Amplifier advice for new Harbeth Compact 7s

[JJack]

For historical purposes, I'll just end this by noting that I've decided to go with the Luxman 505u.
It's the Swiss Army knife of integrateds: power meters, balance and tone controls, mono switch, built in MM or MC phono, RCA and balanced inputs, good power, - most importantly, it drives the Harbeths beautifully and never puts a foot wrong on the sonic front.
I will admit that it doesn't have the golden glow of SET amps, nor the pile-driving bass of a Krell, but it plays beautiful music nonetheless.

[Elephantears]

Thanks for keeping us up to date. Can you give us any details of what you compared it with at the last stage of the decision making process, and what swung it to the Luxman?

[audio39]

For historical purposes, I'll just end this by noting that I've decided to go with the Luxman 505u.
It's the Swiss Army knife of integrateds: power meters, balance and tone controls, mono switch, built in MM or MC phono, RCA and balanced inputs, good power, - most importantly, it drives the Harbeths beautifully and never puts a foot wrong on the sonic front.
I will admit that it doesn't have the golden glow of SET amps, nor the pile-driving bass of a Krell, but it plays beautiful music nonetheless.

I'm certain you'll be very happy with the Lux...it's one of those products that tends to get folks off the upgrade merry-go-round!

Please keep us in the loop.

Rick.

P.S. I do really enjoy my big Harbeths...take the hop, ship and jump to Ottawa and have a listen and a beer!!

[JJack]

I'm certain you'll be very happy with the Lux...it's one of those products that tends to get folks off the upgrade merry-go-round!

Please keep us in the loop.

Rick.

P.S. I do really enjoy my big Harbeths...take the hop, ship and jump to Ottawa and have a listen and a beer!!

I will do that if I find myself heading that way, thanks.

I did have a nice 90 minute listen to the M40s at the dealer. Here's the amazing thing: I'm looking at those massive woofers and I'm thinking: "this is gonna be thick in the lower mids" - but then it was ast and clean through the lower ranges, everything nicely segregated, well done but not overdone.

[JJack]

Thanks for keeping us up to date. Can you give us any details of what you compared it with at the last stage of the decision making process, and what swung it to the Luxman?

I was also considering the Nait XS with outboard phono and power supply, and the Supernait.

First off: I could live happily with any of them and not look back. I was looking for "musical" amps, and all three satisfy that need.

The Supernait was available at a discount price as a demo, but even with that it was going to be too expensive, especially after adding phono.

I actually loved the Nait XS and power supply (supercap?). Ultimately, I decided that I wanted more than even 60 good Naim watts could give me, and I wanted to avoid getting bitten any further by the upgrade bug, which is especially inherent in Naim products. The Luxman gave me that 3-4 db more headroom, a bit cleaner/clearer sound, but still kept the musicality.

Also, after extensive demos, I found that I can to rely on the power meters (I know they are approximations) as both an analytical tool and a reminder not to push the system too hard.

[DSJR]

The Lux will give you pride in ownership and the fit and feel of the controls will be second to none. I suspect it'll clip more gracefully than any Naim as well, which, on the modern ones I've heard, sound fine until they let go, ipon which all the harsh nasties return with a vengeance.

Me? I'd sooner have a Quad 909 and get it recapped with better caps, or a pair of Albarry's (oops, shilling for my mate again ), but then, I went the bling route decades ago and came out the other side

[Joe]

(oops, shilling for my mate again

A shilling won't get you much these days. Back when I were a lad, a shilling would buy you two seats at the cinema, three pints of beer, a fish supper, and money for a taxi home.

[Marco]

Or a 'knee-trembler' up the back of an alley!

Marco.

[Welder]

Or a 'knee-trembler' up the back of an alley!

Marco.

Marco! Pull your trousers up mate; your misspent youth is showing.

[Joe]

Or a 'knee-trembler' up the back of an alley!

Marco.

Nah. That was free!