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Anyone compare LUMIN U1 mini to Sim Mind 2?

Interested in a streaming transport without a DAC. Both the U1 mini and Mind2 are in the $2k range. Just wondering if anyone actually compared the two? Aries G1 bumps it to $2900, then of course there’s a Roon Nucleus into a usb dac 
I also recently heard a new Node run into a Woo electrostatic headphone amp and a pair of Stax headphones and that sounded quite nice too

The Node experience makes me wonder if given I’m going to use the dac I already own (BRICASTI M1) is the Node really all the streamer I need? 
Your thoughts and experiences are most appreciated 
128x128zavato
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zavato's avatar
zavato OP
1,397 posts
 
Ok- so tell me more- adding the network card - and what else would I need in order to stream, say Qobuz, through my system? 
Thanks! 
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zavato's avatar
zavato OP
1,397 posts
 
Thanks 
zavato's avatar
zavato OP
1,397 posts
 
TVAD- the network upgrade for the M1 presently is $1500! A Lumin U1 mini can be had for a few hundred more 
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djones51
4,947 posts
 
I preferred the U1 mini to the Mind2 only for the interface, I couldn't tell any difference in SQ. If I was using Roon I would just use a raspberry pi 4 as an endpoint to the DAC.
djones51
4,947 posts
 
I also tried the Aries G1. It had a nice user interface as well but wasn't worth the extra money over the U1 or Mind2 as the SQ wasn't any different. I've tried about a dozen streamers and never had a noticeable difference in sound quality your DAC and speakers will determine that way more than a streamer.
mahler123
3,305 posts
 
Djones 

what did you not like about the Mind2 interface?  Also, since you have tried so many streamers, do you have any experience with the Cambridge Audio CXN V2?
djones51
4,947 posts
 
Yes, I tried the CXN V2. I didn’t keep it because the AES3 out wasn’t in the volume control path. I liked the UI and like the others it has good SQ. It’s been so long ago on the Mind2 I’m not really sure what precisely irritated me but I believe it the UI wasn’t as intuitive.
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