2. amps-preamps
  3. 1253333734

Luxman L505u . . . why not?

I'm getting close to pulling the trigger on one of these--an upgrade from my Rotel receiver. Before I do, I'd like some perspective from the learned A'gon community. First, will it be a significant upgrade from the Rotel? What kind of sonic improvements can I expect? Second, why shouldn't I buy from Audiocubes II? http://www.audiocubes2.com/brand/Luxman/product/Luxman_L-505u_Integrated_Amplifier.html
I know On a Higher Note is the official U.S. distributer, but my budget pushes me towards the less expensive purchase option. Third, regardless of where I purchase it from, it will need a transformer to boost the power to 220. I don't know anything about the possible effects this might have on sound and performance of the component--can anybody speak to this? Is it possible to have the piece modified to accept the U.S. 110 current? I want the piece because it meets my requirements for an integrated: it's at least 100W, it has speaker A/B (I've got speakers in the kitchen and the main living room), it's got a great phono section (I play 50% records, 50% CDs), and it's got a headphone amp. Those are the features I want in an integrated. Any advice, suggestions, dissuasions will be appreciated.

Danny
rosedanny
coverto
44 posts
 
I'm also curious about how LFD compares, as I've tried the Luxman 550 - liked it, impressive resolution, but I found the sound of the 550 fatiguing and the sound lacked the "unity" of sound that an excellent tube amp like the Leben has. I also am in the position of liking the sound of the Leben but looking for better bass and the convenience of ss.
ryder
1,686 posts
 
If I"m not mistaken the Luxman 550 is a Class A. Although I have not listened to any Luxman amps, I have read that the Luxman will match well with warmer speakers like the Harbeth. The Leben CS600 has excellent resolution and transparency with extended highs. A very open-sounding amp. Unfortunately can't do bass too good and dynamics are lacking IMO. The LFD is very close-sounding to the Leben CS600. We have pitted both together side-by-side driving the Harbeth 40.1. The Leben comes out slightly more transparent, more extended highs but the LFD comes very close. The LFD's bass is tauter and goes deeper than the Leben.
jbsl43
13 posts
 
Well Luxman has just released another option for people the L-507u. There is no info in English on the Japanese Luxman website but does show the release date in Japan as Dec.

It is going for 399,00 Yen or around $4400in Japan. The L-505u in Japan costs around 225,000 yen or around $2500. The L-550a ii in Japan costs around 300,000 yen or around $3300. So in the US the L-505u is around $3800 and L-550a ii around $4800 so there is around a $1000 to $1300 cost of importing it. So if the L-507u is $4400 in Japan then in the US it probably will go for $6000 may up to $7000.

Here is a link to the L-507u that was taken off the On A Higher Note website but still works if you have the link.

http://www.onahighernote.com/luxman/?c=8&id=52

They probably took it off the website cause it will not be released to the US for a while.

It will be interesting to find out a comparison between the L-507u and the L-509u.
toronto416
187 posts
 
The 509u is rated at 120 wpc into 8 Ohms, doubling to 240 wpc into 4 Ohms. It is Luxman's most robust class AB integrated amplifier.

The 507u is rated a little less at 110 wpc into 8 Ohms, and it does not quite double (to 200 wpc) into 4 Ohms.

The 505u is rated at 100 wpc into 8 Ohms, and 140 wpc into 4 Ohms.

These amps differ in the size of their power supplies, capacitance, and other elecronic differences that I do not understand.

The 507u sits somewhere in between the 509u and the 505u, which suggests that integrated amps are important in the Japanese market, and the 507u is probably filling a gap to compete with other manufacturers at that particular price/performance point.

Regards,

Mark
jbsl43
13 posts
 
When I bought my Luxman L-505f back at the begining of 2004 I almost got the L-507f but just out of my price range.

For the money the L-505f was a great int amp and if I had the money I would go ahead and get the L-505u. I had to sell the L-505f so now I may just keep everything I got and save for the next two years and see what else Luxman may come up with.

One of the things I liked about the L-505f was I used the preamp with a tube amp I had or use a tube preamp with the 505f amp section or just used it as a int amp.

Also the tone controls were outstanding!! They could not make a bad recording perfect but I have too many bad recordings and the tone controls allowed me to adjust the treble and bass just enough to make the bad recordings much more bearable. As always this is my opinion of equipment I have had in my system.
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