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

"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/

@hdm thanks!

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.

Any experience with Lumin U2X? Also interested in Aurender N200.

+1 on Innuos products.

In September, I took delivery of an Innuos Stream 1 with the LPS1 linear power supply, the Phoenix USB module and a 2TB SSD, switching from using my iPad Pro or my M2 MacBook Pro.  The results were stunning, particularly using the Phoenix USB port instead of the standard USB port.  Excellent tonal qualities of instruments, great timbre in voices, and the sound stage is truly three dimensional, all using Tidal as my source, providing the ability to place instruments on the sound stage.

Then, one evening we had a brief power blip, and the Stream 1 stopped working.. After checking cables and other potential issues, I then switched form the Phoenix USB port to the standard USB port, and the Stream 1 worked fine--clearly, the power blip caused a problem with the Phoenix USB module  of unknown severity, but a dialog box in the Sense app said that the Phoenix USB module could not "see" my Gungnir2 DAC.  I contacted Innuos Customer Support and was promptly given a time for a chat session the next work day with a tech rep--remember, I am in Pennsylvania and they are in Portugal.  The session with the tech rep (Ricardo) was great, but we were unable to get the unit to function through the Phoenix USB port.  Ricardo (Tech Support) connected me with Customer Support, and Dayse set up a pickup for my unit.  They decided that because my Stream 1 was one of the first in customer hands, they wanted to check it out closely to see if there were any systemic issues.  The DHL pickup was set up three days late in the afternoon because I had medical appointments in the intervening days--I am still using the Stream 1 through the normal USB port--and the unit was fairly promptly on an airplane to Lisbon, Portugal, via Germany and Spain.  

Once received by Innuos, the unit was promptly examined by the their Tech Support folks, and it was determined that the power failure--a second or two at most--had left the unit "in between off an on" and that a simple reboot to discharge the capacitors and other shut down functions would have solved the problem.  Innuos kept me informed of progress throughout the process.  The next workday, the unit was en route back to the USA, via Leipzig, Germany, the UK, to Cincinnati, and then Harrisburg, PA.  The only glitch in the entire shipment process was receiving a notification from DHL of an "Exception" that said the unit was "On Hold" in Harrisburg, Missouri.  A call to DHL Customer Service resulted in being told that the unit was most definitely in Harrisburg, PA, and it had been loaded onto the delivery truck.  The box--actually, it was double-boxed in stout boxes--containing my Stream 1 arrived several hours before the predicted time, and i had it connected in my system and operating in about 15 minutes.  I know now to simply turn off the power to the LPS1 unit and let it sit for a few minutes if I have another power failure.

In my view, Innous support was superb, both on the Customer Support and Technical Support sides.  Given that they wanted to actually examine the unit as it was one of the first of a new line in customer hands, I think the process was handled in a prompt and efficient manner.  I give Innuous a five-star rating in both the Customer and Technical Support categories.  And express shipping back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean probably cost them a "pretty penny."

On top of all that, the Stream 1 with the LPS1 power supply and the Phoenix USB regenerating and reclocking module is, in my view/hearing, a superb product that has proven to be a tremendous step above my computer/tablet options.  Sound quality is, to me, simply incredible--superb tonal qualities, great voice reproduction, three-dimensionality with excellent sound stage, and more.  I realize that this is an "entry-level" unit for Innuous, but it is superb, and it is about $3400 less expensive than their next model up, the Stream 3, similarly equipped.  At my age and with my ears that were subjected to significant outgoing and incoming artillery, mortar, and small arms fire in Vietnam, this is pretty much end-state for me. THE basic unit without the Phoenix USB board is excellent, but the addition of that module takes the Stream 1 to an even higher level in terms of music reproduction.

I recommend it without reservation.