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Why does my old CD player sound so much better than my new streamer?

Earlier this year I upgraded my system. Briefly, new Prima Luna Dialogue Premium HP integrated, new Lumin D2 streamer/DAC, kept my Tekton speakers, bought a 10 year old Muse Erato CD player, new Nordost Red Dawn cables all around.  After plenty of break in, the Lumin D2 streaming Tidal, even 24/96, does not sound close to as good as the Muse Erato.  I understand the Muse was about $10k new years ago, I paid $650 for it on Audiogon, is that the difference? It replaced my Naim I had for 20+ years and I bought it on the chance I want to listen to something not on Tidal, but now I'm going to CDs when I want to sit and listen instead of streaming. I considered upgrading to the Lumin T2, but will that be more of the same Lumin sound, which is accurate but thin and a little cold compared to the Muse.  I like the Lumin when just letting Tidal shuffle music as I move around the house, but from the opening note in an A/B test the Muse just sounds so much warmer, live and simply more enjoyable. Any thoughts or suggestions?
fsgattuso

Showing 3 responses by audioman58

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,271 posts
 
I owned the D2, as well as several good dacs if you truly want to hear realism check out. The new Lampizater Amber-3 dac it has a lot of trickle down technologies from their top gear for $2750
with tube rectifier  and 2 other tubes it  is more musically involving then my $6k ps Audio dac  they give you I  think two weeks to check it out. I bought the demo model  after a 24 hr settling in 
itis a keeper. One of the Best Buy’s in all of Audio !!
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,271 posts
 
Check out under reviews what 8 consider by far the best dac out there at its price and far above at $2750 the New Lampizator Amber 3 . Even before NOS tubes sounds great !!

http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/

audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,271 posts
 
A high quality dac ,like the new Lampizator amber 3 
which is $2750 is a vacuum tube dac and night and day better then Any 
streamer with built in dac is you want a you are there 3D perspective 
enjoy the music .com just gave it a rave musicality 5 stars across the board.
a good outboard dac and good usb  cable , you are all set. Here is no point 
buying a better streaming dac even their $10k LUMIN will not touch the new Lampi Amber 3 thst I can assure you having a great designed dac and then add several Vacuum tubes to the mix even streaming will give you a much warmer 
real perspective ,even less then ideal recordings are listenable ,and a 
2 week return policy if not happy. I sold my PS Audio dac That was $6k
to buy this Amber 3 it is thst good,  and can make it better still with a premium fuse and great vintage tubes ,from Brent Jesse recording ,or Andy at Vintage tube services.
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