A few things: (1) This amp does not run hot. Even after hours of use. (2) Minor correction to what was said early in the video: The 550 can power two pairs (4) of speakers at once. Not 8. I slipped up as I was thinking about the next thing to say. :D Power output will remain the same so long as all of the speakers are 8 ohms or higher (as the amp will see a collective impedance of 4 ohms). (3) Another minor correction: The circuit that Luxman was responsible for pertains to *Global* Negative Feedback. Cheers!
Atleast you didn't slip and call a dac a amp like i did with the Aunex8 no one caught it , i was acrually looking down at the op-amps when i said that lol shit happens !
Oh Lord, my clairvoyant vision just kicked in. 😆 My possessed echoing creepy voice sez "Thy shalt do a shoot out between the Yamaha C5000+M5000 stack (20k USD) and the Luxman C900u+M900u stack (30k USD) one day. After the shootout, both Luxman and Yamaha will donate their respective stacks for thee to keep and cherish. Thy shalt be known to all these youtube peasants as the ultimate stacklord thereafter. All these peasants will sing songs in praise of the ultimate stacklord"
@@faludabutt8253 I cancelled my order. I ended up getting a Willsenton R8 and am quite happy with it. I couldn't justify spending almost $6K at the time.
@@faludabutt8253Too polite? One man’s trash can be another man’s treasure. If tastes were simple, there’d only be one flavor of ice cream! After I’ve done some tube rolling and if I tire of the Willsenton, then the Luxman 550AXII or it’s replacement will be a single transaction away so no fret. I had to scratch the tube itch at least once. There’s never a down side to trying out new gear. ;-)
Tee-Jay The Stereo-Bargain-File here’s a secret , most modern audio equipment sounds pretty damn good.. add good looks and build quality and it bumps it up a few notches. No ugly shit on the rack. Go get a Hegel
This integrated amp has every feature that disappeared from my favorite 1970's equipment (ie. My Harmon-Kardon 930). Loudness! Mono! Low filter! A real tape monitor circuit and pre-out/main ins! Clicking switches! The only thing it's missing is reverse stereo. After watching this review, this amp is exactly what I want to make my life complete. Too bad that it's about $4,500 more than I can afford. Thank you for your great review of my new fantasy.
Loundness! So simple and misunderstood! Just there to make it easier to hear low-volume music (pumps up mids). “How to listen to music after the kids are asleep”. Totally agreed
I recently picked up a 930 that has been brought back to life and I’m wondering if you would recommend some speakers you have had success matching with this receiver. Thank you.
@@tommywingate2220 The only speaker I used with the 930 were JBL L-100s which I thought sounded great together, but that was 30 years ago. They might match well with a high sensitivity speaker. It would be fun to hear them with one of the Lore speakers from Tekton (although I just noticed the price has gone way up on those). Have fun with your 930!
Great audio system, hopefully one day you can do a review of the Luxman L-509X Integrated Amplifier, more powerful unit. Keep going, love your wonderful reviews.
Found the last L-590 axII dealer Demo in the Country 🇨🇦 and luckily it was in my home town. Been into audio for over 40+ years. I was getting tired of the in my face 200 watt McIntosh gear. Ya I had to step up for the Luxman but this I’m sure will be my last intergraded. I heard it for 30 mins at the dealer and was hard pressed to keep the smile off my face. As you can imagine I’ve heard a ton of gear and this sure is a piece I’m going to adore. I’m a big vinyl guy so having the MC/MM phono stage allows me to sell off my phono preamp as well. Win Win. Late night Jazz through the Harbeth’s should be magical. 😎 Thanks
Hey Sean, Great Video as usual, it makes me remember my old Luxman integrated Amp. That unit was from the early 80’s and was rated at 50 watts into 8 ohms. It was the unit with the gold and glass retractable faceplate. Man oh man it would rock the house and sounded Beautiful. The unit was built like a Tank. I had it for years right up til my divorce in which my ex took it as part of the settlement. I especially remember the day my buddy brought over his Cerwin Vegas D9’s and when the bass hit it blew the speaker covers across the room literally. My buddy had a Sony amp that was rated at 120 watts into 8 ohms and his amps couldn’t blow the covers off his Speakers. From that point on he has owned Luxman equipment. My long drawn out point is that a true 20 watts is more than enough power. Keep up the Great Work Buddy.
Great review Sean. I recently acquired the bigger brother (590 AXII) and found your description of sound to accurately match my experience. I came from EL34 mono block amplifiers and found the Luxman far more detailed with a bit more sparkle and tighter bass. I have 91dB, 4 ohm speakers and this amp has more than enough power for my listening requirements - could probably run the 550 in myself system just as well. For those interested the phono stage (I think it is the same in both models) is very good. I am running a Dynavector XX-2 and I compared with my existing phono stage (Dynavector P75) - the internal one is much better. Admittedly the 100 ohm landing is not adjustable and suits my cartridge.
I've tried Luxman 550AXII and loved it , it was on the warmer side to me , very very very good AMP ,, did not quite like 509 after trying 550,,, ended up going all in with M900U ,,, this think will stay put for decades to come i hope
Was planning to buy the bigger brother for a long time, but decided to go for tube pre and a class A power amp instead, not easy to go away from tubes, they bring something special to the table. The Luxman gear looks wonderful.
I hope you do a separate little piece on this amp with the Cornwall's. I just bought a pair, and although I've been looking mainly at tube amp, this may be the ticket.
Sean did a review months back on a Luxman tube amp, can’t remember the model but it’s in his videos. That amp was beautiful and I’d bet would go together with Klipsch like peanut butter and jelly!
McIntosh tube separates or this pure class A beauty would be wonderful with the Cornwall IV. Anything Luxman is majestic. The problem with the cheaper tube amps is that they’re cheaper tube amps.
John Lafferty - that’s one of the fantastic things about the Cornwall IV’s - that 102 dB sensitivity allows you to use some really choice low power amplification and you get very nice bass response with those ported 15” woofers.
Back in the late 70’s, early 80’s one of the local “stereo” shops in my area used Luxman to demo Klipsch speakers. Couldn’t afford both so I went with Klipsch. Still have them. Still can’t afford Luxman. Luxman gear, then and now still look the same...gorgeous!
Great review! Can’t help to feel that the Yamaha 1200 didnt get as much love for its build quality which, in my opinion, is every bit as good - considering the price difference.
This is an excellent review which I find totally engaging with thoughtful comments. As a potential buyer I’m interested in how the amp sounds obviously but also whether there are optimum pairings in terms of source and speakers. You’ve covered everything and have been very thorough in your presentation. I’d like to see a demo with some music playing. I appreciate the listener cannot even hope to replicate what you hear but we can see how you react to the performance. Apart from that, great channel so keep up these excellent reviews!
Can’t wait for your video on the ‘shootout’ between the Luxman, Yamaha and Accuphase. Add in American and Euro reps from Parasound and Hegel and it’s like Christmas comes early!
+1 (Looking for the best non-tube class A amp for the Cornwall IV. Besides Pass Labs INT-25, INT-60, Luxman 590AX II and Accuphase E650 I have also Grandinote Shinai (Italy) and the Valvet amps (Germany) on the list.) I also think about a combination of a tube dac/preamp like the Ayon Stealth in combination with class D monoblocks like the Nuprime ST10Ms or the brand new Eigentakt monos from NAD.
Minor point to your presentation. Luxman didn't invent negative feedback. Harold Black submitted a patent in 1928. Harry Nyquist while working for AT&T, later Bell Labs, developed the idea even further. He also worked with Hendrik Bode to develop circuits using feefback in the 1930's. I should also say, your presentation as always, is great. Enjoy every one of them.
If anyone is put off by the power rating here, they wouldn’t appreciate the Naim Uniti Atom either, which is a great piece. And they would run away screaming at the price of Pass Labs First Watt stuff. Well, they could give the Schitt Aegirs a spin if curious about class A. The Schiit voicing is not far off from the Luxman Can’t wait for the Accuphase review!
Boy o boy...finally saved up to get this beauty home, paired with KLH Model 5. I mean there is nothing ..i mean nothing that comes close to that combination..bliss. thanks Sean.
Glowing review. Great stuff. Thanks Sean! Loved the B roll at the end. Looking forward to the shootout comparison. I came close to buying a used L550 II for my Harbeth 30.1's but something told me more power would be useful for that lower sensitivity. Looking forward to the E-480 review as I have my eye on that!
Sean, great job, this has been a recent top contender for me, really wish you had commented on DAC and source used though, just as a reference for some of us. Excellent work as usual and much appreciate the detailed review!
Freaking Musical Fidelity found a way to disrupt this review! haha. So the bass on this unit is a treat. Textured. Fast. Very, very strong. Who in the heck doesn't like great tone with some ballsy density to back it up?
The e-480 is gonna be an interesting comparison vs this class A. Although it is much more expensive over here in the US if you want a proper warranty. As for the sound. Besides power (mostly for party scenarios which is not an often occurence.) your description basically matches what my E-380 sounds like. Wide, transparent, dynamic. I think I'll need to change my Dac as I like a more analogue sound. Denafrips seems like a good bet but I'll tough it out in a topping D90 until I can snag a Pontus on the used market
Those fantastic VU meters but we don't even get to see them bounce around in this video! Otherwise, nice review, as always. I like your detail when it comes to explaining how something sounds...not just that it "sounds good".
Cool beans. 1935 topology with 1930's negative feedback (invented by Harold Stephen Black at Bell Laboratories in 1927, patented in 1937, not by Luxman). 1960's controls. 1970's solid state topology. Very pretty VU meters (with 1980's expanded range). E-I transformer, which is known to leak a lot more magnetic field than toroidals, but in small editions are much easier to wind and less costly to make in small runs. Yeah, I would love to hear it with an nice pair of Klipsch's or JBL's at the 'one-Watt plus crescendos' level. Really love to. Class A puts the minute details of music signals right in the most linear part of the output devices' operating curve -- the sweet spot. I'd like to hear it compared to a Nelson Pass comparable design, just for shits and giggles. Should go well in a book-lined library with hassock, pipe, and slippers. Has "wall of sound" changed definition since the Phil Spector days in the 60's? Don't pay attention to my comments. I'm that 'armchair engineer' that knows nothing about hifi marketing nor cares much for nostalgia. I saw lots of nostalgic hardware when it was the best we had, but I don't think that hifi is anywhere near the best it can get. It really does sound fake.
Once you get used these kind of actual physical controls .. rest all touch screens gimmicks , plastic nobs all appear like toys in dollar tree. Real things never loose their feel and value .. example NAD m33 very impressive all in one and great looking .. trust me we just get bored in 2 to 3 weeks with touch scree after 3 to 5 years down the line probably NAD M33 will become like cheap android phone with full of bugs and slowness. but these luxman or Yamaha built and quality last for life .and we enjoy every time we touch them .
How exciting! Looking forward to seeing the upcoming reviews of amps that'll compete with this one... Also worth saying: I only ever heard a Luxman amp once (a 20wpc A/B tube amp, actually) but WOW, they are great sounding -- and well-engineered -- pieces of equipment.
Why are many manufacturers so enamored with the "MK II" as a model designation?? Every other product is a MK II. Thanks for including some demo sound of the products you review. After all who wants to make love without the climax?
It Would be nice to have a comaprison between the power section of the 550 and Passlabs XA25 power amp. The 2 are on my list, but unfortunately i won't get the opportunity to have a home demo on either. If anybody has some insight on this, It would be most appreciated.
Luxman has always made some great stuff and you are not the only one who has commented on how powerful 20 watts can sound. I like to remind folks it's is class a watts that double into 4 ohms and that luxman like others such as macintosh and pass labs are conservative with their ratings. Case in point the pass labs xa25 amplifier way out performed it's specs when stereophile did it's testing on it. It would be a intersting compassion with one of pass labs lower integrates as well. They used to do a 30 watt class a integrated that was really good years back. Not as many of the bells and whistles as the luxman though. When you get into this sorta league their all good. Just going to come down to preference for sound, synergy with your system and features. The scary thing is that that luxman sound gets better when you step up to their separates (preamp and amplifiers). I think they also make a related model but it's class ab instead of class a. Looking for to future reviews of accuphase. Thanks!
You mentioned Accuphase. Even though I could see it was a Luxman, Accuphase was the other manufacturer I thought of as far as making such a beautiful piece of equipment.
Man do I love the look, although I prefer the range of speakers their AB (blue VU) amps can power. If they had a discrete headphone stage in there they'd be absolutely perfect.
Make yourself precision inverse RIAA, than you will be in position to compare line in with MM/MC phono inputs on all amps you review. It allows you to connect your line level source(dac) to phono inputs.
Would be useful to learn how it performs with diametrically opposed speakers, such as Harbeth and Klipsch, to give an idea of what it prefers to be partnered with.
Holy crap. Luxman is still making audio equipment. Somewhere in my basement, in a box, is the Luxman receiver I bought as a teenager back in 1978. It became outdated, but I’ve never had the heart to get rid of it. Is there a market for vintage stereo gear? 😂
I was going to buy the either the l505 or the L-507uXII because of the higher stated power but you just convinced me to seek out this one. Pricewise, it’s in between the 2 with a more higher end look than the l-505. Could be the sweet spot. Just need to track one down as it seems they are hard to get in Europe.
You are a really good reviewer.......................I am amazed at my age to discover your maturity. Try a dedicated quality powercord with this kind of amplifier...you might be amazed also.......
Tape Monitor? Record in and out? Loudness? Subsonic filter? Balance and Mono controls? Feels like I slipped into the Hot Tub Time Machine back to 1985 when I was selling Luxman that could be best described as ‘mid fi’ competing with the likes of Harmon Kardon. I thought that company was long gone. Obviously a niche target market. Hope they survive.
I have a 505UxII and then got tubed Mc gear. I switch back and forth on occasion. I guess I am just a tube guy. I love Luxman however I 100% prefer the tube McIntosh sound. Not even close. The Luxman sounds clinical in comparison.
Doesn't surprise me. Tube gear has a different sound all-together, and as I understand it, the Lux Class A/B stuff is more analytical/lean sounding than the Class-A stuff, which is already quite honest to begin with.
@@allenwilliams8962 back then the 75 monoblocks. Actually the Luxman now resides in my secondary system. And in my primary, I am using a MArchand active crossover these days, with the 75s driving the tweeters, and a strong Class D amp driving the woofers. Sonusfaber Olympica 1 bookself augmented by 2 subwoofers are the main system speakers. I run Advent Smallers out here in the secondary room with theLuxman/MAC4100 combo. Using the 4100 as a "pre".
Seriously considering purchasing this amplifier with Klipsch Cornwall IV and this video is definitely pushing me in that direction even more! I want to try tube integrated amplifiers but after reading a review from Steve Huff about trading in his beloved line magnetic 219 i a for the luxman I have second thoughts. Wish I could hear Raven osprey with matching Celeste speakers versus luxman with Cornwall.
The fact the 550 is staying in Sean's reference rotation says a lot. End game amp for many, just make sure that you watch this video and listen closely a few times at least before pulling the trigger.
John, I just got the A-S2200 Sean’s right, I’ve only got about 40 hours on mine but I can certainly tell a difference than when I took it out of the box!
@@ZeroFidelity Thank you! It's getting there. I can hear the bass and detail getting more prominent with each listening. Def a keeper. Think I watched your review of the 1200 mulitple times before pulling the trigger. Looking forward to that follow up video.
@@nathanjones4039 Congrats. I never thought I'd be a fan of modern amps coming from a vintage Sansui. I'm hearing more bass and detail. I've probably got the same amount of hours on mine
You said that you're not an analogue guy (but only mentioned vinyl...).....Would love to know what your source player is using this amp? Are you using a CD player/DAC/Streamer? I absolutely adore the look and philosophy of this amp, but I can't find a lot of reviews showing how people pair it up. Thanks!
You hinted at a possible upcoming video review of the Luxman/Cornwall pairing. Any chance that will happen? This is exactly the pairing I've been considering for the past couple of months!
Hi Sean, curious if you’re still considering doing the separate Luxman/Cornwall video? I’m on a search for an amp to pair with vintage Klipsch speakers (1980 La Scala or 1978 Heresy). Everything I hear/read suggests tubes, so I’ve looked at many of the usual suspects in my price range (Primaluna, Rogue, Luxman SQ-N150, Leben, Cary) as well as a couple that are probably out of the budget new but maybe not used (McIntosh, Audio Research). Considered Willsenton and Cayin, but really prefer to buy from a local brick and mortar store. All that being said, I keep getting drawn back to solid state, in particular the Luxman L550 and Accuphase E-280. Thus why I’d love to hear your detailed thoughts on the Luxman/Cornwall pairing. Sounds like these may be two of the better SS options for speakers from the Heritage lineup. Anyway, I’m really curious…ignoring what I’ve been looking at, if you had a pair of vintage La Scalas or Heresys and headed out the door to buy an amp, what would you choose? BTW…I’ll be mainly listening to vinyl and streaming, with a bit of CD/SACD mixed in. Thanks!
A few things: (1) This amp does not run hot. Even after hours of use. (2) Minor correction to what was said early in the video: The 550 can power two pairs (4) of speakers at once. Not 8. I slipped up as I was thinking about the next thing to say. :D Power output will remain the same so long as all of the speakers are 8 ohms or higher (as the amp will see a collective impedance of 4 ohms). (3) Another minor correction: The circuit that Luxman was responsible for pertains to *Global* Negative Feedback. Cheers!
You could power 16 32ohm ones though. 😀
I really like the 2 pairs speaker switching feature, as different speakers have their own strength. Why there aren't many amp with such feature?? :-(
Atleast you didn't slip and call a dac a amp like i did with the Aunex8 no one caught it , i was acrually looking down at the op-amps when i said that lol shit happens !
@@brandonbuehler563 have you tried the Node with a separate DAC?
Oh Lord, my clairvoyant vision just kicked in. 😆 My possessed echoing creepy voice sez "Thy shalt do a shoot out between the Yamaha C5000+M5000 stack (20k USD) and the Luxman C900u+M900u stack (30k USD) one day. After the shootout, both Luxman and Yamaha will donate their respective stacks for thee to keep and cherish. Thy shalt be known to all these youtube peasants as the ultimate stacklord thereafter. All these peasants will sing songs in praise of the ultimate stacklord"
I'm a Luxman hoarder, have several components from 70s. They are simply amazing
Dude, the smile on your face when talking about pairing with the Klipsch Cornwall speakers, PRICELESS! 😃😃
I just pulled the trigger on this amp to drive my Klipsch Forte IVs. I can only hope that pairing is magic as well.
Dale Thomas how did it go?
@@faludabutt8253 I cancelled my order. I ended up getting a Willsenton R8 and am quite happy with it. I couldn't justify spending almost $6K at the time.
Dale Thomas well, Luxman is a different animal. Low watts tube amps are too polite. As I love the bass, I decided not to get into tubes
@@faludabutt8253Too polite? One man’s trash can be another man’s treasure. If tastes were simple, there’d only be one flavor of ice cream! After I’ve done some tube rolling and if I tire of the Willsenton, then the Luxman 550AXII or it’s replacement will be a single transaction away so no fret. I had to scratch the tube itch at least once. There’s never a down side to trying out new gear. ;-)
That’s a pride of ownership piece right there. So sweet
Heck yeah after hearing the knobs!
Tee-Jay The Stereo-Bargain-File here’s a secret , most modern audio equipment sounds pretty damn good.. add good looks and build quality and it bumps it up a few notches. No ugly shit on the rack. Go get a Hegel
This integrated amp has every feature that disappeared from my favorite 1970's equipment (ie. My Harmon-Kardon 930). Loudness! Mono! Low filter! A real tape monitor circuit and pre-out/main ins! Clicking switches! The only thing it's missing is reverse stereo. After watching this review, this amp is exactly what I want to make my life complete. Too bad that it's about $4,500 more than I can afford. Thank you for your great review of my new fantasy.
Loundness! So simple and misunderstood! Just there to make it easier to hear low-volume music (pumps up mids). “How to listen to music after the kids are asleep”. Totally agreed
I recently picked up a 930 that has been brought back to life and I’m wondering if you would recommend some speakers you have had success matching with this receiver. Thank you.
@@tommywingate2220 The only speaker I used with the 930 were JBL L-100s which I thought sounded great together, but that was 30 years ago. They might match well with a high sensitivity speaker. It would be fun to hear them with one of the Lore speakers from Tekton (although I just noticed the price has gone way up on those). Have fun with your 930!
@@alm5693 Thanks. I’m collecting vintage items here and there so having a pair of L100,s hangin around would be good either way.
@@tommywingate2220 I've still got my L-100s and the Dual 1229 that I bought with them. I already had the 930. 👍
I think this is the first modern amplifier that I have seen a review of on TH-cam that touches my soul.
That thing is perfect, sounds like something every reviewer should have as a reference amp!
I would buy this amp just to look at. And turn that volume knob. So gorgeous.
May I please have it when you're done looking at it and turning the knob?
I treasure my Luxman amp. I have it paired with a pair of Tannoy gold sterlings. The three pieces together are like works of art.
Great audio system, hopefully one day you can do a review of the Luxman L-509X Integrated Amplifier, more powerful unit. Keep going, love your wonderful reviews.
Hands down, japanese amps just are the best looking amps in the world
I strongly disagree. But hey... To each his own 😉
McIntosh: hold my whisky....
Gryphon 😎
@Fat Rat Yes you are right. I really like the Luxman too.
Oh good grief: McIntosh
Man that is one elegant piece of work. The Japanese take form and function to high art. Culture, heritage and dignity wrapped in an amplifier!
Found the last L-590 axII dealer Demo in the Country 🇨🇦 and luckily it was in my home town. Been into audio for over 40+ years. I was getting tired of the in my face 200 watt McIntosh gear. Ya I had to step up for the Luxman but this I’m sure will be my last intergraded. I heard it for 30 mins at the dealer and was hard pressed to keep the smile off my face. As you can imagine I’ve heard a ton of gear and this sure is a piece I’m going to adore. I’m a big vinyl guy so having the MC/MM phono stage allows me to sell off my phono preamp as well. Win Win.
Late night Jazz through the Harbeth’s should be magical. 😎 Thanks
I'm driving my speakers with twin Luxman M117 amps that are simply amazing.
Hey Sean,
Great Video as usual, it makes me remember my old Luxman integrated Amp. That unit was from the early 80’s and was rated at 50 watts into 8 ohms. It was the unit with the gold and glass retractable faceplate. Man oh man it would rock the house and sounded Beautiful. The unit was built like a Tank. I had it for years right up til my divorce in which my ex took it as part of the settlement. I especially remember the day my buddy brought over his Cerwin Vegas D9’s and when the bass hit it blew the speaker covers across the room literally. My buddy had a Sony amp that was rated at 120 watts into 8 ohms and his amps couldn’t blow the covers off his Speakers. From that point on he has owned Luxman equipment. My long drawn out point is that a true 20 watts is more than enough power. Keep up the Great Work Buddy.
Great review Sean.
I recently acquired the bigger brother (590 AXII) and found your description of sound to accurately match my experience. I came from EL34 mono block amplifiers and found the Luxman far more detailed with a bit more sparkle and tighter bass.
I have 91dB, 4 ohm speakers and this amp has more than enough power for my listening requirements - could probably run the 550 in myself system just as well.
For those interested the phono stage (I think it is the same in both models) is very good. I am running a Dynavector XX-2 and I compared with my existing phono stage (Dynavector P75) - the internal one is much better. Admittedly the 100 ohm landing is not adjustable and suits my cartridge.
There’s a huge difference between brothers? I can afford the big but maybe this yes
I miss the old Luxman logo. Then you opened the case, several of the components has the old logo. Yay!
It's on the back panel, too.
I've tried Luxman 550AXII and loved it , it was on the warmer side to me , very very very good AMP ,, did not quite like 509 after trying 550,,, ended up going all in with M900U ,,, this think will stay put for decades to come i hope
How about a rewiew of the L-590 AXII? That model is somewhat special...
Was planning to buy the bigger brother for a long time, but decided to go for tube pre and a class A power amp instead, not easy to go away from tubes, they bring something special to the table.
The Luxman gear looks wonderful.
Which Class A power amp did you go with?
@@johnjsinha2706 Belles SA 30
@@gryphongryph Thanks
I feel like Homer seeing a box of the best made donuts 😍
I hope you do a separate little piece on this amp with the Cornwall's. I just bought a pair, and although I've been looking mainly at tube amp, this may be the ticket.
Sean did a review months back on a Luxman tube amp, can’t remember the model but it’s in his videos. That amp was beautiful and I’d bet would go together with Klipsch like peanut butter and jelly!
McIntosh tube separates or this pure class A beauty would be wonderful with the Cornwall IV. Anything Luxman is majestic. The problem with the cheaper tube amps is that they’re cheaper tube amps.
John I came here to say exactly the same things. Sean please do the vid!!!
Yes on the SQ-N150 !
John Lafferty - that’s one of the fantastic things about the Cornwall IV’s - that 102 dB sensitivity allows you to use some really choice low power amplification and you get very nice bass response with those ported 15” woofers.
I have a luxman l-450 and love its sound. I can only imagine having a piece like that.
Back in the late 70’s, early 80’s one of the local “stereo” shops in my area used Luxman to demo Klipsch speakers. Couldn’t afford both so I went with Klipsch. Still have them. Still can’t afford Luxman. Luxman gear, then and now still look the same...gorgeous!
Love your review, honest, you don’t wax over things, hats off!
Great review! Can’t help to feel that the Yamaha 1200 didnt get as much love for its build quality which, in my opinion, is every bit as good - considering the price difference.
That is a gorgeous piece of kit. I'm really loving all of these options of integrated amps. Also, I totally dig the outro...you killed it, PHO SHO!!
This is an excellent review which I find totally engaging with thoughtful comments. As a potential buyer I’m interested in how the amp sounds obviously but also whether there are optimum pairings in terms of source and speakers. You’ve covered everything and have been very thorough in your presentation. I’d like to see a demo with some music playing. I appreciate the listener cannot even hope to replicate what you hear but we can see how you react to the performance. Apart from that, great channel so keep up these excellent reviews!
Great job! Love the speaker matching segment. Synergy ..important.
Its not the wattage spec that matters but the quality of the usable watts 😃
Beast !!!
Can’t wait for your video on the ‘shootout’ between the Luxman, Yamaha and Accuphase. Add in American and Euro reps from Parasound and Hegel and it’s like Christmas comes early!
+1 (Looking for the best non-tube class A amp for the Cornwall IV. Besides Pass Labs INT-25, INT-60, Luxman 590AX II and Accuphase E650 I have also Grandinote Shinai (Italy) and the Valvet amps (Germany) on the list.) I also think about a combination of a tube dac/preamp like the Ayon Stealth in combination with class D monoblocks like the Nuprime ST10Ms or the brand new Eigentakt monos from NAD.
Minor point to your presentation. Luxman didn't invent negative feedback. Harold Black submitted a patent in 1928. Harry Nyquist while working for AT&T, later Bell Labs, developed the idea even further. He also worked with Hendrik Bode to develop circuits using feefback in the 1930's.
I should also say, your presentation as always, is great. Enjoy every one of them.
*Global* Negative feedback. Was missing an important key word. Appreciate the dissertation. :).
I think voicing is the final key to unlock its value and fit for users. Love to compare with other class A including my PassLabs XA25
I’m such a sucker for VU meters.
If anyone is put off by the power rating here, they wouldn’t appreciate the Naim Uniti Atom either, which is a great piece. And they would run away screaming at the price of Pass Labs First Watt stuff. Well, they could give the Schitt Aegirs a spin if curious about class A. The Schiit voicing is not far off from the Luxman
Can’t wait for the Accuphase review!
Would be great if you can review some of the PASS LABS amps like the INT-60 and compare it to this beautiful Luxman.
I have had mine for about 6-7 months with LaScala speakers from Klipsch. Sounds great.
Boy o boy...finally saved up to get this beauty home, paired with KLH Model 5. I mean there is nothing ..i mean nothing that comes close to that combination..bliss. thanks Sean.
That damn thing is BEAUTIFUL.
Glowing review. Great stuff. Thanks Sean! Loved the B roll at the end. Looking forward to the shootout comparison. I came close to buying a used L550 II for my Harbeth 30.1's but something told me more power would be useful for that lower sensitivity. Looking forward to the E-480 review as I have my eye on that!
Yeah at 85 dB those Harbeth 30.1’s might need a bit more power but if it’s not a big room it would be worth a demo 👀
As always a very clear review,im gonna buy soon a Luxman cd player,i play now with a CEC,also from Japan.
Sean, great job, this has been a recent top contender for me, really wish you had commented on DAC and source used though, just as a reference for some of us. Excellent work as usual and much appreciate the detailed review!
I think FedEx interrupted you before you told us about bass. I suspect it’s great but can you elaborate a little?
🤣🤣
Freaking Musical Fidelity found a way to disrupt this review! haha. So the bass on this unit is a treat. Textured. Fast. Very, very strong. Who in the heck doesn't like great tone with some ballsy density to back it up?
The e-480 is gonna be an interesting comparison vs this class A. Although it is much more expensive over here in the US if you want a proper warranty.
As for the sound. Besides power (mostly for party scenarios which is not an often occurence.) your description basically matches what my E-380 sounds like. Wide, transparent, dynamic. I think I'll need to change my Dac as I like a more analogue sound. Denafrips seems like a good bet but I'll tough it out in a topping D90 until I can snag a Pontus on the used market
@OGNintendo : try RME adi2 fs dac .. I recently moved from Pontus Dac
@@kvrhifi can I ask what the rest of your setup is?
Those fantastic VU meters but we don't even get to see them bounce around in this video!
Otherwise, nice review, as always. I like your detail when it comes to explaining how something sounds...not just that it "sounds good".
It sounds and looks amazing
Great video! I have the 505UXii and its the best amp I've ever owned. Period!
@James Fisher Dynaudio Special 40 and Tekton Lore Reference
Nice job Sean- excellent review. I’m not into integrated amps but this one is “sweet”...
Cool beans. 1935 topology with 1930's negative feedback (invented by Harold Stephen Black at Bell Laboratories in 1927, patented in 1937, not by Luxman). 1960's controls. 1970's solid state topology. Very pretty VU meters (with 1980's expanded range). E-I transformer, which is known to leak a lot more magnetic field than toroidals, but in small editions are much easier to wind and less costly to make in small runs.
Yeah, I would love to hear it with an nice pair of Klipsch's or JBL's at the 'one-Watt plus crescendos' level. Really love to. Class A puts the minute details of music signals right in the most linear part of the output devices' operating curve -- the sweet spot. I'd like to hear it compared to a Nelson Pass comparable design, just for shits and giggles. Should go well in a book-lined library with hassock, pipe, and slippers.
Has "wall of sound" changed definition since the Phil Spector days in the 60's? Don't pay attention to my comments. I'm that 'armchair engineer' that knows nothing about hifi marketing nor cares much for nostalgia. I saw lots of nostalgic hardware when it was the best we had, but I don't think that hifi is anywhere near the best it can get. It really does sound fake.
What’s fake and what’s real? Live music? Not reasonable I think.
TWENTY is PLENTY with Cornwall IV’s. That’s a 102 dB speaker.
(Or anything from the Klipsch Heritage Line for that matter)
Came close to buying the bigger version of this amp and it wasn’t far off the sound of my Mac/YBA combo which was almost twice the price.
Loved the. chill section!
Answered all my questions, thanks Sean.
Once you get used these kind of actual physical controls .. rest all touch screens gimmicks , plastic nobs all appear like toys in dollar tree. Real things never loose their feel and value .. example NAD m33 very impressive all in one and great looking .. trust me we just get bored in 2 to 3 weeks with touch scree after 3 to 5 years down the line probably NAD M33 will become like cheap android phone with full of bugs and slowness. but these luxman or Yamaha built and quality last for life .and we enjoy every time we touch them .
How exciting! Looking forward to seeing the upcoming reviews of amps that'll compete with this one...
Also worth saying: I only ever heard a Luxman amp once (a 20wpc A/B tube amp, actually) but WOW, they are great sounding -- and well-engineered -- pieces of equipment.
Luxman vs Yamaha integrated in the same price range, how would they compare...
The Accuphase review will be next level.
Accuphase Class A are the hifi gods in Japan...with Luxman just behind.
Why don't they make 'em in black colour, like Yamaha does?
Marc Foss High-end models of Yamaha are also in Silver.
@@marcfoss7687Nooo. Please don’t make them in black!
Why are many manufacturers so enamored with the "MK II" as a model designation?? Every other product is a MK II.
Thanks for including some demo sound of the products you review. After all who wants to make love without the climax?
Anyone know if the same magic happens when paired with Klipsch Forte IVs?
Long live Meters!
At least I have meters on my tee shirt!
It Would be nice to have a comaprison between the power section of the 550 and Passlabs XA25 power amp.
The 2 are on my list, but unfortunately i won't get the opportunity to have a home demo on either.
If anybody has some insight on this, It would be most appreciated.
Reno hi fi in Nevada. They offer a trial period for all pass equipment.
Thanks!
That is one good looking amp!
Luxman has always made some great stuff and you are not the only one who has commented on how powerful 20 watts can sound. I like to remind folks it's is class a watts that double into 4 ohms and that luxman like others such as macintosh and pass labs are conservative with their ratings. Case in point the pass labs xa25 amplifier way out performed it's specs when stereophile did it's testing on it. It would be a intersting compassion with one of pass labs lower integrates as well. They used to do a 30 watt class a integrated that was really good years back. Not as many of the bells and whistles as the luxman though. When you get into this sorta league their all good. Just going to come down to preference for sound, synergy with your system and features. The scary thing is that that luxman sound gets better when you step up to their separates (preamp and amplifiers). I think they also make a related model but it's class ab instead of class a. Looking for to future reviews of accuphase. Thanks!
Looking forward to the Luxman, Accuphase, Yamaha shootout! Are you able to publish which Accuphase and Yamaha models in advance?
Luxman is my Fav. I was raised on Luxman
You mentioned Accuphase. Even though I could see it was a Luxman, Accuphase was the other manufacturer I thought of as far as making such a beautiful piece of equipment.
Love your assessment, well done.
Man do I love the look, although I prefer the range of speakers their AB (blue VU) amps can power. If they had a discrete headphone stage in there they'd be absolutely perfect.
Make yourself precision inverse RIAA, than you will be in position to compare line in with MM/MC phono inputs on all amps you review. It allows you to connect your line level source(dac) to phono inputs.
Did he said accuphase? Oh wow...you are going very deep with the luxman and accuphase... Can't wait to hear about this XD
Would be useful to learn how it performs with diametrically opposed speakers, such as Harbeth and Klipsch, to give an idea of what it prefers to be partnered with.
Really mis my old wooden Luxman L510, Best amp i ever had. It could hold the Coffee warm. 😁
Luxman is the best I’ve owned
Holy crap. Luxman is still making audio equipment. Somewhere in my basement, in a box, is the Luxman receiver I bought as a teenager back in 1978. It became outdated, but I’ve never had the heart to get rid of it. Is there a market for vintage stereo gear? 😂
Yes there is!
Wonder how it would sound w/ the LS3/5a's you recently reviewed.
Great review. If I had the coin😀 Oh well, Hijo will be out of college in a couple years!
I was going to buy the either the l505 or the L-507uXII because of the higher stated power but you just convinced me to seek out this one. Pricewise, it’s in between the 2 with a more higher end look than the l-505. Could be the sweet spot. Just need to track one down as it seems they are hard to get in Europe.
You are a really good reviewer.......................I am amazed at my age to discover your maturity.
Try a dedicated quality powercord with this kind of amplifier...you might be amazed also.......
Tape Monitor? Record in and out? Loudness? Subsonic filter? Balance and Mono controls? Feels like I slipped into the Hot Tub Time Machine back to 1985 when I was selling Luxman that could be best described as ‘mid fi’ competing with the likes of Harmon Kardon. I thought that company was long gone. Obviously a niche target market. Hope they survive.
loudness switch = garbage
Sean,
There's some buzz around the Technics gu700 integrated amp. Will u be reviewing it, do have any interest or opinions about it?
So a month from now comparison with Accuphase and Yamaha - and Musical Fidelity too perhaps since one just came through the door?
I have a 505UxII and then got tubed Mc gear. I switch back and forth on occasion. I guess I am just a tube guy. I love Luxman however I 100% prefer the tube McIntosh sound. Not even close. The Luxman sounds clinical in comparison.
Doesn't surprise me. Tube gear has a different sound all-together, and as I understand it, the Lux Class A/B stuff is more analytical/lean sounding than the Class-A stuff, which is already quite honest to begin with.
@petek6031 U using the MAC 252? and what speakers are u driving?
@@allenwilliams8962 back then the 75 monoblocks. Actually the Luxman now resides in my secondary system. And in my primary, I am using a MArchand active crossover these days, with the 75s driving the tweeters, and a strong Class D amp driving the woofers. Sonusfaber Olympica 1 bookself augmented by 2 subwoofers are the main system speakers. I run Advent Smallers out here in the secondary room with theLuxman/MAC4100 combo. Using the 4100 as a "pre".
Seriously considering purchasing this amplifier with Klipsch Cornwall IV and this video is definitely pushing me in that direction even more! I want to try tube integrated amplifiers but after reading a review from Steve Huff about trading in his beloved line magnetic 219 i a for the luxman I have second thoughts. Wish I could hear Raven osprey with matching Celeste speakers versus luxman with Cornwall.
Hi Sean
How does the Evoke 10 compares to the Harbeth P3esr.
I have the Evoke 10. And itching to get the P3esr too.
😅😅
How does this compare with the The Luxman 'Neo Classico' SQ-N150 tube integrated?
The fact the 550 is staying in Sean's reference rotation says a lot. End game amp for many, just make sure that you watch this video and listen closely a few times at least before pulling the trigger.
Many amplifiers today seems to go for that late 70's to early 80's look.
Silver panel + analog UV meters + serious knobs... I have no problem with that personally!
@@FarHagh I'm not complaining either. It's a class A look (pun intended) and all the silver must evoke some kind of golden era.
Excellent review as always. I'm looking for this amps characteristics at no more than $2500. Is the unico primo still that option?
Excellent review, many thanks. Any thoughts on pairing this with the Klipsch RP600M?
Damn. It even has a mono switch lol! I just got the Yamaha A S1200 after watching and getting some feedback from you. Thanks again!
Congrats on the 1200! Give it time. It changes (for the better) after many hours of use. I need to make a follow up vid about that.
John, I just got the A-S2200 Sean’s right, I’ve only got about 40 hours on mine but I can certainly tell a difference than when I took it out of the box!
@@ZeroFidelity Thank you! It's getting there. I can hear the bass and detail getting more prominent with each listening. Def a keeper. Think I watched your review of the 1200 mulitple times before pulling the trigger. Looking forward to that follow up video.
Zero Fidelity yes please, a follow up video would be nice!
@@nathanjones4039 Congrats. I never thought I'd be a fan of modern amps coming from a vintage Sansui. I'm hearing more bass and detail. I've probably got the same amount of hours on mine
O.K. you persuaded me. I want this.
The L-505uXII is a 1k less and has a lot more power. Is it A/B design? You should compare that to 550 some day.
A very Unbiased review. Like to find out, if I am getting zaLuxman 550 will my 89 dB 4 ohms speakers will be hard to drive? Thanks
Silver bezel with black surrounds seems wrong.
Nice amp.But the price rang is not well received.I would consider if buying a new amp would be the Yamaha A-S1200.
You said that you're not an analogue guy (but only mentioned vinyl...).....Would love to know what your source player is using this amp? Are you using a CD player/DAC/Streamer? I absolutely adore the look and philosophy of this amp, but I can't find a lot of reviews showing how people pair it up. Thanks!
Wondering how this would sound with 0/93s.
You hinted at a possible upcoming video review of the Luxman/Cornwall pairing. Any chance that will happen? This is exactly the pairing I've been considering for the past couple of months!
Hi Sean, curious if you’re still considering doing the separate Luxman/Cornwall video? I’m on a search for an amp to pair with vintage Klipsch speakers (1980 La Scala or 1978 Heresy). Everything I hear/read suggests tubes, so I’ve looked at many of the usual suspects in my price range (Primaluna, Rogue, Luxman SQ-N150, Leben, Cary) as well as a couple that are probably out of the budget new but maybe not used (McIntosh, Audio Research). Considered Willsenton and Cayin, but really prefer to buy from a local brick and mortar store.
All that being said, I keep getting drawn back to solid state, in particular the Luxman L550 and Accuphase E-280. Thus why I’d love to hear your detailed thoughts on the Luxman/Cornwall pairing. Sounds like these may be two of the better SS options for speakers from the Heritage lineup.
Anyway, I’m really curious…ignoring what I’ve been looking at, if you had a pair of vintage La Scalas or Heresys and headed out the door to buy an amp, what would you choose?
BTW…I’ll be mainly listening to vinyl and streaming, with a bit of CD/SACD mixed in.
Thanks!
awesome review