The Setup
The Lumin X2 earned a spot among my finest components in the living room, connected via Inakustik NF-2504 AIR Helix balanced interconnects to an Audia Flight Strumento No.1 preamplifier and FLS4 power amplifier. The speakers used were the ATC SCM20P SL, supported by an ATC C1 Sub MkII. Digital sources included a Roon NUC and Melco storage. For a clean power supply, everything was connected to an Audes TT-3200 Power Conditioner.
Initial Impressions
After installing the X2 (which was a demo unit and required no break-in time), the player brought nothing but listening pleasure. Regardless of the source—my own collection, Qobuz, or internet radio—the X2's performance was consistently worthwhile.
Even a dynamically "flat" album like Nicki Parrott’s Can’t Take My Eyes Off You (Venus label) was enjoyable. Once the music starts, you immediately experience that a Lumin in this price range brings a level of "calm" that many competitors can learn from. The background remains dead silent; music is given all the space it needs without any disturbing factors from the player. What eventually comes out of the speakers is pure, with a touch of pleasant warmth that is often missing in other network players.
It isn't just about the quiet background; the combination of the transport and DAC is capable of pulling the tiniest slivers of information out of the music. It does this in Lumin’s own quiet, modest way, but with refined finesse. It feels natural and effortless—not bloated or irritating over time. These micro-details keep the music fascinating.
QRONO d2a: To Use or Not?
I selected some tracks to play with QRONO d2a. Played natively, tracks were wide and open with convincing authenticity. The heavy bass of Allan Taylor and the delicate sounds of Stacey Kent were rendered beautifully. The second voice on Taylor’s tracks was rarely so easy to follow as it was with the X2.
Turning on QRONO d2a was clearly audible with Taylor; the bass had more power and seemed to engage my subwoofer more. However, the presentation became smaller and more compact, with a shrunken stereo image. Some of that Lumin fluidity was lost. Personally, I preferred playing without QRONO. Similarly, with Kent, the sound became less exciting. Native playback suited the X2 best in my setup.
Back to the Music
Playing Infected Mushroom’s Avratz was impressive; the way tones slowly died out and how far the music extended to the left and right was magnificent. The bass was rock solid. London Grammar’s Hey Now played large and clear, with the echo on the vocals standing firmly in front of me.
This is proof of the wonderful D/A converter inside. In the past, the low end was often the neglected child of many converters, but the X2 remains powerful and deep. My own Auralic G2.1 / Metrum Pavane DAC3 combination ultimately loses out to this great Lumin X2. Even after my own electronics are fully warmed up, I still find myself longing for the X2.
Conclusion: I Do!
I would love to "marry" the Lumin X2—not just for its sleek looks or the app, but for the playback quality it achieves. It left a deep impression, playing exactly what I expect from music: openness, fluidity, space, and detail without fatigue, all presented on a tray of transparency.
Taking the X2 away felt like losing a partner you wanted to stay with. While my own components are high quality, technology does not stand still, especially at Lumin. The completeness of the X2 is a major plus—just plug in the Ethernet and analog cables, and you are done.
For those who have the system for a Lumin X2 and the budget to match, I strongly recommend considering it. Lumin doesn't just make streaming accessible; Lumin makes streaming mature!
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