Does Lumin x1 needs a dac ? does a good dac will improve it ?


Hi,

I have lumin x1 and metronome cd player. Most of the time I hear music by using lumin and tidal and I'm less using my cd player.

I'm a bit confused to decide if i have to add a DAC to my system, will it improve the sound of my lumin or not ? It defiantly will improve the sound of my cd player, but because I'm less using it I'm in a confused situation to decide. 

If it will improve my wonderful lumin sound too This  may convince me to buy a new DAC.

If it's important i have a vivid kaya 45 speakers, i have a CAT JLE 5 amp, lumin X1, metronome cd and Plinius pre 

Thanks for everyone.

Haim.

128x128haimr

@haimr,

It was not clear to me how many approximate playing hours you have on your X1.  I have more DACs than good sense.  They all present music a bit differently but I really like the X1.   In my experience, the X1 needs substantial playing time to settle in.  In my system I found at 200 hours the unit was consistently better, and even more so at 400 hour mark.  

The X1 is a streaming DAC and is not configured to accept digital inputs from a CD transport or player.  

It also was not clear to me if you are using the Lumin App to access Tidal or perhaps using in conjunction with a server and player like Roon?  If the latter, what do you use to serve Roon Core?  I do not utilize Tidal, but do use Qobuz.  I find sound presentation is somewhat more transparent with Lumin App, but I often use Roon for the broadly developed landscape options and convenience.

You indicate you have a Plinius preamp--a well regarded company. You can experiment with the X1 going directly to your amp, bypassing the Plinius, by using Leedh Processing option with the X1.  I have used my X1 with preamps and also with Leedh, which really is very good.  

Best

 

 

   

 

 

 

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