Update. Well over a year later. 😋
Finally decided to sell the vintage tube separates. Done. A relief actually.
Luxman 550AXii due to arrive by mid-August 2022. Went through a couple of modern tube integrateds in the meantime. Both had/have their charms, but both purist design so essentially no cigar.
The Lux was a long wait but I'm pretty sure it will be worth it.
Cheers.
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Thank you compadres. So far my research is leading me to Luxman. RE: Anthem, I did hear one a couple of years ago at an audio boutique and found it extremely harsh-sounding- the worst of solid-state was my impression. I was very surprised since it had gotten "rave" reviews. |
I’m remiss in saying that I prefer a warmer, more "tubelike" presentation. And I neglected to mention my speakers: I have Sonus Faber stand mounts and Maggie .7’s but if I had to choose between them, I’d go with SF’s and sell the Maggies since they present a bigger challenge to drive properly.
Luxman has been suggested by a trusted prominent audio reviewer who must remain anonymous. I may very well go with his advice. I keep thinking how elegantly simple my rig would be with a lovely integrated, a turntable, and a music server, instead of the array of mostly black boxes I know have. :). Posting in this forum is a good way to get some fine suggestions and also to "work things out" for myself. Thanks, guys (gals are more than welcome, too) |
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Thanks, all. I'm going to try to get some sense of what various Luxman units sound like through research. Yes, of course, nothing beats an in-house audition but home auditions, especially of multiple units are impossible for obvious reasons. So, if anyone can write some descriptive words that address those differences, I'd greatly appreciate it.
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@dekay
You, sir, are tuned into where I am now at. Yes, I still use and love my MFA gear. And to be clear it's not only Bruce Moore but Scott Frankland. Scott has been the one who has maintained and upgraded my Lumi and M120 mono amps for many years. I may very well decide to get the Loki, roll a few tubes, and declare "Winner!"
I must remind myself that sometimes idle Covid lockdown thoughts can make for idle minds. :)
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Just want to let y’all know how much I appreciate your ongoing contributions.
Now, here’s a thought from Audio Planet X:
I’ve been reading about a gizmo called DSPeaker AntiMode. If this device works as claimed, I may have found the answer to my question. Yes, it would still leave me with all my tube gear but for an integrated, I do have a very nice Wells Audio Majestic II which might work fine. I’ve been using the Wells during warm weather. The Wells, of course, does not have balance nor tone controls.
I think in the interest of avoiding confusion, I may start another thread about the DSPeaker. |
@crouse99
Very good point!
@jjss49 Noted and I've already contacted Schiit. I was told that the Loki is on B/O but will be available before March. It should work great with my tube mono preamp. Not so useful with my Wells Integrated which does not have a balance control.
Onward!
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@speakermaster
After I get my second ’vid shot, (that, and with some better weather) I’ll feel much more inclined to venture forth to audition some likely suspects. . Meanwhile, I’m compiling a lot of info. Everyone here has had something valuable to add, so thanks again. |
@james633
Vinyl, Qobuz, and CD in order of preference.
After considerable, ongoing research, for now, at least, I may just put a couple of quads of KT150’s into my mono tube amps, get the Schitt Loki, and call it done. Yes, some of the suggestions you guys have made here are quite appealing, and again, greatly appreciated. And I don’t rule out making a major change eventually, but before I do, some serious due diligence is in order. Call it "rational restraint." :). Or "love the one you’re with."
Or simply prudence and ongoing audio education. Thanks again, amigos. Please keep the helpful comments coming.
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@bthartman & @builder3
Thank you. It's guys like you who make this place such a valuable resource. Since I've been using the same tube gear for so many years, I know virtually nothing about newer components, except for my excellent Wells Majestic integrated, which alas has neither tone nor balance controls. |
@joekapahulu
I do feel your pain, brother. At this point, I'm very thankful that I still can hear and enjoy music, period. Fortunately, the brain can perform wonderous compensations, and when I turn up the gain in the right channel mono preamp, the soundstage is much better. I also find that listening at somewhat lower volumes actually helps with most kinds of music except for large-scale orchestral works.
Thanks for your Marantz suggestion. I'll look into it. I've pretty much decided that if I keep my tube gear, I'll get a Schitt Loki. If I sell the tube gear, I'll be much more likely to invest in something like a suitable Luxman or Accuphase and be done with it.
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@daodao
The 550AXii arrived this morning. First impression is how beautifully and carefully Luxman packed this component. Second impression is how beautifully made it is. Third impression is how good it sounds right out of the box.
Although, I'm not 20 years old anymore, (HAH!) I was able to open the boxes, extricate the amplifier from all other packing material, and carry it unscathed (both the amp and yours truly) to my audio rack. Regular yoga practice helps!
It's been playing for a mere 2.5 hours but I already am certain I made the right choice.
More in another hundred or so hours.
Be well and good listening to all.
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About 120 hours now and I’m starting to get a much better sense of how good this integrated amplifier really is. No, of course it’s not tubes, but it certainly has its own special charms. The phono stage is excellent, and my former passion for vinyl is now restored- I no longer am considering selling my Linn LP12.
Thank you Luxman. :)
I may be back with more after another 100 or so hours additional run-in time.
Be well and good listening to all.
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@ joekapahulu
Thank you sir. I wish you success in navigating the world of finance.
The more I use the Lux 550AXii the fonder I grow. I'm a visual and tactile person as well as as a "keen listener," and the Luxman delivers for me at every level. What a pleasure it is to select either an LP or something via streamer, sit back, and simply enjoy the music.
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@wheelndeal1099
Thank you for your comments. I purchased a LUX 550 AXii and am completely happy.
It’s one heckuva component and works beautifully when paired with either my Guarneri Homage or highly-modified Magneplanar MMG’s. I’ve never heard such excellent mid and high bass response from the small Maggies as I now do.
I have a pair of REL T5X waiting to be unboxed but for now, I’m just gonna listen to the system as is, with no bass augmentation. I’m quite astonished. I feel as if I’ve moved beyond "hi-fi" into simply listening to great music and not thinking about the usual audiophile stuff. And to think, I have all this with moderately priced components. At least "moderately" priced for many audiophiles.
It is liberating, to say the least. :)
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@builder3
Thank you very much. I should mention that two of the things I find so appealing about the Luxman, in addition to SQ, are the excellent build quality and retro aesthetics. The on-unit controls as well as the remote control are pure pleasure to operate. Perhaps some might say that I've developed an integrated amp fetish. :)
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An update due to a recent successful experiment.
On a whim, I connected the Luxman 550-AX II preamp out to a Conrad Johnson 60 wpc EL34/KT77 tube amplifier. This resulted in excellent full-function synergy and is likely very similar to the Luxman LX-380 tube integrated but with more power. Happiness. |
@mesch
I spoke to Luxman and they seconded my opinion although they did suggest I consider the LX-380 with the caveat that the power of that amp might not be sufficient.
Since I already have the Connie J amp, I figured there was no reason to buy another component. Additional pluses are that I do have more gain using the Lux preamp section- not to mention the excellent phono stage, tone, balance, and loudness controls should I want to employ them. Which is what I was looking for initially.
For me the phrase "best of both worlds" applies. Another big plus is that the build quality of both the CJ and the Luxman is second to none.
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@mapman
In my large collection of vinyl there are many recordings that sound fine. There are many that do not. Likewise with my CDs and the music I stream. Hence my fondness for tone and other controls as well as an ongoing preference for tubes at least somewhere in my system.
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