Luxman D-08 or Esoteric K-01?
 

I am pretty much down to these 2 decks. Although, still wondering about Audio Note DAC and transport combo possibility.

Anyone heard D-08 and K-01? Which do you like better?

I'm sorry Gene, I can't help with the D 08. I have a lowly D 05 and am very happy with it. No desire to upgrade. Or money to do so ha ha.Build quality is first rate.
Both decks you mention are pretty much the top of the tree and of course the AN DAC 4.1 and above are superb. As always at this level personal preference, and system synergy, is everything.

Best let me know how you get on. Pictures would be terrific.

Thanks for your response. On another forum, a member told me a Sony PS3 game box is a better cd player than a Luxman or Audio Note. I guess folks will say whatever.

The Audio Note I am looking at is the DAC 3.1 with the CDT 3 transport. Accuphase was also recommended to me as well. I am trying to find a dealer that will let me try it out in my system before purchase currently here in NYC.

Wise move Gene.

I have heard the AN Dac 4.1 and loved it. It really is as good or better than most analogue rigs I have heard. I'm sure the same applies to the 3.1. Very transport sensitive though. Wise going with an AN transport.

I like the Lux because it does decay well. And has SACD capacity. Oh ...and a digital in: which is very handy for the music server. Overall a cracker.

I should also say that in my experience Esoteric/Accuphase tend to be a little dryer than Luxman and the Audio Note is warmer again. Depends on your system: my Harbeths need a little bit of a kick up the jacksy - so I find the Lux has the right amount of warmth while giving me that edge that my speakers need.

If I had more "revealing" speakers (eg something with a beryllium tweeter) my preference would probably be for the AN - if I could afford it ha ha. But I tend to the warmer/musical end of the spectrum than the "accurate/forward" end.

As always - every choice is valid and it's all down to what you like. And really when you are in the rarified air of the D 08/ K 01 you can't really go wrong. AN is a top product ..but I always feel it's ...ahem....fully priced ..if you know what I mean.

I think perhaps the Luxman or Audio Note will be best in my system. I do prefer a more musical sound myself. And my speakers do have beryllium tweeters.

In that case stay away from Esoteric! The Luxman would seem ideal :yes:

Thanks for your advice. Leaning towards Luxman D-08 more and more. Do you know if service is in the U.S. or does it have to go back to Japan?

Not sure - I live in Australia and bought mine from PriceJapan as we don't have a local dealer/distributor (an one official in any event - there are a couple local individuals that each claim to be the distributor). Because it draws only 20 w I'm happy with a quality step down torodial transformer. And the price differential was significant.

I ended up buying my Lux 550 A II from the UK. For full class A, I wanted a correct voltage unit.

I do know that the US distributor for Luxman (On a Higher Note) is highly regarded among the online audiophile community - at least on the forums. Service? Not sure your Lux will ever need anything (they are superbly engineered and build construction is exemplary) but if it does I am sure the local distributor will look after you. Whether it goes to japan or not the turn around time would be much the same: mine was arrived from Japan in 2 days - even with the Earthquake/Tsunami. Of course it spent the next 5 days coming 75 km from the airport...local courier and customs...sigh.
Please let me know how you get on.

I have a friend who has just too much disposable cash and so buys and sells gear like I change my undies. I was present when he first put the Luxman D-08 in his system, we were both surprised at the incredible musicality of this machine.

While he has not given up his Classe Omega SACD player, the Luxman has stuck and routinely finds playing time.

Living vicariously through this gent I have often heard the top Esoteric and Accuphase gear....but there is just something "special" about the Lux.

I should disclose that I'm a Lux guy through and through...but it doesn't change the sheer musicality of the D-08.

Rick.

Luxman may be importing quality audio components now, but their history doesn't instill a lot of confidence in me. The company was sold in 1985 to Alpine, famous for car audio, who promptly dragged the brand name, its products and reputation down to mid-fi level manufacturing cheap products to compete with the Big Box store offerings from Yamaha, Panasonic, Kenwood, and Sony. Luxman was one aisle over from the vacuum cleaners and microwave ovens. Then in 1995 Alpine sold the Luxman brand to Samsung who continued pumping out cheap mid-fi products with the Luxman logo. In 2000 the brand was sold back to Luxman Japan where it struggled for the next seven years to regain some form of notoriety in world distribution markets. In 2007 Philip O’Hanlan, with his On a Higher Note distributorship, resurrected the Luxman brand in the U.S. market. Luxman Japan had continued to sell Luxman in Japan during all of these years, but only in the past five years has Luxman been solid enough to gradually regain some semblance of its former self and high-end audio credentials in this market.

I will be the first to say Luxman has gained favor with many audiophiles in recent years and that's a good thing. I have read positive reviews from pundits and owners of their integrated amplifiers and other components, so they are recovering. Still, I remember the legacy of their past and can't help wonder if Luxman is really back, or just back while the going is good.