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Integrated Amplifiers - Luxman vs Pass Labs

Hello All,

 

This is my first post here at Audiogon.

My current amplifier is the Luxman L-550axii and my speakers are the Marten Django L and Coherent Audio 15 (coaxial speakers with 15" woofer and high efficiency of approximately 98db).

I'm contemplating making a move with my integrated.  I'm considering the Luxman 590axii or one of the current Pass Labs Integrated's.  I haven't had a chance to listen to the 590 and I've never listened to a Pass product before and the opportunity just doesn't present itself to be able to demo any at a dealer's or in-home.  

I'm hoping those that have heard both the Luxman and any current Pass Integrated could chime in with their thoughts about them and the direction you would go given my speakers. 

In the future, I may look at replacing the Coherent speakers with Audio Note AN-J or AN-E.  Any experience out there with Luxman or Pass Labs and Audio Note speakers??

Thank you to all who chime in with your experience and thoughts!

me_ohmy
arcangles
19 posts
 

*^on reading again, I meant of the three speakers I have used it with the Luxman complemented high efficiency, rolled off sound of vintage klipsch versus more traditional British monitors

cid1945
61 posts
 

Luxman. In my opinion more bang for the buck. I have the L-507uX mark ii, discontinued,  paired with Tannoy Gold Reference Sterlings. Beautiful Amp beautiful speakers  and sound. 

jonwolfpell
473 posts
 

I think as we all know & many here said before, the amp / speaker pairing is critical both in terms of efficiency / power needs, actual speaker impedance & of course, your taste. I've owned a Luxman integrated amp before, enjoyed & appreciated tits sound &  build quality. I recently bought a Rogers High Fidelity EFH 200 Mark II tube integrated amp & love it! Very powerful but also has great detail, nuance, depth & seemingly very high build quality handmade in MA. Roger's products are pricey but I think still a good value for you get along w/ a lifetime warranty. If you can try one, it might be just what you're looking for. I think they have a 30 day trial period as well. 

itsjustme
686 posts
 

Interesting that you find Pass to be 'lean'.  From all my reading of Pass and their lower end heft, I would have thought it provides a bigger, fuller body to music; which is to my liking.

Me three. That really surprises me, but i've not really heard that product.  It was mentioned that that integrated is speaker dependent. I wonder why?  His designs typically have minimal global feedback, if any, and sufficient drive current.  I will say that i -- for this reason among others _ i always work extra hard to have amps (or amp sections in integrateds) that essentially don't care about the speaker.

 

Anyway good luck with your quest.  I dont know your speakers but your cursory overview gives me puase and make sme think maybe they ought o be job #1

 

luxmancl38
580 posts
 

The 590AXII has been discontinued. A new version is coming out in the future w/many of the upgrades of the 595SE. I heard the 595 back in November at my local dealers store. Jeff Sigmund of Luxman America was there demoing the integrated w/a pair of 10K Paradigm Persona floor standers. I would check around and see if any 590's are available. They are being sold to acquire the 595.

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