Luxman LX-380 for LS3/5a's? Alternative?

Thank you all for your detailed insight, guys!

It looks like I can confidently stick to my first choice: the LX-380. An all-in-one beautiful package. Exactly what I 'need', and definitely exactly what I want. I can't say that you made it easier for me to make my choice, since all of these Luxman are beautiful instruments in their own right. 

The L-590AXII is tempting because its ease of use (no valves), and the power reserve above the class A limit of 30W/Ch. 

The LQ83-UC/MQ88UC is relatively 'cheap' compared to the integrated amp (€7000 Euro's vs. €9500 for the pre/power). And it has definitely an truly remarkable (transformer) phono stage. 

But I think the 6L6GC's are more balanced (I won't say neutral)  for my LS3/5a's than the bolder sounding KT88's.

Thanks again for the virtual listening session ;-)

It looks like you have made up your mind here on sticking with the LX-380. I came across your forum in considering luxman tubes with  falcon kit ls3/5a variation, 15ohm impedance. For what its worth, I have been using my L550axII (20 watt rated, but measured in one hifi magazine as clipping at near 70watts) pure class A. Based on my use of the 550 with three speakers (Original Cornwalls, ProAc Response D2, and these falcons), the description offered above (They can drive speakers with authority. The overall signature is balanced with articulate midrange and treble. Bass frequencies are tight and resolving) is dead on. 

 

With the original cornwalls, which are quite warm on balance with rolled off top end, the 550 is excellent and could blow the windows out with volume. With the Proac Response D2, which I find to be warm on balance but with a slightly hot top end, the combo sounds wonderful and refined, but somewhat warm and dry. Good recordings sound great, bad recordings sound bad. With the Falcons which are bright on balance (too much treble energy IMO, but exciting), the 550 accentuates dryness and graininess in bad recordings, which is most of them. It could use some taming/smoothing out.

 

So I am curious how you ended up liking the 380 with the ls3/5a? 

You probably sorted but I drove my falcon ls3/5a 15ohmwith a Leben cs300xs

 

Was superb

Just curious as I recently heard the Luxman 380 and was blown away how good it sounded, tempted to buy one. The only issue, I have several speakers and not sure how they would pair up... Dynaudio Confidence Platinum C2 about 87db Joseph Audio Graphine 2 and SONUS FABER Olympica 3's 90db.

I have heard Octave before with Dynaudio and the pairing was excellent sounding but didn't know enough about the Int. Amps back when I got my C2's.