Help with possible integrated amp change for better match with my speakers.


Hello,

I've been using a Simaudio Moon 600i V1 to power my Focal L&R Utopia B speakers for some years now. 

I have spent lots of time with power cord, and interconnect cable changes. Also different outlets (Furutech GTX-D, both NCF(R) and Gold) I've plugged the speaker ports for a less bloated sound and have the system sounding actually quite nice. BUT...... all the same I'm missing some of the fine micro details buried in the music.  

This brings me to my question to you. I've been thinking about trying eather the Luxman L-509X or the L-595ASE integrated amps. Do you think this would give me better detail retrevial than my current 600i amp does? Would the 595ASE class A amp do a better job with my speakers than the 509X?

Or is there a better choice of integrated amp than this I should consider to achieve my goal for better resolution of fine micro details? 

Thanks for your time and thoughts.

gakman

I’ve had Focals and I own a Luxman 507ux, but not at the same time. 

The Luxmans are excellent and very smooth performers so I’d highly recommend them with Focals.

As for detail retrieval you may want to look at your room.  A good mix of diffusion and absorption around the speaker may help you more than a hardware change.

Diffusion between and to the sides of your speakers can bring out a lot of hall ambiance as well as improve imagery much more than a lot of hardware upgrades can. 

Also, be careful not to fall into the "more details" trap.  Audiophiles may chase these and end up with gear that has exaggerated treble or very ragged treble.  The ear gets fooled by ragged frequency responses into thinking "I've never heard this before" Well, if you keep getting gear with ragged, but different responses you'll keep feeling like the next piece of gear has given you "more" but it's not "more" it's just different.

Thanks for the responses. I have been pondering a different disc player, I'm currently using an oppo 205 for all disc playback. I recently read about the Teac VRDS-701 and it sounds like a fine machine.

Do you all think my oppo may be a glossing over some of the micro details I feel are missing? It does seem that CD playback is where I'm least happy with my systems sound. 

I have three sources, turntable, FM radio tuner, and CD-disc player. The thing is many of my CD's that I've owned for a long time and played on long gone equipment I remember things that are either missing or quite subdued. Yes my old systems tended to be rather bright and I don't miss that, but I still miss what I know I used to hear. 

Although I haven't really worked with my room as far as adding panels for diffusion or absorption, I do think it's actually not bad with the way it's setup, carpet flooring, fabric blinds, and a number of different types/shapes of furnishings. And of course, at 69 my old ears are surly not what they used to be.

First of all, how do you know you're missing "micro details" (whatever those are)? Have you heard them on different systems with the exact same recordings? Second of all, no amp is going to change what you perceive to be not hearing. 

I have a great Accuphase E-800 with the optional phono pre-amp (AD-60) that matched really well with my Harbeth SHL5XDs and 40.3XDs.  I am considering selling it since I made a big leap up to Accuphase separates. Located in Pennsylvania.   PM me if interested. 

@roadcykler 

I may not be using the correct terminology in "micro details", but i did explain it in the third paragraph of my post just before yours. 

I get the message that probably an amp change won't solve my issue. I'm going to entertain the idea of trying a different disc player.