Audio Research or Luxman?
I recently acquired a 1973 Luxman L-507 integrated amp only to learn that the volume/balance control pots are bad and can't be replaced, but I was able to bypass the pre-amp section and run it with the amp section only, and oh my, did it sound good.
I was very surprsed to find that its sound quality came too close in sound quality to my ARC separates: a Reference 3 preamp and Ref 75SE amp. So now I'm wondering how a modern Luxman like a l-505uXii or 507uXii would compare with my ARC separates.
Any thoughts anyone?
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- 45 posts total
It was not just my tech who told me the identical Luxman volume/balance could not be replaced. A business known for doing vintage restoration, Hudson Valley HiFi, told me the same thing. L507 Restoration by Hudson Valley HiFi They did say that I might be able to eliminate the balance pot and look for a compatable replacement, but it would not be easy or inexpensive. Thanks for the Khozmo link. They look to have some high quality alternatives. |
Luxman raised their prices substantially. The 550 ax11 class A model went up $1000! Ridiculous. You are paying for the meters. I would rather have my Sugden no nonsense class A integrated minus the meters. You can add a cheap Vu meter from ebay made by one little Bear & douk audio and get a similar effect. As far as I know, the Sugden is still @ $3250 for the A21 se signature...at least they are not gouging customers. Sugden pioneered Solid State class A in 1967...half the price of the Over priced Luxman, and most likely sounds better. How in the world you can justify bumping the price of the Luxman from $5495 to $6495 is beyond me. |
rwwear I had it out for a few months during my quest for a better sounding CD Player. I just put it back in yesterday after I settled on my Yamaha DVD-C961. I’l mess with it, in/out/direct to Cayin, Preamp thru Chase or Direct to Cayin. I’ve got a perfect track to compare the bass: Mila Drumke, Hip To Hip, track 5, My Funny Valentine: Just her voice and Bass Player. It’s a terrific CD.
Phono, Bass, lots of choices, Blue Nile comes to mind, Walk Across the Rooftops, I just replaced my LP and have it on CD. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxK7AZEdVbU&list=PLgtOYAIvc8d1iIcZxqjpcAO9WwL8J_Ar1
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- 45 posts total