Lumin vs Bricasti Volume Control

Hello,

To start with the Lumin products have LEEDH volume control. It does not loose very much as you adjust the sound. Also, you can get an optional remote control for some Lumin products. Last is they have a new preamp/ DAC/ Steamer called the P1. It is very close in sound to the Lumin X1 and already has a built in linear power supply. I know the Bricasti M3 is good a good value. What I have seen is some of these good values sometimes are a little to cool sounding for my taste. Since you are also contemplating the DCS Bartok you are into some serious money. You can get a remote but it’s volume on the app is butter smooth anyways because of LEEDH volume control. And if you want the preamp to be able to run analog or use the built in DAC go with the P1. I hope this helped. Call your local dealer and take it for a spin. 

we are an authorized lumin and brricasti dealer

the lumin's volume control is far superior it is smooth and ramps up or down easily

the bricasti volume is tap tap tap to work, no rampimg up or down

we feel the m3 plus our 432evo server sounds even better then the T2 but costs abit more

and yes the usb input off the EVO sounds better then the M3’s network card

Dave and Troy

Audio intellect NJ

bricasti lumin 432Evo dealers

@lordmelton 

Interestingly, I may use your stop-gap advice of DAC/preamp first and then invest in a preamp. Due to budget, I would like to get a killer amp, and DAC then worry about preamp. I only do digital, so I have to address the diminishing return that a preamp will provide vs. the cost of such a unit. 

@jeffreyw Yes Jeff that's exactly what I did. Checkout the Musetec 005 Dac it has remote volume control which can be bypassed when you get a Pre.

Regarding power amps there are some killer Threshold (Pass Labs) Class A & A/AB on the used market they are wonderful, I have one.

Well, I got the Lumin T2 home yesterday and set it up to play directly into my two amps. I have the Sbooster standing by ready to be installed. I decided to give the T2 a run on it's own first. I experienced a much better soundstage and separation between the instruments and the vocals. At first the bass was missing. That smash that I love. So, I hooked it up through my preamp and the low end and the smash returned. My speakers have two 12" woofers and plenty of power, so that wasn't the problem. But with the preamp in line there was a slight veil that wasn't there when going direct.

I then removed the preamp and went back to running the T2 back into the amps. Over the course of the long evening, the music got sweeter. I am now at about 20 hours of continuous play and the base and the fullness are appearing. I am going to add the Sbooster and run it in. I am starting to become highly optimistic that running direct is the way to go.

My wife and I went to two local audio stores for reference. We demo'd two different sets of Magnpan 3.7's with subs and for fun a high end setup in the 250k range. I came home and wasn't embarrassed. For the amount of beer money I have spent, I think I, with just a couple of more tweaks, will decide to be very satisfied. 

Conclusion. I am going to Sboost it and let it break in and continue to run the Lumin T2 directly into my amps and control volume with the Leedhs volume control. 

I am curious if anyone has tried different fuses with the Lumin T2?