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Lumin P1 or X1 or others?

Hi,

Nowadays, audio companies are launching more and more streamers. I am listening music from jazz to electro-industrial, contemporain  to baroque, dark ambient to experimental, so really wide genres. 

I would actually need digital inputs as well. After all, I want to connect wadia transport and Sony dat to it - Of course I can sacrifice this for quality because I also have an analog tube amplifier. 

In addition, in Hungary, where I live, my hearing opportunities are limited.   
So i listened in a Solution power amp driven paradigm Persona 9H speaker system ( i like other kind of sound - it was too dry, emotionless, sterile for me). On some music you might have heard a difference e.g.  Dead can Dance Anastasia sacd, JAZZ is noticeably airier and has some intangible sense of difference.  On classical music, the x1 sounded airier again.  I would say - if i can put it that way - the difference is 10-15% (for me).

I was also looking for a used streamer.  My current option is either a new X1, or a new P1, or a used (1,5 years old ) X1 at the same price as new P1.   

What do you think? Which is the best option? Or do you have other suggested option?

Thank your answer in advance

visva
visva OP
6 posts
 
maxwave

Yes i know that is why is wrote: I can sacrifice this for quality because I also have an analog tube amplifier. 

golferjw
42 posts
 

look at hifi rose 150b

willgolf
936 posts
 

I have had the D-2. A-1, U=1 mini and X-1. I think the X-1 is the best DAC/Streamer under 18k that money can buy.

ozzy's avatar
ozzy
7,455 posts
 

When I first purchased the Lumin X1 after having for several years the PS Direct Stream dac I couldn’t believe how much better sounding the X1 was/is.

I did have my doubts about not having any digital inputs though.

I transferred all of my CD’s, SACD’s and others to an 8TB hard drive and couldn’t be happier. Adding Quboz to the equation just added icing to the cake.

I guess to me does the P1 sound as good as the X1? And do you really need a preamp these days?

The Lumin volume control is excellent as I run the Lumin directly to my tube amps.

ozzy

yyzsantabarbara
4,801 posts
 

@ozzy Do you have a Uptone Audio EtherRegen ($650) or Sonore OpticalModule ($300)? I am curious about putting either one of those in front of a Lumin X1 or P1 then using the Fibre input.

I was of the opinion that taking Fibre directly from a network switch to the Lumin Fibre input was the way to go, but recently I read a white paper by the designer of both the ER and OM and he laid out the argument why using just Fibre was not enough.

I tried an EtherRegen in front of my Sonore OpticalRendu then USB to my Musetec 005 DAC and I noticed a very nice improvement in clarity and focus. If I had a Lumin X1 or P1 the streaming setup would be even simpler and thus potentially even better.

If anyone is interested on the John Swenson whitepaper on streaming you can drill down from this post.

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