Harman Kardon HK 730 Twin VS. Luxman R-1050

[SFP]

Have you compared a Pioneer to a similarly powered HK?

In my experience (Pioneer SA-8100 and SX-780)... although the Pioneer gear has way more punch due to more power... I find my HK 430 (and prior to that HK 460i) much more musical - but just my two cents. My HK 3270 which I use as a video amp (has a remote) can match power with the Pioneer gear, but IMHO it lacks the magic of the early HK gear.

 

[SFP]

So I have had the Luxman R-1050 home for a few weeks now.

It is hooked up to my Pioneer PL-518 TT and coming out of a pair of Celestion Ditton 44 speakers (getting swapped to the D-332's this weekend).

It is beautiful. Everyone who has seen it loves the look of it, the rosewood, the tones and atheistic.

The phono amp is at this time, the best of all the gear I own. It really has blown me away. It packs a punch. Turn that volume dial to noon or just past, and it delivers clear beautiful sound. Scorpions - No One Like You simply unreal at volume. Pink Floyd The Final Cut - wow. Dire Straits Alchemy - you feel like you are in front row of the concert.

Have not hooked up an FM antenna yet, nor a device for streaming, but they are coming.

It's bigger (wider) than I thought... matches the Marantz 2245 with wood case - so, it didn't fit my pro audio rack. It's heavy, nice and solid heavy.

It has blown me away. Out performs all my other gear including the Marantz and I am now thinking I need to sell/pass-along a few of my other pieces that at this point are just gong to collect dust. If this is actual HiFi, I get it and can now fully appreciate it. Glad I took the plunge on it, and now, thinking I may not need the HK-730 after all, I'll just keep the HK-430. Like after this unit, where does one go up? Minus tube gear or Pro HiFi rack gear (Luxman, HK, etc) - which are out of my price ranges (other hobbies have been lacking and my '78 Volvo 245 seriously making me feel guilty for ignoring the past while).

It also has me now wanting to step up my TT cartridge game, so am looking at upgrading and learning about my options.

As time allows, yes, I'll get it into my photo studio and get some pro shots of it.

Thanks again folks. You all rock.

#TurnItLoud

 

[dlucy]

The phono section of the 730 is / can be different. If not now, leave “try the recapped and modded 730 phono stage” in your “try it some day” list. https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/modding-the-harman-kardon-730-phono-stage.769186/

If you’re interested in separate units like you’ve mentioned above, WYN Palmer’s ultimate no-holds-barred phono stage here on AK is fun to build and super good. http://audiokarma.org/forums/index....p-elliptic-filter-line-headphone-amps.937686/


The Hypnotoad project here is easier and another great “what it can sound like” project.

 

[Blue Shadow]

That Luxman Sound. some of the best.

Like after this unit, where does one go up?

The Luxman L-10 same power, integrated amp, was 100-200 more than the receiver and no tuner. The T-12 was the matching tuner. No need to get rack gear and Pro gear does not sound like Luxman.

Glad you got that well-cared for unit.

 

[SFP]

A few iPhone pics until I get it in front of my Nikon.

 

[SFP]

Pet Sounds (stereo release) sounds amazing on this …. Hell, everything sounds great. Pumped out Dio - Last In Line earlier with volume turned up and wow - admittedly, had to turn the bass up a touch but yeah. Rocks

 

[N_Soph]

My new pick-up Luxman R-1070. It sounds beautifully compared to my Harman Kardon A402 (fully restoration, new capacitors and new transitors, new 4 output transistors) and Harman Kardon 730 (all new caps)
Got it cheap since it went into protection mode and the tuner string came off.

 

[SFP]

Loving my R-1050 - has become my daily. The phono stage on it - f*$king unreal IMHO.

 

[N_Soph]

Loving my R-1050 - has become my daily. The phono stage on it - f*$king unreal IMHO.

My R-1070 is fully recapped and sounds unreal. I try to get my hand on R-1050 but the price is still crazy at this moment.