Lumin U2 or Aurender N200


Looking for thoughts on these two streamers: Lumin U2 and Aurender N200.

I’m fully aware of the limitations and features from UI and Roon integration to design concepts and implementation (power supplies, caching, display, etc.)


Hoping to hear from those who had compared these two streamers. I’m also absolutely not interested in hearing from “it’s all 1s and 0s” crowd - this isn’t that forum and I kindly ask you to please stay out of this discussion.

Thanks and Happy Holidays to you all!!!

128x128audphile1

@mclinnguy  Yes, I have settled in on the Fidelium Speaker cables. They made my system sing when I first got them and just quit thinking about it. 

@audphile1  I certainly understand the cost being prohibitive, if I needed longer length i would have got the reg frontRow too. I also kinda made out with TMR as I had some credit to use.

Thanks @audphile1, very interesting. If you get a chance to audition a Front Row USB, please let us know how it compares to the Tyr2.

@fthompson251 I’m 100% certain that the FrontRow USB will be way better than the Diamond. I’m basing this on my comparison between my AQ and my friend’s Audience StudioOne USB that I’d done couple of months ago. I’m sure the FrontRow is even better. I’ve had my AQ Diamond listed on USAM for few months now and no luck. Thanks in part to our crafty friends over at Ali Express. There’s a ton of counterfeit Audioquest cables out there and nobody gives a flying firetruck about me stating that I bought it from the dealer and it’s genuine. Nearly impossible to sell. It’ll end up being a trade in. 
 

@swede58 Will do! I might also give Audience Ethernet cable a test drive. My Purist is good but you know how it is there’s always something better! 

I used to run Audience AU24se+ USB cable in my system and it was fantastic. I expect the FrontRow to be even better. Unfortunately I need 1.5m and in that length the Reserve is more than I want to spend on a digital cable. 

@audphile1 Just now I just happened to be reading an Inakustik cable review from a couple of years ago, and the reviewer quite liked their USB- I know we can't demo everything, but kind of perked my curiousity as he also went through AU24 and Diamond. Pasted below are a couple of highlights: 

"...For perspective, here are the USB aftermarket cables I’ve actually auditioned in my system: Audience AU24 SE; AudioQuest Cinnamon, Coffee and Diamond; Belkin Gold; Cardas Clear; and Wireworld Starlight 7. All of these beat stock USB cables handily, but I ended up with the Stealth Audio USB-T Select. ....

..The Stealth USB was slightly laid back, while the Inakustik High Speed USB was ever so slightly forward. Generally, I prefer slightly laid back, in part because of my room setup, which is set up “width-wise,” so the listening width is greater than the listening depth. Nonetheless, despite the slightly more forward presentation, I found myself more drawn into the music with the Inakustik. However, I had a hard time identifying exactly why. When I listened for specific qualities, such as tonality, soundstage, detail, dynamic range, etc., I was not able to readily discern any major difference in any of those particular aspects of the presentation. Gradually, I realized that I had just a bit “more” in every aspect of the Inakustik, and that the cumulative combined difference was a more realistic and engaging “live” presentation. This was especially true of good live recordings, where the combination of performer placement and excellent detail resulted in a phenomenal ability to focus either on individual performances, on the performance as a whole, or a combination of your own choosing. All of this for about 25% of the cost of an excellent USB cable that I had selected after extensive comparison testing. Very impressive."

 

https://www.dagogo.com/inakustik-reference-ls-4004-air-speaker-cable-reference-digital-2404-air-coax-cable-reference-high-speed-usb-cable-review/2/

Thanks @mclinnguy the fact that it’s forward sounding is alarming to me. I can’t have that with my electronics. I need cables that are as neutral (I try to avoid using this term usually) as possible. But the statement the reviewer made about the Stealth USB is kind of intriguing. I’ll ask how it compares to Audience. 
In my experience with Audience I like their USB, speaker cables and power cords. I have not had good luck with their interconnects in any iteration of my system, and I tried OHNO, AU24SE, AU24SX, FrontRow. Not impressed. I much prefer my Nordost Tyr 2.