Luxman EQ-500

This might help.

https://forum.audiogon.com/search/index?utf8=%E2%9C%93&query=Luxman+EQ-500

I recently purchased a Luxman EQ 500 and it is outstanding! Coming from a Tavish Design Adagio (with upgraded transformers) which is no slouch, the Lux plays at another level or two, and it should since it is quite a bit more expensive. It is very powerful and dynamic sounding. It is also very quiet and may be the only phono stage I have ever owned over the years where I do not hear the least bit of hum! I once owned a battery powered Sutherland PhD and even that had hum! Sound staging is very expansive and images are solid. Vocals and instruments are more expressive. The overall sound feels like everything is firmly grounded. Also, it is easier to discern the recording venues, whether studio or live concerts, in large or small venues. I get much more of a sense of actually being there. Although the Tavish was good at that, using NOS tubes, the Lux (using stock tubes) is simply better. This is my end game phono stage. While there are undoubtedly even higher performing phono stages, they will likely cost quite a bit more than I care to spend.
Update: I just rolled some NOS tubes including a Mullard rectifier tube and some Amperex tubes made for med tech companies that took  performance up to an even higher level. Plus, they are even quieter than the stock tubes which are very quiet.

Interestingly, I noticed that the EQ 500 does not have an IEC ground. It is a two pronged IEC, that likely contributes greatly to the lack of hum and low noise. No ground loops to worry about here! Also, if you use balanced out, you should flip the phase reversal switch, since Luxman is one of the few manufacturers that has the 2 pin as negative instead of the more common 2 pin positive standard used by European and North
American companies.

Note: It appears that there are no longer any new units remaining in the US. Factory production in Japan has slowed or shut down again due to COVID and the distributor does not anticipate any new stock in the US for at least another 4-5 months.

I have not tried any outboard SUTs, since I  really don't have any more room on my rack for anything else, plus I don't want to spend any more money.  I use the MC high loading and highest gain setting of 59 db, which is fine with my Kiseki PH NS phono cartridge. However, I just started using the mid gain of 57 db while increasing the gain of my Sugden amp by 6 db. The amp has a switch to change the sensitivity ((hence the gain) by +/- 6db. I am liking that option so far, but time will tell if I revert to my original setting. I also may play around with other gain settings. The 36-40 db settings are for MM carts.

Hello,
    I've had one for about a year and am in love with it. Here is one reason why. I had cleaned an old box set of Beethoven Piano Concertos, I don't have it with me to be more specific at the moment, but the 50 year old vinyl was pristine. Playing along at a decent volume (Accuphase integrated and ATC speakers) I was transported like I have rarely been. Then a crescendo nearly blew my socks off (the ATC's and powerful integrated helped too). But that's not the reason! A bit later on in the record, an EXTREMELY quiet passage played. I was amazed that the engineers so successfully captured such a quiet passage, and that I could enjoy it as Beethoven must have intended. The notes were still alive with musicality, but just a whisper of sound. Turning up the volume to too high reveals the hiss generated by the Lux. When it finally becomes audible, nothing but respect comes to this listener's mind to the talented engineers that designed the circuits. The tiny 'rush' audible with the volume turned way up is quieter, more harmonious, and weirdly reassuring compared to the somewhat louder self-noice that emanated from the Parasound JC3+ that I bought new and had to sell here because even that was too noisy for me. 
    I have it between a Luxman PD-171 turntable with an Ortofon Cadenza Black and an Accuphase E-470. Speakers are the ATC 40's. A  Bryston 15 amp isolation transformer keeps the juice flowing clean.
   
It's past my bedtime, but I have more to share about it if interested.

Regards,
Oan

@grk   Thank you so much for your reply!  That's kind of ironic that the battery powered phono had hum :)  I appreciate you sharing the sonic differences between the various phonos that you've had and this Luxman....that is very helpful!  Could you help me understand the various gain settings and how they work when using the MC High settings vs me using just the Moving Magnet input?  I'm just confused about this for some reason.  Thank you for your help :)

@oranfoster   Thank you also for your reply!  I appreciate your response and telling me about the musicality of this phono stage with the excellent example of the Beethoven Piano Concertos. Which gain settings are you using with your Cadenza Black?  How high do you have to have the volume control before you start to hear any hiss or tube rush from the EQ-500?  I look forward to sharing more with us about this phono stage when you have time :)

Best Wishes for great health and happiness this holiday season,
Don