Errata Corrige: The blue VU meters integrated amps by Luxman are not Class B as stated but Class A/B. I forgot also to mention an important thing: I completely rediscovered my CD collection with this amp...finally digital starts to make sense!! Wow just wow!
@Jingle Nuts hanging in there buddy been working 7 days a week building these new C8 corvettes American Muscle ! Working as a Maintence tech i have to be at work everyday ! But i will finally have a weekend off, so i will be reviewing the vidar amp and elac ub52s this weekend ! Yeah ANA(DIA)LOG is one of my favorites glad to see you here !
You needed an amplifier for that? The rest of us have always been able to see them on the shelves behind you. Hehe, just kidding mate. Really nice amp, and who doesn't love huge backlighted VU meters? Stay cool and safe.
@Jingle Nuts jingle i just got home from work ,tube amp is already warmed up !(came home for lunch to have tubes hot n ready) 😆 i get 2-4 hrs of music time every night my wine down 😆 tuned n and tuned out ! !
Thank you! I love this amplifier, which I bought in 2019. You are right, best at high volume. But the headphone isn't that bad. I've had tube amplifiers before, this Luxman gives me the same luxury without problems with the tubes. Enjoy music!
I auditioned this component at one of the local Hi Fi shops here in the Atlanta area. It was paired with Bowers & Wilkins 803s and Vandersteen Quatro Wood CTs. My second favorite amp behind Audio Research.
Thanks for the video, it helped a lot 👍 I heard it in comparison to a Technics SU R-1000 with B+W 702 Signature a few weeks ago and was overwhelmed about the difference in warmness and clarity of the Luxman. Today I subscribed and I‘m waiting now for it to replace my loved Marantz PM 11 S1. Regards from Hamburg/Germany 👋 Update: I kicked a few month ago my B&W 702 Signature out (harsh highs and collapsing middles while the reproduction of more than 4 instruments), invested some money and bought the Dynaudio Contour 60i. And now I have a dream team at home. Yes, the Luxman needs a lot of space above „it‘s hair“, it‘s an electrical but addicting heater 😊
Great Amp, I mostly listen at low volume , into my Habeths, tried many amp before my purchase, this is so nice to listen 2, its just musical and realistic/ open and natural , at every level. Much preferred to my previous amps Naim 300dr with 252 / supercar dr. The 59AXii is a keeper - pure joy, so engaging.
Good review as always. Absolute great amp. I had excellent results with the volume knob at 9:00, which I found already loud... Tip (if I may): with the same source, compare XLR and RCA and play with the polarity switch next to the input. Luxman has always opted for a reverse polarity: 1= Ground; 2=Cold, 3=Hot while the "standard" is 1=Ground, 2=Hot; 3=Cold. In my main system, I have a Luxman C900 preamp upgraded from a C800, a Luxman EQ 500 phono stage and a Luxman M800 power amp. The second line output on the preamp is connected to a dedicated headphones tube amp. Apologies to the purists: I swear by tone controls, negative feedback and loudness because they are useful in some situations. The only minor regret is the lack of a tape loop in the preamp. Luxman is pure listening bliss. Keep up the good work and YES, Music is Analog and so are we!
Thanks for the info. I recently treated myself with the L550AXii and discovered that there isn’t much review on RUclips about it. Then I typed for “Luxman Class A” and voila, your clip pops up.
@@maheeinfy13 Great! I’m still at the phase of warm-up. I like it best when the volume is above the 10 o’clock position. I have no regret about getting an Class A Amp while many people out there argues that the days of Class A is numbered. My next step is to upgrade my CD player… but that has to wait as my wallet takes time to recover.
@@gochigo Nice! What speakers have you paired it with? I am between l550 and l509. I know 509 is class AB but i feel like i need more powah. Both are hard on my wallet though, may be i will wait and see if black friday has a sale Schiit just released their CD transport URD. I may look into that once my amp is set
@@maheeinfy13 My stereo shop was promoting the new Castle Earl and Duke speakers and recommended that for my 550. I ended up selecting Earl. I also picked up the Audio Technica lp2022 turntable while I was at it. I made those purchases in order to build a rapport with the shop.
I'm still watching now. That is an amazing looking unit. I have always been a fan. I know Sean from zero fidelity like the one that he had so much he kept it that's his reference now I believe but now that you explain the color of the lighting on the vu's off the top of my head I don't remember what his is but he has a great review of his. Congratulations for sure ❤️👍👍
Sold lux,nakamichi, acuphase, klipsh, acoustic 3a, dynaco thorens And all the big names. Did loads of tests. It's all about a match. Nak 620 amp would kill a dynaco, acuphase and lux amp rated at twice its power. It's all in the ears. So buy good speakers What speakers would ya drive with this 30 watt class a?..
Good you mentioned about the loudness thing. I usually don't listen too loud. I have Conrad Johnson Et3se with Pass xa25. With Cardas Golden ref. cables! My combo sounds close to the Dartzeel integrated for the fraction of the price!😊
From all the amplifiers that you could have bought , you bought this one. I got a soft spot for the specific amp. An amazing piece. Congrats about you new amp. You are going to fall in love with it. If you can, listen it with Proacs. Seen this combo a lot, maybe they make nice pair.
I have this mated to Jbl 4367 speakers and its my favorite pairing. I have tried Primaluna 400 integrated, parasound jc5, and the 590 is the one for the 4367.
Really lovely amp, I've seen these in person and pictures/videos do not do it justice. I was strongly considering purchasing the 509 recently, but I ended up going with the Hegel H390 just because of pricing and availability in the US. But I did get to listen to the 590 in a showroom driving some Dynaudio Contours and the sound was gorgeous.
@@anadialog yes, the higher sens the better for him...I connected 89dB 4ohm speakers to 550AX and amp just give maybe 30% compared to my other 200watt power amp so class A yes...but sensitive speakers first, 6/8ohm preferable 👌
Thanks for sharing your experience with x590. I share your excitement with this Luxman gem, a class a integrated that won't disappoint whether you play jazz or rock. I think the vu meters look very sexy and they're a must to have, as it's a joy to watch the needles moving as the music plays. I owned Luxman separates years ago and have fond memories of how they sounded. They were with me for several good years of musical enjoyment before I finally decided it was time to move on. That said, I still love Luxman, they're good value for money.
Did listen to the Luxman L-590AXII for many hours and I really liked it, you are 100% correct in what you are saying IMO. Good chance now that I buy it too, but firset I have to listen more against other brands and Luxman L595A too. I did compare against a McIntosh MA12000AC and although i liked the design of the McI way more and wanted to like it more allover, the sound of the Luxman was not weaker, wouldn´t say it was way better but it did its job so good that I would say the up price of the McI isn´t worth it to me. I have to check the 590 against 595 first, then listen to their tube amps and pure power amp M-10x After that some different brands, Westendaudio looks to good to not at least test it, same goes for the NAT tube amps, what monsters they have
So I got my hands on one of these babies, I don’t find the sound quality drops at lower volume when compared to other amplifiers I’ve had in the past, ie McIntosh For late night listening at low volumes the loudness button is magic. I to was looking at the Pass Labs but with no functions at that price no thanks. With my Harbeth speakers this Luxman is a match made it heaven. 😎
I loved that amplifier, its pure joy to listen to, sound just warms you up inside ... just sit and listen to music super musical very tube-like sound for me, I like this one over class Luxman 509, But if you have money get M900U used one go around 9-10 K
Thanks for this video. Although I have the Luxman 509X, I learned a lot of new things. My system consists of Luxman 509X integrated amplifier and EQ-500 phono-stage, PD 151 turntable and Dali Epicon 2 speakers.
Hi Anthony, how would you describe the sound of L-509x in terms of musicality, clarity, bass, sound stage, etc? What's your take on it playing genres of rock and heavy metal?
I have the 509X. Rec out goes to the tape recorder input and the monitor where you say you dont get a signal goes to the out of the recorder, you then push the monitor button on the facia of the amp to switch the monitor on to get the signal. On a 3 head machine you can then monitor how good your recording is by swiching from source to tape on the recorder. It would be great if you did a video about your recording/what you record and why. I used to love recording but all I really ever did was copy my vinyl....just for the sake of it really.
Interesante el video muy bien explicado y buena calidad de imagen, el luxman es maravilloso, es un amplificador ganador y construido como un tanque. Gracias y saludos desde España
Can use the tape out for a seperate equaliser. You should get a signal if you connect a source to the monitor input. You would need to have the monitor button on, and possibly the rec out dial set to on.
I have a soft spot for Luxman, too. I own their headphone amp P-700, M-200 power amp and even vintage 1040 receiver. For the main system, however, I have Accuphase E-260 for which I have a soft spot as well. It delivers and, you are right, at higher volumes. As the end game I'd probably lean toward Luxman A-class due to comparable sound and finish quality and lower price.
Neither Accuphase nor Luxman are pure class A; they are heavily biased class A, to their stated output of say 30w/ch, then above that transition to class AB...
EI transformer core , they have lower power bandwidth, it means all the noise on main power can not come to secondary side, toroid transformer has much higher bandwidth ( around 100KHz) so all noise on power main ( power supply from PC , mobile phone charger and more) can come to secondary side of transformer which is harder to filter out ,
I enjoyed it very much (the looks are amazing) but sold it after a few months to experiment different brands and models, new and vintage. Most of them are on the channel.
Wonderful video! Do you think the lack of dynamics at low volume is due to speaker sensitivity matching? Not sure what speakers you are testing with but maybe dynamics would improve with 96+ db sensitive speakers? I’m thinking Cornwall IV, Devore Fidelity, Audio Note?
Makes my Sugden A21a look weedy! i allways fancied the class A Luxman that looked very, v.much like this one, way back in the early 90's but in those low-wage days of mine, it's s/h dealer's going rate pushed me to a much cheaper s/h Sugden when i wanted to try the theoretically better & cleaner sounding pure class A amps (with zero% crossover distortion unlike class B or AB designs) P.S. In my s/h only days, i've turned up invited at strangers houses after responding to their ad's for an amplifier & if i saw unmatched chasis screws from the outside, or 1 or 2 missing or some with chewed heads, or if i knew nothing of the design but it seemed potentially good if only by weight alone, i'd always ask if i could take a look under the hood (with a purpose bought pocket mult-head screwdriver) ...to see if there's been badly done botched-up repairs & to see the care gone into the design like size of transformer(s)& filter cap' quality & total mf, & in unknown (to me) tube amps, esp' for the prescence or lack of power supply ckokes as in cheaply done tube amps, a 10 second glance can tell very much in an unfamiliar design, but half the time i was told "No" & once "No, you can buy it or you can eff off" This Luxman looks great under the hood & implies a great sound with Luxman's reputation & longevity in audio.
First of all thank You for a wonderful and interesting channel. I have just bought a used L-590AX Mark II from Italy actually! My old AMP was a Yamaha A-S2100 bought in 2017. I have a Klipsch R-112SW Subwoofer in my system wich I connected to the Pre-Out on the Yamaha and it worked fine. But now i read in the manual on the Luxman the following: Pre-out terminal (PRE OUT) This terminal is used to obtain the output of the preamplifier. A bi-amp connection can be performed with a combination of an external power amplifier because this terminal always provides output regardless of the separate switch setting. Do not insert shortpin plugs into PRE OUT. No sound will be generated. The SUB does not deliver a good sound anymore, very weak. I am not sure what the text means exactly, should I use other connections or? What is the oppsite to shortpin plugs?
Is there a volume on the sub? Or you could read on high level speaker output connection for subs if indeed your sub can accommodate that. As an aside, how does the 2100 and 590 compare? Many thanks
@@barrybrennan2135 There is a volume knob on the sub, but I have to put it almost at max level to recieve the bass, but when I do I now can enjoy it (sounds pretty good and it hooks up with the volume on the Luxman). But I am now also gonna try out with REL TX9 and High Level. I have really enjoyed the 2100, but I can feel that this is a step up....a fuller and more detailed sound (which I like) I have just had it for a few day so far so I guess I have a lot to discover. Cheers/Tomas
@@tomasingemarsson9615 Great Tomas, thanks. I was just looking at Steve Hoffman forums - there is a thread there called 'show us your Luxmans.' I saw a member there recently posted a picture of his Luxman with a sub connected. Maybe it is a 507ux but no doubt the procedure is the same. Perhaps you could join if necessary and ask the question. All the best
Congratulations for your new amp. I fully agree good amplifier makes a difference. When I changed my class D amp to a high quality amp from Symphonic Line I could not believe the improvement.
Really appreciate this review, seems very open and honest which is rare in the review world. Seems most reviews tell you that each piece is the best and they flip non stop. I'm looking for a warm/neutral intergates that will be in a small office setup, high-end, but not audiophile listening. This was top of the list, but at low volume, you might have steered me to the 509X or pass for more power to get detail and range at lower volumes. 75% of my listening will be at lower volumes.
Kinda wondering how it’s little brother, the L-550axii would drive my Forte IVs. I listen to mostly Trip-Hop, Jazz, Lounge and Electronic music at reasonable volume in a medium size room. Thanks for the great review! Beautiful piece of kit.
Great amp. 6 months ago I picked up one second hand (3 weeks old) for a great price. I moved from tube separates to solid state integrated. It definitely puts out less heat than 8 x EL34 power tubes. I like the sound more than the tubes. I am running with 91dB speakers (4 Ohm minimum) in a medium sized room and it has more than enough power. I find the internal phono stage sound better than a Dynavector P75 for Moving Coil cartridges that like the fixed 100 Ohm loading (I have used Dynavector XXII and Hana ML). But I am saving for an even better external unit.
Thanks for the great review. The Luxman amplifiers are very old school in terms of features. Love it. You don't see many high end manufacturers doing this anymore. Sadly this amplifier will not drive 2 ohm speakers. I have confirmed this with Luxman. So this amplifier is not for everyone.
A really curious comment - 2ohm speakers?? Wow, those speakers must be something out of 1980's when audio went into a wrong direction for little bit and only recently started to return onto the high-sensitivity path... I wonder if you notice the sound "squeezed" out of low-sensitivity speakers like toothpaste out of tube, instead of flowing out uncinstraigned like spilling water- which I feel characterized high-sensitivy speakers. Cheers!
Based on my own experience, when an amplifier fails to deliver at low listening levels it may be a sign that the amp is not properly driving your speakers. You might want to try the Luxman with some speakers that are more efficient, with higher spl. Enjoy your new purchase!
It's a typical feature of Class A amps, in fact the put great attention on the loudness function. In any case higher sensitivity in these cases is always a good idea!
Congrats with you’re new integrated! It’s a great contender !! I have a Xa-25 amp with inefficient speakers - special 40’s. They play fine with late night listening. The path of least resistance. Less is more. That’s what makes the xa25 a great contender. In order Pass - luxman - McIntosh You deserve to try the integrated xa-25 in your home. I think you’ll be quite surprised! As far as balanced inputs. They only provide more gain and no loss of SQ when run for long distance I/O.. though of course this is your channel. I’m sure you are aware of this 😊 I had a integrated Ma-6500. It had the loudness function as well. The integrated only came to life when played at 65db+
Absolutely! As I said I was about to get the Pass but it has no features and I want recording features. The balanced inputs are a special plus because connecting my phono preamp with that extra gain makes me use the low gain on it enhancing the quality of the signal, less noise and grain. Also, my May DAC is finally singing with the balanced connection, don't ask me why!
9:25 Yes its my favorite option too actually its designed to bypass all sound settings that set by the user into a natural virgin audio juice and as a high volume protection for speakers, this option is available in my 1980 Kenwood kr-770 and they called it zero switching , mainly as i understood its designed to not hurt speaker drivers when you set bass high and then you turn volume up (tweeter sometimes make fire when tribble is high and burn in high volume) and you go turn volume up so to avoid damaging your drivers easier to switch that option and you are all set
Thank you for this honest review. It was very instructive for me, on the solid state amplifier, tubes, class A/B. It’s still very pleasant to hear your voice. Will you use directly the phono stage ? Or use your phono pre-amp ? Your gears reviews are like ASMR to watch 😌
You made a smart purchase. It seemed to meet your criteria for what you wanted to use this integrated amplifier for. The PASS LABS amps definitely do not have the features you wanted.
@@anadialog I enjoy my PASS phono and line stage preamps very much but my former Audible Illusions Modulus 3B preamp had beautiful air that the PASS has less of. The Modulus is a very simple design and I think the their tube sound probably makes the difference. My PASS pre amps are truly spectacular in every other way. These PASS preamps pair extremely well with my re-tubed Audio Research VT-10O Mk III amp driving my Maggie 3.6 R’s and Carver True Sub. It’s amazing that pairing the old and the new still get delivers incredible sound.
Hello, thanks a lot for the videos in your channel. I have already "tasted" quite a few of them and they are outstanding. You really transmit competence, knowledge, independence and passion. I am considering taking a leap forward in my audio setup and acquiring a new integrated amplifier. My speakers are JBL 4343B, 93dB, and my listening room is about 50 sqr meters in an apartment building with neighbors. I listen to all kinds of classical, vocal, jazz, rock pop 80's & 90's and of course ... flamenco. My listening volume is moderate to high (though my significant other would say is unbearable). Music sources are vynil (pioneer PL-570) and Mytek Brooklyng Plus DAC + MAC and Home NAS for hi res audio files. My current amp is an (very) old The Fisher X-100-B tube amp. I have narrowed my selection to three references, all of them Japanese: - Luxman L-590AX mk2 - Accuphase E-480 - Esoteric F-07 Any thoughts? Thanks in advance for you advice and pls keep on with your channel¡¡¡
Thank you very much for your incouraging words! Look, I am currently trying to challenge my Luxman L590axii even with separates that cost double the price on retail and I just keep going back to the Luxman, which is pure class A, unlike the other two you listed. I have listened to the other two but I can say that with the Luxman you will be rewarded greatly and for a very long time!
I'm pretty sure that the hype over Lecua is that it's an attenuator and not a potentiometer. This is meant to keep the sound quality at lower volumes. I have the c700u pre and the m700u power amp feeding a pair of Magnepan 1.7's. It's everything you said about the integrated plus more. Currently looking at the DA-06 DAC as it's said that it works well with Luxman products. I was considering the Holo May dac that you recently reviewed but there is a price difference and I'm a bit of a believer that components from the same company tend to work better together. It would be interesting if you could get hold of a DA-06 and do a comparison with the May Dac through your Luxman and see if there is an advantage to the DA-06 going through a Luxman amp.
True! But again, the results seem similar to other quality potentiometers on other amps. I can see synergy with analog components but less with digital. Will see!
Whatever you do, DONT buy a DA06 Dac yet. The dac section measures worse than dacs a sixth of the price. I owned a D06U sacd player for a few years featuring the same essential Dac within. It performed flawlessly and SACD support was nice (albeit a few discs wouldnt play) but i started to wonder how it would fare being used as a transport only. So, i spent £700 on an Audiolab MDac+ and ran it in. In a system where a remote button press could switch from the sound from D06u on its own, to the D06u feeding the MDAC+ the difference was suprising that the considerably cheaper MDAC+ in the chain outperformed the Luxman D06u dac with a more 3d imaging, cleaner more natural treble and the useful filter options to fine tune if needed. Shocked, I promptly sold my D06u and jist bought a cheap transport to use with the Audiolab dac and ive never regretted it for a second. Some people think measurments be damned and i often do too (im a valve amp guy lol) but some measurements very much DO matter in hifi. For turntables its wow/flutter and for DACs... its dynamic range. The Audiolab is the single biggest bargain ive ever bought in hifi and ive bought a literal ton of it. Generally you cant go wrong with anything sporting the ESS sabre dac although it must be run in well (yep it makes a huge diff with dacs too!)
@@tomwebb7091 Thanks for your input. A lot of the things I have read about the DA06 are very mixed and you don't spend that sort of money on something that you cannot audition if the "vibe" on the street isn't very favourable. I have decided on the Holo Audio May Level 2 which I hope to receive early January.
Hi! Thank you for all your work and for sharing with us. Even if for the moment I don’t have the budget, may I ask what Luxman would you recommend for the Focal Aria 948? Of course, if they pair ok. I run them with the vintage Pioneer combo c73/m73 Urushi from the 90s. With a svs sb-1000 pro in a 60sqm long livingroom. But my auditions are moderate to low volume. Thank you!🙏
Hi there! I saw your comment also under the Hegel. The Arias have a decent amount of sensitivity so they are pretty easy to match. This Luxman is excellent but I think you can do better at a cheaper price. A quality vintage tube amp with at least 50/60w of power should open you new worlds of lust! If you want to stay solid state perhaps a class A Pass or Sugden would do the trick.
@@anadialog Hi! Thank you so much for your answer and recommendations. I really appreciate it. I was just talking with someone from a hifi shop today about changing the amplification from my 90s Pioneers vintage class A to something more actual. A Copland cta407, for example, but this one goes also on the high budget side. But I do have to choose only by demoing in my system. Which is kind of difficult. Let’s see what the new year will bring. :) Thank you again and Blessed Holidays!
Love this amp. It beats my 300w Mcintosh in terms of dynamics and just raw power. But the sweetness and the warmish sound of the Mc is something i would for the luxman to have
I had a Luxman L-509x for a review. I found it to be a superb machine in quality and performance. It’s control of the bass and it’s clarity in the presentation of the instruments fascinated me but perhaps sometimes it sounded too analytical with some records. How would this L-590AXII pair with a Klipsch La Scala AL5? They are loudspeakers with a declared sensitivity of 105 dB. This makes them work in quantitative terms with virtually any amplification even a headphone amp. But in qualitative terms they need an amplification and a source with a deathly silence so that their black background is not spoiled. How quiet is the Luxman test in class A? It would be great to try a class A tube preamp like the Primaluna Evo 400 and the Luxman L-590AXII as a power amp. Not now with the infernal summer in Italy (I am from the south of Spain, I know of extreme heat) but yes in autumn-winter. Thank you and enjoy your magnificent machine.
Most klipsh would be a perfect combination! I don't have data on its noise but IMO and other articles I read I think that you would be very satisfied with its performance. Uuuh! I would love to pair it with a Primaluna preamp!
Imho its the preamp section of the 590 that outperforms the power amp section. The Luxman preamps are very good such as the 380uC which has proper MC step up inside and being valve sounds alot more spacious and organic than solid state.
"The macintosh of japan". Both luxman and Onkyo really tried to emulate the sound of mac. In an era of grainy and harsh sounding mass-fi components, they sounded warm and smooth.
Guido, you have a good taste for amplifiers :) If I had the money to spend I would probably buy the same one, and funny enough for much the same reasons as well. This thing has all the correct features meaning it not only has the tape features but is also lacking the DAC features that will render any amplifier obsolete in less than 5 years. To mitigate the sound quality loss at low volumes you could experiment with high quality dummy load resisters on speakers B. If you then switch to speakers A/B it will put the resisters in series with the speakers (normally). So adding a resister will burn up some power and reduce the volume level turning your speaker select in a mute button. I am also curious if the resister it self will degrade the sound quality. The damping will go out the window so it could be an interesting experiment. If you really like it, it could even be a video :)
@@anadialog If speakers A/B switches them in parallel, it will not work obviously. I have seen both with vintage amps. I am not sure how it is with this one.
@@anadialog I was going to ask if the Sugden A21SE Signature would be a good option, but I didn't ask so I wouldn't be influencing your answer 😀. Many thanks for the reply.
Incidentally---I just want folks to know---the Luxman is WONDERFUL. I have the 590AX, not version II . None-the-less, this amp is all that I wanted it to be. I was looking for this "type of sound" ever since I gave up my Harman Kardon AVR 7300. That receiver was so smooth, so sweet. It had the warm sound that you could listen to all night, yet the dynamics were still there. I gave it up because I needed {at that time} the HDMI i/o connections for my home theater. But now I've seen the light. Two different systems. The home theater doesn't need NEAR, the amount of high quality that pure music needs. Now I'm wondering if I should go back in time and get a turntable. There is a phono section within the amp and it's supposed to be again---wonderful. 🙂
Thanks so much for this review, I just purchased Dynaudio heritage special and was wondering how you think it would work as they or only 86% efficient - also can you run a powered sub off these?
I concur. In fact for the 7k the 590AXii costs in the UK you can have the tube 380 preamp and spend 3k on a stereo power amp and it will easily outperform the 590AXii. And i have done just that myself 👍
Good review. I was also looking at this amp but the price is too high . I have one of their blue line and it is an amazing amp, very similer in merits as the yellow line. The loudness button is a must.... And btw it also sounds best at high volumes.
Hi @anadialog, very good review, but I’m a suspect because a I’ve one (I had too the previous version…) One question: do you believe that m900u and c900u is a consistent upgrade compare to L590axii?
Very nice integrated amplifier friend... I've already heard this one played and definitely worth a listen. I myself have monoblocks from AMP GUNTERMANIA and prestage Musical Fidelity KW Tulip and Kef Reference Model 4.2 But I have to say that I was definitely impressed with this Luxman integrated amplifier. Beautiful High-end... Thank you for this video. Greetings from the Netherlands Limburg Maastricht and especially continue with High-end... Stay safe🙏 ✌😘😉👌👍
@@anadialog It is indeed a very nice high-end set. It's also really expensive what I have. I have been involved with High-end since I was 14 years old. One buys a house, the other a car, motorcycle or boat, etcetera. We buy high-end equipment and spend a lot on it. But I think it's important to have good sound and to be able to enjoy this hobby. I always find your videos fun and interesting. You have a very nice collection and we enjoy how you present and tell it and you are also a true lover of High-end. And you have knowledge and figure things out well for us. Thanks for that brother. Have a nice day and see you next... ✌😘👌👍😉
First time I have heard that it does not sound stellar at low volume, now I feel happy that I did not buy it, was really considering this, but chose to go with a Belles class A and a Supratek Cabernet pre, which by the way sound sublime at low and high volume.
Just want to add my two cents here regarding this point and say that I strongly disagree with the reviewer here : I own this amp, paired with Harbeth Super HL5, listen at around 72-75db on average (peaks at 80-89db) and the sound is perfect. Now the amp can easily go louder of course, but for me, the sweet spot is around 75db and I don't feel like I gain much more at higher spl.
@ANA[DIA]LOG Nice review. I imagine that when you test the Monitor RCA output you have before pressed the Monitor button, haven't you? I have also a line-straight button in my Yamaha Receiver and BR/SACD player and normally I didn't use it because I prefer the sound keeping my adjustments, speaker levels, frequency crossover, etc. Sometimes I used in the SACD player, but no in the receiver. Regarding to versatile and functions, another swis-knife integrated amplifier with also a good digital section is the McIntosh MAC7200 Regards.
@@anadialog hi, thanks a lot for the review, very very nice. About the MONITOR RCA INPUT according to the schematic this can be only an input: when the MONITOR switch is ON then all the other inputs are isolated (with REC-OUT off) and the only source is i.e. the cassette player. If REC-OUT is selected then during recording the active input is connected with the REC-OUT and we monitor the recording from that source. Actually I cannot find any mention in the user manual of RCA MONITOR to be used as output but at page 7 paragraph 17 is reported when MONITOR is set to OFF: "Enables to reproduce the signals from the source selected with the input selector." that is correct because when MONITOR SWITCH is set to OFF then the RCA MONITOR is completed isolated and only any of the other inputs (actually the active one) can go to to the pre-amp session and exit to the speakers, headphone or just pre-out based on the configuration. Hope this would clarify the doubts. Thanks
Two different worlds...and costs. For the money (at that time) the L10 was amazing BUT this amp is just miles ahead in richness and texture. Much more engaging and addictive!
Question is this amp ir AccuphaseE-650???I think many oflks say Accuphase is better but ???Gotta love the Luxman looks and vibe though.For me it would be tough to give up my EAR 834 but thinking about a Luxman.That is unless I get a an Aesthetix Mimas
Really enjoying your reviews. How hot does this unit get? My home is very hot already. I have the l509x, doesn’t get hot at all, and was considering a trade in for this.
Have you ever heard the 509x or class a/b Luxman? I was just reading your note about rediscovering your digital and wondered how you feel the a/b would compare
In your review you mentioned this amp needs to be played relatively loud to enjoy what Luxman has to offer. "If you are unable to play music at volume, this amp might not be for you". I am thinking about the L-550 model. Listen to music at no more than 75-80 dB max. Still worth a consideration?
You are talking in absolute terms. That should be sufficient. In terms of volume unit, to enjoy the quality of the amplification you need to set the volume knob at around 10 o'clock, approx. -20/15 dB at least IMO.
When you say play it at high levels, what do you consider loud exactly??? Im very interested in this amp, but living in Amsterdam apartments doesn't give you a lot of legroom when it comes to high volume!
Damm if your speakers perform you dont need loud to get resonance in the building. I shake my place with an old lux receiver 1050 and some klipsch lascala. La scala run on a nak 620 amp.
Yes it is a very nice solid sounding amp. And build quality too. One must pay attention with speaker marching as it is not compatible with all types had a small problem matching It is an old school amp like the accuphase e480 which I find a better amp a better all rounder but in both cases they both have a big history and are highly respected. This Luxman amp is really a class a b with very little watts into class A but other wise the sound is clean balanced and has a punchy bass but in hi volumes like you also said. Esoteric Gradioso f1 on the other hand is the modern version of both this models and more and soon ,I will be getting the michi x5 to join the club. Pass labs for example or Dan Dagoustino integrated are another story and money wise a different ball game. My reference integrated amp is the hegel h 590 with no match at its price point . Important to mention that hi quality studio recordings is the most important factor. For example try Tong li golden hi res album on your luxman. Lovely vocal outstanding recordings. Enjoy your listening.
Yes you are correct as l popped the lid and along with my friends who owe hi end audio stores checked the circuits with the specialist in electronics, yes it is a pure class A but not all the way as you also said but certainly enough .Anyway as I said it's a fantastic amp otherwise it would not have been in my collection and affordable and certainly a great purchase. Has a vintage look with top notch components and build quality like Accuphase . Prima luna, Unison Research hibrid as they also have valve state and Pathos are aIso great amps .I would like you how ever to give a listen to the h590 hegel when you can. It is a class ab but one of a kind. I would like to hear your thoughts on it too. Check the imaging depth instrument position ,separation on hi and low volume and the lack of distortion. The darkness behind the instruments too .One of the very few amps with a damping factor over 4000 tried it with the focul sopra oh yes like you say . Just happen to find it a great sounding unit .Keep up the great work .
I read somewhere that this is not "pure typeA", but it is Type A up to its rated 30W/channel, then Type AB upwards of that up to about 75W/ch- sorry to disappoint.... Also, I auditioned this model and personally found it somewhat thin-sounding and on cooler & dryer side. It's a good quality assembly but the sound kinda disappointing relative to its peers in price. Then again- to each their own and some would like its sound signature.
Thanks for a great revue! I'm lucky owner of L-590 AX mark 2. What bookshelf speakers would you recommend to go for with this amp? At the moment I have Monitor Audio Gold 100 5G. I would like to have best possible sound if that make sense so the speakers cooperate wit this amp best possible way. Thank you also for other revues that you've made.
Thanks! Well clearly you need relatively sensitive speakers since the power isn’t huge and want to avoid to go into class a/b. So anything around 90 or up should be great.
Can you give your opinion on the a very good tube mm preamp ? I was looking to an m3 phono AN used, but it will be nice to have unity gain for my LUMIN. I also have a good step up transformer, common problem I think, very rare, ear 868 pl ?
Thanks for the review! You’ve accidentally mentioned Pass Labs - have you listened to their amp/preamps? Maybe some from First Watt? Both companies are established by mr. Nelson Pass and are extremely interesting. Gonna make some DIY projects (First Watt F6 amp, his Nutube preamp) based on his engineering- very excited about that. It will interesting to know your opinion if you’ve heard some of Pass Labs or First Watt amps.
![ANA[DIA]LOG](http://yt3.ggpht.com/50CpmGNilS8aoMlarZVhI_GxRDoZdbj4ZgwCMZXg-Rq2PrEvCytlE6RVyLUrNY-rwE_sAlZ1Zw=s48-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj)
Errata Corrige: The blue VU meters integrated amps by Luxman are not Class B as stated but Class A/B.
I forgot also to mention an important thing: I completely rediscovered my CD collection with this amp...finally digital starts to make sense!! Wow just wow!
Music is analog.😎
@Jingle Nuts hanging in there buddy been working 7 days a week building these new C8 corvettes American Muscle ! Working as a Maintence tech i have to be at work everyday !
But i will finally have a weekend off,
so i will be reviewing the vidar amp and elac ub52s this weekend !
Yeah ANA(DIA)LOG is one of my favorites glad to see you here !
You needed an amplifier for that? The rest of us have always been able to see them on the shelves behind you.
Hehe, just kidding mate. Really nice amp, and who doesn't love huge backlighted VU meters?
Stay cool and safe.
@Jingle Nuts jingle i just got home from work ,tube amp is already warmed up !(came home for lunch to have tubes hot n ready) 😆 i get 2-4 hrs of music time every night my wine down 😆
tuned n and tuned out ! !
Digital always has always made sense.. The problem is with the mastering and the gear.
Thank you! I love this amplifier, which I bought in 2019. You are right, best at high volume. But the headphone isn't that bad. I've had tube amplifiers before, this Luxman gives me the same luxury without problems with the tubes. Enjoy music!
Nice!
Pure work of art that amp! Beautiful outside and inside.
I auditioned this component at one of the local Hi Fi shops here in the Atlanta area. It was paired with Bowers & Wilkins 803s and Vandersteen Quatro Wood CTs. My second favorite amp behind Audio Research.
Thanks for the video, it helped a lot 👍 I heard it in comparison to a Technics SU R-1000 with B+W 702 Signature a few weeks ago and was overwhelmed about the difference in warmness and clarity of the Luxman. Today I subscribed and I‘m waiting now for it to replace my loved Marantz PM 11 S1. Regards from Hamburg/Germany 👋
Update: I kicked a few month ago my B&W 702 Signature out (harsh highs and collapsing middles while the reproduction of more than 4 instruments), invested some money and bought the Dynaudio Contour 60i. And now I have a dream team at home. Yes, the Luxman needs a lot of space above „it‘s hair“, it‘s an electrical but addicting heater 😊
Great Amp,
I mostly listen at low volume , into my Habeths, tried many amp before my purchase, this is so nice to listen 2, its just musical and realistic/ open and natural , at every level.
Much preferred to my previous amps Naim 300dr with 252 / supercar dr.
The 59AXii is a keeper - pure joy, so engaging.
I agree...it just defeated the colossal Hegel H590 in a recent video I made...
I got the impression that this amp is overkill for listening at low volumes. I almost always listen at low volumes.
@@anadialog What is low level in your opinion
Wonder how you guys compare this to a McIntosh intergraded. 😎
Good review as always. Absolute great amp. I had excellent results with the volume knob at 9:00, which I found already loud...
Tip (if I may): with the same source, compare XLR and RCA and play with the polarity switch next to the input. Luxman has always opted for a reverse polarity: 1= Ground; 2=Cold, 3=Hot while the "standard" is 1=Ground, 2=Hot; 3=Cold.
In my main system, I have a Luxman C900 preamp upgraded from a C800, a Luxman EQ 500 phono stage and a Luxman M800 power amp. The second line output on the preamp is connected to a dedicated headphones tube amp.
Apologies to the purists: I swear by tone controls, negative feedback and loudness because they are useful in some situations.
The only minor regret is the lack of a tape loop in the preamp.
Luxman is pure listening bliss.
Keep up the good work and YES, Music is Analog and so are we!
You are right! I completely forgot to mention that!
I love seeing Luxman featured. I just pulled out my old Luxman M117 (Which was quite a job at 50 pounds) and it still sounds amazing.
As a Mark Levinson owner, I really like this Luxman integrated Class A amp.
Thanks for the info. I recently treated myself with the L550AXii and discovered that there isn’t much review on RUclips about it. Then I typed for “Luxman Class A” and voila, your clip pops up.
How is the amp treating you. Do they go on sale ever
@@maheeinfy13 Great! I’m still at the phase of warm-up. I like it best when the volume is above the 10 o’clock position. I have no regret about getting an Class A Amp while many people out there argues that the days of Class A is numbered. My next step is to upgrade my CD player… but that has to wait as my wallet takes time to recover.
@@gochigo Nice! What speakers have you paired it with? I am between l550 and l509. I know 509 is class AB but i feel like i need more powah. Both are hard on my wallet though, may be i will wait and see if black friday has a sale
Schiit just released their CD transport URD. I may look into that once my amp is set
@@maheeinfy13 My stereo shop was promoting the new Castle Earl and Duke speakers and recommended that for my 550. I ended up selecting Earl. I also picked up the Audio Technica lp2022 turntable while I was at it. I made those purchases in order to build a rapport with the shop.
@@gochigo nice looking speakers. Enjoy
I'm still watching now. That is an amazing looking unit. I have always been a fan. I know Sean from zero fidelity like the one that he had so much he kept it that's his reference now I believe but now that you explain the color of the lighting on the vu's off the top of my head I don't remember what his is but he has a great review of his. Congratulations for sure ❤️👍👍
I saw it, he reviewed the model below this, the L550axii. Nice review!
What a gorgeous piece of equipment. Luxman was always known for their superior build quality and superior sound.
Sold lux,nakamichi, acuphase, klipsh, acoustic 3a, dynaco thorens
And all the big names. Did loads of tests. It's all about a match. Nak 620 amp would kill a dynaco, acuphase and lux amp rated at twice its power. It's all in the ears. So buy good speakers
What speakers would ya drive with this 30 watt class a?..
@@carlosoruna7174 Never gave it a thought because I have Maggie 3.6R speakers in my system.
Scratch nice. Still run my early 80s lascala. On 70s nak and luxman . For me great match
@@carlosoruna7174 I can meet you makes great products. I have a Dragon in my system but I never use cassettes anymore. Will never sell it though.
Dragon is a beut. Tt 1000 and tt700 first versions where and are mind boggling
Good you mentioned about the loudness thing. I usually don't listen too loud. I have Conrad Johnson Et3se with Pass xa25. With Cardas Golden ref. cables! My combo sounds close to the Dartzeel integrated for the fraction of the price!😊
From all the amplifiers that you could have bought , you bought this one. I got a soft spot for the specific amp. An amazing piece. Congrats about you new amp. You are going to fall in love with it. If you can, listen it with Proacs. Seen this combo a lot, maybe they make nice pair.
I have this mated to Jbl 4367 speakers and its my favorite pairing. I have tried Primaluna 400 integrated, parasound jc5, and the 590 is the one for the 4367.
Sweet!
Hi did you compare this luxman with a Hegel H590?
I have a Yamaha amplifier hooked up to a set of B&W speakers, both of which I purchased back in 1998, and they still sound amazing. 👌
Cool
Really lovely amp, I've seen these in person and pictures/videos do not do it justice. I was strongly considering purchasing the 509 recently, but I ended up going with the Hegel H390 just because of pricing and availability in the US. But I did get to listen to the 590 in a showroom driving some Dynaudio Contours and the sound was gorgeous.
I have 550AX, great amps, needs speakers 91dB and up but plenty of power. Build and looks top of the top.
Indeed! Mine are 93.25dB
@@anadialog yes, the higher sens the better for him...I connected 89dB 4ohm speakers to 550AX and amp just give maybe 30% compared to my other 200watt power amp so class A yes...but sensitive speakers first, 6/8ohm preferable 👌
Thanks for sharing your experience with x590. I share your excitement with this Luxman gem, a class a integrated that won't disappoint whether you play jazz or rock. I think the vu meters look very sexy and they're a must to have, as it's a joy to watch the needles moving as the music plays. I owned Luxman separates years ago and have fond memories of how they sounded. They were with me for several good years of musical enjoyment before I finally decided it was time to move on. That said, I still love Luxman, they're good value for money.
Did listen to the Luxman L-590AXII for many hours and I really liked it, you are 100% correct in what you are saying IMO.
Good chance now that I buy it too, but firset I have to listen more against other brands and Luxman L595A too.
I did compare against a McIntosh MA12000AC and although i liked the design of the McI way more and wanted to like it more allover, the sound of the Luxman was not weaker, wouldn´t say it was way better but it did its job so good that I would say the up price of the McI isn´t worth it to me.
I have to check the 590 against 595 first, then listen to their tube amps and pure power amp M-10x
After that some different brands, Westendaudio looks to good to not at least test it, same goes for the NAT tube amps, what monsters they have
So I got my hands on one of these babies, I don’t find the sound quality drops at lower volume when compared to other amplifiers I’ve had in the past, ie McIntosh
For late night listening at low volumes the loudness button is magic. I to was looking at the Pass Labs but with no functions at that price no thanks.
With my Harbeth speakers this Luxman is a match made it heaven. 😎
Nice match!
I loved that amplifier, its pure joy to listen to, sound just warms you up inside ... just sit and listen to music super musical very tube-like sound for me, I like this one over class Luxman 509,
But if you have money get M900U used one go around 9-10 K
True!
Thanks for this video. Although I have the Luxman 509X, I learned a lot of new things. My system consists of Luxman 509X integrated amplifier and EQ-500 phono-stage, PD 151 turntable and Dali Epicon 2 speakers.
Nice!
Hi Anthony, how would you describe the sound of L-509x in terms of musicality, clarity, bass, sound stage, etc? What's your take on it playing genres of rock and heavy metal?
@@fredyoung9922 I think the sound is very natural, authentic. I really like it. The amplifier does not get hot at all.
I have the 509X. Rec out goes to the tape recorder input and the monitor where you say you dont get a signal goes to the out of the recorder, you then push the monitor button on the facia of the amp to switch the monitor on to get the signal. On a 3 head machine you can then monitor how good your recording is by swiching from source to tape on the recorder. It would be great if you did a video about your recording/what you record and why. I used to love recording but all I really ever did was copy my vinyl....just for the sake of it really.
thanks , nice review , Luxman loudness mode is excellent 👍
Interesante el video muy bien explicado y buena calidad de imagen, el luxman es maravilloso, es un amplificador ganador y construido como un tanque. Gracias y saludos desde España
Gracias Jonds!
Can use the tape out for a seperate equaliser. You should get a signal if you connect a source to the monitor input. You would need to have the monitor button on, and possibly the rec out dial set to on.
I have a soft spot for Luxman, too. I own their headphone amp P-700, M-200 power amp and even vintage 1040 receiver. For the main system, however, I have Accuphase E-260 for which I have a soft spot as well. It delivers and, you are right, at higher volumes. As the end game I'd probably lean toward Luxman A-class due to comparable sound and finish quality and lower price.
Neither Accuphase nor Luxman are pure class A; they are heavily biased class A, to their stated output of say 30w/ch, then above that transition to class AB...
I absolutely love your channel, and appreciate your knowledge and opinions! Keep it up!😁👍
You're to kind! Thanks a bunch!
EI transformer core , they have lower power bandwidth, it means all the noise on main power can not come to secondary side, toroid transformer has much higher bandwidth ( around 100KHz) so all noise on power main ( power supply from PC , mobile phone charger and more) can come to secondary side of transformer which is harder to filter out ,
That noise could and should be filtered before primary windings of transformer. So, you should forget that comparison. Really. Don't anymore.
Very cool. I’m seeing this 3 years after but I hope it has worked well for you. Is a beauty
I enjoyed it very much (the looks are amazing) but sold it after a few months to experiment different brands and models, new and vintage. Most of them are on the channel.
Wonderful video! Do you think the lack of dynamics at low volume is due to speaker sensitivity matching? Not sure what speakers you are testing with but maybe dynamics would improve with 96+ db sensitive speakers? I’m thinking Cornwall IV, Devore Fidelity, Audio Note?
Sure, that can help. Mine are a pair of GoldenEar Triton Reference with 93.25dB of sensitivity.
It would be great to know how it compares against the Luxman L-595A SE
Makes my Sugden A21a look weedy! i allways fancied the class A Luxman that looked very, v.much like this one, way back in the early 90's but in those low-wage days of mine, it's s/h dealer's going rate pushed me to a much cheaper s/h Sugden when i wanted to try the theoretically better & cleaner sounding pure class A amps (with zero% crossover distortion unlike class B or AB designs)
P.S. In my s/h only days, i've turned up invited at strangers houses after responding to their ad's for an amplifier & if i saw unmatched chasis screws from the outside, or 1 or 2 missing or some with chewed heads, or if i knew nothing of the design but it seemed potentially good if only by weight alone, i'd always ask if i could take a look under the hood (with a purpose bought pocket mult-head screwdriver) ...to see if there's been badly done botched-up repairs & to see the care gone into the design like size of transformer(s)& filter cap' quality & total mf, & in unknown (to me) tube amps, esp' for the prescence or lack of power supply ckokes as in cheaply done tube amps, a 10 second glance can tell very much in an unfamiliar design, but half the time i was told "No" & once "No, you can buy it or you can eff off" This Luxman looks great under the hood & implies a great sound with Luxman's reputation & longevity in audio.
I did chose the Gryphon Diablo 120 amp. But the Luxman is an amazing amp also.
Great amp congrats! I wanted a pure class a this time!
First of all thank You for a wonderful and interesting channel. I have just bought a used L-590AX Mark II from Italy actually! My old AMP was a Yamaha A-S2100 bought in 2017. I have a Klipsch R-112SW Subwoofer in my system wich I connected to the Pre-Out on the Yamaha and it worked fine. But now i read in the manual on the Luxman the following:
Pre-out terminal (PRE OUT)
This terminal is used to obtain the output of the preamplifier.
A bi-amp connection can be performed with a combination
of an external power amplifier because this terminal always
provides output regardless of the separate switch setting.
Do not insert shortpin plugs into PRE OUT.
No sound will be generated.
The SUB does not deliver a good sound anymore, very weak. I am not sure what the text means exactly, should I use other connections or? What is the oppsite to shortpin plugs?
Is there a volume on the sub? Or you could read on high level speaker output connection for subs if indeed your sub can accommodate that.
As an aside, how does the 2100 and 590 compare? Many thanks
@@barrybrennan2135 There is a volume knob on the sub, but I have to put it almost at max level to recieve the bass, but when I do I now can enjoy it (sounds pretty good and it hooks up with the volume on the Luxman). But I am now also gonna try out with REL TX9 and High Level.
I have really enjoyed the 2100, but I can feel that this is a step up....a fuller and more detailed sound (which I like) I have just had it for a few day so far so I guess I have a lot to discover.
Cheers/Tomas
@@tomasingemarsson9615 Great Tomas, thanks. I was just looking at Steve Hoffman forums - there is a thread there called 'show us your Luxmans.' I saw a member there recently posted a picture of his Luxman with a sub connected. Maybe it is a 507ux but no doubt the procedure is the same. Perhaps you could join if necessary and ask the question. All the best
@@barrybrennan2135 Thank You very much for the info, I will go there! Best regards/Tomas
Congratulations for your new amp. I fully agree good amplifier makes a difference. When I changed my class D amp to a high quality amp from Symphonic Line I could not believe the improvement.
Really appreciate this review, seems very open and honest which is rare in the review world. Seems most reviews tell you that each piece is the best and they flip non stop. I'm looking for a warm/neutral intergates that will be in a small office setup, high-end, but not audiophile listening. This was top of the list, but at low volume, you might have steered me to the 509X or pass for more power to get detail and range at lower volumes. 75% of my listening will be at lower volumes.
Yes, I would look for more efficiency for low volume sessions. Clearly it also depends from the speakers. Mine are 93.25db so pretty sensitive.
Kinda wondering how it’s little brother, the L-550axii would drive my Forte IVs. I listen to mostly Trip-Hop, Jazz, Lounge and Electronic music at reasonable volume in a medium size room. Thanks for the great review! Beautiful piece of kit.
Pretty sure that would be an absolutely wonderful pairing. The 550 is apparently a step down, but still phenomenal. I love mine.
Great amp. 6 months ago I picked up one second hand (3 weeks old) for a great price.
I moved from tube separates to solid state integrated. It definitely puts out less heat than 8 x EL34 power tubes. I like the sound more than the tubes.
I am running with 91dB speakers (4 Ohm minimum) in a medium sized room and it has more than enough power.
I find the internal phono stage sound better than a Dynavector P75 for Moving Coil cartridges that like the fixed 100 Ohm loading (I have used Dynavector XXII and Hana ML). But I am saving for an even better external unit.
Thanks for the great review. The Luxman amplifiers are very old school in terms of features. Love it. You don't see many high end manufacturers doing this anymore. Sadly this amplifier will not drive 2 ohm speakers. I have confirmed this with Luxman. So this amplifier is not for everyone.
A really curious comment - 2ohm speakers?? Wow, those speakers must be something out of 1980's when audio went into a wrong direction for little bit and only recently started to return onto the high-sensitivity path... I wonder if you notice the sound "squeezed" out of low-sensitivity speakers like toothpaste out of tube, instead of flowing out uncinstraigned like spilling water- which I feel characterized high-sensitivy speakers. Cheers!
Based on my own experience, when an amplifier fails to deliver at low listening levels it may be a sign that the amp is not properly driving your speakers. You might want to try the Luxman with some speakers that are more efficient, with higher spl. Enjoy your new purchase!
It's a typical feature of Class A amps, in fact the put great attention on the loudness function. In any case higher sensitivity in these cases is always a good idea!
Congrats with you’re new integrated! It’s a great contender !!
I have a Xa-25 amp with inefficient speakers - special 40’s. They play fine with late night listening. The path of least resistance. Less is more. That’s what makes the xa25 a great contender.
In order
Pass - luxman - McIntosh
You deserve to try the integrated xa-25 in your home. I think you’ll be quite surprised!
As far as balanced inputs. They only provide more gain and no loss of SQ when run for long distance I/O.. though of course this is your channel. I’m sure you are aware of this 😊
I had a integrated Ma-6500. It had the loudness function as well. The integrated only came to life when played at 65db+
Absolutely! As I said I was about to get the Pass but it has no features and I want recording features. The balanced inputs are a special plus because connecting my phono preamp with that extra gain makes me use the low gain on it enhancing the quality of the signal, less noise and grain. Also, my May DAC is finally singing with the balanced connection, don't ask me why!
9:25 Yes its my favorite option too actually its designed to bypass all sound settings that set by the user into a natural virgin audio juice and as a high volume protection for speakers, this option is available in my 1980 Kenwood kr-770 and they called it zero switching , mainly as i understood its designed to not hurt speaker drivers when you set bass high and then you turn volume up (tweeter sometimes make fire when tribble is high and burn in high volume) and you go turn volume up so to avoid damaging your drivers easier to switch that option and you are all set
Thank you for introducing me to Dobet Gnahore!! Outstanding!!!
The Luxman is a beauty. One day
Thank you for this honest review. It was very instructive for me, on the solid state amplifier, tubes, class A/B.
It’s still very pleasant to hear your voice.
Will you use directly the phono stage ? Or use your phono pre-amp ?
Your gears reviews are like ASMR to watch 😌
Thank you so much! I tested it it is very good...but I am using my PS Audio for now!
I have the 509 class AB models for a long time started from L-509F, I do prefer the AB ones over class A models.
You made a smart purchase. It seemed to meet your criteria for what you wanted to use this integrated amplifier for. The PASS LABS amps definitely do not have the features you wanted.
Yes indeed, although I am sure that the separates Pass labs must be out of this world! Maybe one day!
@@anadialog I enjoy my PASS phono and line stage preamps very much but my former Audible Illusions Modulus 3B preamp had beautiful air that the PASS has less of. The Modulus is a very simple design and I think the their tube sound probably makes the difference. My PASS pre amps are truly spectacular in every other way. These PASS preamps pair extremely well with my re-tubed Audio Research VT-10O Mk III amp driving my Maggie 3.6 R’s and Carver True Sub. It’s amazing that pairing the old and the new still get delivers incredible sound.
Beautiful!
My current Lux is the vintage L580 intergrated. The sound signature tastes like candy and is super-addincting. You should do a review 😉😁
Niiiice!
Thank you Sir; checking this now. Much appreciated!
Hello, thanks a lot for the videos in your channel. I have already "tasted" quite a few of them and they are outstanding. You really transmit competence, knowledge, independence and passion. I am considering taking a leap forward in my audio setup and acquiring a new integrated amplifier. My speakers are JBL 4343B, 93dB, and my listening room is about 50 sqr meters in an apartment building with neighbors. I listen to all kinds of classical, vocal, jazz, rock pop 80's & 90's and of course ... flamenco. My listening volume is moderate to high (though my significant other would say is unbearable). Music sources are vynil (pioneer PL-570) and Mytek Brooklyng Plus DAC + MAC and Home NAS for hi res audio files. My current amp is an (very) old The Fisher X-100-B tube amp.
I have narrowed my selection to three references, all of them Japanese:
- Luxman L-590AX mk2
- Accuphase E-480
- Esoteric F-07
Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance for you advice and pls keep on with your channel¡¡¡
Thank you very much for your incouraging words! Look, I am currently trying to challenge my Luxman L590axii even with separates that cost double the price on retail and I just keep going back to the Luxman, which is pure class A, unlike the other two you listed. I have listened to the other two but I can say that with the Luxman you will be rewarded greatly and for a very long time!
Hi, and what about L-595ASE? Pure Class A too. Very good review Regards
Don’t have experience with it. Must be just as good or better!
I'm pretty sure that the hype over Lecua is that it's an attenuator and not a potentiometer. This is meant to keep the sound quality at lower volumes. I have the c700u pre and the m700u power amp feeding a pair of Magnepan 1.7's. It's everything you said about the integrated plus more. Currently looking at the DA-06 DAC as it's said that it works well with Luxman products. I was considering the Holo May dac that you recently reviewed but there is a price difference and I'm a bit of a believer that components from the same company tend to work better together. It would be interesting if you could get hold of a DA-06 and do a comparison with the May Dac through your Luxman and see if there is an advantage to the DA-06 going through a Luxman amp.
True! But again, the results seem similar to other quality potentiometers on other amps.
I can see synergy with analog components but less with digital. Will see!
Whatever you do, DONT buy a DA06 Dac yet. The dac section measures worse than dacs a sixth of the price. I owned a D06U sacd player for a few years featuring the same essential Dac within. It performed flawlessly and SACD support was nice (albeit a few discs wouldnt play) but i started to wonder how it would fare being used as a transport only. So, i spent £700 on an Audiolab MDac+ and ran it in. In a system where a remote button press could switch from the sound from D06u on its own, to the D06u feeding the MDAC+ the difference was suprising that the considerably cheaper MDAC+ in the chain outperformed the Luxman D06u dac with a more 3d imaging, cleaner more natural treble and the useful filter options to fine tune if needed. Shocked, I promptly sold my D06u and jist bought a cheap transport to use with the Audiolab dac and ive never regretted it for a second. Some people think measurments be damned and i often do too (im a valve amp guy lol) but some measurements very much DO matter in hifi. For turntables its wow/flutter and for DACs... its dynamic range. The Audiolab is the single biggest bargain ive ever bought in hifi and ive bought a literal ton of it. Generally you cant go wrong with anything sporting the ESS sabre dac although it must be run in well (yep it makes a huge diff with dacs too!)
@@tomwebb7091 Thanks for your input. A lot of the things I have read about the DA06 are very mixed and you don't spend that sort of money on something that you cannot audition if the "vibe" on the street isn't very favourable. I have decided on the Holo Audio May Level 2 which I hope to receive early January.
Thank you for this rewiew, I’m thinking of buying a new integrated amplifier andLuxman i really like, but i think to buy the L505 UX || .
Hi! Thank you for all your work and for sharing with us. Even if for the moment I don’t have the budget, may I ask what Luxman would you recommend for the Focal Aria 948? Of course, if they pair ok. I run them with the vintage Pioneer combo c73/m73 Urushi from the 90s. With a svs sb-1000 pro in a 60sqm long livingroom. But my auditions are moderate to low volume. Thank you!🙏
Hi there! I saw your comment also under the Hegel. The Arias have a decent amount of sensitivity so they are pretty easy to match. This Luxman is excellent but I think you can do better at a cheaper price. A quality vintage tube amp with at least 50/60w of power should open you new worlds of lust! If you want to stay solid state perhaps a class A Pass or Sugden would do the trick.
@@anadialog Hi! Thank you so much for your answer and recommendations. I really appreciate it. I was just talking with someone from a hifi shop today about changing the amplification from my 90s Pioneers vintage class A to something more actual. A Copland cta407, for example, but this one goes also on the high budget side. But I do have to choose only by demoing in my system. Which is kind of difficult. Let’s see what the new year will bring. :) Thank you again and Blessed Holidays!
Hey Guido - great video and congratulations on the purchase. I love Luxman products, they are so well-made and ooze quality.
Love this amp. It beats my 300w Mcintosh in terms of dynamics and just raw power. But the sweetness and the warmish sound of the Mc is something i would for the luxman to have
It is a very nice integrated amp cool looking to. I love it
I had a Luxman L-509x for a review. I found it to be a superb machine in quality and performance. It’s control of the bass and it’s clarity in the presentation of the instruments fascinated me but perhaps sometimes it sounded too analytical with some records. How would this L-590AXII pair with a Klipsch La Scala AL5? They are loudspeakers with a declared sensitivity of 105 dB. This makes them work in quantitative terms with virtually any amplification even a headphone amp. But in qualitative terms they need an amplification and a source with a deathly silence so that their black background is not spoiled. How quiet is the Luxman test in class A? It would be great to try a class A tube preamp like the Primaluna Evo 400 and the Luxman L-590AXII as a power amp. Not now with the infernal summer in Italy (I am from the south of Spain, I know of extreme heat) but yes in autumn-winter. Thank you and enjoy your magnificent machine.
Most klipsh would be a perfect combination! I don't have data on its noise but IMO and other articles I read I think that you would be very satisfied with its performance.
Uuuh! I would love to pair it with a Primaluna preamp!
Herron tube line stage. It’s about as warm as a dennon av receiver paired to a class A SS amp.
Imho its the preamp section of the 590 that outperforms the power amp section. The Luxman preamps are very good such as the 380uC which has proper MC step up inside and being valve sounds alot more spacious and organic than solid state.
love this analogue amp guido me ihave the yamaha as1100 and i love it congrat for this jewel my friend!
Thanks! The Yamaha is another great integrated amp...forgot to mention it!
"The macintosh of japan". Both luxman and Onkyo really tried to emulate the sound of mac. In an era of grainy and harsh sounding mass-fi components, they sounded warm and smooth.
Ohh shit ! That looks like a BMF !
Thanks for the video
when i hit lotto that"s my cup of tea 2021
Congratulations! 👍
Guido, you have a good taste for amplifiers :)
If I had the money to spend I would probably buy the same one, and funny enough for much the same reasons as well. This thing has all the correct features meaning it not only has the tape features but is also lacking the DAC features that will render any amplifier obsolete in less than 5 years.
To mitigate the sound quality loss at low volumes you could experiment with high quality dummy load resisters on speakers B.
If you then switch to speakers A/B it will put the resisters in series with the speakers (normally). So adding a resister will burn up some power and reduce the volume level turning your speaker select in a mute button.
I am also curious if the resister it self will degrade the sound quality. The damping will go out the window so it could be an interesting experiment. If you really like it, it could even be a video :)
Interesting!
@@anadialog If speakers A/B switches them in parallel, it will not work obviously. I have seen both with vintage amps. I am not sure how it is with this one.
I had always been told all amps sound the same and I believed it until I listened to this amp. It simply sounds much better than others.
Strings, little drums and voices sound specially good.
All amps sound the same? Boy you’re in for a treat. When you discover SET amps with the proper speakers there is no turning back
Loudness is ALSO useful on those popular recordings of a past era made/produced with a lowered bass region.........
Thanks for another excellent review. Which amplifier would you choose for a 20m2 room, to listen at a moderate volume and with a price below €4,000?
How about a Sugden A21SE in pure Class A?
@@anadialog I was going to ask if the Sugden A21SE Signature would be a good option, but I didn't ask so I wouldn't be influencing your answer 😀. Many thanks for the reply.
Drool worthy amp. It's pleasure even to just look at.
Absolutely fantastic review. 🎶🎼🎵🎶🎼🎵
Incidentally---I just want folks to know---the Luxman is WONDERFUL. I have the 590AX, not version II . None-the-less, this amp is all that I wanted it to be. I was looking for this "type of sound" ever since I gave up my Harman Kardon AVR 7300. That receiver was so smooth, so sweet. It had the warm sound that you could listen to all night, yet the dynamics were still there. I gave it up because I needed {at that time} the HDMI i/o connections for my home theater. But now I've seen the light. Two different systems. The home theater doesn't need NEAR, the amount of high quality that pure music needs. Now I'm wondering if I should go back in time and get a turntable. There is a phono section within the amp and it's supposed to be again---wonderful. 🙂
Thanks so much for this review, I just purchased Dynaudio heritage special and was wondering how you think it would work as they or only 86% efficient - also can you run a powered sub off these?
I’m almost too jealous, I need to reign it in man! Whew!
Brilliant amp
For air you need to use external tube Luxman preamp...you will get much better sound than Primaluna
I concur. In fact for the 7k the 590AXii costs in the UK you can have the tube 380 preamp and spend 3k on a stereo power amp and it will easily outperform the 590AXii. And i have done just that myself 👍
Your exactly right you need to turn it up
I stayed for the opening song by Dobet Gnahore (“Desert”) and ended up wanting this integrated amplifier.
😆
Good review.
I was also looking at this amp but the price is too high .
I have one of their blue line and it is
an amazing amp, very similer in merits as the yellow line.
The loudness button is a must....
And btw it also sounds best at high volumes.
Hi @anadialog, very good review, but I’m a suspect because a I’ve one (I had too the previous version…)
One question: do you believe that m900u and c900u is a consistent upgrade compare to L590axii?
I do! But the price...ouch!
Very nice integrated amplifier friend... I've already heard this one played and definitely worth a listen. I myself have monoblocks from AMP GUNTERMANIA and prestage Musical Fidelity KW Tulip and Kef Reference Model 4.2 But I have to say that I was definitely impressed with this Luxman integrated amplifier. Beautiful High-end... Thank you for this video. Greetings from the Netherlands Limburg Maastricht and especially continue with High-end... Stay safe🙏
✌😘😉👌👍
Wow, very nice setup!
@@anadialog
It is indeed a very nice high-end set. It's also really expensive what I have. I have been involved with High-end since I was 14 years old. One buys a house, the other a car, motorcycle or boat, etcetera. We buy high-end equipment and spend a lot on it. But I think it's important to have good sound and to be able to enjoy this hobby. I always find your videos fun and interesting. You have a very nice collection and we enjoy how you present and tell it and you are also a true lover of High-end. And you have knowledge and figure things out well for us. Thanks for that brother. Have a nice day and see you next...
✌😘👌👍😉
Thank you Javier!
First time I have heard that it does not sound stellar at low volume, now I feel happy that I did not buy it, was really considering this, but chose to go with a Belles class A and a Supratek Cabernet pre, which by the way sound sublime at low and high volume.
Sweet!
Just want to add my two cents here regarding this point and say that I strongly disagree with the reviewer here : I own this amp, paired with Harbeth Super HL5, listen at around 72-75db on average (peaks at 80-89db) and the sound is perfect. Now the amp can easily go louder of course, but for me, the sweet spot is around 75db and I don't feel like I gain much more at higher spl.
Vert nice integrated amp & cool looks mate, well done, it should give your system a good Sonic boost👍
Yeah!
@ANA[DIA]LOG Nice review. I imagine that when you test the Monitor RCA output you have before pressed the Monitor button, haven't you?
I have also a line-straight button in my Yamaha Receiver and BR/SACD player and normally I didn't use it because I prefer the sound keeping my adjustments, speaker levels, frequency crossover, etc.
Sometimes I used in the SACD player, but no in the receiver.
Regarding to versatile and functions, another swis-knife integrated amplifier with also a good digital section is the McIntosh MAC7200
Regards.
Yes, I did try but then it becomes an input...I wrote to Luxman on the issue but no response for now ;-(
@@anadialog hi, thanks a lot for the review, very very nice. About the MONITOR RCA INPUT according to the schematic this can be only an input: when the MONITOR switch is ON then all the other inputs are isolated (with REC-OUT off) and the only source is i.e. the cassette player. If REC-OUT is selected then during recording the active input is connected with the REC-OUT and we monitor the recording from that source. Actually I cannot find any mention in the user manual of RCA MONITOR to be used as output but at page 7 paragraph 17 is reported when MONITOR is set to OFF: "Enables to reproduce the signals from the source selected with the input selector." that is correct because when MONITOR SWITCH is set to OFF then the RCA MONITOR is completed isolated and only any of the other inputs (actually the active one) can go to to the pre-amp session and exit to the speakers, headphone or just pre-out based on the configuration. Hope this would clarify the doubts. Thanks
How does sound compare to the vintage L100 you reviewed previously?
Two different worlds...and costs. For the money (at that time) the L10 was amazing BUT this amp is just miles ahead in richness and texture. Much more engaging and addictive!
Question is this amp ir AccuphaseE-650???I think many oflks say Accuphase is better but ???Gotta love the Luxman looks and vibe though.For me it would be tough to give up my EAR 834 but thinking about a Luxman.That is unless I get a an Aesthetix Mimas
I haven't listened to the Accuphase in my system so can really tell. The prices outside Japan are absurd IMO.
Subsonic filters should be on everything with the vinyl craze .
Really enjoying your reviews. How hot does this unit get? My home is very hot already. I have the l509x, doesn’t get hot at all, and was considering a trade in for this.
Thanks! The unit did get quite hot. More than other class a amps I had after that.
@@anadialog thanks for the response.
Have you ever heard the 509x or class a/b Luxman? I was just reading your note about rediscovering your digital and wondered how you feel the a/b would compare
That was a great review! 🎉👋
In your review you mentioned this amp needs to be played relatively loud to enjoy what Luxman has to offer. "If you are unable to play music at volume, this amp might not be for you". I am thinking about the L-550 model. Listen to music at no more than 75-80 dB max. Still worth a consideration?
You are talking in absolute terms. That should be sufficient. In terms of volume unit, to enjoy the quality of the amplification you need to set the volume knob at around 10 o'clock, approx. -20/15 dB at least IMO.
@@anadialog Thanks
Excellent review, very engaging.
When you say play it at high levels, what do you consider loud exactly??? Im very interested in this amp, but living in Amsterdam apartments doesn't give you a lot of legroom when it comes to high volume!
IMHO for full potential at least at 10:00 o'clock on the volume knob
Damm if your speakers perform you dont need loud to get resonance in the building. I shake my place with an old lux receiver 1050 and some klipsch lascala. La scala run on a nak 620 amp.
Yes it is a very nice solid sounding amp. And build quality too. One must pay attention with speaker marching as it is not compatible with all types had a small problem matching It is an old school amp like the accuphase e480 which I find a better amp a better all rounder but in both cases they both have a big history and are highly respected. This Luxman amp is really a class a b with very little watts into class A but other wise the sound is clean balanced and has a punchy bass but in hi volumes like you also said. Esoteric Gradioso f1 on the other hand is the modern version of both this models and more and soon ,I will be getting the michi x5 to join the club. Pass labs for example or Dan Dagoustino integrated are another story and money wise a different ball game. My reference integrated amp is the hegel h 590 with no match at its price point . Important to mention that hi quality studio recordings is the most important factor. For example try Tong li golden hi res album on your luxman. Lovely vocal outstanding recordings. Enjoy your listening.
Nope, it's pure class A up to 60 watts with 4ohms. After that it's A/B.
Yes you are correct as l popped the lid and along with my friends who owe hi end audio stores checked the circuits with the specialist in electronics, yes it is a pure class A but not all the way as you also said but certainly enough .Anyway as I said it's a fantastic amp otherwise it would not have been in my collection and affordable and certainly a great purchase. Has a vintage look with top notch components and build quality like Accuphase . Prima luna, Unison Research hibrid as they also have valve state and Pathos are aIso great amps .I would like you how ever to give a listen to the h590 hegel when you can. It is a class ab but one of a kind. I would like to hear your thoughts on it too. Check the imaging depth instrument position ,separation on hi and low volume and the lack of distortion. The darkness behind the instruments too .One of the very few amps with a damping factor over 4000 tried it with the focul sopra oh yes like you say . Just happen to find it a great sounding unit .Keep up the great work .
Thanks for you comment, indeed the Hegel is on my list!
I read somewhere that this is not "pure typeA", but it is Type A up to its rated 30W/channel, then Type AB upwards of that up to about 75W/ch- sorry to disappoint.... Also, I auditioned this model and personally found it somewhat thin-sounding and on cooler & dryer side. It's a good quality assembly but the sound kinda disappointing relative to its peers in price. Then again- to each their own and some would like its sound signature.
OK, it is gold medal. Now, can you make comparison class A tube Amp with this
Indeed!
Great video! Hope you could do a review on the Luxman SQ38FD, one of the most famous tube amp! Thanks!
You had luxman now accuphase.. but i think a good amp for you would be a jadis i50
Also Accuphase is on the road to the next owner...soon I will reveal what is making my head spin!
How does the sound compare between the Luxman 590 and the Prima Luna as these are two I am considering
Obviously many part compose the final sound, but in my opinion the Luxman is in another league. Much much better (and expensive).
Thanks for a great revue! I'm lucky owner of L-590 AX mark 2. What bookshelf speakers would you recommend to go for with this amp? At the moment I have Monitor Audio Gold 100 5G. I would like to have best possible sound if that make sense
so the speakers cooperate wit this amp best possible way. Thank you also for other revues that you've made.
Thanks! Well clearly you need relatively sensitive speakers since the power isn’t huge and want to avoid to go into class a/b. So anything around 90 or up should be great.
@@anadialogThanks for your answer. Could you explain me please how should I understand 90?
Can you give your opinion on the a very good tube mm preamp ? I was looking to an m3 phono AN used, but it will be nice to have unity gain for my LUMIN. I also have a good step up transformer, common problem I think, very rare, ear 868 pl ?
Thanks for the review! You’ve accidentally mentioned Pass Labs - have you listened to their amp/preamps? Maybe some from First Watt? Both companies are established by mr. Nelson Pass and are extremely interesting. Gonna make some DIY projects (First Watt F6 amp, his Nutube preamp) based on his engineering- very excited about that. It will interesting to know your opinion if you’ve heard some of Pass Labs or First Watt amps.
Only a few at fairs...