It i luminate my second week holidays.
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Thanx Dan
I did try the ND5XS2 and then the NDX2 as modern streamers connected by Naim DC1 to BNC input and powering the NDS with a 555PS and although they did provide functionality both my son (28 yrs sharp ears) and I felt that the SQ - depth, clarity and emotional impact of the NDS was better with a UPnP input via squeezelite or MConnect input for Qobuz and Tidal streaming.
Challenging questions as we are really getting to the best of best with all these various options. My only frustration with the Sonore Opticalrendu/squeezelite process is that it does require Roon (Nuc and annual subscription cost) vs the ability to use QoBuz connect/Tidal connect directly on the 555 streamer. The NDX2 type screen on the 555 is very nice and the whole set up is a bit simpler. However as Simon mentions it leaves the system a bit more sensitive to software adjustments on the 555 to come that in the past it seems have led to some instability. But cost aside it appears whether it is NDS or 555 that second 555PS does make a clear impact on SQ.
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The SBT was a ground-breaker when it was first introduced in the dark-ages of digital streamers. The fact that it responded very well to adding an external LPS regardless if you were using its analog or its digital outputs was a big plus.
I moved from the SBT to the Node 130 after the SBT recurrently kept losing its settings, and required a reset that could ONLY be achieved if it was connected via a LAN wire and NOT wirelessly. At the time this was highly impractical.
The N130 really did not sound much different to the SBT when both were used as a digital streamer, and both had an external LPS (which required a mod the the Node). However the Nodes OS was far better than the already decent LMS on the SBT
I had the opportunity to move to a used Lumin U2-Mini with mods to allow an external LPS.
The Lumin sounded much, MUCH better than the Node 130/LPS into the same DAC. Compared to the Lumin, the Node sounded quite flat, 2-D, boomy at the bottom and rolled off at the top- and this is after both of the streamers passed through a DDC that was supposed to minimize the differences between digital sources.
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Hello Ron. I have ordered the Sbooter adapter for the Lumin U2, but the ifi power elite doesnât fit. Had you another one adapter or a special cable ?
The Elite comes with about 6 different adapter fly-leadsâŚone of which will convert 2.1mm to 2.5mm. If you are feeling spendy, you can get a QSA flylead for $250 that actually enhances the existing DC cable. I have one of them. I am unsure about the meaurements of the input and output jacks thoughâŚbut it worked for me.
The SBooster is probably a step or two behind the Elite in terms of raw performance. I would most definitely get the Elite running.
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So you had the Sbooster adapter, which could work with the Elite ?
The dealer, in Lithuania, says it doesnât fit.
Doesnât fitâŚas in mechanically (different barrel sizes) or electrically (the Lumin needs 12V)
There are a plethora of adapter flyleads and plugs (F in, M out) that will allow you to use pretty much any barrel into any DC socket.
I had to use one of these to get the Elite (2.1mm barell) to work into the cable-modem (much wider than 2.1 mm)
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Finally the dealer ordered the right adapter which will fill the Elite.
Not a straightforward task to connect an external ps to the Lumin.
Hopefully this dealer is helpful.
Thanks Ron, now I just have to wait a bit more, but I feel itâs better to wait than having the U2 mini bare.
FR, why are you looking to add an external power supply to the U2? Doesnât it come with a power cord that just plugs in the wall?
Better yet, why not order a high quality Oyaide DC plug ot the appropriate size (?2.5mm) and replace the cheapo DC plug on the end of the Elites DC cable⌠15 UKP for the plug and 15 minutes labor.
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Yes , but the ps improves very notably. Your P1 has an external ps, not?
Will do it next. Good idea. The guy already ordered the right adapter.
No it doesnât have an external PS, the X1 and X2 have one.
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Ha Ha, I would at least try it the way it comes in the box first.
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It doesnât mean that you canât improve. See some elsewhere discussions on it.
As I understand it, one of the main differences between a U2 and a U2 Mini is the LPS of the U2, so adding an after market LPS to the U2 Mini should make a cost effective sound quality improvement, so hopefully, that will be the case.
Although I have a U2-Mini, I purchased it 2nd hand and it came fitted with the DC-modâŚessentially the cheap and noisy internal SMPS was removed and the rear panel fitted with a DC jack that was then hard-wired (or maybe plugs into) to the power input of the main PCB.
Some DC-mods have an internal board that provides additional CLC or CRC regulationâŚbut mine did not.
I found that the U2-Mini was quite sensistive to the DC supply it was fed withâŚ.. I tried an iFi PowerX, a Farad3 and an iFi Elite (which matches the ascending order of preference).
Although the Farad 3 is an expensive (>$1k) LPS, even when I added a $150 fuse, a $400 power cord and a $400 silver-gold Mundorf DC cable it still was no match for the $300 iFi Elite fed with a generic power cord. No matter what I did to the Farad3, the overall sound into the Mini was a little rolled of at the HF and lacking in snap.
If the differences between high performance external PS was that noticeable on the Mini, I would imagine that the stock internal SMPS would be a large step down and an end-user would greatly benefit from doing the DC mod.
If your DC interface does not have additional internal regulation, it is possible to source an excellent CLC filter for around $100 that sits between the PS and the input of the Mini, that allows for further improvements.
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Maybe itâs my old ear or taste (or the benefit of the second ps). From my memory nd555 (3.8) has more grip and authority and is better. But nds is not so far ahead and its smoothness also can please.
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Exactly how I would describe the Farad 3 on my EE8 switch. In the end I sent it back.
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