Lumin X2 versus Lumin T3

Audio Gear Talk Lumin
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I had the possibility to test the new Lumin X2 for one week. For 3 years I am a proud owner of a Lumin T3. So, this assessment is mostly about the comparison of these two streamers. They both were connected via XLS cables to my Accuphase preamplifier / power amplifier driving Wilson SabrinaX.

Both streamer sound very accurate with a true sense of realism (whatever this means :slightly_smiling_face: ). The placement of the single instruments and voices are perfectly placed in the room creating the illusion of being in a 3D space with the performers. The sound is always pleasing just ever so slightly on the warm side of neutral.

The build quality of the X2 is exceptional. Knocking on top of the X2 sondes as you knock on a solid piece of aluminum (which actually is the case), while knocking on the T3 sounds like a bell.
In terms of sound quality, I must admit, that the difference between both streamers were very, very small in my system. If I take the X2 as 100%, the T3 is at 98%. Since my son was visiting us at the weekend, I asked him how both streamers sounded to him, with 30 years younger ears. Same verdict.
My conclusion is that the T3 streamer is already exceptionally good and reviling while diminishing returns at the X2 is brutal.

Please note, that this is not a review but an user assessment how these streamers sound to my ears in my set-up and in my room.

Some observation:
At both streamer it is possible to attenuate the output signal level by a fix amount to match amplifier gain / speaker efficiency. Don’t do this, it decreases the sound quality. Room information and decay get negatively affected. This may depend on the quality of the preamplifier.

At Lumin streamers it is possible to pre-process the digital signal. E.g. convert the original signal to a higher PCM or DSD signal or use the digital filter QRONO d2a. I feel at the X2 QRONO d2a improves the sound. The difference between on and off is bigger than the difference between both streamers! At the T3 QRONO d2a makes not a big difference. Here I prefer to up-sample and convert 44.1 and 48 kHz PCM signals to DSD 256. This improves the room information. I guess the QRONO d2a implementation at the T3 is not as good as at the X2 and maybe has room for improvements.

Since a view FW version, the sound quality does not anymore depend on the streaming application / protocol. The sound over the Lumin app, JPLAY and roon sounds to me “the same”. While before roon was always the least convincing. This is good news for me a mainly roon user. On the other hand, since ver. 21.2 (and to some degree with ver. 21.3) the stability with roon did decrease. I guess this has more to do with the new roon RAAT SDK in the FW than with Limin itself. A typical problem of early movers.

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Very interesting, thank you for sharing.

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Juerg, your impressions are refreshingly grounded in actual listening rather than expectation bias, and the T3 absolutely deserves the praise you give it. Once you’re in Lumin’s upper tier, the differences become more about refinement and system synergy than dramatic shifts, so your 98% vs. 100% comment makes perfect sense.

My own upgrade path was X1 → X2, which leads to a slightly different perspective. Since the X1 and X2 use the same external dual‑toroidal power supply, the improvements I heard weren’t about power delivery at all—they came from the X2’s internal architecture.

What changed for me moving from X1 to X2:

• Lower noise floor from the new discrete dual‑mono DAC
The X2’s DAC stage is a complete redesign compared to the X1. In my system, this translated into a more relaxed, more stable presentation—micro‑detail and spatial cues emerged without sounding etched or forward.
• A significantly improved clocking system
The new femto clock in the X2 tightened imaging and timing in a way I didn’t get from the X1. It wasn’t a “wow” moment, but it was unmistakable once I lived with it for a few days.
• A cleaner analog output stage
The X2’s analog section is quieter and more transparent than the X1’s. This was especially noticeable in low‑level detail and the sense of “blackness” behind the music.
• QRONO d2a is far more effective on the X2
Your observation matches mine. On the X1, QRONO d2a was subtle. On the X2, it meaningfully enhances dimensionality and decay. In my room, the difference between QRONO on/off was larger than the difference between X1 and X2 with QRONO off.
• Better synergy with Roon
I’m also a heavy Roon user, and the X2 has been the most stable and transparent Lumin endpoint I’ve owned. The recent RAAT SDK changes have introduced some bumps, but overall the X2 platform has been the smoothest for me.

Where your impressions resonate:

• The T3 is an exceptional performer and punches far above its price.
• Diminishing returns are absolutely real at this level.
• DSP choices (DSD upsampling, QRONO, PCM conversion) can matter more than the hardware delta itself.
• System‑specific results will always dominate the conversation.

A respectful difference in perspective:

Because I came from the X1 rather than the T3, the X2 addressed several things I wanted to improve—noise floor, clocking, analog stage, and Roon behavior. In your system, the T3 is already so strong that the remaining gap is understandably narrow.

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Dear Michael

Thank you very much for your feedback. I am pleased to hear from a X2 owner that I am not so wrong with my subjective impression.

I agree with you, Lumin provides one of the best and most reliable streaming platforms in the market. This alone is worth considering at a streamer. In the streaming world all changes constantly and this means a lot of continuos work to any company in this business. So business continuity is key for me, if you spend this kind of money.

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A few new X2 reviews from England and the Netherlands:

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Lumin X2 review

Partial translation by Gemini 3 Thinking

The Setup

The Lumin X2 earned a spot among my finest components in the living room, connected via Inakustik NF-2504 AIR Helix balanced interconnects to an Audia Flight Strumento No.1 preamplifier and FLS4 power amplifier. The speakers used were the ATC SCM20P SL, supported by an ATC C1 Sub MkII. Digital sources included a Roon NUC and Melco storage. For a clean power supply, everything was connected to an Audes TT-3200 Power Conditioner.

Initial Impressions

After installing the X2 (which was a demo unit and required no break-in time), the player brought nothing but listening pleasure. Regardless of the source—my own collection, Qobuz, or internet radio—the X2’s performance was consistently worthwhile.

Even a dynamically “flat” album like Nicki Parrott’s Can’t Take My Eyes Off You (Venus label) was enjoyable. Once the music starts, you immediately experience that a Lumin in this price range brings a level of “calm” that many competitors can learn from. The background remains dead silent; music is given all the space it needs without any disturbing factors from the player. What eventually comes out of the speakers is pure, with a touch of pleasant warmth that is often missing in other network players.

It isn’t just about the quiet background; the combination of the transport and DAC is capable of pulling the tiniest slivers of information out of the music. It does this in Lumin’s own quiet, modest way, but with refined finesse. It feels natural and effortless—not bloated or irritating over time. These micro-details keep the music fascinating.

QRONO d2a: To Use or Not?

I selected some tracks to play with QRONO d2a. Played natively, tracks were wide and open with convincing authenticity. The heavy bass of Allan Taylor and the delicate sounds of Stacey Kent were rendered beautifully. The second voice on Taylor’s tracks was rarely so easy to follow as it was with the X2.

Turning on QRONO d2a was clearly audible with Taylor; the bass had more power and seemed to engage my subwoofer more. However, the presentation became smaller and more compact, with a shrunken stereo image. Some of that Lumin fluidity was lost. Personally, I preferred playing without QRONO. Similarly, with Kent, the sound became less exciting. Native playback suited the X2 best in my setup.

Back to the Music

Playing Infected Mushroom’s Avratz was impressive; the way tones slowly died out and how far the music extended to the left and right was magnificent. The bass was rock solid. London Grammar’s Hey Now played large and clear, with the echo on the vocals standing firmly in front of me.

This is proof of the wonderful D/A converter inside. In the past, the low end was often the neglected child of many converters, but the X2 remains powerful and deep. My own Auralic G2.1 / Metrum Pavane DAC3 combination ultimately loses out to this great Lumin X2. Even after my own electronics are fully warmed up, I still find myself longing for the X2.

Conclusion: I Do!

I would love to “marry” the Lumin X2—not just for its sleek looks or the app, but for the playback quality it achieves. It left a deep impression, playing exactly what I expect from music: openness, fluidity, space, and detail without fatigue, all presented on a tray of transparency.

Taking the X2 away felt like losing a partner you wanted to stay with. While my own components are high quality, technology does not stand still, especially at Lumin. The completeness of the X2 is a major plus—just plug in the Ethernet and analog cables, and you are done.

For those who have the system for a Lumin X2 and the budget to match, I strongly recommend considering it. Lumin doesn’t just make streaming accessible; Lumin makes streaming mature!

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I have the T3 and one of the first things I did was buy a linear power supply to replace the internal $13 dollar switching power supply. The differences were significant. In reading the initial comparison, I wonder if my T3 hits 99% or 100%, could it exceed? I had audiophool.nl custom build the linear power supply for me.