Shiny brand new second hand things in my system today V1.2

HiFi
8299

So my post above probably answers your question.

Tonally very similar (of course they’re both essentially neutral amps of sensible power).

But there’s a sense the marantz brings just a bit more ambient detail to the gig, they certainly sound a touch “bigger”. But it’s all very subtle. The Luxman is ultimately amazing and if I can’t find a home for it, I’ll keep it and the marantz will go back to their owner, or be sold on

But it’s important to compare apples to apples. At last sale value the L509 was about £9k new, which includes pre, power and phono.

Inflation adjusted the marantz monos would be about £15k today, plus a £10k preamp and £3k phono stage. So it’s not exacting the fairest fight.

The fact the Luxman is even in the same ballpark is astounding to be frank!

8300

TL;DR because the answer is always horns anyway :wink:

3 Likes
8301

Certainly the first thing I’d be changing would be the speakers - then the pre - and then the power amp/s last of all.

There’s a reason almost no-one else is designing speakers whose cabinets join-in with the music…

1 Like
8302

I have thought about trying a horn speaker. When my mate bought the marantz’s he had a set of Klipsch. Still worked well because they were the massive palladium p39f and even at 99db sensitivity, loved the grip and power of a large amp.

Can never have too much power. I need some 4ohm speakers so I can suck 600 watts x2 out of the wall

8303

Why would you change the pre at all? It’s a new AR LS28SE. Not sure that needs much changing.

I like me a lossy cabinet. If I was changing speakers, it would be to get some harbeth 40’s instead :wink:

8304

That wasn’t what I was saying (well, apart from Harbeths… :grimacing:), rather that’s the order of priority vs. impact on sound.

It’s a nice pre, you could team that with a relatively affordable pair of class D monos to far better effect than transplanting the Marantzes…

IMVHO… :wink:

8305

I’d always rather have 10w of class A than 1000w of A/B.

Harbeths -

image

3 Likes
8306

Harsh. I compared the harbies to ATC’s, missions, Kef’s and they were the ones that sounded least like boxes. I love them.

Bah humbug I say!

8307

They’re 37kg not in their boxes. I’m not sure I ever want to move them ever again!

1 Like
8308

Thanks for such a comprehensive reply. With regard to the bit of your reply that I quoted above, I’m not altogether surprised. I’ve had Luxman integrateds since 2017. I really like them. They’ve never failed to satisfy. That’s not to say that they can’t be improved upon just that I’m not looking for anything better.

That said, while the Luxman’s built in phono stage is very decent, the Vida is a step up. Due to the position of my two turntables, I use the Luxman stage with my mono SPU and the Vida with the blue Hana. I think you’d struggle to beat the Vida at it’s price point. It does most things right I think.

Good luck with your deliberations!

2 Likes
8309

If you like the noises emitted by Harbeths, for sure there’s pretty much nothing else out there to compete.

1 Like
8310

Oof, couldn’t you find anything decent to compare them with!

2 Likes
8311

I have a domestic aesthetic I like to adhere to :wink:

8312

Err No GIFs - Find & Share on GIPHY

8313

Let me put it another way, I’m not putting hideous giant speakers in my room :slight_smile:

I like something that looks a bit vintage, which is part of what I love about the Harbeths.

Everyone that’s heard them in my setup liked them…… so, I’ll stick

2 Likes
8314

Not yet but after a few more years hanging around in this cesspit you might surprise yourself. :grinning:

2 Likes
8315

I’d take a JBL paragon from kenrick sound in Japan :wink:

1 Like
8316

Dear boy, they’re either deaf or polite, or both

8317

Or just not bound by your ruleset :joy:

8318

Nothing a hearing test or opportunity to listen to something actually capable of reproducing music couldn’t solve.

1 Like