2. digital
  3. 174906-169852

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
wvbossfan
6 posts
 

Happy Lumin X1 user with the EtherRegen fiber connection. My own experience also concluded that just fiber is not enough although it advanced the quality a lot. Adding the network clocking and clean circuit of the ER really does bring out the best of the X1 capabilities. I will say it is a must have for X1 owners. Caveat being that the results depend on the condition of your network. Some are better at it than others.

Coming to the P1, I too am curios how it matches up with the X1 in sound quality. I chose to move away from USB audio over to network streaming as in the case of the X1. The tradeoff being the limitation in music source but the positive being that the quality is outstanding with what is available, and with a lot less headaches. I am a tweaker and have tinkered a lot with PC audio and I love the X1 setup. To be fair, I still have a Roon server in the mix but I do not let it to get too close with my X1 (jk).

The only twinge I have felt lacking in the setup is when it comes to Amazon Music HD. There is just no way to get lossless Amazon into the X1 as of yet. But the P1 can. It is not making me think of changing anything though, as I am in audio heaven with the X1

To the OP, I think either will be just fine. Good luck with your search and Thanks for asking your question.

visva OP
6 posts
 

@wvbossfan thanks your answer!

yyzsantabarbara
4,941 posts
 

Now that I have an X1 at home, let me add to my original post about an EtherRegen connected in front of the Lumin X1. I use an EtherRegen from my network switch to take RJ45 into the eR and then fibre to the X1.

I feel that the eR takes a bit of the bite out of the streaming sonics of the X1. This is a good thing for me. This is compared to the fibre coming directly from my network switch. I found similar improvement with other fibre streamers.

The eR + X1 streaming into my Benchmark DAC3B into my RAAL VM-1a headphone amp is a bit too loud compared to my other fibre streamer, the Sonore OpticalRendu. I think I prefer the Sonore OpticalRendu a tiny bit more for fibre streaming. It seems a bit more refined compared to the full blast sonics from the eR. Though the sound is very close. I think this is a huge complement to the Sonore OpticalRendu since it cost so much less.

I am not using any super elaborate USB cable (maybe $100) or LPS ($300) with the opticalRendu.

The X1 used as both a streamer and DAC into a preamp or headphone amp is the best overall sound I have now.

More to discover