Lumin U2 (with internal LPS and SFP port)
- Thread starter wklie
- Start date
I've never listened to a U1, nor owned a Lumin until this one. But I will say I never imagined that a digital streamer could make my system sound this damn good. I've demo'd an iFi Neo Stream, Sonore opticalModule and used my PS Audio DS DAC w/Bridge II card for nearly 2 years. This Lumin is far beyond any of those. I honestly (and arrogantly) thought my converted optical LAN was about as quiet as a LAN could be since neither of the other streamers bettered my PSA Bridge. Boy, was I wrong. I'm using my computer DAC to boot. An Ayre Codex. I can't imagine my digital system sounding even better when Ayre finishes building my QX-5 Twenty [emoji445][emoji444] This U2 is simply fantastic.
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U1 forms the guts of the Esoteric network transport in N-01 (and N-03T) which I am very familiar with. I thought the Esoteric U1 implementation sounded outstanding. For the U2 to be better is hard to imagine. It would have to be getting close to Esoteric disc transport performance.
I imagine you are right. Esoteric is top level stuff. I know the case amounts for some of the cost difference, but I can't imagine the whole $2k+. But the obsessive side of me passed on a U1 to wait/find a unit with an SFP Cage. When I first heard about the U2, I knew I had to order one right away. I just couldn't fathom wasting all of the effort and expense to convert my LAN to fiber, only to buy a streamer that would only accept copper. It may have cost me a little sound quality (not sure I'll ever know for certain), but I feel better with fiber all the way through.
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Puma Cat
Well-known member
Can't say I'm surprised at all. My P1 is simply fantastic as well. I am SO impressed with Lumin's design, engineering, execution, and quality.
Those guys at Lumin have got it...goin' on.
Puma Cat
Well-known member
audio.bill
Active member
Here's a review of the Lumin U2 from High Fidelity in Poland. Google Chrome does a pretty nice job on translation to English.
High Fidelity
High Fidelity
PavelDosko
New member
Good day, friends. For now, I am waiting for the delivery of the Lumin U2, but I would still like to ask you how to use the LEEDH system for volume control. My connection will be: SFP - U2 - USB - DAC Rockna Wavedream - XLR - dual mono passive preamp Big Hattor - XLR - power amp Simaudio Moon W8. I don't use ROON, I stream music from NAS and Qobuz. Thanks in advance for the advice.
Phil A
Member
I got my U2 yesterday. Breaking it in now. I did downsample DSD 256 to 128 and I can now play DSD 256 files.
There's info here about how to use Leedh - LUMIN - Leedh Processing
There's info here about how to use Leedh - LUMIN - Leedh Processing
jadedavid
New member
There is a setting in the Lumin to enable LEEDH and also set a "maximum" output level (as a safety).
Once you enable it you can control the volume from your tablet/I-phone.
The Big Hattor is no longer needed in the chain.
However you can leave it in the system if desired, just turn the volume all or most of the way up.
Using LEEDH, the Lumin is now doing duty as a streamer and volume control.
Works great and sounds good.
Once you enable it you can control the volume from your tablet/I-phone.
The Big Hattor is no longer needed in the chain.
However you can leave it in the system if desired, just turn the volume all or most of the way up.
Using LEEDH, the Lumin is now doing duty as a streamer and volume control.
Works great and sounds good.
PavelDosko
New member
thank you, gentemen
- Thread Author
- #36
If I'm not mistaken, your DAC internally upsamples to DSD512. In view of this, I suggest you compare conversion to DSD128 against conversion to PCM 352.8kHz, see which sounds better to you for your DAC in your setup.
PavelDosko
New member
so ... without passive preamp setup wil be sfp- U2- usb - DAC Rockna and U2 - XLR power amp?
Phil A
Member
I will get to that for sure. I don't have a ton of quad DSD files. Just tried one to make sure it worked. I just took out the RTA to adjust the bass levels and crossover in the Rel S/812 subs (the new amp has a gain difference vs. the old one and listening to a couple of tracks last night they sounded bass heavy which I confirmed via the RTA and while I put some hours on the amp in a secondary system, I just moved it to the main system). I'm also still messing with my Philips Screeneo ultra-short throw projector which I just got about a week and a half back (it is behind the center channel) and have yet to get to most of that (I want to get some hours on the Lumin - I did watch Avatar in 3D a couple of nights back on the projector and got 3D sorted out and it was outstanding).
- Thread Author
- #39
I assume you have already set the DAC volume to max, instead of -30dB default.
As a first step, please connect the U2 to your DAC, become familiar with the Lumin app first for a few days (with Lumin volume control disabled, and rely on your preamp for volume control). Listen to your favorite track, use a free sound level meter app on smartphone to measure the volume you normally listen to.
When you feel ready, increase the preamp volume to unity gain or max. Turn on Lumin volume control, turn the Lumin volume way down to a very low value, start playback and gradually increase until your smartphone app shows the same volume. Then you can compare the SQ.
The above step assumes with your preamp at max you can still get a usable volume range with Lumin. If yes, you can proceed to bypass the preamp, so that the DAC outputs to the power amp. If not, you'll need to experiment with the preamp at a lower-than-max setting while making the Lumin volume range usable for your music in your environment.
Puma Cat
Well-known member
Just along the lines of this discussion regarding setting volume, I use my Lumin P1 with a Constellation Inspiration integrated amp. As such, just as Peter has recommended, I set my Inspiration integrated to Unity Gain (0.0 on the front display) and control volume using the P1's LEEDH volume control. It's really easy to do this with the Lumin remote, or on my phone, tablet, or computer running either the native Lumin app or Roon.
I've found that the LEEDH volume "technology" is the best I've ever heard or experienced. I think it's a veritable breakthrough as a means to control output volume, as far as I'm concerned, I'm never going back to another methodology.
For those that may be interested, here is a white paper from the team that developed LEEDH in Switerland.
Leedh Processing | Digital Volume Control | France
I've found that the LEEDH volume "technology" is the best I've ever heard or experienced. I think it's a veritable breakthrough as a means to control output volume, as far as I'm concerned, I'm never going back to another methodology.
For those that may be interested, here is a white paper from the team that developed LEEDH in Switerland.
Leedh Processing | Digital Volume Control | France