I'm getting the upgrade bug again. Does anyone have one these Luxmans? If so what's your impression of it especially the phono stage? I love the look of those big Japanese integrated amps. It would be powering a pair of Q Acoustics Concept 500 speakers. My current amplifier is a Musical Fidelity M6si which is very capable. I've noticed that the Luxman L-507Z is coming soon but it's considerably more expensive than the L-507uXII. 

 

I don't own one, but I can attest it's one fantastic amp - as are most of the modern luxmans.  If you don't need the power I'd also highly recommend you check out the L-590.... Unreal piece of kit, pure class A goodness. One of the best sounding amps I've heard for medium volume level music.

 

I can't say much about the phono stages on these, but I'm sure (I'd bet) they are better than what your average integrated comes with. If you want pure bliss, pair it with the EQ-500.

 

Luxman is great kit. Timeless in a way - it's something you can own and be proud of for quite some time (It also has a lunatic fringe following if you're not already picking up on that LOL)

 

The 507z isn't available yet, and i haven't seen any reviews apart from a few Japanese video which aren't translate-able.  gohyakunana"zee" is about as much as i can understand (which is pretty pathetic given my circumstances).

Be interesting to hear if they've managed to milk much more performance from the z over the UXii, would want to with the price increase.  Still no specifications on the luxman website for this one.

or was it an april fools joke?

I don’t know about the new Z version of the 507 but based on previous Luxman experiences (previous owner of a l590ax) the changes are incremental improvements, and the internal phono stages are very good but lack flexibility in settings versus an external phono stage.

 

 

On 08/05/2022 at 1:49 PM, Demondes said:

I don’t know about the new Z version of the 507 but based on previous Luxman experiences (previous owner of a l590ax) the changes are incremental improvements, and the internal phono stages are very good but lack flexibility in settings versus an external phono stage.

 

 

Agree - as built-in phono stages go Luxman are excellent, just lack (as do most built-in) the adjustments found on external stages.

The EQ-500 is one of the best phono stages Ive ever heard, up to 25K, but I'll admit, I havent heard everything out there!

Specifications for the L-507Z can be found here. Clef HiFi in Melbourne is showing an RRP of $11,499.00.

I owned for just under two years the Luxman 509x integrated, which was an excellent match to my Focal Sopra speakers. These can get bright and harsh sounding with the wrong integration, the 509x tamed them beautifully adding a little Japanese warmth. I had some experience with the phono stage on this and as described before it is okay but has little adjustment. Personally I found both the Phono stage and headphone to be okay and did a job. They are more there to get you up and running.

Their amps are solid build and heavy too, the LECUA attenuation is sublime inducing just a little warmth.

Mine unfortunately failed within the warranty period and had to be replaced. Although I was assured that these amps are built like brick **** houses, I lost faith and moved on to Mola-Mola. 

My amp was repaired by Luxman and sold almost immediately for almost what I had bought it for, so the brand is in big demand holding value. The buyer I am told has recently ungraded to the Mola Mola as well being over the moon with its sound signature and totally black background. It is considerably more, but if you can, it may be worth having a listen to the Mola Mola Kaluga 

 

 

 

 

On 16/05/2022 at 9:06 PM, Dr K said:

Specifications for the L-507Z can be found here. Clef HiFi in Melbourne is showing an RRP of $11,499.00.

Ouch is it just me or is that at least a $2k increase on previous model.

 

I looked at the image and I do prefer to white light VU meters of the new model over the blue of the previous.

 

I also preferred the yellow coloration of the A class models like 590.

 

When u think about flexibility and longevity of LED's it should be possible to allow the consumer to have an option to change the colour at a relatively low cost

Edited June 3, 20223 yr by Demondes

On 03/06/2022 at 10:50 AM, Demondes said:

I looked at the image and I do prefer to white light VU meters of the new model over the blue of the previous.

 

I'm wondering if the the 507z is more of a an evolution of the 509x (which also has white meters) than the 507uxii. I still haven't bought a Luxman amp but I'm on the hunt. I'm after their flagship integrated amp. I think I would be happy with either the class-A or class A/B version. I'm hoping that it would be my end-game amp. I wouldn't want to buy a 507z if a 509z is just around the corner.

I had a 507 ux1 for about 4 years would still have it had not a very well priced m700u come up. To get the best out of it I found a c900 pre, now the 700 could be viewed as the weak link but it sounds fantastic so I'm not desperate to compare it to a higher model. Its anniversary time for Luxman so new models are expected and a percentage of owners will trade up, if you don't have to buy new the 509x trade ins could be an attractive proposition. Sold the 507 for what I paid for it so it does not cost much to try the Brand

I ended up ordering an L-509x. They are on back order so it will be a few months.

🎊 congratulations. now the wait. let us know your impressions when it's settled down

On 10/08/2022 at 1:10 PM, Chigurh said:

I ended up ordering an L-509x. They are on back order so it will be a few months.

What do you think of the Luxman?

6 hours ago, PKay said:

What do you think of the Luxman?

Well, the more I listen to it the more I like it. It arrived about 6 weeks ago. I weighs a ton so I just about busted a gut getting it upstairs (probably a 2 person task). The build quality is insanely good. All of the knobs and switches have a real weight to them. Sound-wise it's silky smooth and and has no problem driving my Q-Acoustic Concept 500 speakers with authority and louder than I would ever need without any distortion. The phono stage is superb and has plenty of gain for my Clearaudio Concept MC cartridge. The only minor problem I have found  is I get a ground-loop hum if I connect my subwoofer to the B speaker terminals. The work-around was to connect both the main speakers and the subwoofer to the A speaker terminals. I haven't tried to troubleshoot this (I hate climbing behind gear unplugging and plugging in cables) All in all I'm very happy and touch wood I think it will the last amp I will ever buy.

Edited April 18, 20232 yr by Chigurh
spelling

31 minutes ago, Chigurh said:

The only minor problem I have found  is I get a ground-loop hum if I connect my subwoofer to the B speaker terminals. The work-around was to connect both the main speakers and the subwoofer to the A speaker terminals.

 

Just curious.  Were you running the speakers off A and the Rel sub off B and using A+B selection?  That might cause the problem.

1 hour ago, Tim D said:

 

Just curious.  Were you running the speakers off A and the Rel sub off B and using A+B selection?  That might cause the problem.

Correct. I thought switching from A to A+B would be a cool way to turn the sub on and off.

Edited April 18, 20232 yr by Chigurh

Rel subs can be a little picky like that.  
 

I have a 507 and I use A for book shelf speakers with the subs connected and B just for floor standers.  
 

That seems to work well.

2 hours ago, Chigurh said:

The only minor problem I have found  is I get a ground-loop hum if I connect my subwoofer to the B speaker terminals. The work-around was to connect both the main speakers and the subwoofer to the A speaker terminals.

 

Connecting subs via 'high level' connections is not the best idea, AFAIAC - but most people who do this ... tend to connect their subs to their 'main spkr' terminals.

 

It's the same as what you've done (connecting to the 'A spkr' terminals on your Luxman) ... but I suspect would result in needing shorter cables to your subs?

 

Doesn't your L-509x have low-level 'pre-out' RCA connectors that you can use to feed your subs?

 

 

The A+B speaker selection drives A and B speakers in parallel.

 

I wonder if this is similar to dual mono amplifier operation for sub connection?

 

There is a diagram in the Rel manual about speaker connection.

 

If so, maybe wire the sub up to only the left or right speaker terminals and maybe this will allow you to run the sub the way you were hoping with A and B?

 

Andy can may elaborate further if this is possible?

 

 

15 hours ago, andyr said:

Doesn't your L-509x have low-level 'pre-out' RCA connectors that you can use to feed your subs?

 

 

Yes it does but that connecting the sub that way would not be of any advantage to me and REL recommends a high-level connection anyway. I would also have to purchase another interconnect. The only scenario that I would use the pre-out for the sub connection would be if I was running two pairs of speakers (which I am not) 🙂

30 minutes ago, Chigurh said:

Yes it does but connecting the sub that way would not be of any advantage to me and REL recommends a high-level connection anyway. 

 

Yes, I know this is the REL approach but, given that:

• the output of a power amp is designed to be able to pump lots of current into a 4-8 ohm load, for a signal that is 40-100v (p-t-p), depending on the amp's DC rails and therefore power output capability
• and the input to any amplifier is at a max of a volt or two, with almost zero current, into a Zin of generally more than 10k ohms

... perhaps you can enlighten me as to how the additional conversion step required to take the power amp's output and convert it, to be able to feed the sub amplifier ... can possibly be a good thing (SQ-wise)?

 

7 hours ago, andyr said:

... perhaps you can enlighten me as to how the additional conversion step required to take the power amp's output and convert it, to be able to feed the sub amplifier ... can possibly be a good thing (SQ-wise)?

I would have no idea. Electronics is not my field of expertise. I'll leave that to the boffins at REL. 

2 hours ago, Chigurh said:

I'll leave that to the boffins at REL. 

 

Or the REL marketing team?  

 

12 hours ago, andyr said:

 

Or the REL marketing team?  

 

Whatever you say. I didn't come here for an argument.