Lumin X1 Review

The reviewer compares the X1 with the Mytek Manhattan II and finds no major differences. This is surprising, since I have a Manhattan II here sitting next to my X1 and find them very different sounding, with the X1 a clear step above the Manhattan II (fine sounding though it is). Some of the comments in the review suggest to me that the review sample was not fully run in. I found the X1 to change its sound dramatically after a month of continuous use.
 
I like to think that we have the hardware advantage. A pair (dual mono) of instead of a single DAC chip, our custom clocking solution that is not based on ESS reference, refined analog output stage, power supply, Lundahl transformers, and network isolation, etc. Of course these also bring the costs much higher.
 
Rossb said:
The reviewer compares the X1 with the Mytek Manhattan II and finds no major differences. This is surprising, since I have a Manhattan II here sitting next to my X1 and find them very different sounding, with the X1 a clear step above the Manhattan II (fine sounding though it is). Some of the comments in the review suggest to me that the review sample was not fully run in. I found the X1 to change its sound dramatically after a month of continuous use.
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Hello, could you please tell me, what difference did you notice after a month of use. Thank you.
 
Andik777 said:
Hello, could you please tell me, what difference did you notice after a month of use. Thank you.
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Straight out of the box the X1 sounded thin, bright, flat and monochrome. I thought I had made an expensive mistake and even tried to return it. It took well over t he recommended 100 hours to run in - more like 500 hours. Over time its sound deepened, filled out in three dimensions, acquired more tonal depth and more texture. During the first week of using the X1, I thought the Mytek Manhattan II sounded much better, but over time the X1 caught up to the Mytek and then convincingly surpassed it. Now it sounds truly magical, but it took a long time to get to that point.
 
Rossb said:
Straight out of the box the X1 sounded thin, bright, flat and monochrome. I thought I had made an expensive mistake and even tried to return it. It took well over t he recommended 100 hours to run in - more like 500 hours. Over time its sound deepened, filled out in three dimensions, acquired more tonal depth and more texture. During the first week of using the X1, I thought the Mytek Manhattan II sounded much better, but over time the X1 caught up to the Mytek and then convincingly surpassed it. Now it sounds truly magical, but it took a long time to get to that point.
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Thank you very much for the quick response and for your opinion on the X1. Best Regards.
 
Thanks Peter for the clarification. Sincerely enjoy my A1 from the first minute, but over time I used to notice the difference.
 
wklie said:
I recall a reviewer of Lumin S1 stated he had to burn in the S1 7x24 for 1 month.
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That doesn't surprise me. I've owned quite a few dacs with ESS chips, and I have always found that they have an unusually long burn in time. I also suspect the Lundahl transformers take take a while to burn in on top of that.

I did find that the fiber connection was noticeably superior to the ethernet input in my system.
 
Interestingly, it didn’t take more than 100 hrs for the X1 to surpass my S1 and Esoteric CD/SACD player. And, at this point, I find the X1 as a terrific player/DAC and feel one would have to spend 2X - 3X to beat the X1.
 
I have enjoyed all my gear from the moment I got it. Perhaps it does get better over time, I can’t really say, or don’t remember. However, I can say that while my amp sounds good when first turned on it sounds a lot better after being on 24 hours. However, this occurs every week for the last four years, so it isn’t a permanent burn-in.
 
BlueFox said:
I can say that while my amp sounds good when first turned on it sounds a lot better after being on 24 hours. However, this occurs every week for the last four years, so it isn’t a permanent burn-in.
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The amp components typically need to reach a certain temperature for them to work at their designed level. Interestingly enough, a friend says his amp (not our product) sounds better before warming up.
 
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