Lumin U2 Mini

@ryder If you modify it to run off LPS, there’s probably nothing that can touch it at its price point. It’s that good.

Macdude, that's good to know. I recently bought the U2 mini but do not have experience with the U1 mini. It sounds great. I don't run a liner power supply with the U2 mini but am using a high quality power cord with it. 

@thyname U2 mini is a huge leap over U1 mini.

Granted, I’ve only run them with linear power supplies. I modified the units and disconnected the internal SMPS.

I didn’t really give USB a fair shake and have it connected to my headphone amp for now via USB with a generic 2.0 cable.  I’m thinking of getting the DH Labs Mirage USB cable and revisiting.  I have a suspicion that the Aurender’s clock outperforms the Lab 12’s clock and that’s why I like the Coax connection 

I prefer the COAX to my Lab 12 and am using a DH Labs D-750 which is excellent for the money.  Using DH Labs Air Matrix Cryo out of the DAC lot my pre

@oddiofyl   Which Dig connection are you using with N200, Spdif or USB? Cable Brand?

I think the Bluesound streamer and OS are a great starting point in this adventure of streaming. The Lumin is a very nice device as is the Aurender it boils down to your preferences and what you want to get out of your streaming experience. I also think your DAC is a very good DAC and would stick with it. 
 

Love your kit.

DAC.    Not SAC

My N200 has no DAC.   USB and COAX out only    I have used it with my RME SAC and it sound great in my headphone rig

Lumin U2 Mini $2,400

Lumin U1 Mini $1,400 or lower (Used)

It may be better but by how much.

I was thinking exactly the same thing. Anybody here who compared them both side-by-side? Or upgraded from U1 Mini to U2 Mini?

Have you compared the Aurender (with dac) in your system standalone? I’m wondering how it’s integrated dac compares to your LAB 12 (or was it no contest)

I’m using the N200 with the excellent sounding LAB 12 DAC 1 Reference.   Great pairing.   I have until June to trade the LAB 12 toward something 2x as much, but honestly I think I’m going to keep it for a while.  

@oddiofyl 

That’s great to hear! When I was scrolling through this post I couldn’t figure out what you were using for Dac duties- whether you had a standalone or the Bluesound or other. My only comment would have been to make sure you’re happy with the Dac you have before buying the Lumin U2 Mini as the Dac will be the Mae or break in that scenario. I just received my U2 a week ago, I purposely went with it to test streaming but to not be influenced by Lumins version of Dac- I prefer the Aqua Dac that I have. 
So my next question would be does the Aurender outperform the equipment you were using prior to the buy on all levels? I have no experience with Aurender but their products seem to have a large fan base here on Agon.

Hi 

Designsfx , I never had the Lumin but i was seriously considering it.   I was able to leverage a trade toward the N200 that was such a good deal I couldn't pass.      

I love the Aurender , it is a great machine.         

The Lumin looks like it offers a lot for the money.  I probably would have picked the U2 mini if the Aurender wasn't such a great deal .   I did not plan on buying a $6k msrp streamer but i have zero regrets ...   really great support from Aurender too

@oddiofyl 

Your equipment list is showing you have an Aurender N200- are you no longer using this?

You can use the Lumin U2 with Roon, and problem solved. No need to use the Lumin app.

Lumin U2 Mini $2,400

Lumin U1 Mini $1,400 or lower (Used)

It may be better but by how much.

I am still very interested in this unit.  I just need to sell off a few things.   Thanks for the info.  I would still like to access material on the Vault

You could always access your bluesound vault files over smb, put the unc path I.e \\vaultname\shared

https://support1.bluesound.com/hc/en-us/articles/200387457-Accessing-the-Bluesound-VAULT-s-Internal-Storage-From-a-Computer

My U2 Mini arrived 2 days ago and I'm having no issues with the Lumin app on Android.

I believe that they did have issues when first released which pretty much kept me away. No desire to to purchase an Apple product just for the streamer.

Happy to report that that is a thing of the past.

I do like the BlueOS better. The Lumin app is good  Like Fynnegan says, one has to bother to learn how to use it :^)

@malibu457 wrote:

i think spending over 1K for a streamer is not worthwhile. even a 5K streamer will not beat a CD or flac. file for SQ. streaming is great for discovering new artist and in most cases good enough SQ can be had for under 1K if i find something i rally like and pine for the penultimate "audiophile" expierence i will buy the flac. version download the title online or buy the CD on Ebay.

I didn't have to spend a dollar to beat my Oppo 205 w/ OppoMod LPS.  My built in PS Audio Bridge II card on the DS DAC bettered it.  But it takes time, research and some networking prowess to get streaming to sound 'right'.  Sure, you will undoubtedly dump some money into networking but far less than a quality CDP.

Lumin app on iOS devices is glitch free. But of course one has to bother to learn how to use it.

Agree @woots 

The SQ of streaming from the internet is quickly approaching CDs or local files. And in my system, streaming local files has always beat out the sound of a CD from a transport into the same DAC.

@malibu457 

I think the level of streamer you buy depends on your system.  Having just recently demoed Innuos and MSB products the SQ was way above any CD player I have heard.

i think spending over 1K for a streamer is not worthwhile. even a 5K streamer will not beat a CD or flac. file for SQ. streaming is great for discovering new artist and in most cases good enough SQ can be had for under 1K if i find something i rally like and pine for the penultimate "audiophile" expierence i will buy the flac. version download the title online or buy the CD on Ebay.

Also, transferring files from the Vault is pretty easy. 
muse the IP address of the Vault as in \\xxx.xxx.xxx

and you will see three subfolders.  Some are the main storage, one is unknown albums, and the other is indexing. 
fron there it is drag and drop. Allow plenty of time, do 4 or 10 artist at a time and go from there. 

Thanks again to all who replied...   I actually did a complete 180° , switched gears and am having  DHT preamp built.   I'll revisit streamers after the new year.   Thanks !

A lot of people come here asking about streamer sound quality because there are many here who say streamer = streamer.  So to some it is indeed a revelation. Yes, even the cheapest Lumin is much more expensive than the Node. But to me it was worth the $$. And the bluos app, while slightly better, doesn’t “spank” the Lumin app. 

So I will repeat this “monotonously”, you pays your money and you takes your choice. My choice was the Lumin, price disparity notwithstanding.

@ozzy62 

Point is that people are intent on repeating rather monotonously that streamers costing 300% more than the Bluesound sound better as if it is a revelation.

All just because the BluOS app spanks theirs.  Ha

@jetter 

What’s your point……?

If you think you need a server, check out the Auralic, when I bought 1 many years ago, it sounded better than any Aurender or Lumin I had demoed. Also, DS Lightning software from Auralic is much better than the software from Lumin or Aurender. I got rid of the Auralic years ago and went with Roon with no need for a 3rd party server and the sq is better.

If you want a cheap server that delivers the sq and you get to use the DS Lightning software, look for a used Auralic Aries mini. Mine cost me < $500 when I bought mine new. I also sold that years ago.With Roon, I can use any number of endpoint devices

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the availability of Leedh in all Lumin products. Using this lossless volume control can eliminate the need for a preamp and judging from the reviews the Leedh is more transparent than any hardware volume control.

1. It would be highly recommended that the music files be moved from the vault to a Nas or somewhere that has redundant storage.

2. My NAS runs the basic UPnP server to index and manage the music- the metadata, tags, annum art, etc.  

then my Lumin (a D2) streams the music, and the App does the controlling   
 

I’ve seen some people that don’t like the app, but once learned, it’s good.
 

All Lumin  hardware use the app 

The U2 mini looks like ice kit. 

I’d have to give the nod to the bluos app over the Lumin, but only slightly.  Then again, the app was the best thing about the Node I owned. SQ goes to the Lumin for sure.

Lumin u2 mini streamer $2,400

Aurender n100H $2,700

Bluesound Node $600

OP, I tried the Lumin U2 Mini for a while but found the app difficult to use. Switched to the most affordable Aurender (N100) and never looked back. App is more user-friendly and sound quality superior in most ways. I've yet to hear of an Aurender user who disliked it, whether top, bottom, or middle of the line. My guess is if you're upgrading, start with Aurender since you will almost certainly end up there.

I’d have to give the nod to the bluos app over the Lumin, but only slightly. Then again, the app was the best thing about the Node I owned. SQ goes to the Lumin for sure.

I have a Lumin T2 and just recently demoed the Innuos.  Based on my experience the Lumin is the easier and more reliable of the two.  

I find the Lumin app extremely easy to use and found the Innuos more "glitchy".

Thank you @woots for providing your experience actually using the Innuos..

The Lindemann Limetree Bridge is better.

I have a Lumin T2 and just recently demoed the Innuos.  Based on my experience the Lumin is the easier and more reliable of the two.  I had an issue early on with my Lumin and connected directly with the distributor in California and they walked me step by step through the issue and it has worked flawlessly since.  I find the Lumin app extremely easy to use and found the Innuos more "glitchy".  Currently, my Lumin is connected to a Roon Nucleus + with a separate NAS drive.  

Good luck and let us know how it works out for you!

I am peculiarly situated to answer your question as I am currently using the Mini and still kept my Vault for a second set up.  I also am streaming premium versions of Qobuz, Tidal and Amazon HD.  In contrast to the above, in my view the Mini is a significant step up; however your last question may render that moot.  The Lumin App is glitchy and the support I have gotten has been lousy.  BLUOS is a much superior app and works much better in my experience.  That said I am running ROON through the Mini with tremendous results.  Hope that helps.

@fuzztone 

Thank you sir,

I’ll check it out hopefully tomorrow.

Thank you for the feedback.   I am going to check out a few of the major players including innous 

Yup Roadkill. Succeeds where Windows burps or FAILS 

@fuzztone 

Are you talking about the program from Roadkill?  
 

Thanks.

Maybe give Innuos a call, tell them you’re interested in their streamers and ask them how you can most effectively get your stored music into their server. Best to go right to the source, and their customer service has a good rep.

Much more efficient to move files direct than "across" the network. Use Unstoppable copier. So much better than UPnP that I sold my Synology. Why have multiple devices unnecessarily?

There are several hundred discs , I have media on a 2TB drive also.    Can you move files across the network onto a dedicated streamers internal drive if I go that route?    

Yeah, it looks like their dealer network is small.   

In this case I wouldn’t worry about a lateral move — it’s a solid bet either the Lumin or Innuos will provide significant sonic benefits you’ll hear immediately.  Did you load any CDs into the Vault?  I’ve got a lot of CDs I love that will likely never be available to stream and I have several “audiophile” CDs I’m going to buy that also will likely never make it to stream as well so for those reasons I find the server function very valuable.  But that’s me.  It’s awesome that you can audition a piece at home!  Now if you only had a good Lumin dealer nearby…

Hi

Thanks Soix,  I am just trying to get a sense of what a good upgrade would be.   The dealer I bought my DAC from is an Innuos dealer and are pretty good about home demo.  Just not sure how much I will use the disc drive. 

There is nothing worse than a lateral move in this hobby...   I try to avoid that at all cost