New Lumin L2 Music Library & Network Switch announced

Discussion in 'Digital: DACs, USB converters, decrapifiers' started by Puma Cat, May 26, 2023.

  1. Puma Cat

    Puma Cat Friend

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    The new Lumin L2 MUSIC LIBRARY & NETWORK SWITCH was just announced. The L2 replaces the L1 and add some significant features and functionality, not the least of which is not one, but TWO SFP cages for making network/device connections via LC/LC optical fiber. :thumbsup:

    Here's the features and specs. The L2 is a significant upgrade over the previous L1.

    L2 MUSIC LIBRARY & NETWORK SWITCH
    An advanced dual-drive music server requiring zero setup configuration and containing a 4-port audiophile-grade network switch. :D

    The perfect partner for LUMIN owners who wish to store their own music collection. The effortless operation of LUMIN L2 belies its advanced features and unrivalled flexibility.

    With a 4-port audiophile-grade network switch on board, its two optical fibre SFP ports and two RJ45 copper ports L2 can streamline and enhance your network!

    Engineering specifications:
    Available without drives or with 4TB or 8TB capacity
    Zero configuration required
    Automatically serves all added music
    Fibre Network provides complete isolation from network noise
    4-port network switch simplifies cabling and makes fibre easy
    UPnP (Openhome) compatible
    USB 3.0 Micro type B for connection to computer
    SMB support for transferring over the network
    Gigabit Ethernet
    Thick-panelled CNC Aluminium construction

    Additional features:
    UPnP Openhome music server
    ZERO CONFIGURATION
    Simply add music to LUMIN L2 via USB or over the network and it all gets served automatically. No complex installation or setup steps.

    LUMIN SERVER SOFTWARE
    Our bespoke server software is specifically designed for the demands of LUMIN owners - featuring rock-solid stability, rich tag support and, of course, high resolution PCM/DSD support.

    BUILD QUALITY
    Silent, vibration-free design offers the same thick shielded CNC chassis construction as our high-end P1 music player. Available in the same black and silver finishes, LUMIN L2 is the perfect accompaniment.

    And some photos...
    Three-quarter front view
    [​IMG]

    Front view "1-point" photo as we say in RE photography...
    [​IMG]

    Nice high-perspective three-quarter view. The case is all machined from solid billet aluminum; looks lovely and keep out RF and EMI...
    [​IMG]

    Back panel view. I've highlighted in red the chassis ground terminal, which would allow for optimal connection to an Altaira ground-plane noise reduction hub, and we already know what that does for a component...:)
    [​IMG]

    Looks really nice and I'm sure will be a very nice addition for folks, and especially so for X1, P1, and T3 owners, as the L2 can connect directly to these via fiber.

    I'll be getting one of these, for sure...:punk:
     
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  2. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    How much?

    This just represents so much that is wrong with audio today.
     
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  3. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    They make a streamer that some rag rated as "best over 5,500." I forget the currency unit. I guess I didn't want to know.

    Is enough to make me run away from the whole thing.

    But hey, Celebrate the nervosa: spend lots!
     
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  4. Ksaurav402

    Ksaurav402 Friend

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    I hope it doesn’t have SMPS inside asking for some Sbooster upgrade to make it better….but it’s just a hub right with SFP and not a streamer
    Not sure why we need SFP in fancy box when we can have it for cheap with LPS and there are manufacturer selling SFP with OCXO and LPS already for as low as $200 and what is this fascination of EMI\EFI immunity with heavy chassis when the tubes are sticking out of our amp and preamp.
     
  5. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    Makes for great nervosa, because it is hard to deny.
    Ahhh. Excellent point. :)
     
  6. wbass

    wbass Friend

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    FWIW, I find the Lumin U1 Mini ever so slightly better in my system than your ultraRenudus and Pi streamers, etc. (At a greater cost, naturally.) So, I'm basically interested in what Lumin are up to and think that P1 preamp/streamer looks impressive.

    But it's hard for me to get excited about network switches and hard drives. Maybe there's some cumulative effect going on where you pay attention to every last digital delivery detail and get a 5% better experience. But I struggled to differentiate the above streamers and only came to my conclusion after a lot of maddening AB testing. So I just can't go down the computer audiophile rabbit hole.

    Nothing against those who do. I have heard a very carefully done digital system--with a fancy switch and all--and thought there was something in it. But I'll probably wait for the trickle down of the trickle down in this realm.
     
  7. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    It's the maybe that opens the door. Or rather, the cash register.
    To some extent, it used to necessary. But it was much more matters of having an overall physically-quiet box, and tweaking the operating system so that bad things didn't happen. Even a decade ago, I was absolutely doing that. Hardware, apart from the audio interface itself, was the least bother.

    I do absolutely understand and accept aesthetics. A cabinet PC does not look good in a hifi stack. Hence, for a long time, there have been media cabinets available. Some really nice, with very nifty fan-less cooling systems.

    But when it comes to $5-grand streaming/networking equipment for audio, I want to know, what does it genuinely do that the 500-1,000 box doesn't. And I want the answer from an engineer, not a guy with a wife in the kitchen.

    Not, of course, that I am trying to tell anyone how they can spend their money. Oh dear, no. They don't listen anyway :)

    And yes, I know. I am a Boring Old Fart on this stuff.
     
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    Last edited: May 27, 2023
  8. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    And...

    No. Because it doesn't matter how many zeros you add together, the answer remains zero.

    (This should be tatooed on the forehead of every last-one-percent-digital audiophart)
     
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  9. wbass

    wbass Friend

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    I hear ya. I'm skeptical about digital tweaks, for sure, but have heard better digital rigs than my own. Could be they were doing upsampling or something.

    Anyway, @Puma Cat always seems very intentional with his upgrades. Even if it's not quite my thing, I get the sense that he thinks it all through thoroughly.
     
  10. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    I won't say something like with all due respect, because perhaps @Puma Cat and I are unlikely to respect each other's views on this kind of gear. But I should not be rude.

    Apologies if I have been. No personal rudeness intended.
     
  11. Puma Cat

    Puma Cat Friend

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    Thanks, I appreciate your comment about that. Regarding "thinks it all through thoroughly."
    I try to. I worked as a professional scientist, a molecular biologist in biotech, my entire professional career and "thinking it all through thoroughly..." is, shall we say...a helpful approach to doing effective science.

    I also used to teach Design for Six Sigma as a Master Black Belt to my fellow PhD-level scientists and engineers to help them be more EFFECTIVE (doing the RIGHT thing) and EFFICIENT (doing things RIGHT) in desiging our DNA sequencers, genetic analyzers, gene sequecing, motecular diagnostics and DNA forensics applications and tests.

    To wit: a DOE (Design of Experiiments) I did some years back to integrate with data my REL sub into my 2-channel mains speaker system. DOE is based on ANOVA and lets you analyze multiple factors simultaneously (you know, like with a p-value) and know with statistical rigor how they drive the "response" This approach is different from the OFAT (One Factor At a Time) approach to Science that is taught in University, which can work, but will generally not elucidate with statisical rigor the effect of...INTERACTIONS between Control Factors and functional RESPONSES. You know, like the Time*Temperature interaction that drives many reactions in...Chemistry? :p

    My DOE performed to integrate my REL to the 2-channel mains...I did this "just for fun" while at home recovering from a surgical procedure. The DOE was designed using the Harman curve as a "reference"...
    [​IMG]

    Here's the DOE analysis in JMP....
    [​IMG]

    Gotta love that surface response plot of the Sub Gain x Sub Crossover at 155 Hz! ;)
    [​IMG]

    So...Results before (blue trace) and after (green trace) for R channel, using a NIST-traceable calibrated mic and REW to measuring actual in-room response from the listening position.
    [​IMG]

    Gotta love DOE....:)
     
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  12. Puma Cat

    Puma Cat Friend

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    No worries. This is just a hobby we do for fun; some of us have different approaches to this hobby, and that's fine.
     
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