Very nice! :thumbsup::music:

Luxman 509X Owner's Feedback
 

Hi to everyone at Audio Aficionado. I am new to this community and this thread was interesting to me as a new Luxman owner. I am based in Australia and have recently purchased a new Luxman L 509X and thought some may be interested in an owner's thoughts on this new integrated. This is my first Luxman product since my early years of getting the audio bug via a Luxman SQ38FD paired with a pair of NS1000 Yamaha monitors fed by a Linn Sondek TT and SME arm with V15/3! Quite a few changes over the years of course. My listening is split about 70/30 analogue/digital, currently with Brinkmann Bardo, Brinkmann 12.1 arm with Clearaudio Charisma mm and Audia Flight phono taking care of the records. A dCS Puccini and UClock takes care of the digital. Speakers are Audio Physic Cardeas + and I bought the 509X with view to seeing how it went and if it was as good as the several reviews I have read said it was then I would move up to the M900u/C900u combination once I had the cash!

The 509x took about 10 days to settle down. I have dedicated lines for audio and run all the electronics through an Isotek Sigmas evo3. I tried the amp direct to the wall but it sounds much better to my ears through the Sigmas. A long time to get to this point but I think context is important. Well after about 4 weeks of listening I can say that IMO the 509X is an outstanding amplifier that has elevated my listening pleasure enormously for both analogue(UK spelling) and digital with the greatest improvement coming via digital. I thought it would be good but not this good. What I had take for hyperbole by some reviewers I see now as an honest refection of their experiences. I am hearing things in old CD's I did not know existed and the Luxman fills CD's with new life and an emotional intensity on some tracks that has made me re-assess what digital via the silver disc can deliver in connecting the listener with the performers. Live recordings either digital or analogue are so much more real as the Luxman picks up so many cues from each recording venue. This is true also of studio albums but the effect on live recordings is naturally more obvious.

In more hi fi terms, the Luxman is very open with great detail but no etch at all. It is very even top to bottom with bass that is impactful, deep and very well defined. Great harmonic structure! All the soundstage boxes are well and truly ticked with the Luxman. Importantly there is nothing overly soft or bloated here. Just music delivered with a most natural toe tapping presentation on more dynamic tracks that retains the energy of the performance for you to share. I struggle to express this clearly I think but on some recordings I am feeling the music rather than simply listening to it.

All in all I think that Luxman has produced something very special with this amplifier and it is no surprise that in some places the initial shipments have sold out. I was looking at getting the M900U/C900U but I wonder just how much better they are likely to be and the 509X is so very good and seems to deliver everything I need! The phono stage is excellent BTW as per the Stereophile review.

For those on this forum with the Luxman 590AX11 you should have a look at the review on web review site Audiodrom(Polish I think but in English too) of not only that amp but the 509X compared directly with the reviewer's 590AX11 (he also has the 900 combination). He preferred the 509X on all music other than classical but it was very close apparently. I have not heard any other example of the current Luxman amplifier range but it is clear that something special is happening with that company at the moment if the 509X is anything to go by and what is reported in various reviews from around the world on that and other Luxman products. No financial or other interests in Luxman or any other product I use. Just a very happy owner.

audiodrom.net/en/

Another Luxman L-509X happy owner here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOcmV7EMWbA

I am auditioning this model at home right now. Exceptionally smooth and engaging sound. Slightly less muscular than the Gryphon Diablo 300 but it makes up for it in the mid and high frequencies, which the Gryphon sometimes annoyed me with.


I am going from memory here but I think it is not quite as warm in sound presentation as its Class A brother L-590AX II.

I can understand what all the buzz has been about regarding this integrated!

Greg, how would you compare the L-509X to the Accuphase E-470 you previously had?

Hi Lars,

The Luxman is a very engaging integrated. It does everything extremely well and has a much smoother presentation of the music than the E-470 did. Lots of space and air, nothing harsh - it just connects me with music in a way no other gear has. Others have suggested that I commit to writing my impressions on the eight integrated amps I have owned over the last four years. I may do that one day.

I made lots of mistakes taking the advice of selling dealers without actually hearing the amps or even better, conducting in -home auditions. Others like me who have been on the merry go round have seemed to find a certain level of contentment with a Luxman. Only time will tell if I get the itch again!

Luxman really hit a home run with this unit.

If you get chance to try it out, I’m sure you will really like it.

8 amps in four years? Can I tell my wife - makes me look good!

I already tried. It doesn’t help [emoji23]

Whatever works Jim!:D

Greg, do you remember your 590 AX ll enough to compare it to the L-509x? I’m contemplating a Luxman integrated to pair with my D-08u.