My New Lumin

MtnHam

MtnHam

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Jun 28, 2013
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Northern California Coast & San Francisco
My Lumin has been up and running for the last 48 hours and I too am very impressed. The full rich timbre, weight, detail and analogue-like qualities were apparent from the very start. And that was only redbook. I downloaded my 1st DSD file (Santana/Abraxis) yesterday from Acoustic Sounds and am even more pleased. I will let it play 24/7 and then make another report. Thanks to Mike for steering me this way. It probably wouldn't have happened otherwise.
 
Has anyone compared this unit to other non-networking DACs? Did you guys choose this for the networking feature or because you preferred the sound quality over other DACs in the same price range?
 
Yes and No. I compared my Linn Klimax DS to many many DACs and preferred the sound of the Linn. And I am comparing the Lumin to the Linn everyday during the break in process and yesterday I liked the Lumin better. So unless the break in takes a bad turn, the Linn at 3 times the price, has some . . . . sales challenges.



madfloyd said:
Has anyone compared this unit to other non-networking DACs? Did you guys choose this for the networking feature or because you preferred the sound quality over other DACs in the same price range?
Click to expand...
 
madfloyd said:
Has anyone compared this unit to other non-networking DACs? Did you guys choose this for the networking feature or because you preferred the sound quality over other DACs in the same price range?
Click to expand...

That's the question I'm asking myself as well. Is it the steaming function, the DAC chipset, or some combination of both that makes the Lumin alluring.
 
mdkim said:
That's the question I'm asking myself as well. Is it the steaming function, the DAC chipset, or some combination of both that makes the Lumin alluring.
Click to expand...

My comparison is to my 5 year old Wavelength Crimson which is limited to Redbook files, and is no longer considered SOTA. I wanted the ability to play hi-rez files, and came to believe USB was an inferior link vs. streaming via Ethernet from my MacMini running iTunes.
 
I don't know either. Mike said this before in another thread, but I'll steal it. :)

My guess is that in the Streaming solution, the manufacturer gets total control of the sound that comes out. He doesn't have to worry about what program is used, or what computer is used, what cable is used, whether it's USB or BNC or etc etc etc. There are so many variables that ALL make a difference some good some bad. He gets to control all of those and anytime you can control the variables, you end up with a better end product for 98% of the people out there. The other 2% take the time, have the knowledge to use the variables to tune their system.





mdkim said:
That's the question I'm asking myself as well. Is it the steaming function, the DAC chipset, or some combination of both that makes the Lumin alluring.
Click to expand...
 
mdkim said:
That's the question I'm asking myself as well. Is it the steaming function, the DAC chipset, or some combination of both that makes the Lumin alluring.
Click to expand...

Michael, I believe its a combination. The way a streamer extracts the packets of information is key, I believe. The DAC chipset is important,but so is the implementation.
I compared the sound of my first streamer,the Linn, to multiple DACs and very high end CD players. The Linn was hands down better, every time. A streamer produces a much more organic sound than any other digital front end I've heard.
The Lumin is,at this time,the best digital I've personally heard. And considering the price, it's absolutely amazing.

I hope this helps.

To answer your question more directly, It's the "SOUND " that made me own one. The interface is just icing on the cake.
 
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Jock & Mark: Thanks. I may have to try one out.

Tom: Sorry for stomping all over your thread. Congratz on the unit. From all accounts, it sounds like a winner.
 
Mike - as Jock quoted my original post to this question, I feel it is important to expand on it. First of all, chasing the next greatest DAC is akin to chasing your tail. The DAC is only PART of the entire equation. You cannot and should not separate the processing side from the entire equation. We hear all this talk about jitter (which is timing) and controlling jitter coming into a DAC. As Paul McGowan pointed out in a recent blog post, it is possible for most people to hear jitter at only 2 picoseconds. That's insane! It's no wonder all these network music players/streamers (Naim, Linn, Lumin, etc.) sound better than any stand alone DAC I have heard. Trusting timing and overall sonics to a PC with God knows what sound card, what program, what OS, what USB cable, etc. is silly when you stop to think about it. But when you're in the DAC zombie mode, you can't see the forest for the trees (or at least I couldn't).

Buying a DAC is like buying the front half of a BMW and then trying to make it work with the back end of a Mercedes Benz. I was caught up in the hottest DAC of the month pursuit. That never ending pursuit for digital bliss. But like the dog chasing his tail, it makes no sense.

Mark and Jock both kept telling me get a network music player/streamer. But I thought, "how could they be right when everyone is chasing the latest DAC?" What's the definition of insanity? :)

Network players aren't for everyone. If you can't be bothered ripping your CD collection, then stick with a spinner. If you like working with Windows or Mac in your listening room and you like the pursuit for finding the most revealing, highest resolution (sonically speaking) DAC, then stick with the Mc & DAC combo. But if you want to hear full bodied, analog sound, without any digital edge or harshness, then get a streamer. There are plenty of reviews out there about the Lumin and other streamers, not to mention my own.

Last but not least, the implementation of the Wolfson DAC chipset driven by a modified version of Linux, in a solid aluminum case and a completely separate power supply produces the best digital I have heard to date at a price that makes even thinking about a $30,000 DAC + USB + Windows/Mac + JRiver/Audirvana ridiculous.
 
Mike:

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. If I'm getting the gist, it's that the total is greater than the sum of its parts kind of thing. I can buy into that.

I still have questions, but, I think I'll need to hear one to answer them.
 
Mike said:
Mike - as Jock quoted my original post to this question, I feel it is important to expand on it. First of all, chasing the next greatest DAC is akin to chasing your tail. The DAC is only PART of the entire equation. You cannot and should not separate the processing side from the entire equation. We hear all this talk about jitter (which is timing) and controlling jitter coming into a DAC. As Paul McGowan pointed out in a recent blog post, it is possible for most people to hear jitter at only 2 picoseconds. That's insane! It's no wonder all these network music players/streamers (Naim, Linn, Lumin, etc.) sound better than any stand alone DAC I have heard. Trusting timing and overall sonics to a PC with God knows what sound card, what program, what OS, what USB cable, etc. is silly when you stop to think about it. But when you're in the DAC zombie mode, you can't see the forest for the trees (or at least I couldn't).

Buying a DAC is like buying the front half of a BMW and then trying to make it work with the back end of a Mercedes Benz. I was caught up in the hottest DAC of the month pursuit. That never ending pursuit for digital bliss. But like the dog chasing his tail, it makes no sense.

Mark and Jock both kept telling me get a network music player/streamer. But I thought, "how could they be right when everyone is chasing the latest DAC?" What's the definition of insanity? :)

Network players aren't for everyone. If you can't be bothered ripping your CD collection, then stick with a spinner. If you like working with Windows or Mac in your listening room and you like the pursuit for finding the most revealing, highest resolution (sonically speaking) DAC, then stick with the Mc & DAC combo. But if you want to hear full bodied, analog sound, without any digital edge or harshness, then get a streamer. There are plenty of reviews out there about the Lumin and other streamers, not to mention my own.

Last but not least, the implementation of the Wolfson DAC chipset driven by a modified version of Linux, in a solid aluminum case and a completely separate power supply produces the best digital I have heard to date at a price that makes even thinking about a $30,000 DAC + USB + Windows/Mac + JRiver/Audirvana ridiculous.
Click to expand...

What device would you recommend for a novice to use, to get your cd's stored so they can be streamed via a LUMIN ? I would prefer a stand alone device, (not a computer), that I can just insert the cd, and it does it's thing.
Cheers, TOM
 
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