A few things: (1) This amp does not run hot. Even after hours of use. (2) Minor correction to what was said early in the video: The 550 can power two pairs (4) of speakers at once. Not 8. I slipped up as I was thinking about the next thing to say. :D Power output will remain the same so long as all of the speakers are 8 ohms or higher (as the amp will see a collective impedance of 4 ohms). (3) Another minor correction: The circuit that Luxman was responsible for pertains to *Global* Negative Feedback. Cheers!
Atleast you didn't slip and call a dac a amp like i did with the Aunex8 no one caught it , i was acrually looking down at the op-amps when i said that lol shit happens !
Oh Lord, my clairvoyant vision just kicked in. 😆 My possessed echoing creepy voice sez "Thy shalt do a shoot out between the Yamaha C5000+M5000 stack (20k USD) and the Luxman C900u+M900u stack (30k USD) one day. After the shootout, both Luxman and Yamaha will donate their respective stacks for thee to keep and cherish. Thy shalt be known to all these youtube peasants as the ultimate stacklord thereafter. All these peasants will sing songs in praise of the ultimate stacklord"
My mate across the pond in USA has this and a l509 x as his end journey amps. He feels that sonically they're almost impossible to beat. You can get different sounding, yes, but not better. He (and I include his family here) are audio mad all playing wildly differing genres and have bought and sold all manner of expensive integrated and pre/power combos, never being satisfied with results. The Luxman amps have satisfied everyone, with no desire to upgrade further even though they evidently can afford to. I asked the family to watch this post and they concur in every way "his observations and conclusions are spot on- there is NOTHING more to be said" excellent Mr ZF. The only caveat that they mentioned was that the DAC needed to do justice to this takes some serious searching as you need a very detailed, honest and transparent one to accompany it. I have heard these in his main set up with Spendor D9.2 speakers and i was left speechless, tear filled or even dribbling with the sheer audio beauty that i heard. I'm saving hard believe me. Thanks Sean for another great review.
My local dealer sells this amp and I gotta tell y'akk, pictures don't do it justice!! When you see in real life you will want to touch and caress it in your hands!!
@@faludabutt8253 I cancelled my order. I ended up getting a Willsenton R8 and am quite happy with it. I couldn't justify spending almost $6K at the time.
@@faludabutt8253Too polite? One man’s trash can be another man’s treasure. If tastes were simple, there’d only be one flavor of ice cream! After I’ve done some tube rolling and if I tire of the Willsenton, then the Luxman 550AXII or it’s replacement will be a single transaction away so no fret. I had to scratch the tube itch at least once. There’s never a down side to trying out new gear. ;-)
Tee-Jay The Stereo-Bargain-File here’s a secret , most modern audio equipment sounds pretty damn good.. add good looks and build quality and it bumps it up a few notches. No ugly shit on the rack. Go get a Hegel
This integrated amp has every feature that disappeared from my favorite 1970's equipment (ie. My Harmon-Kardon 930). Loudness! Mono! Low filter! A real tape monitor circuit and pre-out/main ins! Clicking switches! The only thing it's missing is reverse stereo. After watching this review, this amp is exactly what I want to make my life complete. Too bad that it's about $4,500 more than I can afford. Thank you for your great review of my new fantasy.
Loundness! So simple and misunderstood! Just there to make it easier to hear low-volume music (pumps up mids). “How to listen to music after the kids are asleep”. Totally agreed
I recently picked up a 930 that has been brought back to life and I’m wondering if you would recommend some speakers you have had success matching with this receiver. Thank you.
@@tommywingate2220 The only speaker I used with the 930 were JBL L-100s which I thought sounded great together, but that was 30 years ago. They might match well with a high sensitivity speaker. It would be fun to hear them with one of the Lore speakers from Tekton (although I just noticed the price has gone way up on those). Have fun with your 930!
So how are they sounding? I'm considering luxman and Cornwall IV or Raven Osprey with matching Celeste speakers. Wish I had a HiFi Listening Room nearby.
@@Drivehead103 I really enjoyed my time with the Luxman L550 AXII, that I upgraded what was an already excellent amp, to it’s bigger brother the Luxman L509x, partnered with the klipsch forte 3. The 509x sounds more refined than the L550 AXII , with great dynamics and bass extension. To be honest you would be happy with both.
@@richardattridge3182 and now Denon PMA xs11 is on my radar and can be purchased for around $2,700 used. I think it is 80 watts into 8 ohms and 160 watts into 4 but does not have tone controls that I enjoy. Decisions decisions. Raven osprey, Denon, pathos, Yamaha and many others have been on my radar for about 3 years!
Great audio system, hopefully one day you can do a review of the Luxman L-509X Integrated Amplifier, more powerful unit. Keep going, love your wonderful reviews.
I still have my first integrated amp a Luxman R 1040 from 1978. Still works wonderful. I replaced it with the R 1120 a year later for more power. I had Poke monitor 10s which still have and are in fine shape. The R 1120 went by the wayside because the circuitry always ran so hot. That thing through off some heat. I now run Parasound JC5 and JC2 bypass. Thanks for that tip . Still love Luxman.
Hey Sean, Great Video as usual, it makes me remember my old Luxman integrated Amp. That unit was from the early 80’s and was rated at 50 watts into 8 ohms. It was the unit with the gold and glass retractable faceplate. Man oh man it would rock the house and sounded Beautiful. The unit was built like a Tank. I had it for years right up til my divorce in which my ex took it as part of the settlement. I especially remember the day my buddy brought over his Cerwin Vegas D9’s and when the bass hit it blew the speaker covers across the room literally. My buddy had a Sony amp that was rated at 120 watts into 8 ohms and his amps couldn’t blow the covers off his Speakers. From that point on he has owned Luxman equipment. My long drawn out point is that a true 20 watts is more than enough power. Keep up the Great Work Buddy.
After watching this video I noticed a vintage Luxman receiver integrated for sale at a local electronics repair place. Was only $199 so I read a little bit about the model Rx-101 and then rushed out to get it. Brought it home plugged in my Sonus faber Minuettos and put on a garden variety baroque cd I had just to make sure it would power up etc. Well I wound up listening to the whole cd straight through and though I'd heard the performances numerous times before (through a Rotel amp and a Hafler DH 220) this time the sound brought tears to my eyes. And the phono stage sounds excellent and the receiver sounds excellent. Have it paired with a Pro-ject 1xpression Carbon Classic and the sound from the vinyl is deep and rich and detailed. ZZ Top Deguello sounds phenomonal. The CD players are an Oppo BDP-83 and a Rotel RCD-1072, both run through a Schitt Modi 3 DAC. Now I divide my audio life into: Before I owned a Luxman and After. Downsides; no remote and low watts (40 WPC). But, oh, the quality of the sound is first rate.
Great review Sean. I recently acquired the bigger brother (590 AXII) and found your description of sound to accurately match my experience. I came from EL34 mono block amplifiers and found the Luxman far more detailed with a bit more sparkle and tighter bass. I have 91dB, 4 ohm speakers and this amp has more than enough power for my listening requirements - could probably run the 550 in myself system just as well. For those interested the phono stage (I think it is the same in both models) is very good. I am running a Dynavector XX-2 and I compared with my existing phono stage (Dynavector P75) - the internal one is much better. Admittedly the 100 ohm landing is not adjustable and suits my cartridge.
Found the last L-590 axII dealer Demo in the Country 🇨🇦 and luckily it was in my home town. Been into audio for over 40+ years. I was getting tired of the in my face 200 watt McIntosh gear. Ya I had to step up for the Luxman but this I’m sure will be my last intergraded. I heard it for 30 mins at the dealer and was hard pressed to keep the smile off my face. As you can imagine I’ve heard a ton of gear and this sure is a piece I’m going to adore. I’m a big vinyl guy so having the MC/MM phono stage allows me to sell off my phono preamp as well. Win Win. Late night Jazz through the Harbeth’s should be magical. 😎 Thanks
I'm biased to the Luxman lineup. I own the 70's L-100 integrated. And it's my favorite amp i've ever owned. Luxman like Marantz and some higher end Yamaha's have clarity and honest sound that I love. Not to mention their beautiful yet simple layout and design. Work of art!
I've tried Luxman 550AXII and loved it , it was on the warmer side to me , very very very good AMP ,, did not quite like 509 after trying 550,,, ended up going all in with M900U ,,, this think will stay put for decades to come i hope
Back in the late 70’s, early 80’s one of the local “stereo” shops in my area used Luxman to demo Klipsch speakers. Couldn’t afford both so I went with Klipsch. Still have them. Still can’t afford Luxman. Luxman gear, then and now still look the same...gorgeous!
Was planning to buy the bigger brother for a long time, but decided to go for tube pre and a class A power amp instead, not easy to go away from tubes, they bring something special to the table. The Luxman gear looks wonderful.
I hope you do a separate little piece on this amp with the Cornwall's. I just bought a pair, and although I've been looking mainly at tube amp, this may be the ticket.
Sean did a review months back on a Luxman tube amp, can’t remember the model but it’s in his videos. That amp was beautiful and I’d bet would go together with Klipsch like peanut butter and jelly!
McIntosh tube separates or this pure class A beauty would be wonderful with the Cornwall IV. Anything Luxman is majestic. The problem with the cheaper tube amps is that they’re cheaper tube amps.
John Lafferty - that’s one of the fantastic things about the Cornwall IV’s - that 102 dB sensitivity allows you to use some really choice low power amplification and you get very nice bass response with those ported 15” woofers.
Minor point to your presentation. Luxman didn't invent negative feedback. Harold Black submitted a patent in 1928. Harry Nyquist while working for AT&T, later Bell Labs, developed the idea even further. He also worked with Hendrik Bode to develop circuits using feefback in the 1930's. I should also say, your presentation as always, is great. Enjoy every one of them.
Great review! Can’t help to feel that the Yamaha 1200 didnt get as much love for its build quality which, in my opinion, is every bit as good - considering the price difference.
Thanks for the review. I have a 1970s Luxman M2000 and C1010 and find that even back then, they had a very nice, restrained style. The bass extension is there when you need it but never feels forced in any way. Just very clean and honest musical expression.
Can’t wait for your video on the ‘shootout’ between the Luxman, Yamaha and Accuphase. Add in American and Euro reps from Parasound and Hegel and it’s like Christmas comes early!
+1 (Looking for the best non-tube class A amp for the Cornwall IV. Besides Pass Labs INT-25, INT-60, Luxman 590AX II and Accuphase E650 I have also Grandinote Shinai (Italy) and the Valvet amps (Germany) on the list.) I also think about a combination of a tube dac/preamp like the Ayon Stealth in combination with class D monoblocks like the Nuprime ST10Ms or the brand new Eigentakt monos from NAD.
Luxman build quality. Thumbs up if you have a Marantz 2600, 2500...etc Sanaui G-33000, 22000...etc Pioneer sx-1980, 1280...etc Yamaha 3020, 2020..etc Luxman R-1120, 117..etc Realistic 2100...etc Sony Str 7065, 7045..etc REAL metal knobs, some scalloped knobs, heavy dial tuning, insane power, some had ALMOST magical sublime tube-ish sound. Glad to see Luxman making beautiful gear. One day I'll own one.
I have the feeling you are describing my Rotel RA-713; even thought it was considered Mid-Fi in the 70s it presents the music with an incredible clarity, cymbals and base sounds really good too with Legacy Focus 20/20. Thank you for all you work, God bless you and stay safe!
This is an excellent review which I find totally engaging with thoughtful comments. As a potential buyer I’m interested in how the amp sounds obviously but also whether there are optimum pairings in terms of source and speakers. You’ve covered everything and have been very thorough in your presentation. I’d like to see a demo with some music playing. I appreciate the listener cannot even hope to replicate what you hear but we can see how you react to the performance. Apart from that, great channel so keep up these excellent reviews!
Good to hear that Luxman's goals are the same now as they were 40 years ago, before the Alpine years. I bought a humble L-113A back in the 80s and it's still going strong - never been serviced, because it's never needed it. It just keeps chugging along, doing its job without any fuss. It would still be my main system amp now, but I replaced it earlier this year... with an L-114A that I picked up in showroom condition on eBay for £82 ($105), which just goes to show that you don't have to be mega-rich to get a taste of Luxman quality.
If anyone is put off by the power rating here, they wouldn’t appreciate the Naim Uniti Atom either, which is a great piece. And they would run away screaming at the price of Pass Labs First Watt stuff. Well, they could give the Schitt Aegirs a spin if curious about class A. The Schiit voicing is not far off from the Luxman Can’t wait for the Accuphase review!
Those fantastic VU meters but we don't even get to see them bounce around in this video! Otherwise, nice review, as always. I like your detail when it comes to explaining how something sounds...not just that it "sounds good".
The U.S. price of Luxman is about double of the retail price of Japan. This U.S. premium was around 70-80% for the recent years. But, with the current exchange rate, it's about 100% vs the authorized Japanese retailer. A $4,500 amp in Japan sells for $9,000 in U.S. The reason I mention this is because this hurts Luxman more than anyone. I strongly believe Luxman should sell directly on Amazon and hire media guys (spend money on youtube) to make up for the lack of brick and mortal stores.
Yep. The gear is certainly more attainable in Japan. The reason is simple: Both Luxman and Accuphase sell directly to their domestic retailers. Without distribution. Without an attempt to balance out global pricing. They've been doing so for decades, and likely won't ever change. This puts every other market in a tough spot due to distribution markups and import costs (shipping, insurance, and taxes.) Using the distribution-direct model in North America *may* lower the price of the gear, but it would be at the expense of destroying their dealer network (the number of people actively selling their product), which in turn would deny consumers the opportunity to audition before buying, or receiving educated advice from a trusted, local shop. Social Media only creates blips of interest. A strong dealer network creates consistency. Overall sales would decline and after-sales support may become questionable. Ultimately, the loss in sales would need to be compensated for by margin, which means the price adjustment wouldn't be all too different.
Glowing review. Great stuff. Thanks Sean! Loved the B roll at the end. Looking forward to the shootout comparison. I came close to buying a used L550 II for my Harbeth 30.1's but something told me more power would be useful for that lower sensitivity. Looking forward to the E-480 review as I have my eye on that!
Freaking Musical Fidelity found a way to disrupt this review! haha. So the bass on this unit is a treat. Textured. Fast. Very, very strong. Who in the heck doesn't like great tone with some ballsy density to back it up?
The e-480 is gonna be an interesting comparison vs this class A. Although it is much more expensive over here in the US if you want a proper warranty. As for the sound. Besides power (mostly for party scenarios which is not an often occurence.) your description basically matches what my E-380 sounds like. Wide, transparent, dynamic. I think I'll need to change my Dac as I like a more analogue sound. Denafrips seems like a good bet but I'll tough it out in a topping D90 until I can snag a Pontus on the used market
Sean, great job, this has been a recent top contender for me, really wish you had commented on DAC and source used though, just as a reference for some of us. Excellent work as usual and much appreciate the detailed review!
So we know the tactile, sound and aesthetic qualities are fantastic. We covered three of the five senses, so how does it smell and taste? Does the capacitors and inductors warming-up smell like a warm summer rain? And, I’ve got a lot of love for you and your channel, Sean, but come on man, we’re missing some key features of certain gear without being able to review the Phono-stages etc. Grab a U-Turn Orbit with an Ortofon cartridge or Grado and give us some analog love. Keep up the good work, great stuff!
Hahah So legit: This integrated has a very unique electronics smell. Too weird to mention in a review, but perfectly suitable to mention here. I love it! :D And naw, I only formally review stuff that I'm qualified to talk about. While I once owned a Clear Audio Champion, that was many moons ago! I'd need to spend 6 months to 1 year around pure analog stuff before I'm in a position to provide an accurate accurate summary on that kinda gear.
Luxman has always made some great stuff and you are not the only one who has commented on how powerful 20 watts can sound. I like to remind folks it's is class a watts that double into 4 ohms and that luxman like others such as macintosh and pass labs are conservative with their ratings. Case in point the pass labs xa25 amplifier way out performed it's specs when stereophile did it's testing on it. It would be a intersting compassion with one of pass labs lower integrates as well. They used to do a 30 watt class a integrated that was really good years back. Not as many of the bells and whistles as the luxman though. When you get into this sorta league their all good. Just going to come down to preference for sound, synergy with your system and features. The scary thing is that that luxman sound gets better when you step up to their separates (preamp and amplifiers). I think they also make a related model but it's class ab instead of class a. Looking for to future reviews of accuphase. Thanks!
I auditioned the L590AXII amp at my dealer not knowing it was 30 watts and it was In a league of its own driving Sopra No 2's compared to other "high-end" higher wattage amps sounding great, but this one has its own magic. It also had a very high current capability which was my dealers point.😀
@@musiconvinylisbetter.1449 For a lower wattage amp to go above and beyond, you still need an efficient speaker. It's also in the circuit design and quality of components the amps use and how they obtain the "quality of their watts/power" Cheaper amp manufacturers play with their power ratings, so for example 100 watts may be for a very short period of time before an amp clips, or the distortion maybe high. On the other hand, high current high end amps maybe be lower rated, but are clean, and be stable down to 1-2 ohms, they also maybe underrated on their power delivery but have a high damping factor. Lol There are so many variables with both high end and low end. It all comes down to understanding the product, personal taste, and budget.
Cool beans. 1935 topology with 1930's negative feedback (invented by Harold Stephen Black at Bell Laboratories in 1927, patented in 1937, not by Luxman). 1960's controls. 1970's solid state topology. Very pretty VU meters (with 1980's expanded range). E-I transformer, which is known to leak a lot more magnetic field than toroidals, but in small editions are much easier to wind and less costly to make in small runs. Yeah, I would love to hear it with an nice pair of Klipsch's or JBL's at the 'one-Watt plus crescendos' level. Really love to. Class A puts the minute details of music signals right in the most linear part of the output devices' operating curve -- the sweet spot. I'd like to hear it compared to a Nelson Pass comparable design, just for shits and giggles. Should go well in a book-lined library with hassock, pipe, and slippers. Has "wall of sound" changed definition since the Phil Spector days in the 60's? Don't pay attention to my comments. I'm that 'armchair engineer' that knows nothing about hifi marketing nor cares much for nostalgia. I saw lots of nostalgic hardware when it was the best we had, but I don't think that hifi is anywhere near the best it can get. It really does sound fake.
Boy o boy...finally saved up to get this beauty home, paired with KLH Model 5. I mean there is nothing ..i mean nothing that comes close to that combination..bliss. thanks Sean.
The fact the 550 is staying in Sean's reference rotation says a lot. End game amp for many, just make sure that you watch this video and listen closely a few times at least before pulling the trigger.
How exciting! Looking forward to seeing the upcoming reviews of amps that'll compete with this one... Also worth saying: I only ever heard a Luxman amp once (a 20wpc A/B tube amp, actually) but WOW, they are great sounding -- and well-engineered -- pieces of equipment.
Why are many manufacturers so enamored with the "MK II" as a model designation?? Every other product is a MK II. Thanks for including some demo sound of the products you review. After all who wants to make love without the climax?
Once you get used these kind of actual physical controls .. rest all touch screens gimmicks , plastic nobs all appear like toys in dollar tree. Real things never loose their feel and value .. example NAD m33 very impressive all in one and great looking .. trust me we just get bored in 2 to 3 weeks with touch scree after 3 to 5 years down the line probably NAD M33 will become like cheap android phone with full of bugs and slowness. but these luxman or Yamaha built and quality last for life .and we enjoy every time we touch them .
You mentioned Accuphase. Even though I could see it was a Luxman, Accuphase was the other manufacturer I thought of as far as making such a beautiful piece of equipment.
Holy crap. Luxman is still making audio equipment. Somewhere in my basement, in a box, is the Luxman receiver I bought as a teenager back in 1978. It became outdated, but I’ve never had the heart to get rid of it. Is there a market for vintage stereo gear? 😂
It Would be nice to have a comaprison between the power section of the 550 and Passlabs XA25 power amp. The 2 are on my list, but unfortunately i won't get the opportunity to have a home demo on either. If anybody has some insight on this, It would be most appreciated.
Man do I love the look, although I prefer the range of speakers their AB (blue VU) amps can power. If they had a discrete headphone stage in there they'd be absolutely perfect.
Hey, nice review man. Just a suggestion (although it could mean a some extra bit of work but it could be an intelligent way to include it as part of all your reviews). So I get it when many reviewers won’t wanna include sound recordings/clips as part of the reviews as these aren’t a true representation of what you would hear in the room in person. As always there are two schools of thought here and there will be one half who would like to listen to some sound bytes. Instead of including a full section towards that, could you consider recording the amp with your fav paired speakers (with stereo mics) with that amp and only play it when segueing from one segment to another and like the last bit where the ‘chill and vibe’ visuals come in. Let me know if this appeals to you....
Great review! Would be awesome if you did some more mid-priced Luxman. Amazing value for price. When so many things are made to be disposable, I still have my father’s 40 year-old Luxman gear,. It would be fun to listen to the 550 alongside a comparably priced McIntosh integrated, entry level Pass and Jeff Rowland int’s. I think the Luxman would be really enjoyable alongside much more expensive pieces, even if they did some things better
Make yourself precision inverse RIAA, than you will be in position to compare line in with MM/MC phono inputs on all amps you review. It allows you to connect your line level source(dac) to phono inputs.
You said that you're not an analogue guy (but only mentioned vinyl...).....Would love to know what your source player is using this amp? Are you using a CD player/DAC/Streamer? I absolutely adore the look and philosophy of this amp, but I can't find a lot of reviews showing how people pair it up. Thanks!
A few things: (1) This amp does not run hot. Even after hours of use. (2) Minor correction to what was said early in the video: The 550 can power two pairs (4) of speakers at once. Not 8. I slipped up as I was thinking about the next thing to say. :D Power output will remain the same so long as all of the speakers are 8 ohms or higher (as the amp will see a collective impedance of 4 ohms). (3) Another minor correction: The circuit that Luxman was responsible for pertains to *Global* Negative Feedback. Cheers!
You could power 16 32ohm ones though. 😀
I really like the 2 pairs speaker switching feature, as different speakers have their own strength. Why there aren't many amp with such feature?? :-(
Atleast you didn't slip and call a dac a amp like i did with the Aunex8 no one caught it , i was acrually looking down at the op-amps when i said that lol shit happens !
@@brandonbuehler563 have you tried the Node with a separate DAC?
Oh Lord, my clairvoyant vision just kicked in. 😆 My possessed echoing creepy voice sez "Thy shalt do a shoot out between the Yamaha C5000+M5000 stack (20k USD) and the Luxman C900u+M900u stack (30k USD) one day. After the shootout, both Luxman and Yamaha will donate their respective stacks for thee to keep and cherish. Thy shalt be known to all these youtube peasants as the ultimate stacklord thereafter. All these peasants will sing songs in praise of the ultimate stacklord"
I'm a Luxman hoarder, have several components from 70s. They are simply amazing
My mate across the pond in USA has this and a l509 x as his end journey amps. He feels that sonically they're almost impossible to beat. You can get different sounding, yes, but not better. He (and I include his family here) are audio mad all playing wildly differing genres and have bought and sold all manner of expensive integrated and pre/power combos, never being satisfied with results. The Luxman amps have satisfied everyone, with no desire to upgrade further even though they evidently can afford to.
I asked the family to watch this post and they concur in every way "his observations and conclusions are spot on- there is NOTHING more to be said" excellent Mr ZF. The only caveat that they mentioned was that the DAC needed to do justice to this takes some serious searching as you need a very detailed, honest and transparent one to accompany it.
I have heard these in his main set up with Spendor D9.2 speakers and i was left speechless, tear filled or even dribbling with the sheer audio beauty that i heard.
I'm saving hard believe me. Thanks Sean for another great review.
I enjoyed reading your post.
Hands down, japanese amps just are the best looking amps in the world
I strongly disagree. But hey... To each his own 😉
McIntosh: hold my whisky....
Gryphon 😎
@Fat Rat Yes you are right. I really like the Luxman too.
Oh good grief: McIntosh
My local dealer sells this amp and I gotta tell y'akk, pictures don't do it justice!! When you see in real life you will want to touch and caress it in your hands!!
Dude, the smile on your face when talking about pairing with the Klipsch Cornwall speakers, PRICELESS! 😃😃
I just pulled the trigger on this amp to drive my Klipsch Forte IVs. I can only hope that pairing is magic as well.
Dale Thomas how did it go?
@@faludabutt8253 I cancelled my order. I ended up getting a Willsenton R8 and am quite happy with it. I couldn't justify spending almost $6K at the time.
Dale Thomas well, Luxman is a different animal. Low watts tube amps are too polite. As I love the bass, I decided not to get into tubes
@@faludabutt8253Too polite? One man’s trash can be another man’s treasure. If tastes were simple, there’d only be one flavor of ice cream! After I’ve done some tube rolling and if I tire of the Willsenton, then the Luxman 550AXII or it’s replacement will be a single transaction away so no fret. I had to scratch the tube itch at least once. There’s never a down side to trying out new gear. ;-)
That’s a pride of ownership piece right there. So sweet
Heck yeah after hearing the knobs!
Tee-Jay The Stereo-Bargain-File here’s a secret , most modern audio equipment sounds pretty damn good.. add good looks and build quality and it bumps it up a few notches. No ugly shit on the rack. Go get a Hegel
This integrated amp has every feature that disappeared from my favorite 1970's equipment (ie. My Harmon-Kardon 930). Loudness! Mono! Low filter! A real tape monitor circuit and pre-out/main ins! Clicking switches! The only thing it's missing is reverse stereo. After watching this review, this amp is exactly what I want to make my life complete. Too bad that it's about $4,500 more than I can afford. Thank you for your great review of my new fantasy.
Loundness! So simple and misunderstood! Just there to make it easier to hear low-volume music (pumps up mids). “How to listen to music after the kids are asleep”. Totally agreed
I recently picked up a 930 that has been brought back to life and I’m wondering if you would recommend some speakers you have had success matching with this receiver. Thank you.
@@tommywingate2220 The only speaker I used with the 930 were JBL L-100s which I thought sounded great together, but that was 30 years ago. They might match well with a high sensitivity speaker. It would be fun to hear them with one of the Lore speakers from Tekton (although I just noticed the price has gone way up on those). Have fun with your 930!
@@alm5693 Thanks. I’m collecting vintage items here and there so having a pair of L100,s hangin around would be good either way.
@@tommywingate2220 I've still got my L-100s and the Dual 1229 that I bought with them. I already had the 930. 👍
I think this is the first modern amplifier that I have seen a review of on RUclips that touches my soul.
That thing is perfect, sounds like something every reviewer should have as a reference amp!
I’ve just ordered this amp to go with my Klipsch forte 3’s, and I’m so looking forward to it. Should be with me just before Christmas 🎄. Can’t wait 😊.
Do tell! 🤩
So how are they sounding? I'm considering luxman and Cornwall IV or Raven Osprey with matching Celeste speakers. Wish I had a HiFi Listening Room nearby.
Believe me, you require more power for Forte III to blossom. I am running them with 18wpc. I wish I had another 10 watts
@@Drivehead103 I really enjoyed my time with the Luxman L550 AXII, that I upgraded what was an already excellent amp, to it’s bigger brother the Luxman L509x, partnered with the klipsch forte 3. The 509x sounds more refined than the L550 AXII , with great dynamics and bass extension. To be honest you would be happy with both.
@@richardattridge3182 and now Denon PMA xs11 is on my radar and can be purchased for around $2,700 used. I think it is 80 watts into 8 ohms and 160 watts into 4 but does not have tone controls that I enjoy. Decisions decisions. Raven osprey, Denon, pathos, Yamaha and many others have been on my radar for about 3 years!
I treasure my Luxman amp. I have it paired with a pair of Tannoy gold sterlings. The three pieces together are like works of art.
Great audio system, hopefully one day you can do a review of the Luxman L-509X Integrated Amplifier, more powerful unit. Keep going, love your wonderful reviews.
Man that is one elegant piece of work. The Japanese take form and function to high art. Culture, heritage and dignity wrapped in an amplifier!
I still have my first integrated amp a Luxman R 1040 from 1978. Still works wonderful. I replaced it with the R 1120 a year later for more power. I had Poke monitor 10s which still have and are in fine shape. The R 1120 went by the wayside because the circuitry always ran so hot. That thing through off some heat. I now run Parasound JC5 and JC2 bypass. Thanks for that tip . Still love Luxman.
Hi, How is JC5 and JC2 compare to Luxman
Hey Sean,
Great Video as usual, it makes me remember my old Luxman integrated Amp. That unit was from the early 80’s and was rated at 50 watts into 8 ohms. It was the unit with the gold and glass retractable faceplate. Man oh man it would rock the house and sounded Beautiful. The unit was built like a Tank. I had it for years right up til my divorce in which my ex took it as part of the settlement. I especially remember the day my buddy brought over his Cerwin Vegas D9’s and when the bass hit it blew the speaker covers across the room literally. My buddy had a Sony amp that was rated at 120 watts into 8 ohms and his amps couldn’t blow the covers off his Speakers. From that point on he has owned Luxman equipment. My long drawn out point is that a true 20 watts is more than enough power. Keep up the Great Work Buddy.
After watching this video I noticed a vintage Luxman receiver integrated for sale at a local electronics repair place. Was only $199 so I read a little bit about the model Rx-101 and then rushed out to get it. Brought it home plugged in my Sonus faber Minuettos and put on a garden variety baroque cd I had just to make sure it would power up etc. Well I wound up listening to the whole cd straight through and though I'd heard the performances numerous times before (through a Rotel amp and a Hafler DH 220) this time the sound brought tears to my eyes.
And the phono stage sounds excellent and the receiver sounds excellent. Have it paired with a Pro-ject 1xpression Carbon Classic and the sound from the vinyl is deep and rich and detailed. ZZ Top Deguello sounds phenomonal. The CD players are an Oppo BDP-83 and a Rotel RCD-1072, both run through a Schitt Modi 3 DAC.
Now I divide my audio life into: Before I owned a Luxman and After.
Downsides; no remote and low watts (40 WPC). But, oh, the quality of the sound is first rate.
Great review Sean.
I recently acquired the bigger brother (590 AXII) and found your description of sound to accurately match my experience. I came from EL34 mono block amplifiers and found the Luxman far more detailed with a bit more sparkle and tighter bass.
I have 91dB, 4 ohm speakers and this amp has more than enough power for my listening requirements - could probably run the 550 in myself system just as well.
For those interested the phono stage (I think it is the same in both models) is very good. I am running a Dynavector XX-2 and I compared with my existing phono stage (Dynavector P75) - the internal one is much better. Admittedly the 100 ohm landing is not adjustable and suits my cartridge.
There’s a huge difference between brothers? I can afford the big but maybe this yes
Found the last L-590 axII dealer Demo in the Country 🇨🇦 and luckily it was in my home town. Been into audio for over 40+ years. I was getting tired of the in my face 200 watt McIntosh gear. Ya I had to step up for the Luxman but this I’m sure will be my last intergraded. I heard it for 30 mins at the dealer and was hard pressed to keep the smile off my face. As you can imagine I’ve heard a ton of gear and this sure is a piece I’m going to adore. I’m a big vinyl guy so having the MC/MM phono stage allows me to sell off my phono preamp as well. Win Win.
Late night Jazz through the Harbeth’s should be magical. 😎 Thanks
I'm biased to the Luxman lineup. I own the 70's L-100 integrated. And it's my favorite amp i've ever owned. Luxman like Marantz and some higher end Yamaha's have clarity and honest sound that I love. Not to mention their beautiful yet simple layout and design. Work of art!
I've tried Luxman 550AXII and loved it , it was on the warmer side to me , very very very good AMP ,, did not quite like 509 after trying 550,,, ended up going all in with M900U ,,, this think will stay put for decades to come i hope
I would buy this amp just to look at. And turn that volume knob. So gorgeous.
May I please have it when you're done looking at it and turning the knob?
I miss the old Luxman logo. Then you opened the case, several of the components has the old logo. Yay!
It's on the back panel, too.
Back in the late 70’s, early 80’s one of the local “stereo” shops in my area used Luxman to demo Klipsch speakers. Couldn’t afford both so I went with Klipsch. Still have them. Still can’t afford Luxman. Luxman gear, then and now still look the same...gorgeous!
How about a rewiew of the L-590 AXII? That model is somewhat special...
Luxman, the Rolls Royce of Hi Fi. Enjoy!
RR typically have 4-600 hp
Was planning to buy the bigger brother for a long time, but decided to go for tube pre and a class A power amp instead, not easy to go away from tubes, they bring something special to the table.
The Luxman gear looks wonderful.
Which Class A power amp did you go with?
@@johnjsinha2706 Belles SA 30
@@gryphongryph Thanks
Its not the wattage spec that matters but the quality of the usable watts 😃
Beast !!!
I feel like Homer seeing a box of the best made donuts 😍
I hope you do a separate little piece on this amp with the Cornwall's. I just bought a pair, and although I've been looking mainly at tube amp, this may be the ticket.
Sean did a review months back on a Luxman tube amp, can’t remember the model but it’s in his videos. That amp was beautiful and I’d bet would go together with Klipsch like peanut butter and jelly!
McIntosh tube separates or this pure class A beauty would be wonderful with the Cornwall IV. Anything Luxman is majestic. The problem with the cheaper tube amps is that they’re cheaper tube amps.
John I came here to say exactly the same things. Sean please do the vid!!!
Yes on the SQ-N150 !
John Lafferty - that’s one of the fantastic things about the Cornwall IV’s - that 102 dB sensitivity allows you to use some really choice low power amplification and you get very nice bass response with those ported 15” woofers.
I have a luxman l-450 and love its sound. I can only imagine having a piece like that.
Not in the market for a new integrated amp, but man that thing is what HiFi hardware should look like!
I'm driving my speakers with twin Luxman M117 amps that are simply amazing.
Minor point to your presentation. Luxman didn't invent negative feedback. Harold Black submitted a patent in 1928. Harry Nyquist while working for AT&T, later Bell Labs, developed the idea even further. He also worked with Hendrik Bode to develop circuits using feefback in the 1930's.
I should also say, your presentation as always, is great. Enjoy every one of them.
*Global* Negative feedback. Was missing an important key word. Appreciate the dissertation. :).
Great review! Can’t help to feel that the Yamaha 1200 didnt get as much love for its build quality which, in my opinion, is every bit as good - considering the price difference.
Thanks for the review. I have a 1970s Luxman M2000 and C1010 and find that even back then, they had a very nice, restrained style. The bass extension is there when you need it but never feels forced in any way. Just very clean and honest musical expression.
Can’t wait for your video on the ‘shootout’ between the Luxman, Yamaha and Accuphase. Add in American and Euro reps from Parasound and Hegel and it’s like Christmas comes early!
+1 (Looking for the best non-tube class A amp for the Cornwall IV. Besides Pass Labs INT-25, INT-60, Luxman 590AX II and Accuphase E650 I have also Grandinote Shinai (Italy) and the Valvet amps (Germany) on the list.) I also think about a combination of a tube dac/preamp like the Ayon Stealth in combination with class D monoblocks like the Nuprime ST10Ms or the brand new Eigentakt monos from NAD.
Luxman build quality.
Thumbs up if you have a Marantz 2600, 2500...etc
Sanaui G-33000, 22000...etc
Pioneer sx-1980, 1280...etc
Yamaha 3020, 2020..etc
Luxman R-1120, 117..etc
Realistic 2100...etc
Sony Str 7065, 7045..etc
REAL metal knobs, some scalloped knobs, heavy dial tuning, insane power, some had ALMOST magical sublime tube-ish sound. Glad to see Luxman making beautiful gear. One day I'll own one.
I have the feeling you are describing my Rotel RA-713; even thought it was considered Mid-Fi in the 70s it presents the music with an incredible clarity, cymbals and base sounds really good too with Legacy Focus 20/20. Thank you for all you work, God bless you and stay safe!
This is an excellent review which I find totally engaging with thoughtful comments. As a potential buyer I’m interested in how the amp sounds obviously but also whether there are optimum pairings in terms of source and speakers. You’ve covered everything and have been very thorough in your presentation. I’d like to see a demo with some music playing. I appreciate the listener cannot even hope to replicate what you hear but we can see how you react to the performance. Apart from that, great channel so keep up these excellent reviews!
Would be great if you can review some of the PASS LABS amps like the INT-60 and compare it to this beautiful Luxman.
Good to hear that Luxman's goals are the same now as they were 40 years ago, before the Alpine years. I bought a humble L-113A back in the 80s and it's still going strong - never been serviced, because it's never needed it. It just keeps chugging along, doing its job without any fuss. It would still be my main system amp now, but I replaced it earlier this year... with an L-114A that I picked up in showroom condition on eBay for £82 ($105), which just goes to show that you don't have to be mega-rich to get a taste of Luxman quality.
If anyone is put off by the power rating here, they wouldn’t appreciate the Naim Uniti Atom either, which is a great piece. And they would run away screaming at the price of Pass Labs First Watt stuff. Well, they could give the Schitt Aegirs a spin if curious about class A. The Schiit voicing is not far off from the Luxman
Can’t wait for the Accuphase review!
The Accuphase you teased was the first thing that came to my mind when I saw this vid come up on my recommendations - can't wait for a comparo :)
Me too!
monitor switch is also great for those that want to run an EQ or if you have vintage speakers that require an EQ like the EV interface series
I think voicing is the final key to unlock its value and fit for users. Love to compare with other class A including my PassLabs XA25
I own the Luxman 507 UX MKII. You're right about it giving an honest representaion of recordings. Great review.
Great job! Love the speaker matching segment. Synergy ..important.
Love your review, honest, you don’t wax over things, hats off!
Those fantastic VU meters but we don't even get to see them bounce around in this video!
Otherwise, nice review, as always. I like your detail when it comes to explaining how something sounds...not just that it "sounds good".
The U.S. price of Luxman is about double of the retail price of Japan. This U.S. premium was around 70-80% for the recent years. But, with the current exchange rate, it's about 100% vs the authorized Japanese retailer. A $4,500 amp in Japan sells for $9,000 in U.S. The reason I mention this is because this hurts Luxman more than anyone. I strongly believe Luxman should sell directly on Amazon and hire media guys (spend money on youtube) to make up for the lack of brick and mortal stores.
Yep. The gear is certainly more attainable in Japan. The reason is simple: Both Luxman and Accuphase sell directly to their domestic retailers. Without distribution. Without an attempt to balance out global pricing. They've been doing so for decades, and likely won't ever change. This puts every other market in a tough spot due to distribution markups and import costs (shipping, insurance, and taxes.) Using the distribution-direct model in North America *may* lower the price of the gear, but it would be at the expense of destroying their dealer network (the number of people actively selling their product), which in turn would deny consumers the opportunity to audition before buying, or receiving educated advice from a trusted, local shop. Social Media only creates blips of interest. A strong dealer network creates consistency. Overall sales would decline and after-sales support may become questionable. Ultimately, the loss in sales would need to be compensated for by margin, which means the price adjustment wouldn't be all too different.
Excellent review. I love this channel not just for product reviews, but I learn a lot about the audio system components with unbiased opinion.
That is a gorgeous piece of kit. I'm really loving all of these options of integrated amps. Also, I totally dig the outro...you killed it, PHO SHO!!
You're killing me man. This thing is so gorgeous! You're making me want to sell all my gear, and buy this.
What are you looking to sell?
Class Animal ! Nice job Sean ! I still cant get that lux tube amp 150sq out of my head !
Glowing review. Great stuff. Thanks Sean! Loved the B roll at the end. Looking forward to the shootout comparison. I came close to buying a used L550 II for my Harbeth 30.1's but something told me more power would be useful for that lower sensitivity. Looking forward to the E-480 review as I have my eye on that!
Yeah at 85 dB those Harbeth 30.1’s might need a bit more power but if it’s not a big room it would be worth a demo 👀
I think FedEx interrupted you before you told us about bass. I suspect it’s great but can you elaborate a little?
🤣🤣
Freaking Musical Fidelity found a way to disrupt this review! haha. So the bass on this unit is a treat. Textured. Fast. Very, very strong. Who in the heck doesn't like great tone with some ballsy density to back it up?
The e-480 is gonna be an interesting comparison vs this class A. Although it is much more expensive over here in the US if you want a proper warranty.
As for the sound. Besides power (mostly for party scenarios which is not an often occurence.) your description basically matches what my E-380 sounds like. Wide, transparent, dynamic. I think I'll need to change my Dac as I like a more analogue sound. Denafrips seems like a good bet but I'll tough it out in a topping D90 until I can snag a Pontus on the used market
@OGNintendo : try RME adi2 fs dac .. I recently moved from Pontus Dac
@@kvrhifi can I ask what the rest of your setup is?
Sean, great job, this has been a recent top contender for me, really wish you had commented on DAC and source used though, just as a reference for some of us. Excellent work as usual and much appreciate the detailed review!
Came close to buying the bigger version of this amp and it wasn’t far off the sound of my Mac/YBA combo which was almost twice the price.
I’m such a sucker for VU meters.
As always a very clear review,im gonna buy soon a Luxman cd player,i play now with a CEC,also from Japan.
Am I drooling? I'm drooling.
Fat Rat - if you have efficient speakers - Luxman
Prove it and do a review....
The Accuphase review will be next level.
Accuphase Class A are the hifi gods in Japan...with Luxman just behind.
Why don't they make 'em in black colour, like Yamaha does?
Marc Foss High-end models of Yamaha are also in Silver.
@@marcfoss7687Nooo. Please don’t make them in black!
So we know the tactile, sound and aesthetic qualities are fantastic. We covered three of the five senses, so how does it smell and taste? Does the capacitors and inductors warming-up smell like a warm summer rain?
And, I’ve got a lot of love for you and your channel, Sean, but come on man, we’re missing some key features of certain gear without being able to review the Phono-stages etc. Grab a U-Turn Orbit with an Ortofon cartridge or Grado and give us some analog love.
Keep up the good work, great stuff!
Hahah So legit: This integrated has a very unique electronics smell. Too weird to mention in a review, but perfectly suitable to mention here. I love it! :D And naw, I only formally review stuff that I'm qualified to talk about. While I once owned a Clear Audio Champion, that was many moons ago! I'd need to spend 6 months to 1 year around pure analog stuff before I'm in a position to provide an accurate accurate summary on that kinda gear.
I have had mine for about 6-7 months with LaScala speakers from Klipsch. Sounds great.
Luxman has always made some great stuff and you are not the only one who has commented on how powerful 20 watts can sound. I like to remind folks it's is class a watts that double into 4 ohms and that luxman like others such as macintosh and pass labs are conservative with their ratings. Case in point the pass labs xa25 amplifier way out performed it's specs when stereophile did it's testing on it. It would be a intersting compassion with one of pass labs lower integrates as well. They used to do a 30 watt class a integrated that was really good years back. Not as many of the bells and whistles as the luxman though. When you get into this sorta league their all good. Just going to come down to preference for sound, synergy with your system and features. The scary thing is that that luxman sound gets better when you step up to their separates (preamp and amplifiers). I think they also make a related model but it's class ab instead of class a. Looking for to future reviews of accuphase. Thanks!
That damn thing is BEAUTIFUL.
I auditioned the L590AXII amp at my dealer not knowing it was 30 watts and it was In a league of its own driving Sopra No 2's compared to other "high-end" higher wattage amps sounding great, but this one has its own magic. It also had a very high current capability which was my dealers point.😀
Interesting. With high end amps it is enough with 30 watts but with cheap amps you need more watts.
@@musiconvinylisbetter.1449 For a lower wattage amp to go above and beyond, you still need an efficient speaker. It's also in the circuit design and quality of components the amps use and how they obtain the "quality of their watts/power" Cheaper amp manufacturers play with their power ratings, so for example 100 watts may be for a very short period of time before an amp clips, or the distortion maybe high. On the other hand, high current high end amps maybe be lower rated, but are clean, and be stable down to 1-2 ohms, they also maybe underrated on their power delivery but have a high damping factor. Lol There are so many variables with both high end and low end. It all comes down to understanding the product, personal taste, and budget.
Cool beans. 1935 topology with 1930's negative feedback (invented by Harold Stephen Black at Bell Laboratories in 1927, patented in 1937, not by Luxman). 1960's controls. 1970's solid state topology. Very pretty VU meters (with 1980's expanded range). E-I transformer, which is known to leak a lot more magnetic field than toroidals, but in small editions are much easier to wind and less costly to make in small runs.
Yeah, I would love to hear it with an nice pair of Klipsch's or JBL's at the 'one-Watt plus crescendos' level. Really love to. Class A puts the minute details of music signals right in the most linear part of the output devices' operating curve -- the sweet spot. I'd like to hear it compared to a Nelson Pass comparable design, just for shits and giggles. Should go well in a book-lined library with hassock, pipe, and slippers.
Has "wall of sound" changed definition since the Phil Spector days in the 60's? Don't pay attention to my comments. I'm that 'armchair engineer' that knows nothing about hifi marketing nor cares much for nostalgia. I saw lots of nostalgic hardware when it was the best we had, but I don't think that hifi is anywhere near the best it can get. It really does sound fake.
What’s fake and what’s real? Live music? Not reasonable I think.
Boy o boy...finally saved up to get this beauty home, paired with KLH Model 5. I mean there is nothing ..i mean nothing that comes close to that combination..bliss. thanks Sean.
The fact the 550 is staying in Sean's reference rotation says a lot. End game amp for many, just make sure that you watch this video and listen closely a few times at least before pulling the trigger.
How exciting! Looking forward to seeing the upcoming reviews of amps that'll compete with this one...
Also worth saying: I only ever heard a Luxman amp once (a 20wpc A/B tube amp, actually) but WOW, they are great sounding -- and well-engineered -- pieces of equipment.
TWENTY is PLENTY with Cornwall IV’s. That’s a 102 dB speaker.
(Or anything from the Klipsch Heritage Line for that matter)
Looking forward to the Luxman, Accuphase, Yamaha shootout! Are you able to publish which Accuphase and Yamaha models in advance?
Why are many manufacturers so enamored with the "MK II" as a model designation?? Every other product is a MK II.
Thanks for including some demo sound of the products you review. After all who wants to make love without the climax?
Once you get used these kind of actual physical controls .. rest all touch screens gimmicks , plastic nobs all appear like toys in dollar tree. Real things never loose their feel and value .. example NAD m33 very impressive all in one and great looking .. trust me we just get bored in 2 to 3 weeks with touch scree after 3 to 5 years down the line probably NAD M33 will become like cheap android phone with full of bugs and slowness. but these luxman or Yamaha built and quality last for life .and we enjoy every time we touch them .
You mentioned Accuphase. Even though I could see it was a Luxman, Accuphase was the other manufacturer I thought of as far as making such a beautiful piece of equipment.
Great video! I have the 505UXii and its the best amp I've ever owned. Period!
@James Fisher Dynaudio Special 40 and Tekton Lore Reference
Nice job Sean- excellent review. I’m not into integrated amps but this one is “sweet”...
It is so beautiful. Thanks for the review.
Holy crap. Luxman is still making audio equipment. Somewhere in my basement, in a box, is the Luxman receiver I bought as a teenager back in 1978. It became outdated, but I’ve never had the heart to get rid of it. Is there a market for vintage stereo gear? 😂
Yes there is!
Luxman vs Yamaha integrated in the same price range, how would they compare...
Loved the. chill section!
Long live Meters!
At least I have meters on my tee shirt!
Sean,
There's some buzz around the Technics gu700 integrated amp. Will u be reviewing it, do have any interest or opinions about it?
Did he said accuphase? Oh wow...you are going very deep with the luxman and accuphase... Can't wait to hear about this XD
Gorgeous! I love Luxman.
It Would be nice to have a comaprison between the power section of the 550 and Passlabs XA25 power amp.
The 2 are on my list, but unfortunately i won't get the opportunity to have a home demo on either.
If anybody has some insight on this, It would be most appreciated.
Reno hi fi in Nevada. They offer a trial period for all pass equipment.
Anyone know if the same magic happens when paired with Klipsch Forte IVs?
Makes my crap look like.......well crap 😆
Man do I love the look, although I prefer the range of speakers their AB (blue VU) amps can power. If they had a discrete headphone stage in there they'd be absolutely perfect.
Hey, nice review man. Just a suggestion (although it could mean a some extra bit of work but it could be an intelligent way to include it as part of all your reviews). So I get it when many reviewers won’t wanna include sound recordings/clips as part of the reviews as these aren’t a true representation of what you would hear in the room in person. As always there are two schools of thought here and there will be one half who would like to listen to some sound bytes. Instead of including a full section towards that, could you consider recording the amp with your fav paired speakers (with stereo mics) with that amp and only play it when segueing from one segment to another and like the last bit where the ‘chill and vibe’ visuals come in. Let me know if this appeals to you....
Answered all my questions, thanks Sean.
It sounds and looks amazing
Great review! Would be awesome if you did some more mid-priced Luxman. Amazing value for price. When so many things are made to be disposable, I still have my father’s 40 year-old Luxman gear,. It would be fun to listen to the 550 alongside a comparably priced McIntosh integrated, entry level Pass and Jeff Rowland int’s. I think the Luxman would be really enjoyable alongside much more expensive pieces, even if they did some things better
Make yourself precision inverse RIAA, than you will be in position to compare line in with MM/MC phono inputs on all amps you review. It allows you to connect your line level source(dac) to phono inputs.
Luxman is my Fav. I was raised on Luxman
Excellent! Wish you had talked about phono stage as luxman is known for very good ones and this is when treble and bass controls really shine
Wonder how it would sound w/ the LS3/5a's you recently reviewed.
You said that you're not an analogue guy (but only mentioned vinyl...).....Would love to know what your source player is using this amp? Are you using a CD player/DAC/Streamer? I absolutely adore the look and philosophy of this amp, but I can't find a lot of reviews showing how people pair it up. Thanks!