Lumin D3 Network-Attached DAC

Lumin D3 Network-Attached DAC

Building on the sooner D2 platform, Lumin’s equally compact D3 mannequin includes a new processor, new DAC, LeedH quantity management and help for elevated file pattern charges

It’s not solely loudspeaker manufacturers enjoying the trickle-down expertise sport. Lumin’s D3, its new entry-level streaming DAC, borrows liberally from the Hong Kong producer’s costlier community {hardware}, utilising parts each inside and outside to impact a complete improve on the earlier D2 [HFN Jul ’20]. Its maker says the D3 ‘brings the audiophile potential of music streaming inside everybody’s attain’, and whereas the £2195 price ticket makes that considerably debatable, it actually has loads of enchantment.

Firstly, there’s the shape issue. The D3 – just like the D2 – measures a neat and tidy 30cm extensive and 24cm deep and might be lifted from its field with one hand. From that second on it continues to be straightforward to reside with, helped by a slick customized app that handles each management of music playback and configuration of {hardware} settings. A characteristic of all Lumin’s streamers, and lately adopted partly by Audiolab’s 9000N [HFN Mar ’24], it places another rival streaming apps to disgrace.

Platform Change

The D3 occupies the entry place in Lumin’s vary of community participant/DACs, beneath the £4195 T3 [HFN Apr ’23], £8995 P1 [HFN Jul ’22] and flagship X1, a two-box design with exterior PSU promoting for £11,495. It’s not the corporate’s most inexpensive possibility, nevertheless, that being the U2 Mini, a transport-only streamer obtainable for £1995. Lumin beforehand additionally bought an all-in-one streamer/DAC/amp, the M1, however this has been discontinued. There continues to be an influence amp possibility, rated at 2x160W/8ohm and named merely ‘Amp’, however at £10,995 and twice the scale it would not really feel like an ideal accomplice for the D3.

As regards adjustments carried out for this third-generation mannequin (the unique D1 arrived in 2015), it could be less complicated to stipulate what hasn’t modified. This consists of the overall aesthetic design, though the black or silver casework now will get the ‘silky surfacing’ end launched on the P1 and is totally aluminium fairly than incorporating metal parts. The small text-based data show is retained, displaying observe title, sampling charge, and many others, simply because the bodily connectivity nonetheless includes balanced and single-ended outputs, two USB-A sockets for connection of exterior drives, and a coaxial (BNC) output, all tucked into the rear panel.

Beyond that, Lumin has accomplished a considerable overhaul of its D collection mannequin, constructing it across the new {hardware}/software program platform seen within the T3 the place ‘elevated processing energy and storage capability present larger resampling flexibility and future-proofing’. This means resampling now extends to DSD256 and 384kHz PCM, versus the DSD128 and 192kHz of the D2, and the D3 may also deal with these new greater pattern charges natively because of Lumin upgrading its dual-balanced DAC structure to one of many ESS options (the ES9028PRO on this occasion).

Ode To Joy

In the D3 this DAC stage feeds right into a newly designed analogue output utilising buffer expertise from the flagship X1. Furthermore, the streamer will get a LeedH digital quantity management – a third-party system developed by Gilles Millot (https://ift.tt/wcmLMne) and current on different modern Lumin fashions – that was absent from the D2 at launch.

As effectively because the resampling talked about earlier (plus PCM/DSD transcoding), the most recent streaming/processing platform introduces MQA help (full/core decode and passthrough), Tidal Connect and Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay 2, and UPnP. The D3 can be Roon Ready and might even stream content material from a Plex server.

Because operation of the unit is totally app-driven, and Lumin continues to eschew Wi-Fi performance throughout its merchandise, a wired community connection is required as a way to get every part up and operating. If there’s nothing within the D3’s Ethernet socket whenever you swap it on, the front-panel show lets . Once linked, the streamer then declares itself ‘Ready for music’. Little touches like this contribute to the D3’s pleasure of possession, as does the steady relationship between Lumin’s app and its {hardware}. One niggle? The lip that extends over the D3’s rear-side connections, and lack of area, makes disconnecting XLR cables awkward.

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May 14, 2024 at 12:52AM