Audiophilepure

https://www.hifichoice.com/content/lumin-u2-mini

The Linn is another matter. Thanks, we’ve little doubt, to the contribution of its Death Star-level dual mono Organik DACs, everything immediately sounds cleaner and clearer, more powerful and precise. Stereo perspectives are startlingly believable, imaging palpable, separation absolute. The Linn has simply astonishing powers of resolution and an ability to hear deep, deep into a recording. It’s all desperately impressive and you’re left in no doubt where the money has been spent.

And yet, while unable to compete on level terms or be as immaculately on point, the LUMIN holds its own in terms of musical satisfaction. No, it doesn’t dig quite as deep or hit quite as hard, but things are a tad warmer and more spacious with an affecting focus on nuance, temporal flow and musical inflection. With an admittedly glossy recording such as Al Jarreau’s Through It All, the music positively shimmers with colour and confidence. Dan Shea’s slick keyboard layering sounds smooth, sweet and soulful and the U2 Mini also displays a real penchant for giving the right weighting to the subtlest ambient cues. It’s a deliciously rounded and complete rendition. In matters of timing, focus and rendering of micro dynamics, the Linn might lead the way, but the LUMIN is clearly playing in the same high-end ballpark and, more than that, hitting a home run.

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