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I went from Class D to Luxman A/AB - And most of what you think is wrong

Hi everyone,

As most of you know, I’m a fan of Class D. I have lived with ICEPower 250AS based amps for a couple of years. Before that I lived with a pair of Parasound A21s (for HT) and now I’m listening to a Luxman 507ux.


I have some thoughts after long term listening:
  • The tropes of Class D having particularly bad, noticeable Class D qualities are all wrong and have been for years.
  • No one has ever heard my Class D amps and gone: "Oh, wow, Class D, that’s why I hate it."
  • The Luxman is a better amp than my ICEPower modules, which are already pretty old.

I found the Class D a touch warm, powerful, noise free. Blindfolded I cannot tell them apart from the Parasound A21s which are completely linear, and run a touch warm due to high Class A operation, and VERY similar in power output.


The Luxman 507 beats them both, but no amp stands out as nasty sounding or lacking in the ability to be musical and involving.


What the Luxman 507 does better is in the midrange and ends of the spectrum. It is less dark, sweeter in the midrange, and sounds more powerful, almost "louder" in the sense of having more treble and bass. It IS a better amplifier than I had before. Imaging is about the same.


There was one significant operational difference, which others have confirmed. I don't know why this is true, but the Class D amps needed 2-4 days to warm up. The Luxman needs no time at all. I have no rational, engineering explanation for this. After leaving the ICEPower amps off for a weekend, they sounded pretty low fi. Took 2 days to come back. I can come home after work and turn the Luxman on and it sounds great from the first moment.


Please keep this in mind when evaluating.


Best,

E
erik_squires
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
For an alternative possibility, see my post in this thread dated 6-20-2019.

Regards,
-- Al
 
erik_squires OP
16,021 posts
 
TBC: Yes, the ear brain mechanism is very pliable, and constantly adjusting.

No, this theory is not a good fit for the multiple case studies reported.

toetapaudio
474 posts
 
@noble100, f.y.i. In a recent test of various class D amps by someone we know in the business GAN amps did not come out top but were pretty high up. The other D amps were cheaper. My advice stick with your NC1200 module amps.
toetapaudio
474 posts
 
teo, what class D amps have you heard?
tweak1
3,645 posts
 
Not being familiar with the Luxman 507 ux  I decided to do a search (it's a integrated amp), but only found the latest version, the 507uxII. Positive Feedback reviewed it in September of 2018. This is what PF had to say
>
 " L-507uXII is biased relatively richly into Class A operation, and indeed, while the amplifier never ran hot, it did get quite warm under normal operating conditions, so be advised that adequate ventilation is required. Having said that, the Luxman's sonics improved noticeably as it warmed up, and I typically left the amplifier powered up continuously to ensure optimum performance.

> The L-507uXII likewise reproduced the treble range with a level of transparency and refinement that was unique in my experience. Cymbals, bells and other high-frequency instruments were reproduced with a clarity and ease that was utterly beguiling.

>  The only potential limitation to the Luxman's performance was in relation to its ability to recreate a soundstage. This is not to say that the L-507uXII was was a slouch in the soundstaging department. Far from it. The Luxman threw a wide, deep soundstage, populated with palpable images. However, image layering and focus within that stage was not as finely-drawn and tactile as I've heard from competing amplifiers.   "

MSRP $6500. The MSRP of the 507 uX looked closer to $4700.
There are a lot of really good sounding current tech (not accounting for GaN) class D amps (no integrateds) in the ux price range to consider. The highs could be abated with input op-amps and/or cabling.

Now I realize teo-audio was talking about his observation after his class D Ice amp was powered down for a couple days with what input buffer?), but who needs to do that when they are so efficient?  Seems like a nothing burger to me

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