Luxman vs Accuphase for Harbeth 40.3 XD
I'm considering trying a SS integrated to power my 40.3 XDs. I'll buy used.
I've heard great things about T+A but they are really pricey, and Luxman and Accuphase look interesting, there are 2 examples for sale currently.
Luxman L-509X $6,300 and Accuphase E650 $12K
I hear a lot about high damping factor being necessary to get the best out the the Harbeth's (Luxman is 370 and the Accuphase is 1000).
Honestly cannot justify $12K at the moment but I wondered if anyone has any thoughts on these 2 amps for my speakers? Or any other suggestions?
Have you looked into the Pathos Hybrid Integrated? I've heard from some reputable industry sources that they work very, very well together. Also, look up Norma Revo 140 Integrated. The Classe monoblocks get a thumbs up too. Here's another link I found that may be helpful if you are still on the hunt. |
I have a pair of 40.3XDs paired with an Accuphase E-800 and an Esoteric N-01XD streamer. Both are connect to an Accuphase PS-530 and all are grounded with a Shunyata Altamira. I am also running a pair of Rythmik E15HP2s. It is the most enjoyable, soothing and non fatiguing system I have ever heard. It plays for 6+ hours a day. It sounds great at 90+db but also sounds full and lush at 70db. Couldn’t be happier. |
@audiophil88 @lewl28 I ended up buying. BAT vk3500 open box 50% off which was just OK in the end. I’m now using the T+A PA 3100 HV and love it. |
I've been comparing my Accuphase A-48 to a Luxman M700 on my Harbeth P3ESRs near field. Also compared to my Hegel H590 and a pair of Topping la90d's with the Topping pre90. Mcintosh C2700 is my preamp. When I put the Accuphase in there.. holy crap! it doubled the size of the speakers and pulled out more bass than those 4inch drivers should be able to produce. They were playing at a new level. The Accuphase leveled up the tonality, making the already sweet Harbeths even more delicious. Fyi, the topping pre and la90 monos sounded damn close to the Hegel H590. The Luxman was actually really good too. But just didn't have the tonality of the Accuphase. But it makes me wonder about the M900 or the m10x. Switching from the hegel to the accupase/c700 on Kef r500's created a whole different sound stage. A/B-ing, the sound stage would go from a sort of wide and triangluar deep stage to a really wide, more airy and stretched out stage, still with depth, but more realistic depth. voices that seemed distant "into" the triangle came forward Dying to get my hands on an Accuphase preamp like the c2900 |
@bataras those are some serious overkill amps for the Harbeth P3ESR in my opinion. Anyway to each his own. If I"m not mistaken, you are using your McIntosh C2700 with the Accuphase and Luxman power amps so it's not exactly an accurate representation of the actual performance of the Accuphase or Luxman amps. Ideally the Accuphase or Luxman amps should be matched with their own preamps. |
