Aurender or Lumin streamer only?

Lumin makes the Streamer section for the Esoteric players...so maybe Lumin?

It all depends on the quality of the Esoteric USB implementation. Finding a streamer that reclocks USB seems important: InnuOS Pulsar?

Between the two brand, I will pick Aurender. The Conductor app, sound/build quality and tech support favors Aurender.  For USB only use, go with N200 and use a high quality USB cable and PC with N200.  

Consider N20 only if you plan to upgrade your DAC down the road. 

@goose I had the same question. No one seemed to have had a shoot out between the U2 and the N200.
I ended up getting the N200. Lumin gives you roon endpoint capability. Its native app is just not good. Despite being a Roon user I wanted to try the Aurender. So far no regrets but I do miss Roon with its information rich UI and ability to pull artwork for the local music files.

Edit - @lalitk is right about the cables. I have tried two power cords so far on the N200 and it reacts well. 

I am an Aurrender fan and have two and auditioned others. Based on reviews and comments here the N200 outperforms the Lumin in sound quality and the N20 significantly outperforms the N200. Given your DAC you want the N20 it is much quieter and more dynamic. The Conductor app that comes with Aurrender is well regarded and their customer service top notch.

If you stream mainly classical music forget the Aurender app as it doesn't know what a composer is.

Go for Lumin and use Roon. Or if you want to save money get an Eversolo DMP-A6. Excellent streaming and app. 

Can anyone add their experience or comparison with the PSAudio Air Lens Streamer?

I know this is no help to you, but I’ve narrowed it down to the N200 for me, wife permitting that is.

The Lumin streamer is great. The Leedh volume control on the streamer is almost as good as the volume control on my Benchmark LA4 preamp. The Leedh is not perfect at very low volume.

Lumin has a new $9k streamer that seems like the internals of the X1 DAC/streamer stripped out and the DAC part dropped. I had the X1 and I thought the streamer part was great.

If you want to save some cash get a Sonore OpticalRendu.

 

mazian

311 posts

01-01-2024 at 06:56pm 

If you stream mainly classical music forget the Aurender app as it doesn't know what a composer is.
 

None of the streamer apps can sort qobuz or tidal by composer. But the search works well.