Fabbe
That’s exactly as I describe my Diablo 300..........live music....all the dynamic range of the music comes through and it is a high resolution presentation.
The 590 AX mk2 Luxman has a beautiful smooth fluid hi-fi presentation....like a great stereo.....but not live. Had them side by side.
Yes.....the Diablo looks like well, like it came from hell....lol.
And the Luxman 590Axmk2 is a gorgeous unit, the heat vents are a work of industrial art.....and the controls,meters and buttons are very retro....maybe too old fashioned for me, reminds me of my old Receivers from the 70’s
The Pass Int-60 was mentioned. It was the integrated I pitted against a bunch of others. At around $6k street price it’s the best buy of all. And like the Luxman it’s a gorgeous sculpture at least for my tastes. It has a more tube like sound than the other 2 if that’s what you like. Also it’s made here in America and service is second to none in my experience.
YMMV .......disclaimer
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Word on the street is that the new McIntosh 611/1.25kw sound terrible... hint hint... |
Whitecamaross,
Yes they are both integrateds. 509x is an A/B probably still high bias amp 125 w into 8 ohms. And the 590axii is 30 w pure class A. I have not so big room so going with the class A. Unless you heard both and still recommend the 509x. Thanks! |
Whitecamaross read your addendum to Pass int60! Yes I prefer a more tube like sound but don't want to lose resolution. |
Sorry the pass int60 was mentioned from dguitarnut's thread. |
Yeah I heard the Mac 611 with all Mac front end paired with 30k Sonus Faber speakers and felt suffocated.
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WC my money was on the Luxman. It sounds like it more than held it own against Gryphon. My bet the new Luxman you just received will be your all time favorite.
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@fabbe @dguitarnut Since both of you own the Gryphon can you comment on the following statement the OP made? (esp. re. source): It can get a tad bright when cranked up. Source needs to be carefully selected with this piece. Since the question wasn’t answered I have to assume that OP’s statement was based on a single source (maybe two). OP then describes the Gryphon as: Now the gryphon is sounding darker and less detailed I haven’t read nor heard the Gryphon described this way. The Gryphon Diablo 300 is a component I am interested in comparing my T+A PA 3100 HV to and your feedback will help. Thank you! |
Sources used with gryphon:
esoteric k1
luxman d08u
chord Dave
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Thanks. Which source did you find paired best with the Gryphon? And what was ahead of the Chord Dave? |
I have read on several forums/reviews that the Diablo 300 sounds Dark so WC is certainly not alone in making that statement at all. I havent heard or read about brightness but not sure how many are listening at same volume levels as the OP. |
To me the Diablo is nor dark or bright, I think it respects instruments natural sound. If you listen to live music you’ll find out that it’s seldom bright, especially when you listen to acoustic instruments. some badly amplified rock concerts or badly recorded records can be overlly bright. I just find the Diablo to sound real.
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Luxman M900u amplifier has midrange to die for, it is meaty, tuby, has texture...the highs have tonal density and lots of resolution. Many audiophiles sold their tube big rig to replace it by that amp.
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You can find some nice reviews of the Diablo 300 on Soundstage and Enjoy the Music.
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Thank you @fabbe Your take is really helpful. I was planning on auditioning the Gryphon when I conducted the recent evaluations, but my trip to NYC to do so fell through.
riaa, I realize that these descriptors are personally defined / expressed and are also comparative to whatever gear and systems folks have.... what I was confused by was ’bright’ followed by ’dark and less detailed’...which usually don’t go hand in hand.
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You’re absolutelly right, every one has its own opinion, you have to listen by yourself and then decide. A bright sound doesn’t mean an amp is detailed, the Diablo is very detailed and revealing although very musical and pleasent to listen to.
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I have found my Diablo to be neither dark nor bright. To date, it is has the most natural sound presentation of any integrated I have owned. |
i like the diablo. No doubt but I wouldn’t be heartbroken if I couldn’t afford it and had the Luxman. |
whitecamaross,
Your written comments suggest clearly ( to me ) that you find both the Gryphon Diablo and the Luxman 509x excellent sounding with each having its distinctive character. Overall they occupy the same level of performance and will appeal to different types of listeners depending on taste.
Charles |
@david_ten
If you re-read the entire thread I think you'll find that WCSS's tastes go to the very warm side of the spectrum. His bright might be your neutral but very musical. |
I don’t think his taste is to the very warm side. Like me, he likes to listen loud and my experience is you cannot listen loud when your system or speakers are aiming just a tad on the bright side...even sometimes on the neutral side makes listening at loud level for long period of times very fatiguing. Specially if you like brass like trumpet, or alto saxophone played loudly. |
UPDATE:
I have listed my M900U AMPLIFIER AND C900U PREAMPLIFIER FOR SALE. I HAVE 2 M900Us amplifiers as you know. I am making a bold move by selling them right away. Bigger plans are coming and these 3 pieces have to go!!
Luxman integrated will be listed soon as well. If you wanted any of these luxman pieces, go check out my listing for them! |
Maybe that’s what happens when you realize 2 monos amps don’t really sound better than 1 stereo amp in your system. Or it ´s just obsessive compulsive disorder, I know I have it also.
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Nothing was realized. I heard my monos with the 900u and it’s a superior experience to the Luxman integrated. More soundstage, more detail, far more separation and less congestion. Pretty much it sounds like the integrated but to a much more massive scale. Never run out of steam regardless of the load. Is it better than the Rowland 925 with the 900u? No it is not. The only thing I’d say it has over the Rowland is the size of the soundstage. It’s larger and nice 3D sound.
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So why move them so fast? What's next? |
Can’t comment yet. It will be an expensive move. |
I am moving them out because I want to purchase something I’ve never tried. I got a chance to buy something at a great deal so I need to let them go. Someone will be extremely happy with these. After Rowland’s, this is the besr I’ve heard.
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Just plugged in the new wireworld gold
eclipse 8 speaker cables and it’s a HOLY SH@T improvement without even breaking in.... wow im super impressed
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Have you tried the Naim Statement (Pre - power)?
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I'm guessing the fun with integrateds is done. I wonder how the Pass Labs INT-250 would have done? Looking forward to what you have next :-)
Dave
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The fun with integrateds is beginning. I am selling stuff off and only keeping gryphon. I had to sign something not allowing me to sell it anywhere online. Gryphon May be in my garage for quite sometime. Gryphon reads my thread here. They aren’t stupid but neither am I. They love to control the used market. |
@whitecamaross
You went from Wireworld 7 to Gold 8?
What model 7 did you come from???
What are the differences you are hearing??? |
Went from wireworld silver 7 to gold 8.
I hear far more detail and smoothness. Less grain in the highs and less shoutiness at loud volume. Excellent cable.
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WC Intersting comment about you having to sign something with Gryphon to the effect you would not sell it on the internet. I never had to do that when I purchased mine. |
I smell a pair of Alexandria coming soon. Or a pair of Raidho.
Just a feeling.
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Hahaha. No raidho for me. Heard them before and they are just blah. Not my cup of tea.
Im contemplating either speakers or amp/preamp options. Not sure yet. My luxman pieces are all for sale now and listed so once those are gone then I’ll know what I want to do next. |
In terms of speakers, so far I’m contemplating these:
b&w 800d3
martin Logan 15a
paradigm persona (not sure on which model)
wilson Alexia
Magico s3 mk2
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I put my hat in to try Raidho!😊 |
@whitecamaross
Wow, the equipment is flying off the shelves - apparently the 509X is already gone. I’ve heard the 509X a number of times and it is really good, for what it is. I’ve heard it with TAD Evo 1s and there was nothing unpleasant but the sound stage collapsed compared to the TAD Evolution separates. And that would be expected at such a great price deficit. Don't get me wrong, the 509X is a really good integrated making beautiful sound and so pleasing to the eye. |
The 509x is still here with me. Haven’t listed it yet |
@whitecamaross At 64 years old, my multi tasking skills are not what they used to be, but reading your thread has me thinking, that maybe, I am as sharp as I used to be. LOL.....Enjoy ! MrD. |
So many great insights on this thread. Thanks WC/everyone.
Sounds like the Sim 860a left the station as well? 2x 870a in mono....
Would u contemplate YGs - Haileys or Sasha 2.2s?
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sorry! meant sonja 2.2s.... |
Haileys is what I could contemplate. |
How about trying some Legacy Audio Valor or Whisper HD.
Maybe some Tekton Design
Ulfberht or Double Impact |
We never heard any more about the Pass Labs XA-25 that was on order.
You should have that by now |
Canceled order. Won’t come anymore.
The luxman integrated is crazy good. It’s almost insane to believe it’s only 9500. It should be 15k retail. What an amazing bang for the buck. I can’t praise it enough. |
Update: the c900u and m900u components need to be connected to the wall. DO NOT CONNECT THEM TO A STUPID POWER CONDITIONER OR POWER REGENERATOR. I did this and they lost magic. Now they are connected into the wall and they are back to sounding huge.
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I wouldn't seeing some lower priced D'agostino amps on audition !😊 |
Ok guys, i have received messages from quite a few of you asking me to put down my thoughts on the m900u with the c900u. i just got done doing a comparison for the last 3 hours between the luxman 509x, gryphon diablo 300, luxman c900u and a single m900u.
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THESE ARE MY IMPRESSIONS USING WILSON AUDIO SASHA 2s and the esoteric k1 sacd/dac, wireworld silver 7 interconnects, wireworld gold eclipse 8 speaker cables.
Gryphon DIABLO 300 PROS: Gobbs of muscle and detail. It is so powerful, almost like a DODGE VIPER engine. It is the integrated to have if you need that sound that fills the room with huge dynamics and a massive stage. Speaking of massive soundstage, the gryphon diablo 300 surprised me from the beginning. The sound was just enormous. It really is an impressive piece.
Gryphon Diablo 300 CONS: Although it has muscular sound, when you get trigger happy there is a slight hardness in the mids. It is not extremely bad, but depending on the vocals you can get a little "shoutiness" which is not present with luxman. I also feel that with this piece you can’t skimp on your source. If your source is a crappy 2,000 dollar dac or an oppo bluray 205 to feed it music, you might as well don’t buy this. It is not going to forgive cheap sources. You have been warned.
LUXMAN 509X PROS: First off, lets not confuse this luxman with the 590. IT IS NOT THE SAME INTEGRATED. Anyhow, with this out of the way one of the best things i noticed here was the incredible smoothness. People if you have been tired of your speakers sounding harsh at times or too forward then this is your ticket to fix that. Everything sounds good through this machine and nothing has really made me cringe or feel as if something is not sounding right. The mids are glorious and elevated in the air between the speakers. INSANE MUSICALITY. It has outstanding bass (maybe a tad more than the m900u) and just looks gorgeous.
It also does not run hot at all. Everyone who has seen it here has commented how beautiful it looks. Also, the meters use LEDs so you won’t have to worry about it having a bad light or anything like that.
LUXMAN 509X CONS: IF you are the type of person that likes your music aggressive, in your face and pushes you against the couch then this is not the unit for you. Its presentation is more relaxed, smooth and musical.
LUXMAN 900U COMBO PROS: LAYER AND MORE LAYERS OF DETAIL THAT THE 509X ONLY GIVES YOU A TASTE OF. With this combo, you get the full course meal while the 509x only gives you the appetizer. The mids are beautiful, clean, and an incredible amount of 3d soundstage. I also hear far more instrument decay and an "echo" effect that shows you the size of the recording. The level of musicality here is incredible. Never any fatigue at any point regardless of the volume level. Very tight bass with no overhang. The 900u amp pushed my Wilsons louder than i could ever listen for more than a minute. Never felt the need for monos, but of course i will try at some point.
LUXMAN 900U COMBO CONS: PRICE, RUNS HOT. Inability to get off the couch and go to bed at night. It does not best the rowland 925s when it comes to more articulation. The rowland 925s are still the top amplifier with incredible transparency, but at double the price of a pair of m900u.
That said, please know that the source i used is a $31k source along with $10k speaker cables. This has a profound effect in my analysis that some of you may not be able to hear if you bring any of these 3 components home in the future.
I hope this puts it all in better perspective for you all. Happy father’s day to all of you crazy maniac audiophiles like myself. |
