So I found this video of the neoliths.. they don’t seem to have much more space than what I have... hmm I’m confused
https://youtu.be/V8eLHyn32To
https://youtu.be/V8eLHyn32To
My Long List of Amplifiers and My Personal Review of Each!
So I found this video of the neoliths.. they don’t seem to have much more space than what I have... hmm I’m confused https://youtu.be/V8eLHyn32To |
Mike: you need to dump those 601s... if I let you hear a single luxman 900u amp and preamp you would hear why. Jafant: add luxman d08u and esoteric k1 to the list. Esoteric os #1 as a dac and spinner luxman d08u #2 as a spinner simausio 650 #3 gamut # 4 teknodude: I need a Speaker I can actually sell when I’m done with it lol. Stargazer: no plans of anything naim ok boys and girls. I just spoke to Logan and they seem to believe the neoliths will work just fine in my room. That I should have zero concerns. |
Hahaha ok maple. Man oh man.. I have my index finger on the trigger.... sigh... big sigh. I’ve analyzed everything you can possibly think of and it checks all the boxes in terms of the room, pricing, components that I have for the speaker, and they barely squeeze in my home through the sliding door but they make it inside. It’s a 3 man job to get the neoliths in here... probably takes a half a day just to uncrate them, get them out and bring them in the house. Then another half a day storing the crates, positioning the speakers, etc. Then i need another person to help unpack the Krell 700cx when it arrives here in about 10 days or so. The plan is the Audio Research Ref 10 which i will get this week, the krell FPB 700CX, Esoteric k1, Neoliths, Wireworld cables or cardas clear. If the krell does not move me then i will try my pass labs 350.8 since i still have it and then the diablo 300. I do not want to keep the luxman set up at that point because i will be having most of my funds in the speakers rather than electronics. Right now, i have most of my money in components and less in the speakers so i want to see what happens when you spend most of your budget in speakers and less in the electronics. |
Audiolabyrinth: it was recapped in 2015. Mike: I get your point and I was there until I realized how mid fi minctosh truly is. They compete with the Brystons, parasounds, Nad, rotel, anthem. They don’t compete with the audio research, luxman, Jeff Rowland’s, simaudio, esoteric, accuphase etc. But yet they are charging top dollar? Why ? Well their name has carried them this far. You have any idea how many dealers have offered me the 1.25kw? The 611s? Customers are trading them in due to their disappointment. That said, it’s your $ but I’ve been where you are. There’s a whooole Lot of stuff out there that will best those 601s and possibly for less. People fall in love with the lights and the cool look. That’s pretty much one of the biggest reasons why McIntosh exists. |
a lot of McIntosh sensitivity here. I understand that. I was there until I decided to move up the ladder and that is when I realized how behind McIntosh is. pass labs really demolished anything McIntosh I’ve owned. Then I left pass labs and ventured with luxman, and luxman killed pass labs. I tried the krell 402e with a ref10 and the simaudio 860a killed it with detail and smoothness. Then the luxman 900u had a battle with the 860a and ultimately I thought the luxman was the winner. Soon after, I met Rowland and well Rowland 925s came in and slammed the door. Yes, that’s a really small scenario of what happened here. im sure I left something out but this is just a Quick story. Sorry but McIntosh is mid-fi and I don’t see it going anywhere. Bryston is decent well built gear but you’re not exactly competing against what I mentioned above. If I had to choose between McIntosh or Bryston I’d choose McIntosh based on its ease to sell it and get your money out. McIntosh is the best brand to have your money in. Nothing moves faster than McIntosh gear. If they could only make something worth me keeping... |
Ok guys, i want your gut feeling on this: luxman 900u Monos/900u preamp versus ref10/krell 700cx What do you think will sound better with my Sasha 2s? I will say I didn’t like pass labs 350.8 with ref 10 and my speakers... too warm sounding and I using silver 7 cables which suppose to make the highs brighter... give me your thoughts |
Interesting guys. I have a gut feeling that the krell 700cx won’t have the level of refinement of the 900u. I just feel like the older amps had graininess or harshness or just not the same level of resolution. I remember trying the 402e with my ref6 and it was ok but it wasn’t like wow omg. The ref10 and simaudio was spectacular though but not with Wilsons. It was jaw dropping with the salon 2s I owned. |
So I just connected the ref10 to my luxman Monos. This is my preliminary feeling: huge massive outrageous, all the way to the parking lot size soundstage. More relaxed sounding but almost too laid back. has all the ingredients but I feel it could be a synergy thing with my Wilsons and ref10. They just don’t seem to get along. I can probably use a bright amplifier at this time in order to throw more highs. It seems as if the sound opens up to the sides but doesn’t come at you. |
No, I used wireworld silver 7. That said, I just got done testing a very expensive power cord from a well know brand and I smell snake oil... my wireworld silver 7 powercord smoked it. This was using it with the ref10 which has now settled on my shelves indicating it’s staying. I have VERY VERY interesting feedback in regards to the Luxman 900u preamp versus ref10. I will post it when I have time this weekend. |
Guys it's the music.... You can't use any song you feel like playing on YouTube. It is copyrights. Usually the artist does not have a contract with YouTube where they make money from it. For instance, Fleetwood Mac is highly protected and YouTube won't allow any videos with their music. If the artists isn't making $$$, then YouTube can't play it. It's business at the end of the day. Sometimes the artist doesn't want just 25 cts for each time their songs play. Sometimes they want 1 dollar instead and YouTube gives them the middle finger. As simple as that. |
Thank you denon. I’ll continue to report. I will say that I own both right now and yes the Luxman is intoxicating and so are the 900u in mono mode. They are so spectacular to my ears that I dont see anything else I currently own besting it which includes the krell 700cx once I receive it next week. I just don’t see the krell coming in and smoking the 900u in mono configuration. I can see the krell being better in bass control and that’s where it will end. Will I spend a million dollars rewiring my home to see if the krell can beat the luxman 900us? Hell no. I’ll get the 20a outlet done and a buy a nice outlet and that’s it. If it doesn’t convince me then it’s going to be sold. This whole thing of having to buy crazy cables, circuit breakers, feet, still points, amp stands that dont vibrate, batteries to power components, etc just to edge out another component that needs none of that is something I wont be a part of. I will buy that component that just needs a good power cord and a standard outlet instead. |
Roxy, what I’m saying is I won’t do this: 30k amp 30k in cables, outlets, stillpoints etc just to barely beat a 50k amp ? Hell no I won’t do that. I’ll just buy the 50k amp, plug it into any outlet and be blown away. I Refuse to buy 15k power cord, 20k speaker cables etc. I just rather use that money to buy an amp that is more expensive that will sound good without so much damn drama. This is WHY I love Luxman. You can connect Luxman with Home Depot cable, the lamp cord you have next to your bed and use a PlayStation powercord for it and it will STILL sound damn good. |
Don’t get me wrong guys, cables make a difference but it won’t make a 20k difference. Instead of buying a speaker cable worth 20k, I rather a 20k source to make things sound better. I use silver 7 cabling and each time I try something else I end up going back to silver 7. Also, remember some brands are not affected by expensive cables. Pass labs is a perfect example. I’ve done a trillion experiments and don’t seem to hear any difference with different power cords. Pass labs then confirmed that their amps are designed internally in such a way that powercords don’t make any sort of huge impact on them. |
so the krell 700CX will be here this Thursday and the more i think about it, i don’t really think it will hold off the luxman 900u monos. It is an "old" design. It is a powerhouse,but i am here to tell you power means NOTHING. The luxman 900u demonstrated that to me many many times. As a matter of fact, the Luxman 900u has made me stop listening to the diablo 300 and it keeps putting huge doubts in my mind that the krell 700cx will come close. If i were to put a $1,000 bet, my money is on the luxman monos. My krell 402e got its butt handed by another amp which i can’t recall which one it was (it wasn’t luxman). I hope i am wrong and that i am shocked by the krell, but all i suspect is that the krell will have a big amount of bass, big muscle and big control over my Sasha 2s, but it will be torn apart by the 900us when it comes to resolution, refinement, etc. I see it as this: David vs Goliath Mustang 5.0 versus Ferrari Hemi engine vs inline 6 twin turbo Bull versus Pasofino horse Nascar racecar versus Formula 1 racecar Those are the best comparisons i can think of. One being just raw power, muscle versus refinement, wisdom, technology etc. I do not think muscle will win this.... |
We shall see this weekend Guys...that said, I’m not about to embark on buying crazy cabling for the krell. I’ll do the 20a upgrade and a nice outlet. That’s it. It’s either going to beat the Luxman or it’s not. Not about to go buy turbos, superchargers, nitrous, cams, ported heads etc so I can beat the other car. If I have to go through that much work then I’ll just buy the other car, pump gas and haul a$$. Why do you think I fell in love with the Camaro back in the 90s after owning a mustang ? Because the camaro was just faster and better. I had to do cams, heads, exhaust etc to be able to beat on the ls1 engine that only had an air intake and a shifter. To me, that’s the beautiful thing about having so many options. Why go through so much pain unless you are doing it because you want to see what changed in your set up after adding a new tweak. that said, maybe the krell does surprise me and puts on a show. I’m not totally counting it out. Lastly, the Luxman 900u also made me realize how mid fi the pass labs 350.8 truly is... I’d own a Luxman 900u over just about any pass labs amp with the exception of the xs series. Audiolabyrinth: I know your krell is not the same as mine. Yours has a boat load of money invested in it and internal work. Mine is the pure work that came out of krell. If mine loses, this doesn’t mean yours would. |
There has never been a more neutral amplifier than the one i am currently using. Not boulder, not constellation, not gryphon essence, not momentum, not NOTHING. I will be unveiling it hopefully by the end of the year. It's crazy good but you must have cojones to drive this thing. I was watching this bull riding documentary today and this guy named "J.B." is a skinny tall incredible bull rider. You need to be J.B. with this amp. |
I’ve been trying for ears to find an older car that’s better than a new one. Although I love the look of a -1969 camaro, i can’t say I love the engine or transmission. My perfect dream car has always been an old school muscle car with today’s engine and Transmission. Part of the reason why I love to go back in time with amplifiers is to see how good Good they are versus today’s offerings. I’ve still yet to find an old amp that rivals today’s best offerings. I remember hearing the pass labs 350.5 and when I compared it to the simaudio 860a, it sounded muffled, loose on the bass and with no finesse. That said, someone who doesn’t have anything to compare it to wouldn’t know any better. |
That would take too much effort here which I don’t want to put in... there’s always people who can benefit from what I write and those that don’t. I can’t please everyone and i don’t intend to. That said, make it about your own track, your own support crew and if you decide then you can bring one of the vehicles I’ve recommended to see how it performs. The truth here guys is that if I were to bring some crazy cabling, ultra expensive amps and preamps etc then MOST OF YOU would lose interest. Trust me, I received a few messages when I owned the rowlands from people that said they loved my journey but that I was starting to lose them with gear that they could not afford. I’ll try to keep “affordable” gear in this thread. |
Well tomorrow night i hope to begin to make sure it is working perfectly before I begin to listen to it. The caps were replaced by krell in 2015 so not very long ago. I will begin to listen with a standard 15a outlet until my electrician decides that he needs the money and then he will come out. Anyhow, I am 60% leaning on the full luxman set winning it all but I also won’t lie that the massive juice of the krell which is pure class a along with the incredible ref10 will have something to say about it. my source is the esoteric k1 and I will try 3 different types of speaker cables to see what happens. Stay tuned... oh and if I find a deal on the krell MRA Monos then they will be next ! Lastly, I am about to pay for the next pair of speakers that will replace my beloved Sasha’s. No they are not the neoliths but they do retail for $60k+ and I can’t say anything else until they are here.... it is the one brand that I’ve wanted to try for a long time... I expect these speakers to demolish my Sasha’s and the alexias. |
So i have been playing the krell 700cx for the last hour and at first i was getting more mids on my left speaker. i tried 2 preamps with it, i tried the luxman as well and no it is not the speakers. i then went to run an errand and left it playing and now the sound has fixed itself. i suspect it is due to the capacitors needing to charge, etc the reason why i was getting imbalanced sound. My initial impressions using the 900u preamp are that this amp has amazing mids. Very clear, clean and articulate mids. I can understand every single word being sung by the artist. Bass control is world class for sure. The highs are not close to the luxman 900u highs. That said, i need to let it run longer and then insert the ref10 in the mix and see what happens. So far, i gotta be honest that this beast is no slouch. Not at all. |
Negative. The krell is better than the 350.8. Bigger, massive, with way more bottom end control. The 350.8 is not worth the asking price. The 860a is better than the 350.8 but if you have hard to drive speakers then the 350.8 is a better choice. As I said above, pass labs is mid fi just like McIntosh and Brystons. The xs stuff is indeed better though... just too much damm heat in my opinion. the only thing that sucks with the 700cx is that it’s old so failure rate could be high for many units. Mine is perfect because it was sent to krell in 2015 but the rest of them could be questionable but the fact that it can still be battling amps today is a huge statement. |