BlueFox
New member
Another month or so and I will order mine. I have to say that the X1 power supply on the S1 is also a very good upgrade.
Lumin X1 Review
- Thread starter Mike
- Start date
My brother just received an X1. We set it up yesterday in 15 minutes - got to love that!
We listened for a couple of hours. So, how did sound? He was smiling the entire time. And, it’s not broken in yet! Lumin has another winner with the X1.
We listened for a couple of hours. So, how did sound? He was smiling the entire time. And, it’s not broken in yet! Lumin has another winner with the X1.
A Japanese audio magazine tested Lumin X1 with SOtM sNH-10G, and output to several DAC:
https://online.stereosound.co.jp/_ct/17250487
https://online.stereosound.co.jp/_ct/17250487
Thanks Peter!
Used Google translator to learn about the reviewer’s observations.
Overall, the reviewer is very positive on the X1. Feels it is definitely a step up from the S1 and suggests to the reader to keep an eye on what may come from Lumin over the next few years.
Used Google translator to learn about the reviewer’s observations.
Overall, the reviewer is very positive on the X1. Feels it is definitely a step up from the S1 and suggests to the reader to keep an eye on what may come from Lumin over the next few years.
BlueFox
New member
I was going to get an X1, but will now wait for what is coming. 
I was going to get an X1, but will now wait for what is coming.
Get the X1. It’s excellent; a true upgrade to the S1. And, BTW, I really liked my S1.
I was going to get an X1, but will now wait for what is coming.
The flagship status of X1 is not going to be changed any time soon.
Lumin X1 review from Taiwan:
https://review.u-audio.com.tw/reviewdetail.asp?reviewid=1617
My translation of some parts of it: [brackets are mine]
[Lundahl Transformer]
For the output, X1 not only has analog RCA and XLR outputs but have digital outputs as well. Therefore it can be used as a pure streamer [for an external DAC] too. Analog outputs adopt a design similar to some Lumin models before - there are Lundahl output transformers following the DAC hardware circuitry so that the amplified signal goes through the transformers before being output. Why does it need this extra hardware? This is because output transformer has a characteristic of filtering out high frequency noise. Transformers have a native bandwidth limitation, so signals outside the bandwidth do not get transmitted. This way, very high frequency noise associated with digital audio is naturally eliminated. In addition, output transformer has a tuning effect and make the sound richer.
[Fiber network vs copper network]
Before getting the X1, I'm very curious about its SFP fiber network interface: What SQ difference does the SFP fiber network offer as compared to RJ45 copper network? If we need to do this comparison [completely], both the NAS and switch should use SFP connection, so the distributor lent us their QNAP TS-251B NAS and QSW-804-4C switch. QNAP high-end models of NAS have expansion capability, including this TS-251B with a QNAP LAN-10G2SF-MLX network card with 10GbE using SFP+ interface. The QSW-804-4C contains both RJ45 and SFP+ ports, letting us conveniently compare the sound difference between the two. To listen to fiber network, use fiber cable to connect to the switch and the NAS SFP+ port. To listen to copper network, use RJ45 network cable to connect to the switch and NAS built-in Ethernet port. [Note: Unlike what this review may imply, it is not essential for the NAS to have fiber network in order to enjoy the fiber network in Lumin X1.]
This is QNAP QSW-804-4C with both RJ45 and SFP+ ports. The fiber in the left connects to the X1 SFP port. The middle RJ45 connects to [uplink] switch. The black cable in the right connects to the NAS SFP+ network expansion card.
Fiber network requires a small SFP transceiver.
This is QNAP TS-251B NAS with PCIe expansion slot filled with QNAP LAN-10G2SF-MLX network expansion card to support SFP+ 10GbE transmission.
What are the differences between the two sound? SFP fiber has a black background with a pure sound, it feels more liquid, soft, delicate, layered, balanced and open. RJ45 copper network has quite a clean background, but sounds to have a little impurity compared to fiber network, the sound has a bit high frequency frizz and is less smooth than fiber. However, RJ45 is sharp and energetic. Comparatively, fiber seems a bit softer. In terms of soundstage, RJ45 is more focused on centre and saturated with a clear theme. Fiber expands to two sides and is more open and is extremely balanced. Basically, I believe fiber and RJ45 has different personalities and each has its pros. Objectively, I believe fiber offers more details, layers and is full of potential. RJ45 is more variable depending on the cabling. X1 provides two types of connection and two sounds to choose from, letting the user to match their own equipment and tastes.
In addition, Lumin also allows for another type of connection topology: use the X1 RJ45 port to connect to the switch, then the SFP port to bridge the NAS SFP+ network card. This way, a SFP switch is not necessary to enjoy the advantage of fiber network.
[Listening Impressions]
The following review uses Electrocompaniet EC 4.8 pre-amp and NuPrime Evolution One amp， driving Aurum Cantus Grand Harmony speakers.
I quite like the pure sound and smooth voice from fiber, and the rich layers and contrast brought by full details. So I start with fiber listening, playing Janos Starker, Bach Suites for Solo Cello. With the support of X1 black background, rich details from SFP fiber are more obvious, letting me hear that when the bow hair stops, the chamber resonance decays gradually in the air. In double stops, the resolution between two notes is very good, reflecting the details. The cello sounds a little sticky, not deliberately polishing a bright smoothness, giving the texture of friction among the strings. In addition, the shape of the cello appears very correct, with a precise image and proper scale. Low mids sound a little wet, making the tone more attractive.
Cannonball Adderley, Somethin' Else: X1 soundstage is more focused and centred, especially suitable for a small Jazz band. Through the X1 playback, each instrument, each drum beat is shown with precise imaging, with excellent separation between each instrument, letting me "see" the band with realism. Besides, X1 not only plays with clear imaging, but different frequencies and proportion of sounds are strictly presented without blurring or exaggeration, and it does not have bloated bass.
X1 also supports Roon Ready in addition to UPnP OpenHome, letting me to listen to familiar music from my Roon Server on QNAP HS-453Be [TS-453Be ?] NAS. My HS-453Be does not have the fiber network card, so it is connected via RJ45. In this setup, Janos Starker, Bach Suites for Solo Cello plays with clearer shape of strings with even better contrast, giving deeper musical emotion.
Eric Clapton, Old Love: X1 is adept at this. Weak sounds are presented without strain. Strong sounds play with rich layer variations. It combines with transparent tonality and appropriate liquidity and wetness, listening to this feels great, and 13 minutes do not feel long at all.
Chris Babida, Tsai Chin, To Encounter - Chris And Friends track 1: X1 once again presents a focused and centered image with a clear shape as its strength, making the voice realistic with a dense texture and temperature thereby making it deeply emotional. I believe X1 will absolutely charm audiophiles who like listening to voices.
X1 is so great at Bagatelle music, Jazz and Rock, what about symphony? With 37th Tapei Int'l Audio & Art Show CD: even though the X1 soundstage is not too wide, the structure of the orchestra is very excellent - treble, mid, bass distribution is orderly and not messy. In particular, the front, mid, back separation and layers can easily be recognized. The resolution of whole frequency spectrum is equally good with a clean bass. Even complex music is handled by X1 easily.
It is not common for a source to be like X1 that simultaneously has rich functionality, convenient operation, elegant appearance, small physical size, HiFi grade design and manufacturing, and high level of audio reproduction, fitting any requirement of any demanding user. X1 also offers a rich listening experience, through its fiber or copper network, or its upsampling, bringing different tuning possibilities for sound quality. X1 is not complex to setup yet it has the most complete specifications and supported services. X1 will not disappoint.
https://review.u-audio.com.tw/reviewdetail.asp?reviewid=1617
My translation of some parts of it: [brackets are mine]
[Lundahl Transformer]
For the output, X1 not only has analog RCA and XLR outputs but have digital outputs as well. Therefore it can be used as a pure streamer [for an external DAC] too. Analog outputs adopt a design similar to some Lumin models before - there are Lundahl output transformers following the DAC hardware circuitry so that the amplified signal goes through the transformers before being output. Why does it need this extra hardware? This is because output transformer has a characteristic of filtering out high frequency noise. Transformers have a native bandwidth limitation, so signals outside the bandwidth do not get transmitted. This way, very high frequency noise associated with digital audio is naturally eliminated. In addition, output transformer has a tuning effect and make the sound richer.
[Fiber network vs copper network]
Before getting the X1, I'm very curious about its SFP fiber network interface: What SQ difference does the SFP fiber network offer as compared to RJ45 copper network? If we need to do this comparison [completely], both the NAS and switch should use SFP connection, so the distributor lent us their QNAP TS-251B NAS and QSW-804-4C switch. QNAP high-end models of NAS have expansion capability, including this TS-251B with a QNAP LAN-10G2SF-MLX network card with 10GbE using SFP+ interface. The QSW-804-4C contains both RJ45 and SFP+ ports, letting us conveniently compare the sound difference between the two. To listen to fiber network, use fiber cable to connect to the switch and the NAS SFP+ port. To listen to copper network, use RJ45 network cable to connect to the switch and NAS built-in Ethernet port. [Note: Unlike what this review may imply, it is not essential for the NAS to have fiber network in order to enjoy the fiber network in Lumin X1.]
This is QNAP QSW-804-4C with both RJ45 and SFP+ ports. The fiber in the left connects to the X1 SFP port. The middle RJ45 connects to [uplink] switch. The black cable in the right connects to the NAS SFP+ network expansion card.
Fiber network requires a small SFP transceiver.
This is QNAP TS-251B NAS with PCIe expansion slot filled with QNAP LAN-10G2SF-MLX network expansion card to support SFP+ 10GbE transmission.
What are the differences between the two sound? SFP fiber has a black background with a pure sound, it feels more liquid, soft, delicate, layered, balanced and open. RJ45 copper network has quite a clean background, but sounds to have a little impurity compared to fiber network, the sound has a bit high frequency frizz and is less smooth than fiber. However, RJ45 is sharp and energetic. Comparatively, fiber seems a bit softer. In terms of soundstage, RJ45 is more focused on centre and saturated with a clear theme. Fiber expands to two sides and is more open and is extremely balanced. Basically, I believe fiber and RJ45 has different personalities and each has its pros. Objectively, I believe fiber offers more details, layers and is full of potential. RJ45 is more variable depending on the cabling. X1 provides two types of connection and two sounds to choose from, letting the user to match their own equipment and tastes.
In addition, Lumin also allows for another type of connection topology: use the X1 RJ45 port to connect to the switch, then the SFP port to bridge the NAS SFP+ network card. This way, a SFP switch is not necessary to enjoy the advantage of fiber network.
[Listening Impressions]
The following review uses Electrocompaniet EC 4.8 pre-amp and NuPrime Evolution One amp， driving Aurum Cantus Grand Harmony speakers.
I quite like the pure sound and smooth voice from fiber, and the rich layers and contrast brought by full details. So I start with fiber listening, playing Janos Starker, Bach Suites for Solo Cello. With the support of X1 black background, rich details from SFP fiber are more obvious, letting me hear that when the bow hair stops, the chamber resonance decays gradually in the air. In double stops, the resolution between two notes is very good, reflecting the details. The cello sounds a little sticky, not deliberately polishing a bright smoothness, giving the texture of friction among the strings. In addition, the shape of the cello appears very correct, with a precise image and proper scale. Low mids sound a little wet, making the tone more attractive.
Cannonball Adderley, Somethin' Else: X1 soundstage is more focused and centred, especially suitable for a small Jazz band. Through the X1 playback, each instrument, each drum beat is shown with precise imaging, with excellent separation between each instrument, letting me "see" the band with realism. Besides, X1 not only plays with clear imaging, but different frequencies and proportion of sounds are strictly presented without blurring or exaggeration, and it does not have bloated bass.
X1 also supports Roon Ready in addition to UPnP OpenHome, letting me to listen to familiar music from my Roon Server on QNAP HS-453Be [TS-453Be ?] NAS. My HS-453Be does not have the fiber network card, so it is connected via RJ45. In this setup, Janos Starker, Bach Suites for Solo Cello plays with clearer shape of strings with even better contrast, giving deeper musical emotion.
Eric Clapton, Old Love: X1 is adept at this. Weak sounds are presented without strain. Strong sounds play with rich layer variations. It combines with transparent tonality and appropriate liquidity and wetness, listening to this feels great, and 13 minutes do not feel long at all.
Chris Babida, Tsai Chin, To Encounter - Chris And Friends track 1: X1 once again presents a focused and centered image with a clear shape as its strength, making the voice realistic with a dense texture and temperature thereby making it deeply emotional. I believe X1 will absolutely charm audiophiles who like listening to voices.
X1 is so great at Bagatelle music, Jazz and Rock, what about symphony? With 37th Tapei Int'l Audio & Art Show CD: even though the X1 soundstage is not too wide, the structure of the orchestra is very excellent - treble, mid, bass distribution is orderly and not messy. In particular, the front, mid, back separation and layers can easily be recognized. The resolution of whole frequency spectrum is equally good with a clean bass. Even complex music is handled by X1 easily.
It is not common for a source to be like X1 that simultaneously has rich functionality, convenient operation, elegant appearance, small physical size, HiFi grade design and manufacturing, and high level of audio reproduction, fitting any requirement of any demanding user. X1 also offers a rich listening experience, through its fiber or copper network, or its upsampling, bringing different tuning possibilities for sound quality. X1 is not complex to setup yet it has the most complete specifications and supported services. X1 will not disappoint.
New to this forum. I just upgraded from the MyTek DAC+ and Auralic Aries streamer to the X1. This was the last piece of my audio chain that I wanted to upgrade(at least for now). The X1 is amazing out of the box. The detail is amazing. I have music on vinyl that I vowed would never play via digital. The other evening, my wife wanted to hear something that i typically only play on vinyl. After listening to it through the X1, I won't be touching that particular vinyl again. Great experience. BTW, i'm utilizing the Optical.
this is the future -- i would be interested to learn how you are delivering the optical signal to the X1... FMC, router/switch with SFP ports, etc.
glad you are liking the X1 - great piece of gear.
Evo-No-Revo
New member
- Joined
- Oct 5, 2016
- Messages
- 16
Having owned Lumin products; D1 and U1, I have been paying attention to the X1 and the reviews slowly coming out. I am rather serious about acquiring one in the near future.
But I did see when looking for other ethernet streaming dacs in the Roon Ready products from Roon's website, the new entry level DSC Bartok streaming DAC. It is has a headphone amplifier option available. I am not interested in that.
I want to use an ethernet input on my DAC and just let USB fall away from my whole.
I figure no one has compared the two but they are destined to be compared at some point. The Lumin X1 and DCS Bartok are similarly priced.
Anyone have any input as to the different implementation of these two players?
As much as I like the Lumin app, I use Roon so that's not of much importance to me.
I mostly listen to prog rock, classic rock, folk and some electronic stuff. I am not much on classical or jazz, although I certainly listen to it..
But I did see when looking for other ethernet streaming dacs in the Roon Ready products from Roon's website, the new entry level DSC Bartok streaming DAC. It is has a headphone amplifier option available. I am not interested in that.
I want to use an ethernet input on my DAC and just let USB fall away from my whole.
I figure no one has compared the two but they are destined to be compared at some point. The Lumin X1 and DCS Bartok are similarly priced.
Anyone have any input as to the different implementation of these two players?
As much as I like the Lumin app, I use Roon so that's not of much importance to me.
I mostly listen to prog rock, classic rock, folk and some electronic stuff. I am not much on classical or jazz, although I certainly listen to it..
I didn't auditioned the Bartok, but I read that the dCS products more treble emphasized compared to the X1, wich would be much more natural and musical.
Home: Focal Scala Utopia, Primaluna HP Premium, Lumin X1
Cottage: Devore Orangutan 0/96, Pathos TT Aniversary, Lumin D1
Evo-No-Revo
New member
- Joined
- Oct 5, 2016
- Messages
- 16
Thanks for the input vinci92. That is useful.
I really miss my DAVE. I wonder how DAVE with some sort of network device like dcs Network Bridge would compare (hypthetically) to the X1? I do prefer musicality more than ultimate resolution in the end. I guess that is more in the nature of the music I listen to.
I am using a Luxman L-509X integrated with Martin Logan 13a. I like the simplicity of the X1 but have gotten really good results with Chord DAVE. The DAVE has been around a few years now. I don't know if Chord is working on the next DAVE or not.
I really miss my DAVE. I wonder how DAVE with some sort of network device like dcs Network Bridge would compare (hypthetically) to the X1? I do prefer musicality more than ultimate resolution in the end. I guess that is more in the nature of the music I listen to.
I am using a Luxman L-509X integrated with Martin Logan 13a. I like the simplicity of the X1 but have gotten really good results with Chord DAVE. The DAVE has been around a few years now. I don't know if Chord is working on the next DAVE or not.
I own a 2Qute DAC and auditioned DAVE a few times, and even taught the highs participate to a spectacular feel and are very effects revealing (reverb, delay, etc.) like the Lumin X1, I think the X1 (and even the D1) goes further in terms of 3d imaging, especially the holographic the voice position (a bit forward) and the snare position (clearly behind the voice). The voice seems to come out of a reel small mouth; Not from a wide monitor, wich is the case with Chord Dacs imo.
Home: Focal Scala Utopia, Primaluna HP Premium, Lumin X1
Cottage: Devore Orangutan 0/96, Pathos TT Aniversary, Lumin D1