Why does my old CD player sound so much better than my new streamer?


Earlier this year I upgraded my system. Briefly, new Prima Luna Dialogue Premium HP integrated, new Lumin D2 streamer/DAC, kept my Tekton speakers, bought a 10 year old Muse Erato CD player, new Nordost Red Dawn cables all around.  After plenty of break in, the Lumin D2 streaming Tidal, even 24/96, does not sound close to as good as the Muse Erato.  I understand the Muse was about $10k new years ago, I paid $650 for it on Audiogon, is that the difference? It replaced my Naim I had for 20+ years and I bought it on the chance I want to listen to something not on Tidal, but now I'm going to CDs when I want to sit and listen instead of streaming. I considered upgrading to the Lumin T2, but will that be more of the same Lumin sound, which is accurate but thin and a little cold compared to the Muse.  I like the Lumin when just letting Tidal shuffle music as I move around the house, but from the opening note in an A/B test the Muse just sounds so much warmer, live and simply more enjoyable. Any thoughts or suggestions?
fsgattuso

Showing 10 responses by clearthink


bo1972
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The other problem almost all people make is the fact that they (wanna) believe that a separate DAC is always the best solution. This is only based on an assumption people want to believe. Only because it has been said. DACS still loses too much diversity (layering) in sound. Even the most expensive ones show the same limitations. ONLY FACTS WILL LEAD TO THE REAL TRUTH"

A properly designed, manufactured, implemented, and installed DAC will outperform any builtin DAC every single time and if you have "FACTS" that show otherwise I challenge you to reveal, present, and explain them here but you will NOT do that because of you're committment to TRU-FI which has been clearly shown, demonstrated, and revealed to be tragically, hopelessly, and fatally flawed by failure to identify, measure, and correct for ICSS distortion as I have shown to you in your own store! 

bo1972
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When a network player has an inbuilt DAC the level in layering becomes bigger. This is why it is a lot more effective to modify a network player with an inbuilt DAC."

The "layering" that you refer to here is an illusion that is a a direct, inherent, and inescapable consequence of your inability, refusal, and failure to adjust for ICSS distortion in your "Tru-Fi" protocol and in absolute fact if you were not using inferior, substandard, poorly designed Music Reproduction System component's you would have no need, desire, or motivation to modify them which of course immediately and permanently voids warranty protection for the customer! 

bo1972
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This person has never been a client of ours."

That is what you wrote right in this thread but then when you are faced with the actual truth about you're practices that include modifying equipment and invalidating manufacturer's original warrantys you then claim:

" When we did not want to help him anymore, he became very aggressive and start telling lies. These kinds of people are mentally sick. It is really sad that they can not control themselves. And put a lot of lies and nonsense on this website."

So it you you who are lieing and you know truthfully that you're modifications are not appropriate and render warrantys useless and sometimes an item that is not readily repairable and that the manufacturer will not even service as is what happened to my neighbor who also use to be you're customer!

I could have this post of your's deleted for attacking me but I will leave it hear for all to see and judge for themselves about you!
bo1972"The modified Lumin L1 is over 70% better compared to streaming by Qobuz. It also outperforms the Synology Nas on all aspects of sound.":

Yes but you will have no warrantee the manufacturer will reject, refuse, and disqualify all claims in the event of failure and often will not service the unit because they do not want to be responsible for alterations which are beyond their design, manufacture or control.

bo1972
" AudioFacts is responsible for all the parts which they have changed"

Good luck getting bo or anyone to fix his badly modified amplifiers! 
bo1972"it is a lie by a mentally sick person...Everyone over here knows it except he does not know. I never have seen such a loser human on this website."

I could easily, readily, and swiftly have this post deleted however I will leave it here for all to see and then they can decide for themselfs whether you are the type of person they would want to do business with I am glad I stopped doing business with you!

bo1972
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jealous people do crazy things all the time like clearthink does."

I am hardly jealous of you're compromised, second-rate efforts to modify, alter, and improve the performance of excellent equipment and I am not jealous of you're convoluted, incessant, illogical and hatefilled attacks on myself and others members of this forum who do not acknowledge you're superiority with Music Reproduction equipment and if you continue with these attacks perhaps it is time that I visit you're store again and remind you of who I am.
bo1972"Lumin products which are new, get a 24-month full guarantee."
Of course Lumin is a qualified, quality, respected manufacturer of compoenents for Music Reproduction Systems and so they warrantee their products diligently.

"We are responsible for the parts which are modified."
Right the company will not honor the warrantee read it for yourself!!! "Source Systems, Ltd, in the USA will not service product under warranty that have been opened by end-users, modified or altered. "

bo1972
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The AudioFacts Pro modification brings the D1/D2 to a superior level compared to the A1 and also T2."

Caution that such alteration, adjustment, and modification will void  warrantee and may in fact render the component functionally and practically unrepaireable, unserviceable, and inoperative the manufacturer will tell you to "take a hike" if you you seek service or repair of such a modified unit.

The other problem is that these alterations are made without accounting for ICSS distortion which is something bo1972 has yet to fully comprehend because he thinks he has already isolated, identified, and accounted for all of the properties of the equipment he sells.

bo1972
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AudioFacts is an official & respected dealer...The modified products however, we only support warrantee on the original parts. AudioFacts is responsible for all the parts which they have changed.

That is exactly the factual information I have been alerting users hear to if you have bo19722 modify you're Lumin equipment you will find the warrantee will not be honored, respected, or upheld by the manufacturer and you will have to rely and depend on bo1972's store to assess, address, and correct you're problem leaving you without the support you would otherwise enjoy from the manufacturer and you will have no recourse, alternative, or option to correct the problem that originates with the modification made to the equipment by bo1972.