Hong Kong’s Lumin has unveiled the X2, a flagship streaming DAC that ditches off-the-shelf DAC chips in favour of a discrete DAC implementation (about which Lumin hasn’t said much). It’s the company’s second foray into discrete DAC territory following the X1, but this time around, Lumin has reportedly rebuilt the architecture from the ground up.

Transformers

The X2’s discrete DAC sits at the heart of a fully balanced layout populated with what Lumin describes as “high-quality components”. Following the DAC stage is an all-new output buffer. According to Lumin, it’s a fully balanced analogue output module with “output transformer compensation circuitry” that pairs dual LUNDAHL LL7401 transformers with balanced XLR sockets. Single-ended RCA alternatives sit nearby.

Leedh lossless

Connectivity-wise, the X2 includes an SFP socket (next to the Ethernet socket) for optical network support. That’s a nice touch for those wanting to eliminate electrical noise from their streaming chain. There’s also a built-in network switch, which means you can daisy-chain a NAS or another network endpoint without needing a separate switch box.

Volume control is handled by Leedh Processing’s lossless algorithm. That’s become a Lumin staple – digital domain volume without the bit-depth reduction we get from traditional digital volume controls.

Control

Lumin’s app remains the control interface — the same app that’s been refined over multiple generations of Lumin streamers and DACs. But if you don’t feel like going native, Lumin’s new flagship supports Roon Ready, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, AirPlay (1?) and (unusually) Plexamp.

On file formats, the X2 does native DSD up to DSD512 and PCM up to 32-bit/768kHz, but it also offers upsampling up to DSD256, should you fancy tinkering with a bit of sample rate conversion.

Tick-tock

Clocking duties fall to what Lumin calls a “Femto Clock System with precision FPGA distribution”. Jitter reduction is the name of the game here – the idea being that tighter clock control means cleaner digital-to-analogue conversion.

Aloominum

An outboard power supply feeds the analogue circuitry; it’s a dual-toroidal unit that connects via a 9-pin connector. Like the main unit, the power supply comes wrapped in a CNC’d aluminium chassis. Your choice of black or raw anodised finishes.

As a neat bonus, IsoAcoustics isolating feet come fitted to the main unit, with the total weight sitting at 12kg across both boxes.

Transport service

Want to feed an external DAC? The X2 can function as a digital transport with the USB output supporting native DSD512 and the BNC S/PDIF output handling PCM up to 192kHz and DSD via DoP at 2.8MHz.

Pricing

The X2 replaces the X1 at the top of Lumin’s streaming DAC lineup. It’s pitched at listeners who want flagship performance without the separates juggling act – streamer, DAC and pre-amplifier in one-and-a-half boxes.

The Lumin X2 is available now at US$16,800 or €15,800.

Further information: Lumin Music