skyline

One interesting thing I found is Berkeley recommends plugging the unit into an outlet used for analog, on a different circuit than the music server. I found it sounded much better plugged into my dedicated line outlet used for analog components (rather than the dedicated line outlet for my digital components).

I received my Series 2 upgraded by Berkeley. It’s more analog and higher resolution than Series 1. It elevated the performance of my U2 mini in a way that I didn’t think was possible. It must be isolating the streamer from the DAC, because the noise floor is very low. I can hear all of the background percussion and keyboards on electronic music now. It was muffled or inaudible before.

I received my Series 2 upgraded by Berkeley. It’s more analog and higher resolution than Series 1. It elevated the performance of my U2 mini in a way that I didn’t think was possible.

I know, that's what I thought for ten years too 😂 Then you hear the Berkeley and wonder, where have you been all of my life?

Well that is the fun part of the hobby, deciding how to use our limited resources to upgrade the sound. I agree with you on the price of the Berkeley, I bought mine second hand and had Berkeley upgrade it to Series 2. As far as the USB/SPDIF output, that is the assumption I (and many others) had made. That the Berkeley was redundant with todays high end streamers. But that is obviously not the case. It is really quite astonishing that the Berkeley has been released for 10+ years and is still such an upgrade over the current high end streamers USB/SPDIF output. We can ask @wklie, but I assume the USB/SPDIF outputs are identical on the U2 and mini.

Yes the Berkeley is a night and day difference from the Lumin U2 mini USB/SPDIF outputs. That's not to disparage Lumin in any way, the Berkeley is that good and would improve almost every streamer out there. The idea is the Berkeley levels the playing field so you don't need to spend $20k on a streamer. I didn't have a chance to compare against other DDCs, there are many choices now. But the Berkeley is so good I'm sticking with it (and having it upgraded to series 2).

Berkeley alpha USB connects to the USB output of your Lumin U2/mini (via a USB cable). It converts it to SPDIF which goes into your DAC (via an SPDIF cable). If you want USB to USB, you can get Innuos Phoenix USB. Don't listen to the Berkeley unless you're prepared to buy it. Berkeley currently has my unit to upgrade it to series 2, and I can see there is no going back to life without it. My U2 mini (running off linear power) with the Berkeley is better than a streamer I had that cost 5x more.

But yes, I agree with you. The power cord for the Berkeley definitely affects the overall sound of my system.

Berkeley alpa USB is not a cable. It's USB to SPDIF converter.

I have used both Lumin USB and SPDIF outputs. I think my TotalDAC Gigafilter USB cable has more filtering to remove the digital nasties than my SPDIF cable. But both cannot compete with the Berkeley USB interface. There will be no going back once you hear it with your Lumin.

I wonder how much of an upgrade it was for your U2. I used a series 1 with a U2 mini and it was a night and day difference. Speaks volumes about the Berkeley. No way to go back to the USB/SPDIF output of the Lumin without the Berkeley now. And I was using a wonderful sounding TotalDAC Gigafilter USB cable to connect to my DAC.

Has anyone used a Berkeley USB with their Lumin U2/mini? I wasn’t prepared for how much the Berkeley improved the Lumin. It’s a testament to the Berkeley that it has been around for this long and is still a night and day improvement over the Lumin’s USB and SPDIF output.

Has anyone compared USB and SPDIF outputs on their Lumin? I have been using a Black Cat Tron SPDIF with good results. I just tried a TotalDAC Gigafilter USB cable, and I'm surprised how good it is. My Lumin keeps getting better with the right system upgrades.

Lumin U2 mini is exceptionally musical with a good LPS and the right system setup.

I have the same problem randomly.