Luxman L-509X Integrated in the house

Erik Tracy

Erik Tracy

Everyone's happy when the wizard walks by
L-509X-Unit.jpg

I've always lusted after a Luxman integrated, it was just a matter of time and deciding which one. I saw a L-509X pop up and my fingers became obsessed - and before I knew it, I had sent an offer.

Within an hour I got a reply that it was accepted!

It finally showed up last night by FedEx, safe and sound -thanks to the double boxing by the previous owner.

I got it set up last night in a temporary configuration and for some evaluation before committing to totally ripping apart my equipment rack and reconfiguring the spacing for this unit....it is a BEAST.

I had to enlist the help of my son, home from college, to unpack the unit and set it on a make-shift stand.

The day before, I had unplugged the speaker cables, source interconnects, and power cord from my Musical Fidelity A5 integrated so that I could do a quick and easy hookup of the L-509X.

Source: Marantz SA-KI Pearl CD/SACD player
Speakers: ATC SCM 11v2s

With everything hooked up, it was time to turn this thing on!

An internal click and the unit lit up just fine - now what to play first.

A bit cliche, but I picked my SACD of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon and settled into my listening spot
L-509X-Listening-SPot.jpg

In the late evening light, the meters started to dance to the heartbeat intro, and I was strangely mesmerized by them. They are so cool.

The sound as this selection played was a.......mazing! My MF A5 has served me admirably for 10 years - wonderful sounding unit. The Luxman is at another level of tonal richness, expansive soundstaging, and textural refinement. It is lush sounding while at the same time, accurate and resolving from top to bottom.

And, I don't even have my sub (15" sealed) Epik Valor hooked up yet!

More listening this weekend!
 
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MY MAN! I just bought one of these too. I jumped the gun and put it in my signature, but it's not actually here yet. I bought mine new and I have to wait two weeks because it's out of stock in the U.S.

How does it work with your ATC's compared to your previous amp. Particularly in the highs. Is it more frigid or bright?
 
nickrobotron said:
MY MAN! I just bought one of these too. I jumped the gun and put it in my signature, but it's not actually here yet. I bought mine new and I have to wait two weeks because it's out of stock in the U.S.

How does it work with your ATC's compared to your previous amp. Particularly in the highs. Is it more frigid or bright?
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Neither.

The ATCs with my MF A5 were a good match; great 'grip' down low, plenty of grunt and power, but still neutral top to bottom.

I'd characterize the SCM11v2s as incredibly fast/responsive, tonally accurate, and highly resolving. By that I mean you can hear textures and edges to notes even with complex passages, but that does not mean bright or fatiguing at all.

With the Luxman, all of that is still there, but 'controlled' even better than the MF A5. The Luxman presentation is bigger, more refined, dare I throw out the word - 'musical'?

It's a good pairing, to my ears.
 
Hyfi said:
Awesome, glad it turned out to be everything you hoped. Thanks for the post
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Thanks.

I'm multi-tasking today; got a pork butt smoking, but I'm spinning some CDs for more listening.

I got the sub hooked up and it nicely fills in the low end; it's kinda addictive to just plop on the couch and start 'swimming' in the soundstage this unit throws.

I really like the Loudness feature for low/mid volume listening, but do agree with some of the reviews that Line Straight is a clearer presentation at moderate/loud levels.

Tomorrow, I'll get the TT hooked up to try out the built-in phono stage.
 
Erik Tracy said:
Thanks.

I'm multi-tasking today; got a pork butt smoking, but I'm spinning some CDs for more listening.

I got the sub hooked up and it nicely fills in the low end; it's kinda addictive to just plop on the couch and start 'swimming' in the soundstage this unit throws.

I really like the Loudness feature for low/mid volume listening, but do agree with some of the reviews that Line Straight is a clearer presentation at moderate/loud levels.

Tomorrow, I'll get the TT hooked up to try out the built-in phono stage.
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If it is as good or better than the one in my 505, you should be pleased.
 
Get a chance to spin any records today? I played vinyl all day.

The headphone section is also sweet but I rarely use it.
 
Hyfi said:
Get a chance to spin any records today? I played vinyl all day.

The headphone section is also sweet but I rarely use it.
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No:no:

Events and errands conspired against me today - I only got to stream some low bit rate sources. I have my TT all hooked up - just need the time, so hopefully tomorrow.
 
Erik,

What is the latest update? Hopefully you have had some free time to get sucked in.

These Full Feature Integrated Amps from Luxman are as good as it gets in that category. And when you call for help, you usually speak directly to the North America Distributer, Jeff Sigmund. I also spoke to the NA Tech if ever needed and another class act.
 
I spent some time this morning listening to some LPs using the L-509X internal phono section (MM).

Pretty darn good! :thumbsup:

My reference points are the internal phono section of my Musical Fidelity A5 integrated, and a Musical Surrounding Phonomena II.

I could easily live with the Luxman's phono section for now. I would need more time and see how the Phonomena II would sound hooked up to the Luxman line inputs.

I currently have the Phonomena II set up in a pretty standard config of 48dB gain and 50Kohm, so even though the Luxman doesn't have any loading options, it'd be close matching for loading and only give up some gain.
 
It's only been a week since I've been listening, but I don't think the L-509X phono section gives up anything to my Musical Surroundings Phonomena II - which retailed $600 new back in the day.

The 509's MM phono input sounds 'right'; natural, balanced, clean, clear. I may have multiple components up for sale ;)

I'd need another 'leap frog' upgrade to an external phono preamp to best the 509's.
 
The matching Luxman phono-preamp gets excellent reviews. I auditioned a pair Devore 0/93s thru one with the Class A version of the Luxman integrated and it really was excellent with a Kiseki Purple Heart and the Luxman turntable. Only thing that kept me from purchasing the entire system on the spot was the $25,000 price tag. Really a wonderful sounding system. Am sure your 509X is very similar.
 
Finally had a chance to 'unleash the beast' while the family was out to see what this unit can do.

Pretty impressive; sonically clean, clear, spacious, deep - even at higher levels. No strain, no grain, no compression/collapsing of the soundstage. I was thinking that the ATC SCM11v2s would start to show as the weak link; nope - if anything the L-509X is showing what these can really sound like.

CD/line input or LP/MM Phono - really nice sounding. Can't....stop...looking...at...the meters...hypnotizing...:confused::p
 
Well - it's time to rack this monster.

Not looking forward to the work as I need to completely gut and reconfigure my equipment stand with the right spacing to give the L-509X some space to breathe. It never ran hot or felt hot to the touch during Saturday's rock-out, but it was a bit warmish.

So, everything gets disconnected today, stand taken apart and re-configured, then hook everything back up.

Gonna have to start another pot of coffee....:confused:

edit
Got it all torn down and disconnected. Had to change the shelf spacing, so the equipment rack had to be taken apart as well. Decided to put the Luxman at the bottom. Not the most elegant reconfiguration, but it'll do for now.

And...since I have everything disconnected, may as well use some deoxit cleaning fluid and get at all the cable connectors. :whip:
 
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Ugh - just spent 5 hours reconfiguring my setup to get the Luxman all snuggled into it's new spot.

Several times I felt like a Circus contortionist getting cabling hooked up - especially the AVR speakers which are bare wire screw down terminal connections.

I'm glad it's done.

Here's a quick shot
System-Luxman-Racked.jpg
 
Erik Tracy said:
Ugh - just spent 5 hours reconfiguring my setup to get the Luxman all snuggled into it's new spot.

Several times I felt like a Circus contortionist getting cabling hooked up - especially the AVR speakers which are bare wire screw down terminal connections.

I'm glad it's done.

Here's a quick shot
View attachment 1937747
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Very Nice, glad you are enjoying it. All your observations match my own of the 505.

Nice Room!
 
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