2. amps-preamps
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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
nolitan
865 posts
 
Other than Harbeths, what other speakers are you driving your 505u or 550II with ?
is the 550 as powerful as the 505u ?

Thanks for the info.
nolitan
865 posts
 
How big of sound quality difference between 505u and the 507u ?
thanks
paulyh
8 posts
 
Hi Nolitan,

I have both had the 505u and the 507u, and they sounded very similar to me. I did not have them at the same time, there was a month between the two, but they both struck me with the warm, detailed powerful musical sound. In the time between I had listened to a accuphase e408, but that was a big dissapointment in comparison to the 505u. The accuphase seemed to lack the power to really control the speakers, especially in the bass. Strange, because the e408 has 180wpc and the luxman 100?.....but luxman always understates the rated watts. I sounded more like 300 watts. Then I decided to buy the 507u directly from japan.........and I still love it.

To be short. If you really want a full bodied, musical sound with a deep and super controlled bass, buy one of these luxmans. The only big difference between the 505u and the 507u is that the build quality of the 507u is higher. More like the accuphase e408 build quality.....
nolitan
865 posts
 
Thanks for the insight Paul... I will surely give the Luxmans a try one of these days.
rowlf
5 posts
 
I have to agree wholeheartedly with Paulyh assessment of the 505u. What Paulyh described as the sound of 505u was exactly the same kind of feeling I got from hearing it.

I heard it driving a pair of Monitor Audio Platinum 100 bookshelf speakers. And you know what. It makes me want to give up on tube amps. I have never heard amps that got a better bass control and I have heard a lot. It has the warmth that you normally associate with tubes but yet has the clarity that tube amplifiers at its cost couldn't match

It still has a typical Japanese character where music often comes off sweet and full bodied just like Accuphase and Marantz. But I would rate the 505u ahead of them and by a distance.

To illustrate how good it is. It leaves me wanting to give up on tube which I have been a fan for over a decade.
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