I don't think DAC technology has changed much over the past 10 years, perhaps even longer. Some of the better DACs being made today use ancient circuits and some very old chips that have been squirreled away because they sound better than modern chips. After all, the priority with each new generation of DAC chips is NOT sound quality--it is smaller size, lower power consumption, and more tasks handled by the chip--all for the sake of portable devices.
Some of the better, ultra expensive DACs, like those from Audio Note, and the Reference level music servers from NAIM, use chips that are 20 years old or so. |
A great start would be to read the instructions for the streamer and the software before using it and then complaining on an internet forum.
+1 |
A great start would be to read the instructions for the streamer and the software before using it and then complaining on an internet forum. |
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Check out under reviews what 8 consider by far the best dac out there at its price and far above at $2750 the New Lampizator Amber 3 . Even before NOS tubes sounds great !! http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/ |
“No streamer matched my Luxman D08u. Period”
LMAO!!!!! The folks with ‘absolute’ statements, like they have tried all the top tier Streamer / DAC on the planet. |
Are you level matching with an spl meter between sources ?????? Louder is better |
I owned the D2, as well as several good dacs if you truly want to hear realism check out. The new Lampizater Amber-3 dac it has a lot of trickle down technologies from their top gear for $2750
with tube rectifier and 2 other tubes it is more musically involving then my $6k ps Audio dac they give you I think two weeks to check it out. I bought the demo model after a 24 hr settling in
itis a keeper. One of the Best Buy’s in all of Audio !! |
No streamer matched my Luxman D08u. Period |
Some CD players can sound pretty good, either as transports into DAC or using their own DAC section. The simple answer to the OP is that the DAC of the CDP is sounding better to him than the DAC in the streamer. End of mystery
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You need to try ripping a few CDs and playing those through the Lumin. You will then have a much better test. |
I owned some Muse gear many years ago. It was superb, even with the stock power cord ;-).
I have not owned a Lumin, but I stream my own library and also Qobuz through an Auralic Aries G1. The sound of my own library streamed is first-rate, at least as good (some friends think better) than a CD through a Simaudio transport. I find the Qobuz sound variable, though I am puzzled why. It sometimes is as good as local files, but last night, I played the same track both from Q and from my own library, and the local source sounded better (more "there").
If you have a local music library, how does that sound, streamed through the Lumin? Unless you can compare that to the CD player, you have too many variables to figure out what’s going on.
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T2 is in a whole another league than the D2 |
To Larryi, I am streaming Tidal, MQA when available. Regarding this, I am not noticing much of a difference between 16/44 and MQA through the Lumin and the old CD player sounds better than both. Maybe this is indicative of a problem with how I am using the Lumin? I have not ripped any CDs, I avoided the need to do that by buying the Muse. |
How are you actually retrieving the music? Are you using a streaming service or retrieving files from some storage device? Did you rip your CDs, and if so, have you compared the rip to playback from your CD player? I ask because I've heard plenty of crap sounding albums from streaming services, even those claiming CD quality.
Everything counts in audio. How everything is connected up matters. I don't use WiFi for anything audio (except to control devices via a iPad), so I don't know if it degrades the sound, but, that certainly is a possibility. One of the dealers in my area, hates USB connection, another thinks that having really high quality ethernet connections count a lot. |
Any thoughts about an upgrade to the T2? What does it do better than the D2? |
Thank you for the comments. To Audiotroy, I just did a plug n play with the Lumin, did not play with a set up menu nor do I know how. Is it in the Lumin app? I am using Wi-Fi, cannot direct connect with Ethernet. I am using the stock power cable. I am running Roon but when I first set it up was using the Lumin app and set the volume all the way up but found it less harsh with the Lumin volume set to 3/4, but this was before burn in. I can go back and turn it up all the way. |
He who laughs last laughs best. 🤡
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"...changing to one of the new AQ power cables and a set of Isoacoustics footers." LOL!!! |
It has nothing to do with the switched mode power supply. The Lumin D2 actually sounds quite warm and should have far greater resolution than the old Muse Cd player.
A couple of questions: Have you played with the Lumins setup menu and tried the transoding to DSD function? The Lumin D2 sounds much warmer playing DSD files are you using the Lumin’s volume control?
Are you using a good power cable and ethernet cable? These make a very noticable improvement.
We would recommend you try the tips mentoned above, if you are still unhappy you can use the digtial output of the D2 into a warmer dac, the Ifi DSD pro is warmer, the Aqua Hifi La Voice is warm as well.
Also you can get a bit more warmth by changing to one of the new AQ power cables and a set of Isoacoustics footers.
Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ Lumin dealers |
I had the same problem where the streamer without DAC that I bought cannot match the SQ of my SACD player. Streamer USB output was connected to USB DAC input of SACD player. I compared playing ripped files inside streamer SSD vs SACD player playing discs. My own reasoning - CD/SACD player has very short signal path internally, and a good player has very good power supply.
Since then, I have learnt a lot about computer audio that my DIY streamer SQ can match the SACD player SQ. But this is a different topic, best discussed in Computer Audiophile forum, not here.
FYI Lumin D2 uses internal switching mode power supply. |
If your Lumin is connected by WiFi you could try an ethernet cable and see if that helps. If your Muse has a digital in connection you could try bypassing the Lumin DAC and having the DAC in the Muse do the D/A conversion.
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