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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
samzx12
1,232 posts
 

I found the .8 series to be very lean. The X150.8 to be exact. No soul to the music at all.  Very powerful and dynamic but thin and edgy with my Olympica iii. 

ghdprentice
8,121 posts
 

@swede58
@samzx12

 

What is your other equipment and comparison with?

 

For me Pass was lean in comparison the a Audio Research Ref 160s… using all ARC Ref equipment… my ID. 

samzx12
1,232 posts
 

My previous ARC REF110 was much more musical.  Hell I'm borrowing a buddies Classe DR9 and it smokes the Pass in the midrange. My current McIntosh MC452 does also.  My preamp is a PL EVO 400 and I changed tubes and even cables but the Pass still was very lean. 

runwell
284 posts
 

Let us talk about soup.

Pass is just clear soup,some one love it,some one hate it. But in my word,Pass is a decent clear soup.

Luxman is a meat soup, just  like borscht,some  one love it,some one do not. They give you a lot of taste. I love it

 

swede58's avatar
swede58
162 posts
 

@ghdprentice 

I compared an int250 against a Boulder 866 and an Accuphase E800 on Diptyque DP140 magnetostatic planar speakers.

The Pass amp was fuller sounding than the other two. Definitely not thin and edgy!

 

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