The Lumin U2 Streamer Review VS EverSolo, Bluesound and MINI!
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#HiFi #Audiophile @music
Written Review: www.stevehuffp...
Instagram: @stevehuffofficial
Today I talk about my experience with the $5,000 Lumin U2 Streamer. Are high end streamers worth it? In this one I compare the U2 to the Mini version as well as lower cost options such as the EverSolo DMP-A6 and Node.
I also share a sneak peak at a new DAC that is pretty amazing. I hope you enjoy this audio HiFi Review of the Lumin U2 digital music Streamer!
Enjoy!
Media Contact/Review Contact: stevehuff1@icloud.com - วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี
I have a Lumin U2 mini and it sounds great in my system and has great app. I upgraded from the Node 2. The U2 mini is connected to a Holo Audio Spring 3 KTE.
I love the way you use words like magical, over and over again. "More magicality with every note. Magical feel to the texture of the magical sounding wow factor of magical details of magic." Great work. 👍
It would be interesting to test Holo Red streamer with i2s.
To make your chanel interesting for average Joe as well:
Could please you do a comparison review between the Eversolo and Cambridge CXN streamer?
Thankyou.
if possible please review the Node X with new dac.
Got my Eversolo DMP-A6 this week for £725.00 including TAX, WOW !!! stunning, I stream Amazon HD Music through my Chord Hugo TT2 DAC , then my Michi x3 Amp and Bowers and Wilkins 804 D4 speakers, it is way cleaner and wider than the outgoing SoundNode ! I did get a 512GB SSD for it, but I cannot seem to find where to enable the SSD, as the unit still only shows 32GB which is the built-in ROM. Would be nice to know how to enable the extra storage...
You have to format the drive and name it and when you do name it that gives the best clue to finding the drive in the appropriate place. This could have been explained a bit better in the Eversolo manual I felt.
Viewed the Eversolo reviews. Cool! I just ordered a new Bluesound Node X. That unit should be a a great upgrade from the Model 3. When will you be reviewing the Node X?
Sorry about the Moles... Love the review... I do have a different experience with the Lumin App (via my U1Mini & S-Booster) than you, My wife said it best... on a larger Tablet all the data is always on the screen, no hidden pages, Sure Roon gets you more information ( at a cost ) but even on a phone the logic behind the Lumin app is fantastic. It's got my non techy wife streaming, listening & most importantly enjoying more music, what more can I say ! Thanks for a fun and very enjoyable review ! Oh and totally agree with the Weiss Dac204... it's a killer Period, not just an amazing value!
In 2023 I find incredibile that expensive hi-end stuff like the Lumin, adopts a cheap, low-res, monochrome display.
In an ideal world it shouldn't have a display at all.
Less noise, bro.
@@napoleonlesparg8352 another audiophile myth.
Nobody is going to sit close to the unit. At a distance. Monochrome is the easiest to read.
@@oysteinsoreide4323 And cheaper. Much cheaper.
Do you think that music sound better on a CD player than streaming ? Some people says CD format still sounds better. Thanks!
It's getting very close. The convenience of streaming makes it the compelling option now.
Would have been nice if you'd thrown the "master edition" of the eversolo in the mix.
I have the Eversolo A6 connected via usb to a Gustard R26 running Roon. The combination sounds incredible.
Is it any better than inbuilt stream r26 has , given the usb port is not that great on r26?
Thank you very much for spending your time with LUMIN U2. Really glad you decided to keep it in your system. Enjoy!
Hope it is an “arms length transaction” so that his integrity remains in tact…
@@ptg01 We only knew about this review when we saw it pop up on TH-cam!
i think its great you replied@@luminmusic
Eversolo still has the advantage of non-Sata SSD storage though which in theory could/should sound better than regular streaming.
The thing with Lumin is product casework, display and app havent changed much in years. App def needs updating to stay in the game imo
No they are not. Let's remember these are streamers, they stream music from the Internet. Before it comes to our ears it needs to pass through the amp and speakers/headphones, at least. Both of those color the sound more than any half-decent quality streamer would.
I would love to see a comparison with thr Wiim mini
15k streamer = Magical.
Wiim = not Magical
Why don’t you create a leader board or a category set and move the products up and down the leader board
You can use price value quality or create several such ‘boards’
He would rank them by price. Don’t have any illusions that he wouldn’t rank them that way.
I’m curious if going from a Bluesound to Eversolo to an even higher price is worth it when using AirPlay? Is AirPlay a type of bottleneck?
U1 and Eversolo have similar specs. DMP-A6 and Bluesound Node X have similar parts (Arm CPU, Ess DAC). On paper they should all sound great. Will spending 5X more enhance my listening enjoyment 5X? I do know I would be $4K poorer. A fairer comparison might be with Lumin T3 (w. DAC). A direct signal path between streamer and internal DAC should sound better than extra data overhead, transmitters, etc. IMO.
Glad you compared it a little to the Grimm MU1 👍🏻
Grimm MU1 is alot better no?
Would you consider reviewing Esoteric N-05XD?
Loving my Wiim mini. Hugh upgrade from bluetooth ran from my Iphone 7.
You have done PS Audio Airlens review...in your opinion, what's the comparison between Airlens vs Lumin U2?
Just got into streaming..Wiim pro 😊
Thank you for a nicely balanced review. How would you say the combination between a BlueSound Node N130 and RME adi-2 dac FS would be compared to the EverSolo DMP-6 Master Edition?
Throw the Wiim pro into the mix with an external DAC.
Why? The Wiim pro is ok for a budget player but is overall meh.
@@YouSoundButtHurt Really ? Obviously, it is for the budget minded folks... Get a WiiM Pro at $150, pocket several thousands in the bank !!! Depends on priorities.
great!!! @@ptg01
@@ptg01is the new wiim pro plus better
Did you purchase a pair of Focal Diablo Utopia Colour Evo? What is your main speakers right now?
제가 eversolo A6 를 쓰다가 lumin u2 로 바꿨는데, 1초만에 차이를 느낄 정도로 lumim u2가 좋았어요. 더 섬세하고 다이니믹하고...사실 비교가 안 될 정도로 차이가 많이 납니다.물론 eversolo A6 의 6인치 lcd 창과 wi-fi 가 가능한 점은 분명 이점으로 작용은 하지만 음질은 비교가 안되요...
Is the app buggy or just not overly impressive? I only want to use it with Tidal Connect.
i recently had the opportunity to audition an Aurender N30. This unit sounded exactly as your description of the Lumin and i had a similar experience as you did. Those little sounds that come out of nowhere and realistic sounding instruments. This is a 25k streamer and way out of my budget. I,m hoping to find something that will deliver close to the same experience under 10k. Any thoughts about the Innous Pulsar? Front end is very impactful i have learned. currently using the internal streaming of my Bricasti Design M23 DAC
Did you try the LEEDH volume control? Just curious an upgrade to the Node in front of a GaN1
LEEDH works great, been running a LUMIN streamer straight into an amp for a while now. Don’t miss a preamp at all.
Another rad review! Hey, maybe I missed it quite a few videos back, but do you still have the Fleetwoods?
The weiss dac seems intresting. I had the Gustard A26 on my top 3 list but now this might be a contender.
i also interesting im looking at R26 on my list haha, but love to hear about the weiss
@@VGG_1997 look for the comparison review of iiWi. The A26 is more bones while the R26 is more detail.
The thumping from his subwoofers is like a mating call for them! 😀
How does the Hifi rose compare to the lumin?
루민 u2 >> 에버솔로 a6...둘다 써봄
I use a Roon Nucelus for streaming Quboz and Tital. Would love to hear your take on this set up.
Wiim Pro -> Marantz 2238 -> Sony SS-G1 III all with cheap Dynavox cables all less than 1000$ for Amazing sound, really don't need to spend more.
I’ve heard a Wiim Pro in my system, it’s really decent. A LUMIN streamer is substantially better, not even close and it will only take you a few seconds to hear the difference.
@saturdayboy4454 did you use the internal dacs in both streamers? Or are you comparing the units as a transport only using a 3rd party dac?
how would you rate streamer and DAC contribution to the sound percentage wise? how much percent the streamer affects the sound? and how much precent a DAC affects the sound ?
50/50. Together u will find it out
My take on that, but from a wider perspective. Speakers 90%. Pre-amp 5%. Power amp 3%. DAC 1%. Streamer 1%.
Streamer and DAC are 100% of the sound if you're listening to a stream from it and decoding it from the DAC.
If you only have one power amp, that is also 100% of the power amp you're listening to.
I understand the angle your question is trying to take. The point of my answer is that everything is critical if it's part of the signal. If you bottleneck in one area or insert equipment with lesser fidelity in one spot it will propagate through the system and to your ears.
There are pragmatic choices to make in this hobby, but there are no real cheap shortcuts.
Nuance is everything when you take your listening beyond casual background playing.
@@erics.4113 I'm suggesting the bottleneck is almost always the speakers, and hardly ever the DAC or streamer.
@@erics.4113 Very well explained. That's why I'm saying 50/50. Even the balanced cables have in my system a huge effect. If I put in a Kimber or Nordost or Wireworld the sound changes. It's always what you like best but some cables for example Kimber carbon just blocks alot of nuances that you will miss out, and I'm talking about a 1k cable.... Same with USB cable a ansuz d2 made my system from Lumin to ta dac 200 sound more natural with finer details.
I'm wondering if the Lumin U2 ($5,000) with a Chord TT2 is close enough to the Grimm Audio MU1 ($13,000) with the TT2.
I’d imagine certain dacs are better at re clocking and are galvanically isolated better than others so it’s a fair question. I find my Hugo tt1 cleans up m a bad usb source quite well
of course he'd say the most expensive one sounds best. It fits in line with the rest of his system.
🙂
lumin vs the master 6a an do you consider sonusfaber v an sonusfaber two's highin
$7k would you choose U2 and Weiss or cheaper streamer and DAC200?
Is the U2 have galvanic isolation on Digital Coax output?
My next project will be Raspberry PI with some isolation/upgrades, coupled with a Yamaha RX700/old re-capped and cleaned up Pioneer. Delivering 1's and 0's that you already pay for to a multi-thousand glorified wi-fi receiver with a snazzy (first to fail) screen seems a bit...well...you do you.
I did enjoy the almost-Anne Rice style exposition of breadth and depth and clean richness and height and oh the glorious deliciousness of the vibrant succulent highs and clear black depths of the soundstage being all around! All, from 1's and 0's...unless your devices are deliberately altering the music "stream" via post processing, which is highly probably, given industry's desire to mine what is "popular" to the current ear holes! So, you get an upthumb for hyperbole alone :)
One can emulate that in PI :)
Or get a fire stick and Plex. Done for less than $50.
@@theoracleprodigy not nearly as versatile, but TY! It’s a matter of learning softwares, hardware, and a little bit of fab.
Oh…wait. Skills be waycisssixt?
@@jonsays3762 or more versatile depending on how you look at it. Plex will stream 4k atmos movies. Then apps will stream any other content you want including many music apps.
Great review on hi end digital streaming!
If all digital - 10101010... Why not use the basic' simple not expensive streamer ? (As a Transport only )
Someone please….
It would have to be the user interface surely, since a digital transport that lacks a DAC cannot realistically have any affect on sound quality unless it adds artificial colouration (such as scooping the mids).
Reduce noise interference is one of the keys helping improve the sound quality.
@@yenchen9387 - while that’s true of analogue, the whole use case of digital data is that it’s noise proof. In digital the data is made up of a sequence of 0s and 1s. The noise would have to be so great that it would exceed the difference between the -and + voltages that represent those two states… which is highly unlikely unless the data is transmitted along a lengthy cable of poor quality.
I'm weary of all niche streamers. Fast forward a couple of years and the app and/or firmware is outdated. BTW those are not audiophile moles.
What’s about Aurender streamer?
Very happy with Aurender N-150
I think if you can hard wire your streamer to a fiber optic connection a Bluesound Node is just fine. Mine is. Making it struggle with a wireless signal from a cable modem is bound to cause trouble.
How do you hardwire a node to fiber, it doesn't have a sfp?
@@Pete.across.the.street Cat 6e cable from the optical interface.
Great review, now I am a little confused I was about to run out and purchase an eversolo a6. Now the vivid description of the Lumin U2 appear to align with my taste. I am still only a CD user through my naim equipment. Oh the choices🥴🎵🎵👍
Here here. The U2 was on my radar and then it wasn't. The EverSolo A6 then got on my radar and now after seeing this review I'm back on U2. I really want Esoteric N-03T but that is now getting old and I suspect there will be a new streaming transport coming soon. I'm currently using a Sony PS3 for Spotify connect and it sounds stunning.
My Lumin U1 Mini has been the best buy and the best impact on my system.
The sfp port on the U2 makes it totally worth it. Much better connection than ethernet.
@@Pete.across.the.street How so? Don't be conned by audio marketing. With SFP you have a double phase transition that you don't have with ethernet....electrons, to photons, back to electrons....and that exposes you to a jitter process. Unless you have a very long ethernet cable run avoid that phase transition and the jitter and stick to electrons.
@@brodricj3023 it cleans noise from the signal. I have two Cisco meraki 220 switches tried cascading them with both fiber and ethernet. The sound stage was much more vast when i used fiber.
I already have the Lumin U1... thinking the upgrade to the U2 wont be that significant..
Is it worth upgrading from u1 mini to a u2 mini
Thank you. I’d give the 2 Innuos Phoenixes a go in your lovely system.
Do you think the Master Edition Eversolo DMP-A6 @ $1299.99 is worth the price difference?
Excelente revisión, la sentí tan verdadera como mi devoción hacia mi humilde pero maravilloso LUMIN U1 Mini.
The best streamer ever, and is the reference for a lot of audiophile is the DCS Network bridge, not the newest, but by far the best.
It isn't though; the world has moved on massively since the Bridge was made. It can't compete with modern streaming solutions. And yes, I have owned one.
@@johnratcliffe6438 DCS is upgrading all the time their products, this is why they keep a discrete tastful and faithful clients. But I wish you the best going to other brands and finding your happiness anywhere lol.
@@johnratcliffe6438 the DCS Rossini sounds very nice.
Eversolo is ever out of stock.
A comparison to the other Eversolo devices could be interesting as well 🤗
Hey, I'm looking to buy a DAC, and I can't decide between the Lumin D2, and the Denafrips Pontus II. I'm listening exclusively to Qobuz, through Roon. What're your thoughts on the quality of the DAC of the Lumin vs the Denafrips?
Both great choices. Another great choice of DAC is the Gustard R26. Lots of great reviews for that R2R DAC. Happy hunting for your DAC.
Which did you ended up getting, the lumin d2 is a dac/streamer and was recently replace by the d3 I’m in the same boat looking at the gustard 26 or Pontus ii or a use lumin d2 which would be the better buy
Hope you try the new Holo Audio Red streamer as Golden Sound measured that it had the lowest ever jotter and is under $1k. I have one and it's great.
What's jotter?
In today's modern movement it has been deemed that Jitter offends some. Hence jotter.
Do any of these streamers "support" Amazon Music HD, or better yet, have Amazon Music direct integration, like Wiim Pro?
Jamie are you using the A 6 dac section if so how does it compair
@@jamiermathlin Does Eversolo play Amazon music files bit-perfect? i.e. no need to manually change bit/kHz to match the bit/kHz of Amazon music file? Also preserves your Amazon music playlists?
HOW SIMILAR TO INNOUS?
what delta sigma processor is in the weiss dac204?
Will you do a review of the T+A MP 200? I'm interested to know how it stacks up.
hi I’m using Michi x3, do you suggest connect eversolo dmp a6 via digital and use michi’s dac? What’s the best digital output, usb, coax or optical? Or do you recommend I should use eversolo have better amp I should analog connect to Michi?
An even more efficient thing would be to connect the Finnish genelec ones to the 83xx series either as digital directly, or analog but turbo boosted with the HQ Player app version 4-5 via a computer rather than directly using a speed rocket to audio stars. This isn't some children's hi-fi, but the best thing in the world right now if you're lucky enough to realize it.
try them all and see which you like best.
Hi there, can u please review the new EverSolo DMP-A8 streamer / DAC / Preamp?
I did, the day it launched. It’s on this channel.
Have you heard Antipodes CX $6k streamer with HQPlayer and NAA?
The Statement is also a server and has a built in CD ripper. It’s not just a streamer.
The Eversolo is also a CD ripper.
@@iswardi_lives innuos is a cd ripper built in not the eversolo
He has amazing speakers and amplification. An iPhone dongle would sound amazing.
Any experience with Auralic?
Very pleased with my Auralic Aries G1
Clocks. That's how, it's all in the timing.
thats why the usb port works so well
What about CXN V2 ?
What about it?
Damn that Aavik design is sexy.
Maybe... for now no streamer $$$. DACs are in the speakers $$$. Don't even see them. So lots of 3D room... even for upgrade.
But three different active speakers switched back & forth, day by day, by clicking a piece of software. U can here the difference, they are not the same.
Added software like Audirvana is a fun upgrade, it's up sampling with various options before the DACs.
The different of price are huge.
It’s normal that Lumin sound best.
Who is the US rep?
I was wondering how long the DMP-6A hype would last. Not even a month? LOL
Exactly 😂😂
7 months later, your comment didnt age well did it?
there is also the linn klimax streamer. i don't like DSD, nor high up sampling rates. All the top Recording studios do not even use DSD nor do they use high up sampling rates . DSD has problems with frequency noise distortions, unlike PCM 44.1 or 24/96. DSD is not classed as the top tier for sound quality. You need to try some of ATC's pairs of 3 way active crossover SCM ASL DYNAMIC loudspeakers. You are not going to get the level of the music's presence or lifelike presence or dynamics with normal passive loudspeakers like you have tried and used and tested or own . About the LUMIN, there is absolutely nothing inside it's elaborate outer case work to justify it's high ticket price. It has just a basic transformer in sealed compartment, and a smallish uncomplicated and basic surface mount circuitry pcb board, which does not justify it's admission cost, and especially against the cost of their own competing new U2 mini streamer .
Is it worth upgrading from a u1 mini to u2 mini
Why do these devices rely on wired connections 😮
How does this compare with Aurender N 200 ?
Aurender doesn't do ROON, so for many of us it's a no go.
Thanks
That cat must be broken, it is supposed to catch the moles. Lol get more cats
Lol........ I was thinking the same thing.
The kitty is probably overwhelmed
Thanks
It’s basically a radio pulling in music that plugs into a dac that does the conversion. That’s all. Spend your cash elsewhere. The WiiM mini is the “last bit of magic” you need.
I've owned a few old radios and some of them sucked, some were fabulous.
In your system it may not change anything. You need a bit better resolving system to appreciate a better streamer.
lots of shills for the Wiim mini.
It is digital (streaming). This has nothing to do with radio. It is about deliviring the cleanest signal and synchronisation with the dac.
@@YouSoundButtHurt That's because it's awesome
You would have loved Wadia.
I still have the Wadia di322 dac and the a340 mono amps. This with a Aurender N-200 i love to listen to it every day 👍
Pi2AES for the win!
U2 Mini + LPS Converter Kit = U2 and save thousands.
Hmm... Maybe 95% of U2?
No I don’t think so
Not even close.
Anyone heard both?
@@AudiolandCH I doubt johnratcliffe6438 or waiyeung7501 have heard any of them kek
Looking for a dedicated streamer. Lumin U2 or the HiFi Rose?
U2 is alot better
Very happy with Aurender N-150
Lumin is far superior in audio and the app is absolutely amazing and stable.
Is it worth upgrading from u1 mini to a u2 mini
U2 Looks like a winner except- No rip or storage capacity. Inferior Music system unless you go with Roon which then degrades the SQ.
Better to wait for the Final Solution!
Roon degrades SQ. And I am the Pope.
Adding an SSD for storage or a library is easy.
I've heard this often. Apparently Audirvāna does a much better.
Why does roon degrades the SQ
5000 for any digital component is lunacy.
Hardwiring the rj45 connector to a modem is the best improvement. I will say it cost $350 to have Cat6E cable run from my optical interface to a jack behind my system.
@Offshore are you taking about connecting your modem with your streamer with a Cat6 cable instead of using WIFI? A 20 ft Cat6 cable will only cost you $10
@@Eric-lh6wp Yep with a 6 foot Cat 6e cable.
@@reestyfarts do you notice a big improvement in sound quality when using a cable instead of WIFI ?
@@Eric-lh6wp I do with a Node. But I also ran LPS , dual fiber cascaded switches, and ifi ethernet filter
You should probably have a Dermatologist check out that problem you’re having in your yard.
Streamers still have that digital glare like early cds!
Have you tried Optic Fibre network into a LUMIN streamer?
Worth trying to get a demonstration if you can.
INNUOS is not a streamer it’s a server that can stream
Can innuos be use as a roon core
TLDR: NO
it's all splitting hairs
That’s why they’re all gone
5k streamer and no WIFI 😢
You buy IFI ZEN Stream for 300$ and you get WIFI + LAN
If you can get it to work. Sent mine back after much frustration. Now using a Mercury V2 running RoPieeeXL. Rock solid, plays everything I throw at it. And the RoPieee developer is always improving on the software.
I think it's for the same reason high end amps don't have Bluetooth. They view WiFi as noisy and inferior overall. So if you're buying a $5k streamer when you can buy a Wiim for $90, it's about ultimate sound quality, not convenience features that could (or do) detract from quality.
Hardwired or go home. imo.
Wifi lo-fi
@@Pete.across.the.street no wifi very lo fi
This is laughable.
Why?
@@bigblueocean
Because this review is claiming there is a difference between digital and digital.
What the reviewer geezer is saying is that the WiiM with its independently tested and confirmed bit perfect S/PDIF output is somehow a less capable digital transport in sonic terms than the more expensive units when using an external DAC.
let's just process this for a moment: bit perfect digital output vs ??? is less capable of transferring ones and zeros...
Amirn
@@pauln6803you may have all the bits, but how about the clock? Jitter is real, and doesn't require missing bits, only variations in timing.
You should pack a Wiim up and go to a dealer and swap it out for high end streamer and try it.
👏👍🙏❤️
The Node is a shockingly bad sounding streamer; practical to use yes, audiophile no.
Node doesn't sound bad in anyway. Your comment is just pretentiousness.of course there's better but bad sounding is a STRETCH. One needs HIGHLY resolving system to hear these subtle differences-improvements. Most people don't have those type of systems and don't need more than a Node, Wiim Pro, Rasberry Pie, or any other budget streamer.
@@miquifaye "HIGHLY resolving system" is another bullshlt thrown around lightly these days. Most of modern hi-fi is hi-res and "high resolving" yet it doesn't need to cost the new car or a mortgage deposit.
Darko reviewed the Node X. Maybe head over there.
Please translate in french!! Thank😅😊
Unsubscribed when he said Spotify😂
Don't underestimate what Spotify can do. I have Esoteric Grandioso D1X and C1X and Magico M3. Spotify sounds absolutely stunning with this top flight hardware, even when streaming from a Playstation PS3.
@@brodricj3023 That’s Steve’s opinion and you can disagree with it… After all, sound and music are so subjective.
@@ptg01 Didn't he say Spotify can sound fabulous? I'm saying it can sound stunning. Same same.