In addition, I’ll try what the SOtM tx-USBultra brings to the table wrt. USB signal reprocessing (reclocking)…
Some say it does improve SQ… curious… 
I am curious about your findings. Before i had the U1 Mini i played a little while with a Chromecast Audio. It works like a charm but it sucked out all the life out of the music.
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a few days ago I modded my U1 Mini so I can use the Vinnie Rossi Mini Pure-DC-4EVR I was using with the Aries femto (beware the screws/nuts holding IEC socket in place and… you will have to cut the live wire connecting IEC and power switch, unless you want to leave an empty hole where the switch was 
)
difference is clearly there 
but we are really talking subtleties, nothing night and day
stock SMPS is doing a great job indeed
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I’m a little surprised by that. For other readers please avoid doing irreversible changes to the unit as our service department really does not like that when a rare repair is required. I believe all three vendors of LPS conversion kits are reversible - and they offer some ways to cover up the hole.
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three? 
I only know about two 
(I made myself the one I’m using)
In order of announcement: Sbooster, PLiXiR, Kenneth Lau
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The Lumin U1 mini brings very clearly the most SQ improvement. The stereo image becomes wider, with better positioning of the sound stage and a more laid back presentation, against a complete black background. It’s like the sound is reprocessed and becomes de-digitalized. The SOtM tx-USBultra also “de-digitalizes” the USB signal, but not to the same extend as the Lumin does.
I preferred the AES/EBU output (Love Cable) most, just over the coaxial BNC connection (Nordost), and least liked the USB signal path. Maybe it’s the Devialet USB input that’s not the best input choise. I’ve compared between Audioquest Diamond USB cable (100% silver) and the AQ Carbon USB cable; where the AQ Carbon sounded less harsh(d) that the Diamond. But I think that silver cables are not the ideal match with Devialet Expert 400 (class-D).
The A/B comparison with Chromecast was not yet done (will do in the near future).
Budget network cables were replaced by AQ CAT700 UTP cable with Telegartner connectors.
Standard power adapter of the network switch was replaced by lineair power supply.
SBooster adapterkit for Lumin U1 mini has been ordered, and will be delivered next week(s), in order to feed the Lumin with SBooster power juice…
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I think I already know the result before you do the test. 
Thanks for the comparison.
Anyone have more impressions on Aries vs U1 Mini? I’m using Aries w/ UpTone JS-2 but want to step it up. The only thing I am hesitating on w/ the Lumin is the SMPS, I know there are LPS kits but I don’t want to do any mods that’ll void warranty.
I can’t speak with any authority but given Lumin have just put the SMPS into their new T2 I presume they’re pretty happy with the performance. Hopefully someone there’s someone out there who can help out with a comparison.
replaced, two/three months back, an Aries femto with the Lumin U1 Mini
took the plunge as soon as I saw the U1 Mini ‘cause I wanted to move away from Auralic, tired of the many glitches still there after years (plus all the new ones in G1/G2 series. Aries’ femto display, to name just one glitch, is totally useless when using it as Roon endpoint: it just gets confused or plain stuck 
) and always been curious about Lumins but wasn’t ready to jump straight on the U1. now I am (but I’ll wait for a U2 
)
after letting it play continuously for three/four weeks I don’t regret in the slightest taking the plunge
the Lumin, even on its stock SMPS it’s at the very least on par with the femto on its LPS. It gets even “slightly” better when powered by a LPS (I modded it) but, as I wrote, it’s already extremely good with stock switching PS
never done a direct A/B comparison but… to my ears the Aries is a bit more “relaxed” while the U1 Mini has more detail and… “air” (the Aries leans towards the warm side of neutral, the U1 towards the “just fresh”)
I was at first unimpressed by Lumin control app but the more I use it the more I prefer it over Lightning DS (… which never managed well my Qobuz playlists, just to mention one “glitch”, while Lumin perfectly does)
I wouldn’t call the move a true upgrade but rather a very, very pleasing sidegrade 
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thanks for the insight!
@wklie Peter… just subscribed a Tidal promo and… both “Masters” and “Discovery” are empty in Lumin app (iOS) 
Are you in Italy? If not, in which country do you reside in? This occurs because Tidal Italy gives us empty replies to the API we call for these folders, unlike anywhere else.
yes Peter… Italy here
Peter… wait… though… it doesn’t happen in Roon: all is fine there 
Our way of using the API is likely not the same as Roon, and Roon is doing things different from everybody else because of its tight metadata integration.
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@wklie Roon 1.6 or Lumin fw 11.4 issue? Max sample rate (Device setup) is now 192kHz 
EDIT: ok… DAC must be ON for Lumin to see it can go 384
sorry 
When a USB DAC is not detected, the max sample rate is limited to 192kHz or DSD64 (DoP), as this is the maximum that can be output from U1 (MINI) AES / BNC / RCA / Toslink outputs.
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Hi Peter
I have a question; I would like to connect the lumina u1 mini to the Oppo 205 via the usb input. Will I get a full mqa development then? I like the sound 205, what do you think?