Luxman vs Denon

[Lexar]

I have Denon DP 59L with Denon DL 160 cartridge (both wands and 3 counter weights). My path with turntables (since 1980's) has gone like this: cheapo plastic Pioneer => Dual 505-2 => Denon DP 37F => Luxman PD 277 => Harman Kardon T60 => Denon DP 59 L

Now I'm planning to buy Luxman PD 300/310/350 in the near future for my 2. turntable. Meaning: I'm gonna keep my Denon as well. Soundwise...what I could expect with Luxman? Would that be clear step ahead from Denon, or mainly just something different (belt drive vs, DD)? I know that cartridge and tonearms will influence here a lot but generally speaking (as some of those Luxmans are on sale with tonearms and some not)?

Of course I'm aware that those belt drive Luxmans will cost more than my Denon (now as used ones but also as new in 1980's). Still today their special vacum system is often broken (and not be repared).

 

[for_p1]

I wouldn't buy anything which is not fully functioning (that include s vacuum suction platter) or cannot be repaired for a reasonable cost. DD table require less maintenance and work more reliably than belt drive one after it is fully adjusted. Active tonearm control is an advantage when we are talking about arms with price below $2000.

 

[Lexar]

I wouldn't buy anything which is not fully functioning (that include s vacuum suction platter) or cannot be repaired for a reasonable cost. DD table require less maintenance and work more reliably than belt drive one after it is fully adjusted. Active tonearm control is an advantage when we are talking about arms with price below $2000.

Thank's for your reply. I guess the opions can vary quite a much what comes to these Denon's Dynamic Servo Tracer tonearms? Some like them, but some not so much...keeping them even the worst point of these big old complex Denon turntables. But you would think that I should use some 1000-2000US$ tonearm with those Luxman turntables to get same quality sound out....if we could assume that the arm and the cartrige would suit as well together in both cases? For sure my Denon sounds better than my ex. Harman Kardon TC 60 (which had ok arm, but still not very expensive). Anyway...I do not have idea to buy the tonearm as new. Either the arm will arrive together with turntable or I will buy one second hand. And yes...of course I would like to find Luxman which is still totally ok. But those models starts to quite old now, gum will not last forever and not spare parts have been available for long time.

 

[for_p1]

Thank's for your reply. I guess the opions can vary quite a much what comes to these Denon's Dynamic Servo Tracer tonearms? Some like them, but some not so much...keeping them even the worst point of these big old complex Denon turntables. But you would think that I should use some 1000-2000US$ tonearm with those Luxman turntables to get same quality sound out....if we could assume that the arm and the cartrige would suit as well together in both cases? For sure my Denon sounds better than my ex. Harman Kardon TC 60 (which had ok arm, but still not very expensive). Anyway...I do not have idea to buy the tonearm as new. Either the arm will arrive together with turntable or I will buy one second hand. And yes...of course I would like to find Luxman which is still totally ok. But those models starts to quite old now, gum will not last forever and not spare parts have been available for long time.

Advantage of servo controlled arm is that it works with different cartridges and not sensitive to compliance. Electronics and not very complex and I believe can and should be tuned to like new condition. I ran tests of Denon table and it was clear that servo completely eliminated low frequency resonance in tonearm effectively providing variable acceleration dependent damping. Now we may talk about advantages of Luxman arm at high frequencies, but this is different matter altogether. At the same time I do like vacuum sunction system like one in Sota and Luxman tables, but it should be fully operational, but spare parts are not available today.

 

[Vinylcalle]

I dont think you can draw the conclusion that there is a "special sound" in them. But they are very good turntables and build quality wise in a diffrent league then your Denon (which is very nice). I have owned both a PD-350 and a PD-300. The PD-350 was better and had lower wow and flutter and I like non suspended decks better. The PD-300 is obviously a more thought out TT than the PD-350 which for instance uses the same platter but with a solid bit of gunmetal inside bolted to it. Whats a bit strange with this is that the stobe markings under the platter is left even though the TT dont have a strobelight.

The vaccumsuction has some advantages but also disadvantages. As a whole dont think you should focus to much on this. If it works, then great if it doesn´t the turntables are still great and can be used without it (never used it on my PD-300).

If money is a problem go for a PD-300 which is cheaper and much more common if your budget isn´t to strict go for a PD-310 or 350.