Lumin X1 or dCS Bartok

perhaps yes, but I have owned the X1 and I have heard the Bartok along with the Rossini.  To my ears, not only do they simply sound different but the Lumin sounds more refined.  At around $15K I would hope to be buying the best a company can do, not their cheapest implementation.

Dznutz, your argument can go both ways.  Sure if you have the top of the line you know you are getting the company’s best.  But if you get a lower model of a much higher line you will most likely be getting trickle down technology from 2-4x price gear but just be missing that extra 5-10%.

key word there is "most likely" or better yet, "potentially". Either way you cant quantify the sonic difference as a percentage, although I know just about everyone out there does. Comparing Bartok to X1... for me the X1 sounds considerably better.

I can definitely say Lumin makes some fantastic streamers.  I have the T2 and it holds it’s own against much higher priced DACs.  I imagine the X1 would take this to another level.

I have owned both the Bartok and now the X1. The X1 has a totally new design and was developed as a closed loop system.  Lumin can update firmware, (FPGA) and software remotely. The Lumin is based on broadcast grade components and engineering. I have not heard anything better than the X1 and that includes products costing almost twice as much. Need to read the Hi Fi Plus review from the UK and the Audiophile Style review from Chris (Formerly the computer audiophile). The X1 is the most analog sounding digital streamer, renderer, DAC that I have ever heard. Pixel Magic Systems, their parent company is a real innovator. The dual mono Lundahl transformer couplings and new external dual mono AC to DC power supply, in my mind is the icing on the cake. The X1 is the end of the road for my search in in end audio streaming.