Good investment. The lumin U1 mini is a great unit. I found it needed about 100hrs to loosen up and lock in. Similar to your experience it sounded horrible initially.
I’ve played around with different cables but find usb is the best sounding interconnect. I’m currently using a curious cable and it sounds spot on.
I will be at 100 hrs this evening.
As of this morning, the MINI has still not surpassed my laptop in terms of all the “audiophile” aspects. It’s close, but I am expecting/hoping for it to be much better once burned in.
Also thinking about putting in an SR Orange fuse. The fuse holder being so easily gotten to and all. I put one in my PASS 30.8 and it made a HUGE difference. Maybe get the same results with the MINI…
Give it time mate. The difference between new / 50hrs / 100hrs+ was significant. I ended up running signal into mine non stop for about a week (with amp switched off) before it started sounding right.
Passed that 100hr mark late last night. Friday night will be a week, and the 200hr mark early Sunday morning. This weekend should be interesting.
I bought this from Upscale Audio, so I have a full 60 days to return…if need be. I am hoping not.
interesting that you are not getting the results yet… Is there a chance your unit is defective? What cables are you using?
When I got home last night, even at the lower volume I run it during the day, I could tell that she turned a corner. A LOT less “digititus” or “crunch” as I call it. Later, when I got a chance to sit down and really listen, I could tell she was starting to get broke in. Much less crunch, thicker bass, and the soundstage is starting to bloom.
Tonight is a week. The guy from Lumin said to give it 2 weeks of 24/7 play. This next week should be fun!
I am using a Curious Evolved out of the Lumin and into an Innuos Phoenix. Out of the Phoenix with a Curious regular into a Matrix (NO LPS). Out of the Matrix with a Triode Wire Labs AES/EBU into the DS Sr. I have an HFC Reveal into the Lumin and the Phoenix, that are both plugged into an HFC Hemisphere.
That’s fantastic news. 
Any updates on your U1 Minis? I just one last Saturday and have been running it 16 hours (all my 96kHz/24bit files on repeat) a day breaking it in. I’m liking it so far and if it gets better with more time I won’t complain. Currently using Coax out to my DSD Jr.
Own both a DSJ and an U1 Mini. Have you tried AES/EBU instead of Coax?
No, Although I have a cheap AES cable I can try though. Do you find the AES to sound better?
Don’t know what to tell you mate as it might be confirmation bias he-he. But yes, having tried USB, Coax and EAS/EBU cables (all of them within super reasonable price brackets say US$ 250 tops) after the latest firmware update I do tend to prefer the AES. Good idea to try with the El Cheapo AES and see what you make of it.
Firmware on the Jr or the U1? What versions of each are you running?
I confirm AES is really good on my Lumin U1.
Thanks guys! I just switched over to the AES output while I continue to burn in the U1 Mini
On the U1 Mini. There’s been a recent update which impacts directly on its AES/EBU input. Perceivable or not, that’s an entirely different thing (subjective)
Hi @efete and @veloaudio, I noticed that since I upgraded the Lumin to 3.14, it stopped playing my DSD 64 files. I have to convert them to PCM now 
.
Do you have the same issue ?
There was an update this morning. 13.4a
I don’t run DSD so not sure, but this may fix your problem.
Thank you.
Yes I contacted Peter and he fixed the bug in the new release.
Do you use Leedh volume ?
I do. I like it very much. It seems a little harsh without it. I run LEEDH at 84 and the DSD at 87 to 92. Sounds awesome!
I did switch back to the AES/EBU output on my U1 Mini to see/hear the improvement with the 13.4 update. It is better, but I run USB through a Phoenix, to a Matrix, then AES/EBU to DSD which is still MUCH better.
I read for the volume to be active you have to run it below 100 percent volume at 99 or less