delicate and sweet with fairy lumin X1
Liu Hansheng
specifications:
Lumin X1
Product type
Power separation network music player
Launch time
2018
Input terminal
SFP fiber × 1, Ethernet network × 1
output terminal
RCA × 1, XLR × 1, BNC × 1, USB × 1
Use DAC chip
ESS Sabre 9038 Pro×2
maximum compatible specification
DSD512, PCM 768kHz
maximum upscaling specification
DSD128, PCM 384kHz
appearance size (WHD)
350×60×345mm
weight
8 kg
What does Lumin mean? AV fans all know that it is lumen, which is the unit of light output. But audio fans don't think so. They know that Lumin is a brand that specializes in online streaming players. In 2013, it launched its first online music player A1. Since the appearance of A1 is too similar to Linn, it also caused a lot of speculation at that time. In fact, Lumin is not a company that makes copycat products. Their parent company is Pixel MagicSystem Ltd. It was established as early as 2003 and specializes in betting on video products. When digital TVs became popular, MagicTV set-top boxes were also launched. By around 2010, they also saw the future position of streaming in audio and video, so they started to develop online music players.
focuses on online music player
Since 2013 to the present, most of Lumin's products adhere to the appearance of A1, and the interior is also constantly upgraded based on A1. Currently, Lumin's top online music player is X1, and down to S1, A1, and T2, and the cheapest one is D2. Such a model name is quite easy to remember. The network Transport (without DAC) has two parts: U1 and U1 Mini. There is only one expansion machine, which is called Amp. Another one is a network player with an expander, called M1. Finally, there is a Network Music Library, which is actually the network server L1. Among these products, even the cheapest D2 is guaranteed to meet the requirements of most people. Therefore, if you don’t have too much money, buying D2 is enough to listen to music. Of course, if you are a particularly picky person, then of course you must not buy X1.
Since 2017, all Lumin products have been compatible with MQA, Roon, Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, AirPlay, and TuneIn. The supported music file formats are almost all included. In short, you must support all the ones you are using, so there is no need to list them in detail. As for the operation method, it is even simpler. Just connect the router, NAS, download and control the app, and you can control it on your iPad, mobile phone or computer. Generally, I am used to using the iPad to control it. For products like this, you will of course "can't let go" after using them. The appearance of
X1 is the same as the previous generation flagship S1. The box is cut from a whole piece of aluminum alloy, the panel is obliquely upward, and there is only one display window in the center, and there is no other.
whole aluminum excavation
X1 was launched in 2018. The body size and method are the same as S1. They are dug out of a whole aluminum excavation, and they are also separated from the power box. The method of digging out the box with aluminum blocks is currently the best, but the edges of the box of X1 feel sharp to the touch with your hands. It would be even better if it could be like Jeff Rowland and the edges were round to the touch.
If you want to talk about external differences, X1's external power supply is different from S1. Although X1 still uses two toroidal transformer , the filter capacitor and voltage stabilization have been changed, and the power connection line has also been changed from 8Pin to 9Pin. On the back panel, S1 originally had an HDMI terminal cancelled, and S1 originally had two USB slots changed to one. The biggest change is that the X1 has added an SFP fiber terminal, which may be the first audio equipment in the world to use SFP fiber. Inside, the space cutting distribution of X1 is exactly the same as that of S1, and is divided into two large blocks and two small blocks. The two large blocks are digital and analog lines each occupy one block; the two small blocks are a small block of display screen installation, and the other is a narrow and long starting line space, and the power cord is in this independent space.
If we start with specifications, the DAC chip has been changed. S1 uses 4 ESS9018s, while X1 uses 2 ESS ES9038 Pros. DSD changed from DSD128 of S1 to DSD512 in one breath.PCM is mentioned from 384kHz of S1 to 768kHz. With these data alone, you can know that X1 and S1 are completely different grades of products, and those who want to upgrade do not have to hesitate.
uses SFP fiber for the first time
Here we will first explain what SFP fiber is. Most of the optical fibers that audio fans come into contact with are TosLink plastic fibers, and the more advanced ones are ST fibers. These two optical fibers are all equipment that can be seen by digital sources. Let’s talk about optical fibers first. Generally, optical fibers are divided into single-mode fiber and multi-mode fiber. The transmission distance of single-mode fiber can be very far, reaching more than 10 kilometers, and the transmission distance of multi-mode fiber is about 500 meters. Therefore, no matter whether it is multi-mode fiber or single-mode fiber, there is no problem in audio transmission. Let’s talk about the transmitted light source, which is related to the transmission rate. The transmission rate of infrared light source is about 100Mbps, and the transmission rate of short-wave or long-wave laser light source is about 1000Mbps. If it is for audio, both are fine.
What is more special is the terminal. The so-called SFP actually refers to the type of terminal, not optical fiber. SFP is the abbreviation of Small Form Pluggable, which is the so-called Mini-GBIC (Giga Bitrate Interface Converter) fiber terminal, and uses dual fiber transmission. GBIC is a converter that converts digital signals into optical signals. The width of the Mini terminal is about the same as a small finger. A long small metal box is inserted on it and can be separated. Since there is a Mini, of course there are standard-sized GBIC terminals. This terminal is about the size of two Minis, and it is also transmitted in two optical fibers.
GBIC terminals are widely used in the fields of telecommunications and data communication. Whether it is Mini-GBIC or GBIC, their transmission effects are the same, but the former is more space-saving and can set up several more slots on the router Router, which is more convenient to use. Currently, most of what we see is Mini, which is SFP. The back panel of
X1 is retracted because the top panel extends very long back and covers the back panel very deeply. Although this looks good, it also increases the difficulty of connecting wires. X1 has RCA and XLR analog output terminals, Ethernet network input terminals, SFP fiber input terminals, as well as BNC output terminals and USB output terminals.
Long distance benefits
After talking for a long time, what are the benefits of X1 using fiber optic terminals on this telecommunications equipment? Don’t audio fans think that fiber optic cables are not as good as coaxial digital cables? The transmission of the audio does not take hundreds of meters or kilometers, but only one meter or two meters in a short distance. No! If it is a normal CD turntable to a digital analog converter, of course, only one meter or two meter is enough; what if it is from a router to a network player (such as X1)? Generally, routers and NAS will not be placed next to X1, and then a transmission line of more than ten meters will be required. At this time, SFP can play a role. Moreover, since optical fibers are not copper wires, they will not be magnetically induced, will not have electromagnetic interference, will not have RF interference, and will not transmit router noise to X1. These are all benefits.
Maybe you want to ask, do not general network players use RJ45 terminals, that is, Ethernet Ethernet terminals, and use Ethernet network line to connect to NAS or routers? Why not use X1? The X1 also has EthernetRJ45 terminals. If you don't want to use SFP, you can also use a general network cable to connect. It is no problem to transmit an Ethernet network cable of 100 meters, but Lumin believes that SFP fiber is more effective, so users recommend that they use it first.
Since X1 needs to use SFP fiber, the router on the home also needs to have SFP terminals. If not, you need to change to a router with SFP terminals. Or, buy another router with SFP terminals and connect the original router with a network line to the newly purchased router with SFP terminals, so that you can share it.
can automatically upscaling
. All the key points have been discussed, let’s take a look at X1. There is only a small display window on the panel of the X1, without any control buttons, and in fact, it is not necessary, because you just select songs or make settings on the Lumin App on the iPad. Everyone knows how to order songs on iPad. What settings should be made? In the App tool options, users can do various PCM to DSD or upscaling and downs. The DSD can be increased to 128 and PCM can be increased to 384kHz. You can choose Off, or customize, or choose from a variety of different specifications, or Native.In short, this function is for you to play, and you can use it if you think the setting is good. Some people also don’t like upscaling, thinking that virtual upscaling is not as good as Native. In short, each vegetable and radish has its own preferences, and the user decides it for himself.
When I come to the back panel, I have something to say. Lumin's design is like a French Devialet expander. Various terminals are squished inside the top cover. They look good in appearance, but it is not that easy to wire. Devialet can at least remove the last part of the top cover to facilitate connecting various terminals from above, while X1 is fixed, so it is impossible to connect the terminals from above, and it must be connected from directly behind, which causes some inconvenience. In addition, because the X1's box is very flat, it is not so easy for thick fingers to tighten the connection ring when connecting the 9 Pin power cord.
The backplane of X1 has one set of XLR and RCA analog outputs, one set of BNC digital outputs, one set of SFP fiber input terminals, one set of Ethernet terminals, and one set of USB Type A terminals, but there is no Type B terminal. This means that users cannot connect NAS and X1 with USB cable. When using USBDAC, the USBType A terminal can not only be inserted into a portable disk, but also external hard disk, and can output digital signals. Therefore, although the number of terminals can be seen with the naked eye, there are all things that should be.
X1's USB digital output specification is compatible with Native DSD512, while PCM is 44.1-768kHz, 16-32bit. And that BNC digital terminal PCM is compatible with 44.1kHz-192kHz, 16-24bit, and DSD (DoP, DSD over PCM) is compatible with 2.8MHz.
uses output transformer
Open the bottom cover and you can see that the interior of X1 is hollowed out of a whole piece of aluminum. You can see two Swedish LundahlLL7401 output transformers at a glance, which is connected to the XLR analog output terminal. Using an output transformer for output coupling can not only block noise, but also perform impedance matching, which is a high-cost approach. In addition to using an output transformer, X1 also has an output buffer line, so the buffer stage has the voltage gain equal to 1, but the current gain can be improved, which has positive benefits for long-distance transmission of analog signals.
In addition to those two output voltages, the three heat sinks attached to the DSP are the most eye-catching. Because the command cycle is fast, the DSP chip without the heat sink will overheat, which is what everyone knows. Two ESS Sabre329038 Pro chips can also be seen, using one for each channel. This chip is an ESSPro-level flagship product. One chip has eight-channel DAC capabilities and can also be customized mono version or stereo version. It was originally designed for top-level home theater processors, with a dynamic range of 140dB and THD+N as low as 0.0004%. Now that a chip is used on one channel, its DAC conversion effect is of course better than when used on eight channels. The interior of
X1 is also hollowed out by a whole piece of aluminum. The two large isolation spaces are digital lines on one side and analog lines on the other. There is also a small display window in front of it, and the starting line position of the power cord is also hollowed out, which is already the top method.
femtosecond clock
X1 has another point, that is, the quartz oscillator, which is what we call the clock. X1 uses two, one for 44.1kHz system and the other for 48kHz system, and it uses the Crystek Femto level. Crystek is a famous quartz oscillator manufacturer in the United States. The so-called Femto is 10 to the power of minus 15, which is 0.000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,001. Usually audio fans will see the Femto Second unit, representing the accuracy of this clock. The lower the number of femtoseconds, the more accurate it means. X1 does not indicate femtoseconds, but as long as the femtosecond is hung, it is already accurate enough.
Then open the external power box and you can see that there are two toroidal transformers, filter capacitors, and voltage stabilization ICs inside, which are very neatly done. The power supply in the interior is divided into three groups, one group of left and right channel analog lines, and one group of digital lines and display window lines, completely separating analog and digital power supply.
must have an SFP router, NAS
Listen to the X1 venue in my open large space, and the equipment matched includes SpectralDMC30SS pre-level, direct access to ATCSCM100 ASL dual active speakers. Since my router does not have SFP fiber, the agent Zhiren simply sent their QNAP TS-251BNAS and QNAPQSW-804-4C routers for me to use.The connection method is very simple, using an Ethernet network cable to connect the home router and the QNAP router. Then use black SFP fiber to connect QNAP's NAS and router. Then connect an SFP dual-wire fiber from the QNAP router to the X1 backplane, so that the entire system connection is completed. Maybe you may wonder why two SFP fiber cables are used to connect? It turns out that the black single-line SFP fiber is connected to the photoelectric conversion head (card). If it is inserted into the SFP terminal of X1, the backplane space is too small and you cannot unplug the junction with your fingers, and the optical fiber will not be pulled down. Therefore, the SFP fiber connecting the router and X1 is used instead to use the wire that can disassemble the optical fiber.
When I was connecting to the router, NAS and X1, I couldn't connect successfully at the beginning. The display window of X1 showed the word NetworkError, indicating that the network was not connected, but I could see the music files in the NAS using LuminApp. I called the agent here, and followed his prompts to check the network connection method without any problem. Finally, he asked me to see if the connection display light on the router is normal. When I looked, I found that my Ethernet network cable was inserted into the router's slot 5, but the LED light at slot 5 did not light up, which means that the connection was not successful. If there was either the network cable or the notch contact was problematic. So I turned the network cable into slot No. 7. At this time, the LED light of No. 7 lights on, indicating that the network cable has been connected successfully, and X1 also plays music at the same time. It turned out that there was only a problem with the contact between the No. 5 notch of the network cable, so it would be normal to replace it with No. 7, which made me unable to solve it for a long time. This lesson tells us that troubleshooting often starts with the easiest place and don’t think too much.
Ethernet cable can also be used for
I first listened to the Ethernet cable, and then switched to SFP fiber to listen to it. After comparing, I found that there is no difference between the two that sounds good or bad. The sound of the Ethernet cable is thinner, softer, slightly sweeter, and the overall sounds are more delicate. After changing to SFP fiber, the volume sense of low frequency band, the tightness of low frequency increases, the power of the sound, the texture of the instrument's playing contact is comprehensively improved, and even the volume seems to be a little louder and the space feels bigger. Perhaps some audio systems will like softer and more delicate sounds; some audio systems will be more suitable for the latter, depending on everyone's needs and preferences.
When listening, I compared it with the USB DAC of WeissDAC502, COSD1, and emmLabs DAC2SE. Since my NAS and the NAS sent by Zhiren are both in the same domain, I can also use LuminApp to capture the music files in my own NAS. I am familiar with my music files, which helps distinguish the differences between them. The separate power supply of
X1 is also hollowed out by the whole aluminum material, with two toroidal transformers, filter capacitors and voltage stabilization ICs inside.
as delicate as velvet
At first I clicked the music file of Zhiren NAS and listened to the grand concerto in Linn's "24 bits for Christmas". The first shot scared me because I heard the delicate and sweetness of the string group and it was almost dripping honey. Its luster and brightness were very appropriate, and it felt fragrant. Such a meticulous and extremely fusion sounds very comfortable, as if the touch of velvet feels. Such a meticulous voice is even thinner than the three DACs I have in my hand. In addition to the meticulousness, there is also sweetness. The sweetness shown by the X1 is also very pleasing, similar to the kind that can be often heard on Naim and Linn machines. In addition, the string group sung by X1 can hear a subtle sense of fluctuation, and this lightness is a very sensitive machine that can only emit. If the string group can hear this subtle fluctuation, listening to violin , cello, string quartet should all have a high performance level.
Thinking of this, I found the second piano trio of (Pentatone record, Storioni Trio) to listen to it. I often listen to this song, and you will know the performance at first glance. X1 touched me very much because I heard the very beautiful violin, cello and piano. Especially for the cello, when it is gently played, the slight vibration of the strings can be presented so clearly, making the cello sound very real.The piano sound particles are not fat and swollen at all. They are very clever sound particles, and they are crystal clear and sweet, with rich overtones. You can clearly hear the long and subtle tail sounds of the piano sound particles in the recording space. As for the violin, it is even more slender and gentle, and it will not become hard even when it is pulled to the high notes, and it can still hear the soft texture. Finally, there are two more important manifestations, that is, the sound quality is beautiful and the harmony is beautiful. The SFP fiber used by
X1.
SFP optical fiber is connected to the photoelectric conversion card, which can be separated from the photoelectric conversion card.
Another type of SFP optical fiber, the wire body and the photoelectric conversion card are fixed and inseparable.
string soft details
Then I listened to Beethoven String Quartet No. 10 (Tokyo String Quartet). Like the Beethoven piano trio, the sound quality and harmony are beautiful, especially the beauty of harmony is too important. Why can X1 make such a beautiful harmony? I think it is caused by the extreme balance of high, medium and low frequency bands. Similarly, the sound of violin, viola , and cello is also very real, especially cello, which plays a key role here because it is the basis of low frequency. When it can show subtle string vibrations, it is equivalent to enriching the entire string quartet.
In addition to the above aesthetics, X1 also sang this string quartet very softly and elasticly. I believe that when many sound systems sing this string quartet, they will become stiffer and rougher, and cannot make soft and delicate sounds like X1. To be honest, just hearing X1's performance in Beethoven's piano trio and string quartet, it is already certain that X1 is very top-notch in terms of truth and beauty.
Cello Lost
I have listened to the piano trio and string quartet in succession, and a flash of inspiration in my mind found out JanosStarker's cello performance. I have heard people question why Starker's Baha accompaniment cello suite (Mercury version) is a fever film? He sounded hard and thick, and it was a bad sound at all. In fact, if you think about it with a little logic, you will know that the recording engineer cannot record the cello as thick and hard. If this is the case, the recording engineer may have gone home to eat himself. Even if the recording engineer records the cello as thick and hard, can Starker pass this level? Can the producer pass that level? So, when you also question Starker's Mercury version of Baha's a cappella cello suite, the meaning it actually represents is: your audio system has been fundamentally adjusted in the wrong direction and must be started over.
I won’t talk about the performance of X1 when listening to Baha’s a cappella, it’s a real woody cello. I want to talk about the listening experience of Starker's Bruch's "Even Prayer" and Tchaikovsky's "Rococo theme variation". After listening to it, I was more sure of the performance of X1 in terms of sound quality and fax, because the Starker sound I heard was soft and woody, not the rough and hard sound that many people heard. And when you reach the high range, the sound of the cello will taste sweet, which is the correct sound of the cello. The song "Even Prayer" I listened to is not a high-resolution music file, it is just 16/44.1, but it performs better than the CD or vinyl I've heard on many systems before. Of course, this song was converted from analog to digital file. After so many conversions, the digital file can still produce such real and charming sounds. It can be seen that numbers are not a sin, it is just that users did not send out the real bel canto of numbers. As for those who listen with vinyl, but their voices are not as good as those emitted by X1, we need to re-examine what went wrong. In theory, the sounds sung by vinyl should be better!
Clear and clear
Next, I played the "Live" live concert of Eivor. The first song is a song that everyone who buys DALI CD4 is familiar with (third song). Oh my God, the clear and transparent sound field seems to be able to see the bottom without any hiding, the low frequency is so clear, the echo of the space, the ending of the instrument, the singer's pronunciation and voice texture are also so clear.This performance is like the focus is adjusted repeatedly after the screen is enlarged, and all the blurred images that should not have been produced due to shaking are removed. Moreover, the strength and weakness of the sound sung by X1 is very prominent, making the whole music sound full of vitality and heat dissipate.
After listening to this live concert, I clicked out the DG Beethoven Symphony No. 9 (1963 edition) that directed Karayan . This sounded new discoveries. First, the string group can be heard more clearly, just like we tear the meat strips apart and see the fiber texture inside. Second, the music has a better sense of life, especially when playing very quietly, you can still feel the subtle changes in the performance strength. Third, the overall music feels quieter and more pleasing, as if an invisible comb has combed the sound. Fourth, listen more clearly when singing. It was normal for the chorus to be blurred in the chorus segments, because such a large chorus could not be recorded so clearly. Now that we use X1 to listen, we found that DG's recording engineer had already received complete radio, but our equipment was limited and could not be fully regenerated. Fifth, the sense of scale and space of the entire music has become larger, because you can hear more instruments and endings of vocals in the space.
Karajan's Beethoven Symphony No. 9 can be said to be from young to old. From the earliest I don't understand why people say this version is great. Whenever I switch to a better set of equipment, I will find that the recording effect in the middle is more mysterious. As I listened to it, Karajan's command is becoming more and more attractive. In fact, it is because the equipment is getting better and better, and more details are discovered and more correct regeneration is being discovered, so we are closer to the music performance that Karajan should have when recording. X1 undoubtedly brings me closer to the will of Karajan's command interpretation.
Janos Starker's Baja a cappella cello suite recorded on Mercury Records is a charming set, but what exactly do you hear of the cello is thick and hard without slight vibration? Or is it soft and woody, with a rich slight vibration? If it is the latter, congratulations. If it is the former, it means that the tone direction is incorrect.
The sound quality is so beautiful
Then I found Richard Strauss "Tangjikede" who was also directing the Berlin Philharmonic. The cello was played by Fourier, which was recorded in 1965. The Karajan version has been the version I like to listen to for a long time. Now I listen to it with X1. I find that the performance of the Berlin Philharmonic is more detailed and the sound quality is more beautiful, especially the sound of the cello is soft, soft and has a nasal sound. With such a beautiful sound effect, Fourier's performance is more charming. It can be said that X1 once again squeezed out the essence of this performance, just like a squeeze of olive oil. I think the X1 expresses the sound quality and details to the fullest here.
I have listened to two orchestral music conducted by Karayan in a row, and the climax in my ears continues to rise, so I should use some simple music to cool my brain down. I'll click 2V1G to listen. As soon as I heard the sound from X1, my brain started to operate again involuntarily, and the sound quality of the accompaniment guitar became better, softer, more elastic and more refreshing. The shape of the human voice is condensed and convex, and it will not be too large, which is a very correct manifestation.
Then find " If the cloud knows " of Xu Ruyun. Let’s listen to the last song of the album “The Sender”. I found that a few sounds were different from before. The first is that the narration at the beginning becomes clearer and the pronunciation is clearer. The second is that the accompaniment guitar is crisper and more elastic. The third is that the sound of the cello becomes more real and has a more woody smell. Fourth, Xu Ruyun's voice became younger and sweeter. In fact, the above differences are what makes X1 unique.
Is it enough to sing pop music low frequency enough? Please listen to the first song of this album "Suddenly Want to Love You". The low-frequency sound created by stepping on big drums and electric bass in it will definitely make you feel full and energetic. Isn't it enough? Listen to the third song "Only" and you will hear the medium and low frequency and low frequency that are very elastic, refreshing, and sufficient. Isn't it enough? Listen to the sixth song "One Role Show" again to ensure that you will be satisfied with the low-frequency performance of X1.The low-frequency volume of X1 is not the plump and rich like Dongpo pork, but the condensed and refreshing like pork neck (Matsusaka pork). Do you want a bunch of low frequencies but can't hear the texture of a bass instrument? Or do you want to hear the details that should be surfaced in the appropriate amount of low frequencies?
delicate and sweet with fairy
Lumin X1 is a great online music player. Its sound quality is very beautiful, the subtle musical details are amazing, the gentle string vibration or piano overtones are extremely rich, and the level of the violin is more delicate and tactful. The string instruments should have is not lacking in wood flavor and soft elasticity. The roundness and glory of wind instruments are very real, with super high resolution and a good sense of space. The only thing buyers want is, what exactly do you want the above voice? Or is it a rough and powerful sound that looks like a huge fist to the flesh? If you want a meticulous and sweet voice with fairy spirit, then it is it.
