Стримеры — Lumin Lumin U2x

The Lumin U2X is a network music transport - a streaming source that leaves conversion to a separate DAC - that Lumin places at the top of its transport range, matching the X1 player in status and build. It succeeds the U1X and runs the processor architecture Lumin introduced in 2022, which brings more processing power and storage than the older platform. The job of the U2X is to pull music from the network or a USB drive and deliver it as a clean digital stream to an outboard converter.

Key specs that matter

The dedicated USB audio output accepts PCM from 44.1 to 768 kHz at 16 to 32 bit and native DSD up to DSD512. The AES/EBU, BNC, coaxial RCA and optical outputs are limited to PCM of 44.1 to 192 kHz at 16 to 24 bit, with DSD at 2.8 MHz carried as DoP. Upsampling to DSD256 or to PCM at 384 kHz is available. The file types it plays are DSF, DIFF, DoP, FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, MP3 and MQA. The main unit measures 350 x 345 x 60 mm and weighs 8 kg, while the external supply is 106 x 334 x 60 mm and 4 kg. Both boxes come in black anodised or raw anodised aluminium.

Engineering and use context

Each chassis is milled from a single billet of aluminium on a CNC machine, a method Lumin uses for stiffness and isolation. The external linear supply carries two toroidal transformers, keeps digital and analogue circuitry separate and ends in a low-noise regulator. The USB output is isolated from the rest of the streaming board. Networking is handled by a dual interface with an internal switch, offering an SFP optical fibre port for electrical isolation from the home network alongside a Gigabit RJ45 socket. The U2X is the first Lumin model with 10 MHz clock connections, one BNC input and two BNC outputs at 50 ohm, so it can act as master or slave to other digital devices. Streaming covers TIDAL, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz, Qobuz Connect, Spotify Connect, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Plex and AirPlay, and the unit is Roon Ready as well as Audirvana and JPLAY certified. Leedh Processing lossless digital volume is included at no extra cost, and the platform gains new functions through firmware upgrades.

Pairing

Because it has no converter, the U2X needs an external DAC, and the USB link is the only path that carries its full high-resolution capability. A NAS or a Lumin L1 music library can plug straight into the second network port of the internal switch while the other port stays connected to the router. The two clock outputs can clock further digital components in the chain from the U2X.

Alternatives

The Lumin U2 Mini is the smaller network music transport from the same range.