I do not find this any different from any other distributor, reseller, dealer, etc. We assume he has an interest, if nothing else because he carries the product. Ever dealer tries to convince us his product line is wonderful. His role is described in detail on the manufacturer’s site. If one is interested in the product, you will quickly discover this.
Moreover, what is the harm? The products receive superb reviews and are reasonably priced. It is not as if interested purchasers are going to suddenly decide not to buy once they learn Mr. Deal is the distributor - unless they have an issue with him personally.
It’s hardly put out in a forthcoming way. Watch any number of his YouTube videos where he is doing A/B tests with an “audience” to show that the Primaluna is superior to product X or Y. He never once mentions his business interests. He seems to be a mere dealer posing as an advocate for the consumer. I find it to be less than best practice.
Exactly. It’s also notable that he calls all his promotional content “reviews” rather than the advertorials they actually are.
I agree he’s not the most egregious person but I still wouldn’t trust anything he says because there is a hint of dishonesty about it all.
Most people aren’t going to go and check the various websites which explain his relationship to the companies he promotes.
His videos are tagged as and come up alongside actual reviews and hence I find that to be deliberately misleading.
It’s like watching a show with stock analysts. They always make a disclaimer: Ms. Jones has an interest in Apple or company z. Not many will go to the about page of the brand to find this information. Most people would also not understand that a dealer is also a distributor. That is, he has a special interest in some of his products over others. The pretense of blind A/B testing is that there is neutrality or objectivity. Why go through this charade if deception wasn’t the intention? Having a good product or a high value product is not the point. That doesn’t absolve him from being transparent. Would you feel the same way about PS Audio handling things this way? Or do you assume a caveat emptor to all things?
I did a comparison over the weekend between the Lumin U1 and the DSD Bridge II. I started playing some high resolution music via Roon and streamed to both the Bridge II and the Lumin U1 as a group. I switched back and forth between them using the remote on my integrated. I couldn’t tell a difference. My ears must be failing me as I thought I heard a difference earlier while testing.
Your mileage may vary with your system. Now what? Sell the Lumin? Hmmm…
In my system the Lumin sounds best, followed by the Matrix and then Bridge 2.
À Chord Sarum super aray bnc to rca cable really made a big difference.
I will try their Sarum t aes soon.
Do you mean Lumin U1 straight to dsd is best sounding and if you add Matrix after Lumin it degrades sound? Just trying to get your setups right because im thinking of getting a separate streamer. Lumin U1 or mini and Roon Nucleus+ are at the top of the list now. 99% of my listening is streaming. Happy to hear any recommendations of them.
I am comparing Lumin to DSD and Matrix to DSD.
I have a Nucleus +, and I recommend the Nucleus + and the Lumin.
But you need good Ethernet cables and a good digital cable from Lumin to DSD.
I have done the direct comparison between Auralic Aries G2, and, the PSA Bridge2. Bridge2 sounds excellent, but, the G2 sound seems to come from a darker background with a bit more detail and three dimensional soundstage. I have also noted, my DSD seems to run quite a bit warmer when using the Bridge2.
What connection did you use to the DSD? My experience was more in line with kylemillsap. The Aries G2 has a larger soundstage and more dimensionality , greater detail, separation, location, and, increased immersion and connection to the music. I started with a very expensive AES/EBU cable and was very disappointed. As soon as I connected via the inexpensive USB that came with the unit I knew it was a game changer.
I connect my Lumin U1 to the DSD DAC with a Wireworld Platinum Starlight AES/EBU. I also tried the Shunyata Venom USB cable and I prefer Wireworld AES/EBU cable over USB
Has any one auditioned the Innuous side by side with the melco and lumin u1 mini.
I know individually those units perform better than the bridge. Would love to know thoughts on a shoot out
