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Top Luxman integrated - 509u or 590Aii?

The Luxman integrated amps are highly regarded. Their two top models are similarly priced, though they differ in that the 590Aii is 30 wpc pure class A, and the 509u is 120 wpc class AB.

The class A 590Aii amps are supposed to sound great, but they run very hot and are inefficient.

The class AB 509u amps are powerful and more efficient, and they also apparently sound good.

I have auditioned the 550Aii (20 wpc pure class A), and it sounded wonderful. It is the only Luxman integrated on display in my city.

I am confused as to which would be the better choice, the 509u or the 590Aii?

Regards,

Mark
toronto416
newbee
4,767 posts
 
IF you can drive your speakers adequately in the Class A amp's power envelope and your listening skills are developed sufficiently to hear the subtleties brought by Class A amps, and you are actually paying attention to those subtleties, then a Class A amps is a no-brainer. The best SS amp I ever owned was a low power Class A amp.

BUT usually the difference between a Class A amp and a Class A/B amp attributable to the difference in class alone, sonically speaking, is not great and can be dwarfed by the selection of other components in your system including some ancillaries, so buying Class A amps usually is profitable only if you take as much care in selecting other stuff, including room and set up considerations.

IMHO.
azerty
3 posts
 
There is a thread talking about luxman amps that may be of interest for you :
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1253333734
Hope this helps.
Post removed 
toronto416 OP
221 posts
 
Thank-you.

I am considering one of these integrated amps with a very high quality cdp and speakers (Verity Audio) that are relatively easy to drive.

The real question should be - is there much of a real world difference sonically between the 509u and the 590Aii?

For any easy to drive speaker, is it a flip of the coin between them, or is there an advantage (sonically) with the class A amp (590Aii).

Regards,

Mark
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