The amazing Lumin P-1 is now the Heart of my system.

[mep]

Agreed. Check out the interior...

Note how Lumin used very high quality pure copper wire for the + speaker terminal and pure silver for the - speaker terminal. Those guys at Lumin are really good.

Fully dual-mono throughout...

Rear panel

Yeah, baby, yeah!" - Austin Powers, International Man of Mystery

If you only have one power transformer, it's not "fully" dual mono. It's dual mono past the power transformer.

 

[Mr Peabody]

TAS has a great review of the P1. Robert Harley was using it with CHP and Wilson.

Has anyone heard the Lumin amp? That and a P1 looks to be a nice package.

 

[No Quarter]

TAS has a great review of the P1. Robert Harley was using it with CHP and Wilson.

Has anyone heard the Lumin amp? That and a P1 looks to be a nice package.

I know DZNUTZ told me he used two of the Lumin amps with his X1, so maybe he can chime in.
There does not seem to be much input on actual pairings with the P1, maybe there are not many out there?
I received a call from my dealer today that my Nagra Classic amp has arrived at the store.
I doubt I can make it there for a few weeks to pick it up, it’s a 4 hour each way drive.
Something to look forward to, hope it pairs well. The dealer I am getting the amp from also has a P1, but I don’t think he has unboxed it yet.

 

[Puma Cat]

Has anyone heard the Lumin amp? That and a P1 looks to be a nice package.

I sure would like to sometime, Amp looks like it's a superb amp. It looks like a very nice package, indeed.

Thomas at Thomas & Stereo had a very positive review of it.
(Re-upload) The 'QUICKEST' amp I have ever tried. Lumin AMP review. - YouTube

 

[Michaels HiFi]

I read so many varying opinions on having a DAC built in vs operate and how DAC's are progressing faster than transports, etc. etc.

What are your thoughts on having a streamer/DAC vs separates?

 

[Puma Cat]

What are your thoughts on having a streamer/DAC vs separates?

I've come to the conclusion that the fewer components, ICs, PCs, digital cables, Ethernet switches, network bridges, linear power supplies, power cables for linear power supplies...the better.

Gets closer to Altschuler's Ideality...

 

[Mr Peabody]

I really like Nagra, should make a nice match.

I think what helps with components that have many functions is a way to update them. I'm sure that's something Lumin does. That's only software though. My friend has a Schiit DAC and he says he can get updated boards that just slide in the back. My preamp has a DAC and no way to update, someday I'd have to buy an external in order to move up.

From what I've read the volume control on the P1 is a strong point for the good performance. Seems to be a very well thought out unit overall.

 

[Puma Cat]

I really like Nagra, should make a nice match.

I think what helps with components that have many functions is a way to update them. I'm sure that's something Lumin does. That's only software though. My friend has a Schiit DAC and he says he can get updated boards that just slide in the back. My preamp has a DAC and no way to update, someday I'd have to buy an external in order to move up.

From what I've read the volume control on the P1 is a strong point for the good performance. Seems to be a very well thought out unit overall.

I'm really impressed with how Lumin thinks things through overall. For example, when first turned on my P1, the Lumin app found it on the network, and immediately downloaded the latest version of the Firmware. It was up and running from the Firmware update in less than two minutes.

Those guys have got it goin' on, in my experience.

 

[No Quarter]

I read so many varying opinions on having a DAC built in vs operate and how DAC's are progressing faster than transports, etc. etc.

What are your thoughts on having a streamer/DAC vs separates?

I have been down the road of a separate streamer and Dac with several different variations from Naim,Chord,IfI etc. I even had linear power supplies on the various streamers and Dac’s.
Even though it can sound really good, it gets really messy with all the boxes and cables.
The P1 sounds every bit as good as any other combo I have used.
As far as being left behind with all the tech in one box, Peter is constantly updating, or looking for ways to improve the Lumin.
I urge people to demo the P1, it may surprise you how good it is.

 

[Puma Cat]

I have been down the road of a separate streamer and Dac with several different variations from Naim,Chord,IfI etc. I even had linear power supplies on the various streamers and Dac’s.
Even though it can sound really good, it gets really messy with all the boxes and cables.

Boy, you can say that again. My rack before the arrival of the P1...all the stuff inside the red boxes...

is now gone, replaced with this.

The P1 sounds every bit as good as any other combo I have used.

I agree 100% That's why I went in this direction.

As far as being left behind with all the tech in one box, Peter is constantly updating, or looking for ways to improve the Lumin.

Peter and the folks at Lumin are awesome, and they never stop improving their products and making them better. They also make updating the firmware and functionality really easy. Plus..it ALWAYS works. Which I could not say about my previous set-up.

I urge people to demo the P1, it may surprise you how good it is.

Could not agree more. It's the reason I bought one, and I find it to be very, very satisfying musically. Unlike the adjectives reviewers use in the usual audio reviews for other audio gear, the adjectives that best describe the P1 are those used for fine musical instruments, like a Bösendorer Grand or a Guarneri violin.

 

[yyzSB]

Does the P1 come with a remote?

I have an X1 and bought the remote. The X1 Leedh volume control is the best I have heard on a DAC but still not as good as my Benchmark LA4 preamp, so I am not going DAC-to-amp with the X1. I noticed the difference in volume at very low levels which I sometimes use late at night while working. The LA4 volume increases in equal steps while the Leedh seems to jump a bit in non-equal steps. Nothing major but that bugged me.

I am selling DACs and optical streamers from my system(s) and I am now thinking of getting a second X1 with another LA4 preamp or just the P1. I think the simpler P1 may win out even though I expect the Leedh volume to be the same quality as in the X1. I do not need low volume listening in the room the P1 is slated for.

This forum has really helped me decide which way to go on my next purchase. Thanks.

 

[thingswelike]

Does the P1 come with a remote?

Yes, the remote control is included with LUMIN P1. It has an Infrared receiver on the front, so no need to use a USB port for it.

 

[No Quarter]

You can also increase/lower the volume with your IPad/IPhone. Personally I think the volume is easy to control with the P1, no issues with low volume listening either.

 

[yyzSB]

Yes, the remote control is included with LUMIN P1. It has an Infrared receiver on the front, so no need to use a USB port for it.

Thanks, that is very useful so that a USB streamer out is not lost to the remote control.

Can you tell me if the X1 and P1 are AES48 compliant? My Benchmark LA4 preamp is, and I run 15-foot StarQuad pro cables, and it is perfect. I have tried shorter much costlier consumer XLR with the LA4 to my Benchmark AHB2 amps and there was no difference. I believe gear that is AES48 compliant (especially the preamp), will mitigate the need for costlier XLR's which I do know improve sound in other situations. My next Lumin P1 or X1 is going to go into my Livingroom where I would like to use 25-foot XLR to both get the gear away from the speakers, and also have the SPFID streamer output from the Lumin close to my headphone amp (a Peachtree GAN1 in the Livingroom).

BTW - if anyone is looking for a Lumin X1 remote control. I have one that is 2 weeks old and not going to be used anymore.

 

[Puma Cat]

You can also increase/lower the volume with your IPad/IPhone. Personally I think the volume is easy to control with the P1, no issues with low volume listening either.

Agreed. Sometimes I use the Lumin physical remote control, but mostly I just adjust the volume in my iPhone. Or, if I am in Roon, which I usually use in conjunction with my laptop, I just use the pop-up menu in Roon for the P1 and adjust it from there. Of course, Roon works with the iPhone this way, too. So, you can adjust volume with the remote, with the Lumin app on your phone or tablet, or using Roon with your phone, tablet or computer.

It's really nice having all these very convenient means to adjust the volume on the P1.

Again, the thing I am really impressed with is just how WELL Lumin thinks things through.

 

[jmusica]

The Lumin remote is a joy, and the irony is it almost never gets used because it’s so easy to adjust volume with the app.

 

[Puma Cat]

The Lumin remote is a joy, and the irony is it almost never gets used because it’s so easy to adjust volume with the app.

Yep, agreed. The times I generally use it are to switch inputs from the P1's optical input to the RCA input from the turntable. It also sounds fab when used just as a "preamp" for the TT.

 

[yyzSB]

Can the Lumin remote be used to program an action. I want to switch between analog out and SPDIF streaming out. I really hate using the Lumin app on my iPhone to do this. It takes a few repetitive swipes to get this done. I am doing this nightly (and every morning) to flip back and forth between my Lumin X1 and another DAC which I use for headphones.

 

[Hear Here]

> Again, the thing I am really impressed with is just how WELL Lumin thinks things through.

> The Lumin remote is a joy, and the irony is it almost never gets used because it’s so easy to adjust volume with the app.

I'm considering the Lumin P1 as an upgrade to my steamer and the above comments are comforting (sort-of), BUT - why no front panel volume control? I use the volume knob on my streamer if I'm on my feet as an old-fashioned knob is always exactly where you know it is (unlike a phone, iPad or remote that’s in another room or lost amongst the settee cushions) and it offers far greater and more precise control - bring back the knob!

Secondly, I spend quite a bit of time at my Windows PC and I control my streamer from this PC. It never dies because it hasn't been used for 30 seconds, it offers a proper-sized screen, thus reducing the frequency of page changing that are needed with small screens, and importantly, it avoids the likely chance that a touch-screen app is fingered slightly too heavily resulting in an unwelcome interruption of what I've been listening to. You know what I’m describing and, you must admit, it’s so annoying!

So Lumin - please offer a Windows app and, when next designing a new product that has the ability of adjusting output level, please include a proper volume control knob.

Meanwhile, I'm at a loss as to which streamer will offer an improvement in sound quality (there are doubtless several including the Lumin), but at the same time offers an app choice that at least matches BluOS in its ease of use and multiple platforms – you can even shout at it if you use Alexa. Since BluOS offers at least 95% of what Roon does, I’m not inclined to go that route just because the streamer builder hasn’t bothered to develop a great control app. Perhaps Lumin (or others) could do a deal with Lenbrook to use BluOS under license. Apart from their own NAD and Bluesound brands, others such as Cyrus, Roksan and Peachtree are also signed up to BluOS.

Any streamer suggestions welcome, short of adding hardware and a subscription and resorting to Roon. Thanks

 

[yyzSB]

>
Any streamer suggestions welcome, short of adding hardware and a subscription and resorting to Roon. Thanks

I have spent the last 2 weeks comparing the X1 internal DAC with fibre along with SPDIF out and USB out. The SPDIF was to a Benchmark DAC3B and the USB was to a Musetec 005. The comparison was with the same DACs streamed with fibre using the Sonore OpticalRendu. I have 3 oR's and I am a ROON user. I GROUPED the ROON end-point streams so that I could quickly switch between the endpoints via my Benchmark LA4 preamp or the DAC source digital inputs. I did not run oR into the X1 to test that via USB (I should). The fibre stream was comping out of a Ubiquiti network switch with 2 SPF outputs.

There were differences in sound between the 2 streamers. The X1 was louder and more in your face. The Sonore OpticalRendu seemed to have all the details of the X1 but was not as loud and seemed a bit more refined. Not saying one was better than the other. However, at around $1K-$2K the oR is a great streamer. I have 3 of them.

I just sold 2 of my Musetec 005 DACs this week and will likely get rid of 1 or 2 oR.

The Lumin X1 is really growing on me in my office system. Not too warm or too dry, just right with amazing features. It goes into my LA4 preamp in the office.