If you had to chose....
- Thread starter ghamilton
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Potentially more power capability into 4Ω, much more modern design, probably a bit quieter (I haven't checked the comparative spec's for this), how does it sound? - no idea. 
http://www.luxman.com/product/detail.php?id=2
Do I like how it looks? no, not really compared to the AU-919.
http://www.luxman.com/product/detail.php?id=2
Do I like how it looks? no, not really compared to the AU-919.
JoseHH
Super Member
The luxman has very good speciffications. But in case of failure it is likely to have some hard (may be impossible) to find parts. I read the description in the site that John posted and this is a red flag to me :
" This model is generously equipped with many custom-made parts designed to achieve high sound quality". I am concerned about special integrated circuits.
The AU-919 fully restored would be my choice among these.
" This model is generously equipped with many custom-made parts designed to achieve high sound quality". I am concerned about special integrated circuits.
The AU-919 fully restored would be my choice among these.
^ yeah. Consider the specially made outputs on the 919, BA-F1 and AU-X1 (among others). Now multiply that by N for the Luxman. Don't get me wrong, Luxman makes some remarkable gear (on specs anyway) and much of it looks great, too.
"Many custom parts" is a fancy way of saying "future boat anchor", especially with Lux's history of (nearly) going bust and being reborn repeatedly, worst case is there is no support at all at some point in the foreseeable future. There is also the rarity to consider. Many top end Sansui models are common enough to make parts attainable (with some patience). Modern Luxman is as rare as a virgin in a maternity ward. Good luck finding one parted out down the road if you need something bespoke to finish a repair.
The other problem is that at the prices being asked, I tend to think I'd be underwhelmed or even disappointed in the Luxman versus the cost to value ratio I get from a Sansui. A better way of saying that is that the Luxman isn't so much audibly superior to the Sansui models mentioned to justify the price difference. Ok, I know you said free, but honestly, I am a Sansui fanatic. I just don't see that changing.
Of course, I'm overthinking the orignal question with that wall of text as an answer. My bad.
Edit to add: on further reflection, I think my remarks above may be seen as overly critical of Luxman, and that wasn't my intent at all. They do make phenomenal hifi gear, but they occupy a part of the market that I personally cannot dabble in due to the cost of entry. Which is to say that based on subjective taste and my own ability to afford, I know my place, and it is in the part of the market represented by vintage Sansui, not brand new Luxman.
"Many custom parts" is a fancy way of saying "future boat anchor", especially with Lux's history of (nearly) going bust and being reborn repeatedly, worst case is there is no support at all at some point in the foreseeable future. There is also the rarity to consider. Many top end Sansui models are common enough to make parts attainable (with some patience). Modern Luxman is as rare as a virgin in a maternity ward. Good luck finding one parted out down the road if you need something bespoke to finish a repair.
The other problem is that at the prices being asked, I tend to think I'd be underwhelmed or even disappointed in the Luxman versus the cost to value ratio I get from a Sansui. A better way of saying that is that the Luxman isn't so much audibly superior to the Sansui models mentioned to justify the price difference. Ok, I know you said free, but honestly, I am a Sansui fanatic. I just don't see that changing.
Of course, I'm overthinking the orignal question with that wall of text as an answer. My bad.
Edit to add: on further reflection, I think my remarks above may be seen as overly critical of Luxman, and that wasn't my intent at all. They do make phenomenal hifi gear, but they occupy a part of the market that I personally cannot dabble in due to the cost of entry. Which is to say that based on subjective taste and my own ability to afford, I know my place, and it is in the part of the market represented by vintage Sansui, not brand new Luxman.
Last edited:
Last xmas I gifted myself the Luxman 505UXMKII and have not had any second thoughts for the money I spent. It is rock solid and has all the features of an old style reliever or Integrated. HT Bypass, Tape Loop, 1 Balanced. It amazes me every time I play something yet to be played thru it. Great bass control and sweet mids. In about 3-4 weeks she will be driving this years xmas gift to myself, a pair of Fyne Audio F502SPs that are currently being built in Scotland.
If looking at new, PM me for a suggested place to purchase
If looking at new, PM me for a suggested place to purchase
JoseHH
Super Member
Judging by the information in the website quoted by Hyperion, i must say the luxman is a good amplifier, and i expect it to sound very good. It may be equal or better than the AU-919. No complains about performance, and i even like how the 505UXIi looks. The 505UXIi has a remote control also which could be important for some users. I have never listened to that particular Luxman model but i have an AU-D907 which is the same as the sansui model in question.
My concern is that the 505UXIi seems to use custom integrated circuits. The description and the photos dont reveal exaclty what parts are used, but the description mentions an IC that switches the inputs. We need to look at a schematics to know what parts were used in the luxman and find out if they are still available. Just for volume coontrol it seems to use a whole board (so called LECUA) with several integrated circuits.
In comparison, the AU-919 uses discrete parts and there is a service manual available. It has been argued in this forum that he TO-3 transistors in the AU-919 can be replaced with the 2SC6145/2SA2223 (TO-3p), the dual JFETs can be substituted by LSK389B, matched pairs of the IFN146, or even addapting 2SK209, the driver transistors could be replaced with 2SC4883A/2SA1859A and modern substitutes suitable for all small signal transistors are still available. The volume potentiometer can be substituted with a ALPS RK27 of the same value because it does not have a lodness tap.
The only parts that are hard to source right now are 8 pairs of 2SK170BL/2SJ74BL that all need to be matched, which go into the MC head preamplifier. But there are alternatives to this, via an external MC preamp.
My concern is that the 505UXIi seems to use custom integrated circuits. The description and the photos dont reveal exaclty what parts are used, but the description mentions an IC that switches the inputs. We need to look at a schematics to know what parts were used in the luxman and find out if they are still available. Just for volume coontrol it seems to use a whole board (so called LECUA) with several integrated circuits.
In comparison, the AU-919 uses discrete parts and there is a service manual available. It has been argued in this forum that he TO-3 transistors in the AU-919 can be replaced with the 2SC6145/2SA2223 (TO-3p), the dual JFETs can be substituted by LSK389B, matched pairs of the IFN146, or even addapting 2SK209, the driver transistors could be replaced with 2SC4883A/2SA1859A and modern substitutes suitable for all small signal transistors are still available. The volume potentiometer can be substituted with a ALPS RK27 of the same value because it does not have a lodness tap.
The only parts that are hard to source right now are 8 pairs of 2SK170BL/2SJ74BL that all need to be matched, which go into the MC head preamplifier. But there are alternatives to this, via an external MC preamp.
MIJ_Pioneer
Super Member
919. Not because I think it would sound better, I just relish in the fact that this awesome community has a combined effort to restore/upgrade these vintage pieces. If I was a high dollar consumer and was too busy to complicate my free time with the risks of vintage I would choose new.
The other day my $1,600 fancy TV decided to die after only three years, but I found a sx-950 that had been in a fire, was all original, and still worked! There is more to appreciate with these choice vintage pieces than just how they sound, especially for the more techy people like ourselves. If I didnt know how to turn a wrench (or ask for help on how to), I think the 919, even restored (a word that means many things) would still be risky in my opinion and new/warrantied would be worth the cost.
The other day my $1,600 fancy TV decided to die after only three years, but I found a sx-950 that had been in a fire, was all original, and still worked! There is more to appreciate with these choice vintage pieces than just how they sound, especially for the more techy people like ourselves. If I didnt know how to turn a wrench (or ask for help on how to), I think the 919, even restored (a word that means many things) would still be risky in my opinion and new/warrantied would be worth the cost.
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
the unit is under warranty I would think. That and Luxman of today may well be supporting this amplifier for a dozen years or so.
the sound quality of the Luxman is supposed to be one of the best, easily better than the Accuphase.
I give all the Sansui I have ever owned (not a lot but some nice pieces) for one of that Lux amps.
a couple SR-838s, A&T 719, 331 and maybe some others. Only have the719s now.
Modern very high quality sound vs a sweet old integrated amp. I'll go modern. I do say I'm waiting for vintage gear from this century.
Last edited: