I just bought the Lumin U2 Mini upgrade and LHY 50w liner power supply from Alwin, and used this helpful video to do the mods. Boy oh boy the improvements is astounding and worth the money. Thanks for the good support and fast delivery Alwin.
Thanks for mentioning the warranty situation! It's unfortunate, but there have been PSU modifications that have caused problems, so we have to take this stance. If you do want to change a PSU in a LUMIN unit, make sure that you are comfortable with the risk or that the company supplying the modification is offering their own warranty to replace the official one. Otherwise, it may be better to trade-up for a LUMIN that features a toroidal PSU from the factory (U1 / P1 / X1).
Yeah, reality check here. You need to feel absolutely confident in your decision to start cutting wires and removing parts (and thus invalidating ANY future warranty coverage forever) on your fairly new $2400 streamer. Maybe if you find the U2 lacking, you could take the money you were going to spend on it PLUS the extra $ for the upgrades and buy something that you don’t have an issue with. A stock unit with a partial warranty still intact is going to be more desired during resale than a bastardized unit modified by your typical kitchen table amateur tinkerer.
I bought the kit for my LUMIN U1 mini + LPS50 and the change is impressive, almost as if I had changed the Dac or the speakers. The sound is much more extended up and down the frequencies, and without grain, with a continuity and linearity that leaves you wow. More crystalline and less prominent at the top, more natural in the middle area and the greatest improvement is in the lower area, with bass with more grip, more sound space. If I could summarize the immense improvement it would be as sound with elegance and continuity across the entire bandwidth. Thank you again Mr. Alvin Chee.
Okay people, so I bought this and it took me a while but I installed it. Result on MY system (mid-highend) was outstanding! The soundstage is deeper, (obviously so) and wider, there is much more separation of the instruments, and the whole presentation is quieter than before. Well worth the upgrade of my Lumin U2 Mini. However here are some alterations for the install: 1. Don't clip the one red wire from the switch to the plug: take a soldering gun and apply some heat and then slip it off. (easy-peasy) 2. Buy 6 3mm nuts and washers so that you may place the screws back in the chassis so that there are no dust holes 3. Since the screws are now in their proper holes again, get something to mount the internal board about 6mm off the bottom of the case to clear the screws. Notes: A week later I am still pulling my head up / opening my eyes because I hear sounds more prominently than before (or didn't hear before). I think I am in the upper percentage of people who hear such a difference... but I am not so surprised what this LPS Mod has accomplished over its switching power supply. Also wish to say that this is much better decision than the sbooster because by default all the wires are at the back and not looking so sbooster fugly. (much less their is some L/C filter circuitry in this Mod which I believe is not in the sbooster) This has been one of my best mods to a piece of equipment to date. (35+ years).
Thanks for the positive feedback and tips, James! I am glad that the LPS works for you, and more importantly, the modded Lumin is sounding good. Enjoy!
As far as I understand the Lumin U2 Mini is a fully digital component. It just "calculates" bits (there is no digital to analog conversion). So why a new PS should be of any advantage for this? Do you think a computer calculates more accurate when the PS is highend?
Hi Alvin. I have LHY LPS 25VA model for my Lumin U1 Mini. I plan to upgrade to LPS 80VA. Can I use back my current DC cable? Does the power outlet connector of 80VA and 25VA the same?
Hi Paul, you may expect the following when you use/add an external LPS (a good quality one) - Lower noise floor that leads to better details, better weight, better imaging, soundstage. These are the common positive attributes. That being said, I am a strong believer of good quality power supply is the foundation of good sound.
Thanks Alvin, very well explained and performed. After going through lots of streamers and struggling with them I decided to opt for the u2 mini and am very happy with its ease of use and performance. However I’m always looking for ways to improve on my system and am very keen to upgrade the power supply to the Lumin. I live in the Wirral England, so would it be possible to order the power supply and circuit board that goes inside the Lumin from vinshine? May I ask if the advantage of replacement. Could I expect a little darker background and what’s the costing of these components. My system is in short .. Lumin u2 mini to Pontus 2 to Hegel p30 pre to passlabs xa30.8 power to q acoustics concept 500 Thanks once again Alvin 👍
Hi Robert, I can't agree more. Lumin app is user friendly and its performance is good. Nice system you have there, the LPS upgrade will be an .... upgrade!
I already had a LPS for another gear. Then I bought the Mini upgrade kit but put it in the closet because the switch power was already good. A month passed, I finally did the upgrade and it is a true upgrade to me. It took my system to another level higher. Thanks to Alvin
Great video Alvin. Expertly executed. You didn't explain exactly the function of the internal circuit board. Would it be a filter circuit to for example minimise circulating ground noise and/or possibe internal Lumin noise back into the mains? I am a former Radio Ham with radio electronic qualification, so was confident to execute the mod. I used Plixir Elite BDC 12v/4a balanced transformer design which perhaps cancels the need for the internal circuit, though probably at more cost.
It's a good question. The LHY Audio PSU Kit does have L/C Filter circuitry, unlike other kit on the market. The LC circuitry is tuned by LHY Audio engineer for audio :)
Hi! I see other LPS conversions for U1 mini, that only include short cable from main board to DC5.5/2.5, to which you connect LPS. I can use either this board inside Lumin, or just cable to LPS? Just to be sure I don't buy wrong parts. Im using PD Creative 12V LPS. Thank you in advance!
hi, if i choose lps 80 which is 12v 5amp, does it compatible to lumin mini u2, any differnce in sq compare to lps 25. does lps 80 reduce the life of player, whn compare with other like 2 or 3amp lps
No sir, it will not reduce the lifespan of the device. The device 'draw' the current from the LPS instead of the LPS 'pump' the current to the device. A larger capacity LPS would mean that you have more headroom or at least more power reserver :)
Can you mount the LHY Filter bank kit direct too the orginale power supply on the Lumin? For better sound improvment? I have the Lumin T2. The streamer chassis have better place inside.
What is the advantage of one of the larger power supplies as opposed to the 2amp unit. I ask because the switching mode power supply is also 2amp. What are the advantages of of the 5amp?
Hi James, I'd recommend LPS50/80VA for the Lumin U2 Mini. The LPS25VA rated at 12V/2A, might be a little on the bottle neck. As long as the LPS is rated >= the stock SMPS, it will work just fine.
pretty much the same as the Lumin u1 mini LPS mod. ive used the Sbooster internal mod. after the mod a signifcant improvement in sound quality in my system.
I lived in Beijing and Hong Kong, I wished there were more South East Asian "RU-vidrs" - there are so many great Asian brands, it would be great to put "faces" to more of them. I see John Yang from Topping on ASR but that is it.
$2500, no I2S output, and you have to personally modify it (voiding warranty) to make it sound half way decent !?!? NO THANK YOU!!!! Come on Alvin!!! Please don’t recommend this garbage!!
@@lazo69er Silent Angel Munich M1T or Pi2 designs Mercury streamer. Both have I2S output that matches Denafrips pin out. No need for a DDC. Plug and play. Each are $800. Sound and measure better than any USB streamer even with a DDC.
Have you tried a Lumin U2 mini with upgraded PSU in your owned system? You may answer Yes but i don't think so. You are just one of those guys who make comment without basis.. Try it and you will be blown away. I sold my Gaia DDC and now my Schiit Freya+ preamp is also up for sale. That's how good this Lumin U2 mini is. The Leedh Processing volume control really works wonder.
Not really. In a device like this, the ongoing software development for the companion app is high. Costs for factory, labour and test equipment for FCC, CE and other regulatory compliance testing across multiple countries. Costs for custom packaging and technical authors for documents which all need legal review. Costs to set up a supplier chain and ship units to distributors, costs to market and supply loss leader units to reviewers. It all adds up. A retailer typically buys at 50% of retailed price, and the manufacturer makes similar margin, so the unit likely costs £450, but DIY equivalent doesn't have most of these costs. If you can DIY something as good including bespoke Android/iOS device apps, then do. But there's a lot more than a case and a board to bring such devices to market.
@@maybecrazy7835 Some of what you say may be true, I don't agree with everything though. I hate the markup in audio, it makes me angry. I don't mind companies making a profit, but if you are right then 4 times build cost is still disgusting.
@@johnratcliffe6438 Then don't ever find out how much a typical car costs once it's in proper production. It's a more eye-watering ratio. But I get what you mean. Certainly audio has areas way worse than streamers, most notably cables. But people still spend 100s or 1000s per metre. Audiophile cable prices could be considered a criminal enterprise.
![Part #2: Lumin U2 Mini LPS Mod [Completed]](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
