2. digital
  3. 184427-170518

Lumin U2 mini vs Mac laptop sound test

I compared and performed a blind test for a listening friend of the following streamer set ups.

1. Router hard wire into Lumin U2 then AES into DAC

2. Wifi into Mac air, out of Mac air via cheap USB cables from my printer and an adapter to go from USB C to whatever USB termination goes into the DAC.

Conclusion.  My friend could not hear a diff.  I "think" I hear a difference but not confident I could pass a blind test. 

Rest of system:

SPL Director DAC/Preamp

SPL S1200 power amp

Kirmuss speaker cables 

Audio Solutions Figure M

I did this for knowledge and fun.  Please let me know any thoughts but I can not see how spending a lot of money for a streamer makes any sound difference. 

John

Love this stuff

johnah5
lanx0003
652 posts
 

I lost track of posts in between but seems you conclude your experiment with 180 degree turn and come back to the senses. You could keep the streamer now. Congratulate.

johnah5 OP
218 posts
 

@lanx0003 

Yes!  The main finding for me was how close it was from a really "bad" source to almost 2,000 x better source!

ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
2,834 posts
 

I replaced a Node with a U1 mini and it was a noticeable improvement.

Post removed 
sisserman
8 posts
 

I’ve done a similar test…..   no difference !   Ughhhhh

I have a decently resolving system :
Wilson wp6 speakers

pass labs xa 25 amp

Lampizator golden atlantic dac

Lumin u2 mini, node 2, Mac mini  

Preamps Benchmark hpa4 and Prima Luna dialogue w new tubes

I am starting to believe all of these fancy reviewers on YouTube are completely biased in their reviews. I love how they wax poetic about this dac versus this streamer, and in the end, not much difference when I listen . Whenever one of them says the difference is minimal, I know what that really means, the difference isn’t there. I have spent way too much money trying different fancy gear only to find minimal difference.   Even fancy Dacs are surprisingly close. My lampi certainly does not destroy my cheap topping dac.  But, I can hear a difference and I can pick it out in a blind direct AB test every time. Put me in a room and ask me which dac is playing, not so easy.      
 

good stuff!
 

 

 

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