Luxman L505u . . . why not?


I'm getting close to pulling the trigger on one of these--an upgrade from my Rotel receiver. Before I do, I'd like some perspective from the learned A'gon community. First, will it be a significant upgrade from the Rotel? What kind of sonic improvements can I expect? Second, why shouldn't I buy from Audiocubes II? http://www.audiocubes2.com/brand/Luxman/product/Luxman_L-505u_Integrated_Amplifier.html
I know On a Higher Note is the official U.S. distributer, but my budget pushes me towards the less expensive purchase option. Third, regardless of where I purchase it from, it will need a transformer to boost the power to 220. I don't know anything about the possible effects this might have on sound and performance of the component--can anybody speak to this? Is it possible to have the piece modified to accept the U.S. 110 current? I want the piece because it meets my requirements for an integrated: it's at least 100W, it has speaker A/B (I've got speakers in the kitchen and the main living room), it's got a great phono section (I play 50% records, 50% CDs), and it's got a headphone amp. Those are the features I want in an integrated. Any advice, suggestions, dissuasions will be appreciated.

Danny
rosedanny
Thanks for the insight Paul... I will surely give the Luxmans a try one of these days.
I have to agree wholeheartedly with Paulyh assessment of the 505u. What Paulyh described as the sound of 505u was exactly the same kind of feeling I got from hearing it.

I heard it driving a pair of Monitor Audio Platinum 100 bookshelf speakers. And you know what. It makes me want to give up on tube amps. I have never heard amps that got a better bass control and I have heard a lot. It has the warmth that you normally associate with tubes but yet has the clarity that tube amplifiers at its cost couldn't match

It still has a typical Japanese character where music often comes off sweet and full bodied just like Accuphase and Marantz. But I would rate the 505u ahead of them and by a distance.

To illustrate how good it is. It leaves me wanting to give up on tube which I have been a fan for over a decade.
"The only big difference between the 505u and the 507u is that the build quality of the 507u is higher.
Paulyh"

So 507u cost twice as much as the l-505u but you do not hear much of a difference in the sound?

To me it seems there should be a obvious difference in the sound quality for that much difference in price.

What improvement in sound have you heard with the L-507u over the L-505u?

Hi Jbsl43, I did not really mean that the sound of the 507u and the 505u are exactly the same, but they really sound a like. Unfortunately I have not had the 505u and the 507 at the same time. Their was a month in between with an accuphase e408. And I only had the 505u for 2 weeks. So I was not really able to tell the big differences.

The only thing I directly noticed was that that same warm satisfying feeling came over me when I plugged in the 507u after the e408. The same deep bass, the ease and tranquility in the sound I heard with the 505u.