Luxman 509 or McIntosh 8900

Hi Brian,

If you’re interested, I have a L-509X I’d be happy to send your way for an audition. Where are you located?

- Colin

Luxman dealer in Nashville, TN
https://gestalt.audio

McIntosh generally sounds lush and powerful, though clarity in the highs really depends on speaker combination.

I had the Mc452 and now have the 509X and they feel they are completely opposites.  Paired with my Martin Logan 11As (which have a slight roll off in the highs) the MC452 was too warm and lost the crispness to make some instruments sounds realistic.  The 509X loses a bit of the lush body but you get a very revealing and neutral sound character with very crisp and smooth highs.  Never fatiguing (at least to me).

it all depends on the what sound you are looking for.  I haven’t heard the Polks myself, but if they tend to be on the brighter side the McIntosh may work for you.  Either way I think the 509X is probably a bit more versatile in general.

Probably too late to add but I lived with a Macintosh amp and preamp for many years, decided to finally upgrade and for various reasons went with the Luxman 590AXII and now wish I had replaced the Mac’s years ago. The Luxman is more detailed, warmer and much less fatiguing. 

@deadhead1000

That's my experience too, but my time with Mc is so short I hesitate to say anything.  What speakers were you listening to with each though? 

I have never heard anyone who owns McIntosh say they were fatiguing sounding. If anything, they are warm sounding.