LUMIN - Audiophile Network Music Player

[LuminProac]

1 hour ago, One and a half said:

Yes, level matching is becoming more of a problem than it should be. There are some insane DAC outputs like 10V, when most pre-amps or even power amps have a 2V maximum to full scale. Even 4V on XLR for an old DAC still gives me problems. For legacy amplifiers, the levels are less at 0.775V. 

 

Without causing an expectation to arise, the Lumin T2 has a firmer control on power supplies and shielding than the cxa81 would have, the advantage is already there, but you never know.  Allow quite a few hours on the Lumin to settle in, give it at least a week or two.

I agree. Playing through the T2 with the amp off when I am not even listening. Already like what I hear

[LuminProac]

1 hour ago, One and a half said:

Yes, level matching is becoming more of a problem than it should be. There are some insane DAC outputs like 10V, when most pre-amps or even power amps have a 2V maximum to full scale. Even 4V on XLR for an old DAC still gives me problems. For legacy amplifiers, the levels are less at 0.775V. 

 

Without causing an expectation to arise, the Lumin T2 has a firmer control on power supplies and shielding than the cxa81 would have, the advantage is already there, but you never know.  Allow quite a few hours on the Lumin to settle in, give it at least a week or two.

I agree. Playing through the T2 with the amp off when I am not even listening to let the voicing settle in.  Already like what I hear. I went from CCA > CXA81 to T2, a big jump(cost wise for sure) But I have done this with my speakers too(straight to proacs, energy veritas and tannoys revolution series) 

[nikolaos1969]

11 hours ago, LuminProac said:

I am new to this forum. I recently got a lumin t2. I have a cxa81 integrated to which t2 connects via a xlr. Would appreciate tips on the right settings. Given that cxa81 does not have unity gain which you recco on the connecting amplifiers, 1.Should Leedh be kept on or off given I am connecting to the pre of cxa81?
2. Should Analog output level be set to normal or low? With normal, three steps from zero on the through the amp remote comes across as loud

3. Should volume control be on or off?
3. If on, at what gain level should it be set?

 

Just by switching between these options, I am unable to discern the right settings. Thanks in advance

 

Amit

 

 

Hi, I have CXA81 amp with Limin U1 mini transport. For my case I do not use leedh processing in order to have a bit perfect sound. So the volume is controled by the amp. I use the DAC's amp via USB male A to male B. Your case is completely different since you use the DAC of T2. I am very satisfied by the Lumin U1 mini but I am not satisfied by the DAC's amp. So, I would like to know your experience of T2 DAC when bypassing the DAC's amp.

[LuminProac]

21 minutes ago, nikolaos1969 said:

Hi, I have CXA81 amp with Limin U1 mini transport. For my case I do not use leedh processing in order to have a bit perfect sound. So the volume is controled by the amp. I use the DAC's amp via USB male A to male B. Your case is completely different since you use the DAC of T2. I am very satisfied by the Lumin U1 mini but I am not satisfied by the DAC's amp. So, I would like to know your experience of T2 DAC when bypassing the DAC's amp.

Hi, Makes sense. So you are using u1 mini to connect to cxa81's dac. So you are not satisfied with the dac on cxa81 or the pre section or the power section of cxa81? Bit confused with what you mean by the dac's amp. My initial experience has been good. I am still in process of getting all the right cables and connectors to be able to compare usb, lumin dac, cxa81. Will take some time till I reach a conclusion. But so far, so good! Currently I find the overall sound signature maturing with an initial warm signature to a more neutral analogish sound with a tad warmth still being there. I guess this is the pre and power section of cxa81. I am also considering adding a lexicon GX7 power and use the pre of cxa81 to connect. It does sound a tad less warm with a veil being taken of from the highs. Not sure, still thinking. I want to hear the evolved state of my current gear before I make any additions to my setup

[nikolaos1969]

36 minutes ago, LuminProac said:

Hi, Makes sense. So you are using u1 mini to connect to cxa81's dac. So you are not satisfied with the dac on cxa81 or the pre section or the power section of cxa81? Bit confused with what you mean by the dac's amp. My initial experience has been good. I am still in process of getting all the right cables and connectors to be able to compare usb, lumin dac, cxa81. Will take some time till I reach a conclusion. But so far, so good! Currently I find the overall sound signature maturing with an initial warm signature to a more neutral analogish sound with a tad warmth still being there. I guess this is the pre and power section of cxa81. I am also considering adding a lexicon GX7 power and use the pre of cxa81 to connect. It does sound a tad less warm with a veil being taken of from the highs. Not sure, still thinking. I want to hear the evolved state of my current gear before I make any additions to my setup

Since, I bought the amp a year ago I have been playing only digital via usb cable. I have started with foobar2000, plex, jriver, rpi4 and then decided to upgrade getting the lumin u1 mini. Beautiful app, but the sound is so electrical. Playing a violin or piano the sound comes through my ear so digital. The amp will give all of its power until 11 o' clock. After that the sound does not increasing at the rate you open the volume until 12 o clock. Please check 

[LuminProac]

1 hour ago, nikolaos1969 said:

Since, I bought the amp a year ago I have been playing only digital via usb cable. I have started with foobar2000, plex, jriver, rpi4 and then decided to upgrade getting the lumin u1 mini. Beautiful app, but the sound is so electrical. Playing a violin or piano the sound comes through my ear so digital. The amp will give all of its power until 11 o' clock. After that the sound does not increasing at the rate you open the volume until 12 o clock. Please check 

Hmm.... What you are referring to is called digital glare which I have heard in many implementations.  Strange as T2 is sounding analogish already and I feel it will only get better in a few weeks. I had problem on the other end spectrum where three steps up from zero on the cxa81 remote was too much for night time listening with  which I posted about. Changing volume from normal to low helps achieve volume matching between T2 and cxa81 pre.

 

How old is your cxa81? I have had it for a year and was using Google CCA via mini toslink cable to stream. I really really like how the cxa81 sound settled from it being a little edgy initially. A lot of ess dac implementations are initially bright, harsh and have that digital glare. But when they settle in, they sound so so sweet. I never felt the need to change that dac. Getting a T2 has just been about me being flirtatious. Been happily married to my current setup otherwise for a year. Yes and for my 15 by 20 feet from size I have never exceeded 10 o clock on cxa81 volume with 100% volume in from force. Just not possible. There is something else going on with your source

[nikolaos1969]

50 minutes ago, LuminProac said:

Hmm.... What you are referring to is called digital glare which I have heard in many implementations.  Strange as T2 is sounding analogish already and I feel it will only get better in a few weeks. I had problem on the other end spectrum where three steps up from zero on the cxa81 remote was too much for night time listening with  which I posted about. Changing volume from normal to low helps achieve volume matching between T2 and cxa81 pre.

 

How old is your cxa81? I have had it for a year and was using Google CCA via mini toslink cable to stream. I really really like how the cxa81 sound settled from it being a little edgy initially. A lot of ess dac implementations are initially bright, harsh and have that digital glare. But when they settle in, they sound so so sweet. I never felt the need to change that dac. Getting a T2 has just been about me being flirtatious. Been happily married to my current setup otherwise for a year. Yes and for my 15 by 20 feet from size I have never exceeded 10 o clock on cxa81 volume with 100% volume in from force. Just not possible. There is something else going on with your source

I bought CXA81 a year ago. My system comprises by a qnap file server in which I have installed minimserver the streamer the amp and the floorstanding monitor audio silver 500. My room is 55 sq2 and when I need more power the amp can not cover more than the half of the room. Yes, I can confirm it is punchy and digital at the beginning of playback. But in a room of 20 -25 sqm which means in 4 -5 m of  hearing distance the amp is good. I am thinking of getting an external DAC. I would like to use AES EBU but the amp does not have such inputs.

[LuminProac]

3 hours ago, nikolaos1969 said:

I bought CXA81 a year ago. My system comprises by a qnap file server in which I have installed minimserver the streamer the amp and the floorstanding monitor audio silver 500. My room is 55 sq2 and when I need more power the amp can not cover more than the half of the room. Yes, I can confirm it is punchy and digital at the beginning of playback. But in a room of 20 -25 sqm which means in 4 -5 m of  hearing distance the amp is good. I am thinking of getting an external DAC. I would like to use AES EBU but the amp does not have such inputs.

Seems the issue is the power section and not the dac. You can try factory reset for cxa81 one and check. If that doesn't help, adding a power amp through the pre out of cxa81 should do the trick. I have a 15 * 20 ft living room and the cxa81 power suffices

[nikolaos1969]

It is logical that the 27sqm room suffices while the 55 sqm does not. I was thinking about a power amp but I do not know how the pre out section will perform. The other thing what I would like to mention is that I am not quite sure if that kind of digital sound is in my favour any more.

[One and a half]

I hope there's a setting that's missed.

 

When Roon is playing different sample rates, the relay in the DAC works. If there's a redbook album of 3 discs, the relay stays quiet, since the sample rate is the same, no issue.

 

When Jriver is played via uPNP type stream, the relay clicks EVERY change in the track, regardless of sample rate. Anyone know where to play gapless to a stream and avoid the relay click?

 

I also tried audirvana (before Studio) and it played 1/3 of the track, then stopped. Pretty useless.

[wklie]

Not sure this will help, but in JRiver, please make sure "Disable SetNext" is turned off, i.e. SetNext should be enabled.

[One and a half]

2 hours ago, wklie said:

Not sure this will help, but in JRiver, please make sure "Disable SetNext" is turned off, i.e. SetNext should be enabled.

Thanks Peter, will try this when returning to home in 2 weeks.

[LuminProac]

Well... From where is my money gone when I first plugged T2 in to an unending woaaaaah, wow wow wow last night and today. This is such a beautiful, analogish, tad warm, a lot sweet, intricate sound handling nuances and micro detail so well. Love how my treble sounds now. Sweet sounding highs from proacs and those lush mids all fed from this dac is something eh...I feel like I have changed multiple components in my chain.

 

 This stirs up emotions, as intended by music and lets you get lost in it. Dunno how the T2 measures and seriously don't care. I actually want it to measure poorly to have the dichotomy of yet it sounding so good. Digital kit not sounding digital eh? Nice. And as I able to switch between 3 dacs in my current setup during a song, comparison is very easy. Good stuff Lumin. Can't wait to see if we are going higher from here

[wklie]

Those with a Lumin X1 / T2 / U1 / U1 MINI and a Tidal subscription, and would like to beta test Lumin Tidal Connect, please let me know.  I hope to have a beta firmware ready by early July.

 

I regret to say that other Lumin models have a platform limitation and therefore cannot run Tidal Connect for now.

[BlueSkyy]

Sign me up!  I am an early adopter and always like to try new things!

[MaxH]

Hi Peter,

I am very keen so Please sign me up. 

[Mikk]

9 hours ago, wklie said:

Those with a Lumin X1 / T2 / U1 / U1 MINI and a Tidal subscription, and would like to beta test Lumin Tidal Connect, please let me know.  I hope to have a beta firmware ready by early July.

 

I regret to say that other Lumin models have a platform limitation and therefore cannot run Tidal Connect for now.

I would love the opportunity to be a beta tester. I have a LUMIN U1 mini, and use Tidal for almost all my listening.
My current routine is to use Tidal with airplay, to discover new music and keep up to date with new releases, then use the LUMIN app for critical listening. I’ve been hoping the Tidal Connnect feature was on its way, as it’ll really make things easier for me to stay within Tidal  for all listening.

The only other ‘dream’ feature would be some EQ facility within the Lumin app!

Thanks.

[LuminProac]

18 hours ago, Mikk said:

I would love the opportunity to be a beta tester. I have a LUMIN U1 mini, and use Tidal for almost all my listening.
My current routine is to use Tidal with airplay, to discover new music and keep up to date with new releases, then use the LUMIN app for critical listening. I’ve been hoping the Tidal Connnect feature was on its way, as it’ll really make things easier for me to stay within Tidal  for all listening.

The only other ‘dream’ feature would be some EQ facility within the Lumin app!

Thanks.

+1 to some kind of digital tone controls even if they are similar to how Google has for Chromecast audio. I used to use + 1 on treble and -1 on bass. This was perfect for my setup. Though I am still burning T2 in, I would like a tad more brighter or less warmer sound

[Mikk]

Yeah, I don't want to get too greedy asking for fancy parametric EQ (even though that would be amazing) when simple tone control EQ would be adequate to enhance enjoyment of less-than-stellar recordings! Do Auralic devices have an EQ available? I don't think Aurender does. 

 

Either way, I expect Tidal Connect to bring a new level of convenience to the Lumin, and I only wished I'd bought a U1 Mini earlier.

 

Great work to the Lumin team by keeping the updates coming and the Lumin range completely relevant and up-to-date with other software platforms. Leedh was a thoughtful addition too, and prompted me to try the U1 mini's AES output directly into my studio monitors with excellent results.

[wklie]

If EQ is important to you, use Roon (USD699) to apply EQ and play it to Lumin.  That works for local files, Tidal, Qobuz but not other services.  For Spotify Connect, you will still have to rely on Lumin built-in support without EQ.

[LuminProac]

Any plans to add a widget for Android in your future releases?

[BlueSkyy]

Lumin engineers, both hardware and firmware, spent tons of time perfecting the sounds of their components.  Volume control capabilities aside and maybe it's just me and I certainly could be wrong, but I don't see Lumin going down the rabbit hole of attempting to electronically alter the sound, i.e., implementing equalization capabilities, in any of their devices.  For me, it's all about room treatment and speaker positioning within the room if I find that I can't live with the sound I am getting.

[LuminProac]

10 minutes ago, BlueSkyy said:

Lumin engineers, both hardware and firmware, spent tons of time perfecting the sounds of their components.  Volume control capabilities aside and maybe it's just me and I certainly could be wrong, but I don't see Lumin going down the rabbit hole of attempting to electronically alter the sound, i.e., implementing equalization capabilities, in any of their devices.  For me, it's all about room treatment and speaker positioning within the room if I find that I can't live with the sound I am getting.

What we hear is not only the dac/ streamer but mainly the music, its mix, mastering and production quality along with rest of the gear in our chain. Based on most gear, EQ, tone controls help tweak. Its like adding salt pepper as per taste. I find most recordings and speakers out there too warm. 

 

The other way to tweak the overall presentation is with cables..but that's expensive and experimental

[BlueSkyy]

Thanks for the info and that helps me understand where you were coming from.

[wklie]

1 hour ago, LuminProac said:

Any plans to add a widget for Android in your future releases?

 

In what ways would it be beneficial?