Lumin T3

Newmill said:
Thanks for the excellent information and first hand experience with these cables. It's a never ending learning process, and is so enjoyable to learn about. I'll keep you posted of any further developments. I do have another question though. The T3 seems really overly smooth, especially in the higher frequency range. Is this the case with the P1 as well or is there just more break-in time needed on the T3. I know its hard question due to the variety of gear assembled in ones personal hifi rig.
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Not sure what you mean by "overly smooth". The biggest factor in any audio system is the room itself. Also, be mindful that the components do not function "independently" one from another: they interact with each other. The cables, including the digital cables, ICs, PCs, and speaker cables also interact with the source and amplification components to create a "system". For example, signal ground noise from one component can be carried to the other components in your system by...the interconnects. They all can and often do, interact each other because they're now all connected to each other. So, when you connect a set of different components together, now all their "signal ground planes" (the 0 volt "reference point" in the circuit(s)) are all interconnected to each other, and...they can be slightly different from one component to another. This means noise from one component can travel through to all the other components from being "interconnected" with each other. This is why it's difficult to make "generalizations" when the overall sound is due to the interactions of aspects of the system as a whole. From systems engineering perspective, the "control factors" can be impacted by the "noise factors". Noise factors interact with control factors to take functional responses "off-target, add variance, or both. While noise can be reduced, it can never be eliminated. This is just the "physics" of the system as a whole.

And I can't speak to the P1 with respect to this specific "characteristic", all I can say is the P1 is one of a handful of the finest components I've ever heard, both as a "digital component (streamer/DAC) and a as "control preamplifier". The only way to know how it will sound in your system is to evaluate it in your room with your other system components and cables, power distribution set-up, and environmental factors (the temperature and barometric pressure have an effect on how your system sounds, as well.)
 
I definitely understand that the system as whole creates the final musical presentation. The only thing I changed was the streamer/dac and the sparkle has kind of disappeared. It reminds me a bit of the dolby noise reduction on a compact cassette player. When enabled, everything was kind of rounded off. Less shimmer on cymbals, less air, but smoother bass, if that analogy makes any sense? I used to close my eyes while listening, and feel like there was a human singing in my music room. Now I close my eyes and I feel like I'm listening to recorded music. The room itself is top tier. Dedicated everything, with Dennis Foleys's activated carbon bass management etc. If this does not start to become more revealing and life like, I wont be able to live with it. Give it more time I guess? Or Play with cables?
 
@Newmill,

My Lumin experience is with the X1. For me this unit noticeably improved over hundreds of hours. 200 playing hours for me was a major settling in point, but still improved and thought around 400 hours it hit its stride. That's much longer than I was used to considering for "break-in". Possibly this could have been similar for other pieces, and I didn't notice it. I have tried (emphasis on tried) to limit additional changes, such as cabling, etc. during the earlier hours, but admit I am not the best doing that. Your reference to Dolby with cassette player made me smile--I go back long enough that at one time I had a stand alone Dolby B unit, so I can relate to your description. However, I do not feel that applies to my X1. I'm a Boomer and know that my upper range hearing is compromised. Through the years I have come to believe that what I had earlier ascribed as increased detail was at times really noise. As you accumulate more hours, I believe you will experience more dynamics and presence than you may be now experiencing. Best of luck and enjoyment with your T3.
 
Further I really appreciate reading your personal experiences. The encouragement is greatly appreciated. I can't help but think I made a mistake with this purchase, but hearing what you and others have discovered through longer ownership gives me hope. Good advice on the cabling. I'll try to restrain myself from any more impulse purchases. On the up side, the T3 does some really great things too. The sound stage width and depth is not larger than what I'm used to, but it seems to be a much more cohesive presentation, better than lets say a grouping of perfectly defined instruments without exact placement on the stage. Hard for me to describe exactly the improvement that I'm hearing without getting super long winded with audiophile rhetoric. I'm leaving the Lumin running on repeat as I have a heavy work schedule this week and won't be in the room to use it. Hoping this aids in the break in. Another thought; are you shutting the player off with the switch on the back when you're not using it, or is it left on? Not sure what the manufacturer recommendations are. Thanks again.
 
Newmill,

I do not power down with the switch unless I'm going to be away for a period of more than a couple days. Instead, I allow Idle Sleep function in the App (I have selected 15 minutes) to control the standby timing or manually go to a sleep/standby with my optional remote control.

I believe it's always prudent to power down when making cabling connection changes.
 
Newmill said:
Further I really appreciate reading your personal experiences. The encouragement is greatly appreciated. I can't help but think I made a mistake with this purchase, but hearing what you and others have discovered through longer ownership gives me hope. Good advice on the cabling. I'll try to restrain myself from any more impulse purchases. On the up side, the T3 does some really great things too. The sound stage width and depth is not larger than what I'm used to, but it seems to be a much more cohesive presentation, better than lets say a grouping of perfectly defined instruments without exact placement on the stage. Hard for me to describe exactly the improvement that I'm hearing without getting super long winded with audiophile rhetoric. I'm leaving the Lumin running on repeat as I have a heavy work schedule this week and won't be in the room to use it. Hoping this aids in the break in. Another thought; are you shutting the player off with the switch on the back when you're not using it, or is it left on? Not sure what the manufacturer recommendations are. Thanks again.
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Further has given you some good info that I agree with based on my own experience. Again, I wouldn't make any final assessments until you minimally have 400 hours on the T3, and ultimately, 500 hours. If you leave the component on with content "streaming" through it, it will 3 weeks to get to 500 hours on it with it powered on and functioning (i.e., signal coming in and signal going out) continuously. However, it's also helpful to completely power off the component from time to time for a spell (e.g. overnight) to help with "forming" the capacitors.

Something I do is create a little spreadsheet and track the hours of "burn-in/"run-in" with actual data. Also be mindful that during burn-in, sometimes a component will go through a phase of "sounding worse" than at the beginning or at the end of the burn-in phase. It can be an "up or down" kinda thing. In my experiences with some other devices, once you "get there", it can be like flipping a switch: "Bing! I'm here!" So, just bear that in mind.
 
further said:
Newmill,

I do not power down with the switch unless I'm going to be away for a period of more than a couple days. Instead, I allow Idle Sleep function in the App (I have selected 15 minutes) to control the standby timing or manually go to a sleep/standby with my optional remote control.

I believe it's always prudent to power down when making cabling connection changes.
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Especially so with direct-coupled circuitry devices.
 
Thank You for the great replies. Here's a bit of an update. The streamer has between 350 and 450 hrs of play time in my best estimation. It is sounding really much better and I am again finding it hard not to spend a huge part of my time in the room. Everyone's advice about proper break in time required is spot on. I had a similar scenario when I installed the Furutech receptacles in my listening room many years ago. It got worse for quite a while (to the point I was going to remove them) and then greatly improved over time. I have made some changes in my room recently, but feel most of the improvement is the running in time of the Lumin T3 over the last couple of weeks.
 
Newmill said:
Thank You for the great replies. Here's a bit of an update. The streamer has between 350 and 450 hrs of play time in my best estimation. It is sounding really much better and I am again finding it hard not to spend a huge part of my time in the room. Everyone's advice about proper break in time required is spot on. I had a similar scenario when I installed the Furutech receptacles in my listening room many years ago. It got worse for quite a while (to the point I was going to remove them) and then greatly improved over time. I have made some changes in my room recently, but feel most of the improvement is the running in time of the Lumin T3 over the last couple of weeks.
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Thanks for the update. Your findings are consistent with my experience with respect to "burn-in" hours.
 
To expand on this subject a bit, I have recently added cable elevators and supports to all the cabling. The subwoofer cables were coiled on the floor so i shortened them, straightened them, and got them off the floor. I'm pretty sure the coiled cable is a bad idea. I also lifted the speaker wires and power cables.
 

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The power cable supports were made in the shop from stainless steel, aluminum and rubber base and the name of the plastic i forget. Its not a very common material but we had some in the shop that was not being used.
 

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Here's the power cable support on the Lumin.
 

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Thanks Guys. I was wondering. Does anyone have any thoughts or preferences regarding how they like to use the Lumin. Using Lumin volume control, or using a preamp? I havent tried it straight into the amp.
 
Newmill said:
Thanks Guys. I was wondering. Does anyone have any thoughts or preferences regarding how they like to use the Lumin. Using Lumin volume control, or using a preamp? I havent tried it straight into the amp.
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We love the P1 flexibility, but I’m old school: prefer a preamp with the Lumin.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
Newmill said:
Thanks Guys. I was wondering. Does anyone have any thoughts or preferences regarding how they like to use the Lumin. Using Lumin volume control, or using a preamp? I havent tried it straight into the amp.
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We mostly use the Lumin streaming DACs directly connected to an amplifier.
 
Newmill said:
Thanks Guys. I was wondering. Does anyone have any thoughts or preferences regarding how they like to use the Lumin. Using Lumin volume control, or using a preamp? I havent tried it straight into the amp.
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I use my P1 as my preamp, as well as my streamer and DAC, as the P1 is a superb preamplifer. And, I say this as the owner of a First Sound Presence Deluxe preamp with external dual-mono power supplies with almost 300,000 uF of power supply capacitance, and which presently is sitting nearby, unused.

In using the P1 as my preamp, I set my Inspiration integrated amp to unity gain, and then adjust the output volume with either the Lumin remote, or within the Roon interface, using the LEEDH volume control methodology. Personally, I think the LEEDH volume control methodology is the best-sounding I've ever heard. I also connect my EAR 324 phono stage to the P1 and again, it performs superbly as "straight" preamp.
 
I would definitely like to try Lumin T3 with a good linear power supply.
 
I would definitely like to try Lumin T3 with a good linear power supply.
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Here you go....
Connection kit for T3 to SBooster LPS: Sbooster Lumin D2-T2-T3-U1 Mini-U2 Mini- Connection Kit – Upscale Audio

SBooster LPS: Sbooster BOTW P&P ECO MKII Power Supply – Upscale Audio

If you want to go further upscale, get the Teddy Pardo, which includes the LPS adapater cable assembly:

Lumin D2/T2/T3/ U1/U2 mini Upgrade Kit - Teddy Pardo Audio

Reference here: FS: Lumin T3 + Teddy Pardo power supply - Sales and Trades - Roon Labs Community

NOTE: It's also important to understand that such conversions to an LPS with these kits will void the Lumin product warranty.
 
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