Streamers - Auralic, Aurender, Lumin, others...

Any recommendations, please? :)
I'm looking for a streamer only – without a DAC.

I’ve been leaning toward the Auralic Aries S1 since it’s reasonably priced and available pre-owned. It also has a coaxial input, so I could connect my CD player as a transport. I’d mostly use it as a Roon endpoint, as I run Roon on a Mac Mini and really enjoy it — especially for its great music recommendations.

I’ve read some threads here, and many of you seem to love Aurender and Lumin. Has anyone had a chance to compare them with the Auralic?

Thanks!

gabriel12311-03-2025 4:43pm

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gkelly Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,043 posts 11-06-2025 at 02:32am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete One of the best piece of advice that my dealer gave me was, everything is built to a price point. It is wishful thinking that life is otherwise.
mdalton Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 810 posts 11-06-2025 at 05:59am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @gkelly that is what we refer to as a non sequitur. But thank you.
jjss49 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 6,926 posts 11-06-2025 at 06:56am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete that is what we refer to as a non sequitur. But thank you.
gkelly Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,043 posts 11-06-2025 at 04:12pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @mdalton what audio dealer burnt you so bad that you have no trust in the advice that a dealer would give you? Pretty sure as much Money as I have given him and as happy as I’ve been with the experience, he’s not gonna start steering me into a world of wasting my money. 💴 absolutely a budget Streamer will be fantastic. My sister recently purchased a WIIM ultra and there is no way in 1 million years you could talk her to spend another penny on something better. Yet, I on the other hand will spend the rest of my life trying to perfect my system upon this journey and even she will admit that my INNUOS kicks butt. Why does this budget streamer debate rages on will constantly confuse me. but oh well, do as we must because we only have money to spend.
calieng Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 203 posts 11-06-2025 at 05:38pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete System matching is more important than the individual components. Holo Audio Red sounds fantastic thru I2S to Holo Audio Cyan 2 Denafrips ARCAS sounds fantastic thru I2S to Pontus 15th Lumin sounds best with DACs that have optimized their USB input. Lumin sounds better with Roon, Holo Audio sounds better with Tidal Connect.... I love R-2R DACs but have actually bumped my Lumin U1 out of my main stereo system because the Aurender A1000 (all in one) sounds so good into my Fezz Libra 300B amp (single ended optimized). There are no correct answers other than do not discount a good all in one unit. They are the most optimized (streamer section and DAC section designed to work together) and eliminate a lot of unnecessary circuitry (USB to internal I2S etc)