2. digital
  3. 152226-1288

Lumin X1 or dCS Bartok

Both of these beasts look like they could be that “forever purchase”. These are basically the newest offerings from both well respected companies and are within spitting distance of each other price wise  (without the Bartok headphone option installed). Anybody heard both and able to comment?
spinaker01
yyzsantabarbara
4,439 posts
 
One has a Fiber Optic input.
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,733 posts
 
same conundrum for me, except a level up and including the NAIM 555.....

right now, DCS is winning
nekoaudio's avatar
nekoaudio
489 posts
 
I carry Lumin and have the X1 here, and was just at a client's place last week who has a dCS Vivaldi stack. I'd say the sound character goals of Lumin and dCS are probably best considered as different, so you'd need to hear them to decide which direction best matches what you're looking for.
david_ten
5,480 posts
 
@nekoaudio   How are they different? Thanks.
nekoaudio's avatar
nekoaudio
489 posts
 
@david_ten well, Lumin is using output transformers as part of their analog stage which adds some color but otherwise retains the detail provided by the ESS DAC chips.

To a large degree the goal and result is similar to that of the DAC I designed, which also uses output transformers combined with PCM1794A DAC chips.

dCS is not aiming for the same thing with their products, although with multiple filter settings you can influence the sound.
More to discover