Luxman L-509X

@Pokey77

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like a good sounding unit and a beautiful one at that. I have found a store to sell me a pair of Yamaha NS 5000 speakers for my office. Now all I need is an integrated.amp and a DAC. The Luxman is likely my #1 choice for this setup and I will head down to Newport Beach to check it out. 

I am also looking at the Hegel 360 integrated which sounded good playing KEF Blades (future living room speakers) at the last LA Show. Problem is I went upstairs to another room after that and I heard the Luxman high end separates.They sounded better than the Hegel. Though the Hegel is a great bargain (with included DAC) for the sound and features it delivers. If the 509X is close in sound to those Luxman separates I heard, the c900u preamp and $40K monoblocks, then I will pay the extra for the 509X over the Hegel.

Thanks for posting the 509X review. I had not seen that one yet.

@yyzsantabarbara 

The 509X review I posted is the first according to Mike @ Excel Audio. FYI, he is by appointment only. Great guy to work with. Mike will also have the Luxman C900u + M900u in by the end of the week.

BTW, if you haven't read yet, the 509X uses a derivative of the C900u preamp and the M700u stereo amp. I am hoping to hear the 509X with TAD Evolution 1 speakers soon.

I heard the H360/Blade IIs at the LAAS as well (did you hear the full demo with the Rost/H360/Reference separates?). Thought the H360/Blade IIs  were very good together. It was amazing that the H360 wasn't very far behind the Hegel reference separates. It is a good value at $6k.

@jafant
"mrose@excelaudio.us
949-933-1599. Hours are Monday - Sun 10-6, Evening. Appointments are available as well.
Best Regards, Mike Rose" 

@pokey
Sounds like mike rose is the guy you met at Excel.I asked him about the m900u and c900u units a year ago but he did not have them in stock yet, He was going to get them in for me but I did not ask him at that time since I did not have the funds. Now I do so a trip to Newport is in the cards.

I did hear the Blades with the Hegel units, except the Rost. I asked them to skip the Rost because I would never have used that unit with the Blades. I was lucky that at the time I went to the Hegel/Blade room there was hardly anyone at that room. The lady from Hegel and I cranked out tunes for more than an hour, maybe 2 hours. It was a great listening experience. That is why the 360 is also a strong contender for my future Yamaha speaker.

I am really looking forward to the next show in June because that time frame matches up with the time I will likely buy my upgraded office system.

@yyzsantabarbara 

I am definitely looking forward to The Show Newport. I live about five miles away and will probably go at least two days. Always have gone just one day and am totally tired out and didn't get to see all I wanted to.

Yes, Mike is indeed the guy. He is Excel Audio. I've been for demo's three times and have at least a few more before I make decisions. Mike is a great guy with lots of ideas and is not pushy. You should give him a call; I'd guess the Luxman separates will be burned in in a week or two. I'm not sure if they have arrived yet but he said on Tuesday he'd have them this week.