Luxman 509x vs Hegel H390

I think it does a great job, but depends on the recording and room.  It does not etch their location in space.

What it does is feel extended at the bottom and top end, making speakers sound like they go deeper and are smother long past the top of the speaker.  Compared to very neutral amps like say Parasound, they sound like bigger, faster amps.  Compared to Ayre, they don't have the same abyss from which music comes from.  Very close in tone and temperament to the D'Agostinos. 

Both quality products.

Hegel 390 may be better value. Includes streamer, DAC 250wpc, insane damping factor. $6,500. Plain looking.

Lux 509- Has all the TT inputs, tone, balance, meters & beauty. Also better SQ. 120wpc. $10k.

Hegel is a little dry by comparison. 

If you had a larger room with speakers that want power the Hegel may be the one.

Otherwise your desired SQ description sounds like the Lux.

Good input guys. For comparison purposes with the Lux and Hegel , listened to some demos with the Moon Audio 600i V2 & although spatially more expansive, it just does not have the smooth sweetness of note contours displayed by the others. In fact , I would safely bet. at least for my music tastes, the MA 600i to get rather tiresome in time. 

So, the process of elimination leaves in the Lux and Hegel while striking out other equally well rated amps with significantly different sound signatures. 

The Luxman just looks like such a piece! Not of s..t. Haha. Heirloom quality and the  Hegel looks like a Denon home theater receiver. That being said if sound quality equal Luxman all day. 

I’m sure the Hegel is fantastic and great build quality before I get berated. Very understated look.