Is it still worth buying a Lumin x1 in 2023?

In trouble shooting a problem one needs to start from the very first link in the chain. For streaming it is the digital signal that eventually is the output of your streamer. Digital streaming is full of noise that is getting pulled into the path from everywhere. It’s a noise you don’t notice until it’s gone. Start with router upgrade power supply, then if you hardwire to streamer bring in fiber media converters or if wireless use mesh system. Use lps to power fmc keeping dirty and clean side separated. This can all be done for $500. Then if still not happy move to the next link but now you know the first link of the chain is not the issue. If your first link is dirty so will everything after it be. Streaming is not simple but when implemented right it can be magic. Enjoy the music.

Hi,  I am currently using a LUMIN X1.  Just get it.  Trust me.  I have had D2, T2 and now X1.  I think it is better than many of the big gun DACs out there.  I have compared it to the DCS Bartok.  I think the X1 is better.  You have to spend a whole lot of money to better the total package of the X1.  It is rock solid as you know your D2 is.   Crazy dynamic range.  Absolutely dead and I do mean dead quiet.  Density with warmth and huge sound stage.  Laser fast.  Just remember LUMIN does their best to keep their products current thru painless updates.  If you were running an A1 (their oldest product) it still utilizes all of their current features, and still sounds amazing.  It does take the X1 a while to break in (400+ hours).  

Greetings, I currently own the T2 with an SBooster. I recently changed the fuse in the SBooster to a Synergistic Master fuse. I was Very impressed with the difference. Although a touchy topic, fuses do matter as does direction. I put the fuse in and heard some difference. After a week of burn in, I wasn't all that impressed, until I flipped it around. Once flipped the fuse really made my sound stage come alive. I was quite impressed with the T2 as a replacement to my Node 2, but now with this new fuse I would say that the jump in performance almost equals the jump from the Node to the Lumin. 

I haven’t had the X1 in my system but have had the D2 and P1.  The P1 shares a lot of the same or similar parts / design as the X1.  The X1 has an external power supply and the latest generation Saber DAC.  The P1 is outstanding, I would jump on the X1 if you are getting a good deal.  I used the D2 as a streamer only for a while, a stand alone like the U2 mini is a better performer.

Good luck, 

I just traded in my Lumin X1 for some speakers. However, I did this because I got a sonically better streamer, Playback Designs Streamer-IF, than the one on the X1 and I am looking for an FPGA DAC (Playback Designs).

The streamer on the X1 is excellent. I only did fibre optical. It was louder than the fibre streamer on the Sonore OpticalRendu. The oR seemed a bit more refined. The Streamer-IF was as loud as the X1 and as refined sounding as the oR. The steamer sound of the X1 was not worse just more on the "wild side". A chocolate vs vanilla type of thing.

The feature set on the X1 steamer is way better than the other 2 optical streamers I own. If I decide to stay long-term with my modded Peachtree GAN1 I will get the Lumin U2 (or U1) streamer for both streaming and the Leedh volume. I used this before and it was great. I need SPDIF steaming with volume into the GAN1.

The DAC on the X1 was the very best DAC I have owned, and I have taken a step back with my Benchmark DAC3B (not huge). The "DAC" in the GAN1 is maybe as good as the X1 (not apples-to-apples comparison). The plan is to spend a lot more on the Playback Designs DAC but I what I have now is rather amazing, so I am wondering why I should do this.