owned it but this T2 is a thing of beauty both in built quality and sound.
 
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