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Analog upgrade: Luxman EQ-500 Phono preamp + Hana Umami Red Cartridge + REED 2A Tonearm

As the resident analogue system is being restructured, I am thinking of joining these 3 components:

Luxman EQ-500 Phono preamp + Hana Umami Red Cartridge + REED 2A Tonearm

I would like to know if anyone here knows and recommends them and if, by any chance, have already heard some of these components together (or not).

I have a Portuguese handcrafted turntable "Rui Borges UNO MKII", a Luxman class integrated amplifier (L-590AXMKII) and KEF R11 speakers.

On the phono issue I didn't even hesitate, as I knew the brand very well before, and it was in the top of my preferences. As for the cell, my doubt lies the most. Given her price level, can I choose better?

I've been knowing for yers the other versions of the brand and I'm a fan of the sound characteristics. But on this one, the top of the range, I never heard before and I don't know it at all. And of course, it will be impossible to demo it. 

Anyone knows how could be the relationship between Hana cartridge's with the REED tonearm? That also worries me a little as I'm not a technical expert in this matter.

Someone who knows Hana Umami (since she is recent)?
What are the pros and cons of this cell?

I listen to everything from heavy rock to jazz, acoustics, voices, blues, classical.

Thankyou for your best advice

Cheers
lcarpediem
grk
223 posts
 
Hi,
 I have been a very happy Luxman EQ 500 owner for about the past eight months and it matches very well with my Kiseki P.H. NS. The Luxman sounds wonderful, especially with NOS tubes!

The Hana cart has an internal impedance of 6 ohms. The EQ 500 has two impedance levels of MC: high 40Ω, MC: low 2.5Ω, so 2.5 ohms may be a bit low and the 40 ohms too high. I would  therefore recommend contacting Luxman USA and ask them about the Hana cart matching their phono stage.
lcarpediem OP
19 posts
 
Thank you very much grk. 

I certainly will. Didn´t know that possible issue between Hana cartridge and the EQ-500, due to the fact that I thought that this phono stage would be versatile enough to it... 

Anyone who can tell me about this important possible issue, I'll be truly gratefull
grk
223 posts
 
You are welcome lcarpediem.  I should add that some people think impedance matching may be over rated. I had that experience myself when I owned a Herron VTPH 2A phono stage. I frankly had a difficult time hearing much of a difference when using different loading plugs. I also ran it "wide open" @47k and it sounded quite good. I think Keith even recommended that setting for most MC carts.
However, loading may be more critical when using SUTs, which the EQ 500 has, hence my recommendation to contact Luxman.
lcarpediem OP
19 posts
 
Thank you very much grk,

I will do. And try to find the contact of them in Europe. 

What are the possible consequences, sonically, of this possible incompatibility?

According to you, this possible lack of 100% compatibility may be inconvenient enough?

Will the versatility of adjustments on the EQ-500 not be enough to overcome this possible inadequacy?

Please see this short excerpt I took from the measurements of the Luxman EQ-500, from Stereophile magazine:

"but these measured gains were affected by the interaction of the EQ-500's input impedance of 56 ohms (High) and 7 ohms (Low) with the Audio Precision's output impedance of 20 ohms..."

You can see it in here:
(https://www.stereophile.com/content/luxman-eq-500-phono-preamplifier-measurements)...

It gives the feeling that, in the measurements made by them, the lag is not that big (7 ohms Low) for the values of the cell (6 ohms), right? Or am I seeing this wrong?

Sorry for the bodder and many thanks for the help

Luis.


grk
223 posts
 
"What are the possible consequences, sonically, of this possible incompatibility?"
"The audible effects of using an overly high load impedance setting can typically be a lack of low frequencies, a slightly hard or ”unmusical”  sound with poor imaging. If the sound quality is somewhat veiled and lifeless, the impedance loading may be too low."  https://www.mysonic.space/phono-cartridge-impedance-loading
 I don't think the Stereophile measurements address the issue of whether or not the Hana is a good match.
You should also check with Luxman dealers as to what cartridges they think are a good match.  
Glenn


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