Luxman Preamps

How do you like Mono M-10X vs. single Stereo one @thisisme? The stereo configuration goes down to 1 ohm, while the Mono only spec to to 2 ohm, so there’s some trade off it seems for more power. Not that many, if any, speakers goes to 1 ohm.

Very interested in hearing your thoughts on this, I’m thinking of going the same direction, buying another M-10X. I’m running D-10X and CL-1000 pre-amp, got to have some tube goodness :)

Thanks!

It’s been awhile since my first post. But I have sold the 595ASE for another M-10X. I was running the two M-10X for about 6 months while waiting for my C-10X to arrive. I got the C-10X around September of last year so my set up has been 2x M-10X and C-10X either D-10X CD player/DAC and a Lumin U2 streamer. 
I’m done with gear. :D 

@thisisme What did you land on? 

I have a 507ux and the preamp section is sweeeet! :) 

Thanks for all the inputs. I’m going to stick with SS. I don’t have any experience with tubes and they’re maybe too sophisticated for me. 
I’m going ask for the C900U demo and C-10X demo when it’s available and decide. 
Didn’t think preamps would make that much of a difference. 

I have the Luxman m900 and for now I’m just using the Aurender A20 as the preamp. Waiting to see what come out and from what I read if you only use digital a preamp might not offer much.

Some of us are suggesting tubes into your SS amp.

Have you or will you consider, or have you ruled tubes out???

Here is a New Luxman Tube Preamp

http://www.luxman.com/product/detail.php?id=35

As for one sounding ’better’, I think, not better but ’different’, I preferred ____

Most tube preamps I have had/listened to have been 12_____.

This one, like my Little Luxman SQ-N150 uses E88cc

I don’t tend to tube roll (unless something sounds bad/wrong), generally they sound great, off I go for say 5 years. Tubes are not big maintenance as some think.

............................................

I just bought the Luxman CL-38uC and it’s gorgeous and it sounds amazing.  I would highly recommend.

The AHB2 monos will not cut it with the Blade 2 Meta, no matter what that Stereophile review says. I love the AHB2 but it won’t sound over the top great with the Blade 2 Meta. There is not enough power in those amps for the Blades. I had the Thiel CS3.7 recently with the AHB2 and I loved it and hated it at the same time. Not enough power.

The following amps had a better power match with the Thiel:

CODA #8

KRELL DUO 175XD

Parasound A21+

D-Sonic something

LSA Voyager 350 GAN

All these amps drove the Thiel more dynamically, more oomph!

I sent an email to KRELL today and got news that the new KRELL KSA i400 amp was released today. That is what I will use with the Blade 2 Meta and the Benchmark LA4 preamp.

@yyzsantabarbara  
Why not use a LA4 with the ABH2 monos on the blade 2m if you like the benchmark so much? 

Give this a try for 30 days and return if you do not like it, the Benchmark LA4 preamp at $2500.

I have one in my office system with AHB2 mono amps and it is my favorite preamp from the many preamps that came through the system in the past 2 years.

I was considering getting the Luxman M-10X amp for my upcoming KEF Blade 2 Meta. However, I narrowed it down to a KRELL or CODA amp instead (owned both lower end models before). With either of these new amps I will buy a second LA4 preamp.

I have heard the Luxman C900u preamp with the Luxman m900u amps and loved the amps, but was not interested in the preamp. I do not want a preamp to add to the sound of the system.

Get a Luxman CL-38uC. It sounds great with my Nagra Classic amp. 

Do not buy the Luxman NOS CL-35 preamp. It does not sound as good as the CL-38 Preamp. I have both

I would be very tempted by this NOS Luxman Tube Preamp

I’ve owned both the integrateds and the separates, in my opinion the preamp section of the integrated amp is not up to par with the amplifier.  To do justice to the amplifier you should really get the matching preamp, which is fully balanced and differential.  The integrated just has single ended outputs.  I currently have a 590ax II and have tried its preamp output with some other amplifiers, and it isn’t that great compared to standalone preamps.  

The "Line Straight" setting on Luxman preamps simply bypasses the tone controls and loudness settings. It does not make them all sound the same, there are big differences in the quality of the preamps in their integrated vs. their separates. I've owned the C-900u and M-900u for many years with no desire to upgrade, they are truly exceptional products with a very high pride of ownership factor. Build quality and operational feel stand out compared to most of their competition. I could understand wanting to get the brand new C-10x to match your M-10x rather than getting a C-900u at this point, but if you're alright with used gear you could save a lot of money by getting a used C-900u which are likely to become plentiful once the replacement is released.