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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!

gabriel123
audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,823 posts
 

It’s not really that difficult. If we’re talking Lumin U2 price range is the limit, then get either it or Aurender N150 or Volumio.
Eversolo has a few customers stranded. Support isn’t that great. Read the forums. 
Since you only need a streamer to Use as Roon end-point Lumin U2 Mini should be fine. If you want to be able to use both Roon and a streamer native app, then Aurender beats Lumin hands down  

 

tmhaudio
123 posts
 

We have had an Aurender N20 as our digital transport/streamer reference for 2 years...and decided to move up to N30. That’s my personal endorsement of Aurender.

The N20 has performed flawlessly, sounds spectacular via AES and the Conductor app works like a charm including its’ 500+ preloaded streaming radio stations.

btw, most if not all Aurenders support Roon.

Our mint/like new demo N20 is now listed USAudioMart 

JimRicketts/tmhaudio

 

hdm
1,090 posts
 

"I’m curious how much of a real sound difference there actually is between the Eversolo T8 and the Lumin U2 Mini, which costs almost twice as much."

 

 

Gabriel 123: Not a direct answer to your question but an interesting read nonetheless:

 

https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/reviews/a-tale-of-two-streamers-r1159/

gabriel123 OP
91 posts
 

@hdm thanks!

wsrrsw's avatar
wsrrsw
1,475 posts
 

Ah….another not atypical Agon meandering “discussion.’’ There are so so many factors to consider like the room, equipment, power, hearing and synergy in the mix of your systems makeup. I found with an EtherREGEN (now sold) that I preferred copper over fiber’s sound. This was likely system dependent. Point is, what works for one isn’t universal given all the other bits in the gears makeup. 

The other day I hooked up my laptop to compare sound. It’s sound paled. 

I can say with certainty that whatever goes into ye old steamer does best with clean power and Ethernet. Just say no to the blue wire and a cheapoh switch.

 

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