Lumin Hifi Rose or Aurender


I am looking for a new streamer (with no dac) and streamer with a dac and would prefer to stay with one brand.  Have it narrowed down to Lumin, Hifi Rose or Aurender.  I need spotify connect and access to tidal.

I will spend in the 4 to 6K for the Steamer and 3-5K for the streamer Dac

I have a Berkeley alpha dac 3 that the streamer will feed in system one which is a higher end system mcintosh C22 into a MC462 with Harbeth 40.3 XD speakers.

The streamer dac is for a second system which is more middle of the road.  Mcintosh MA6500 with Totem Forest Signature speakers.

I do streaming only and don't have no need for drive storage.

Love to here your thoughts 

Ag insider logo xs@2xefoo

Does Innous support tidal connect or spotify connect ?

@efoo They support Spotify connect via plugins. I'm not sure about Tidal as I use the Sense app for that (with a Pulse). The Sense software can be used via an app or web based. It also allows the use of Airplay via a plugin. Sound quality is better than Roon by a decent amount. I wish that wasn't true as Roon software functionality is outstanding.

I owned a T&A Dac 200, but not the associated streamer. If you get the DAC with the HDMI module and use the MP200 you get most everything one would need (not sure about Tidal connect), including a CD player. It would be a great setup and nice looking IMO.

@efoo I heard the Hifi Rose streamer at a dealer and it sounded very nice, but it’s hard to compare without hearing it in my setup.

I owned the Sonore MicroRendu & OpticalRendu w/external power supply, SOtM sMS-200 Neo SE w/sPS-500 external power supply and the LUMIN U1 mini.  I still have the LUMIN U1 mini in a second system, but I bought the LUMIN U2 for my main system.  LUMIN is very reliable and you get quick responses from the LUMIN rep. Peter Lie when you have questions.  The Sonore and SOtM streamers are hard to beat for the money, but they are better paired with Roon, so I preferred the LUMIN for the better sound quality, reliability, constant software updates, and the ability to play the streamer as a stand alone with Qobuz, Tidal and local music files.  I’ve gone back in forth comparing the LUMIN played through Roon and without Roon and the LUMIN sounds better without Roon although I think Roon has the best user interface and music cataloging.  The only con I have for the LUMIN is the user interface.  It is not very good IMO compared to Innuos or Aurender.  Just my opinion.

If you have the money to buy two units at the same time to have a streamer shootout, that would be the way to go, but having the option to return for a full refund for the unit that you didn’t want.  If you find a dealer that will allow an in-home demo would be the best option.

That being said, I recommend LUMIN.

Thanks for all the great info.  At this point I am leaning toward Lumin U2 paired with the T+A DAC 200.  Main reason is .... I think the strength of the Dac 200 is the separate DSD DAC channel and the U2 upscales to DSD 256 so I think this will be a great combo.  Plus Lumin has been around the block so support should be great.  Keep the comments coming I still need to get a dac streamer for system 2 !