Purest tonality under $50k? Luxman L-507z amp review

Nextscreen LLC Chief Content Officer Tom Martin goes in depth on the Luxman L-507z integrated amplifier.
Superpower(s): The L-507z presents music with an extremely pure, low-grain tonality that isn’t compromised by frequency response or dynamic trickery. The frequency balance of the L-507z is very even-handed and the dynamics are outstandingly realistic. This combination of purity, balance and dynamics is hard to find at any price and makes the L-507z an especially good value.
Special features: LIFES 1.0 distortion-cancelling feedback engine. Is this why the L-507z has such a beautiful, grainless sound? Well, who knows? But Luxman seems to think it is a big deal. They emphasize that “extensive computer simulations” were used, along with repeated trials of different components and listening to prototypes.
Price: $8995 (U.S.A)
Power: 110 watts per channel (8 ohms) or 210 watts per channel (4 ohms)
Dimensions: 17.3” wide x 7.0” high x 17.9” deep
Weight: 56 lb.
Tone controls: bass, treble, loudness contour
Phono preamp: yes, with MM and MC inputs
Balanced inputs: yes, 2, for line only
Headphone output: yes, both single-ended and Pentaconn balanced
Remote: yes, IR
Associated equipment:
dCS Lina DAC and Master Clock
Tidal and Qobuz streaming
Magnepan LRX+ speakers
Golden Ear BRX speakers
Sanus speaker stands
Audioquest interconnects
Audioquest speaker cables
Shunyata power cables
Shunyata power director
Audio Research Ref 6 preamp
Legacy Wavelet DAC/Preamp
Bryston 3b Cubed amplifier
Orchard Audio Starkrimson amplifier
Oppo BCD-105 CD player/transport
Vicoustic diffusors
For more information about this product, click here.
About Tom Martin:
Tom is a long-time audiophile. He began his reviewing career after acquiring the The Absolute Sound magazine in 1997 and then hi-fi+ magazine in 2002. He has worked closely with Harry Pearson and Robert Harley at TAS and with Roy Gregory and Alan Sircom at hi-fi+. Since Tom and his teams expanded the TAS and Plus platforms in the digital domain, he has served as Chief Content Officer.
What is hi-fi+?
hi-fi+ magazine has been a pioneer in the global audio market since the early 1990s. Since the mid-2000s, hi-fi+ has progressively expanded its platforms to include web, newsletter, digital magazine, social media and KZbin. With a focus on high-performance, high-design audio, hi-fi+ serves a global audience of over 300,000 audiophiles.
Get your digital subscription here: bit.ly/3j1O9DS

[@hubertasuncion9901]

starting to love this channel. you’re review of this amplifier is very insightful, thank you. currently debating between luxman 550ax and 507z and looking for reasons why 507z is a better buy.

[@hifiGlobalNetwork]

Thanks for watching! Keep tuning in, we'll have more and more reviews coming in the future.

[@sampahtetapsam21]

509x still d best buy

[@Seedlinux]

I received yesterday the new model L-505Z, which a step down the 507Z. As soon as I hook it up I was shocked as I listened to the 505uxII in the shop. I totally and absolutely agree, the sound is so realistic, well balanced, smooth that I can't stop listen to it. Zero fatigue just pure enjoyment, I have never heard music in this way at home. And its still needs to break in, I can't even imagine what the 507Z could do.

[@LuxAudio389]

Yeah your review is spot on. I just bought the 509z and I couldn't be more impressed by it. I had the 509x before but the 509z is definitely more special.

[@Legalmachinist]

I have. Luxman 507 (original/first generation) purchased about 1976 and it remains superb. Can only imagine what an additional nearly 5 decades of development has wrought!

[@hifiGlobalNetwork]

Thanks for watching!

[@jeffagain7516]

looking at the face-plate for this new iteration in fact had me thinking back to the mid-seventies, with such controls as; Bass, Treble, Loudness, up front and centre. Whilst the phrase "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" comes to mind, it certainly gave me pause. Gotta love those VU metres of course. :)

[@Legalmachinist]

@@jeffagain7516 Indeed! And far more controls regarding source and direction for taping, etc. but still the same overall elegance in a lacquered Rosewood cabinet. I do like the meters though but not worth $9k to me!

[@DavidHouwers]

I enjoyed this review. Thanks!

[@hifiGlobalNetwork]

Glad to hear it, thanks for watching! Be sure to subscribe so you can see more!

[@kenr4540]

Nice Review! Do you have plans on doing a video review on the new Luxman L-509z and if yes when?

[@dmd7472]

This was a truly exceptional review. Thank you very much for posting. I was considering the luxman 509x va the Cambridge Audio Edge w / nq system. I wondered if you have any thoughts. I’m most vinly but would add a chord cutest etc

[@namella73]

Hi Nice review straight and to the point (I went to the shop and listened to it and think it sounds good).. Im thinking about getting this or the 509x or the 590 ax II, I have living room of 50-60 m2 is that too big for the l507z?

[@chalkie54]

Thanks for the review. I own an Accuphase e-380 which I also describe as musical. Have you compared the sound of Luxman to Accuphase?

[@metastaticmince2386]

nice machine and usefull review! What Luxman amp or other brand model would you then recommend for inefficient (~85db) speakers?

[@willmac5642]

Enjoyed v much! Concise review. Wd love to know how it compares to L595

[@cutlets2118]

The Arc Vsi 75 integrated does the grainless thing as well along w dynamics. Does not play soggy as some tube amps. Only thing is that the Arc has no phono where the Lux does. This of course adds to the cost but the Arc can now be had new for 6K. Another grand or less for a decent phono and you may have your last amp.

[@mathewcrick]

I have the 507ux mark 2, been very happy with it and it drives my old B&W801 series 3 with invisible ease, I can only imagine an improvement on that platform will be fantastic. Would be very interested in any comparisons between the namesake models 507ux2 and the 507z.

[@Zhorellski]

I'm very interested on the Japanese domestic versions (priced wise) of this Amp but they're at 100V. Does using a Transformer affects the tone?

[@TechCrazy]

Thanks for this detailed review. I always wanted a Luxman. And this is on my list.sub’ed.

[@hifiGlobalNetwork]

Thanks for the sub! Glad you enjoyed the review, thanks for watching!

[@jordanhermant659]

Style and build quality count. We don't hide our equipment away, we want to show it off, so that we can bring others along in our enjoyment. So in addition to the sound quality, the Luxman is a home run. The design is classic, and everyone can relate to it. You look at it and it is clear what the controls do. All without being milled from a block of solid aluminum. And then the touchpoints are all superb. The build quality and "feel" are top of the class, equal to equipment costing many times more. Then you add the musical quality on top of that, and the total package is worth it, if you have the scratch!

[@hifiGlobalNetwork]

I agree, love the classic design. Thanks for watching!

[@mahasidha9]

Have you conducted an AB comparison with the Accuphase E-4000; both around same price I am interested in both nowhere to audition; even the Technics SU-R1000 as well

[@bygrace2683]

How does this compare to Pass Labs and specifically the INT-25?

[@carlosgoncalves4243]

Nice review! I have a Luxman L550 Ax mkii and it plays very well with my harbeth 30.1 which give a lot of realism sense of music. The Luxman ax mkii just has 20 watts into 8ohms but is more than enough for my listening experience. Thank you for your video!

[@hifiGlobalNetwork]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@daniannaci3258]

Did you know it’s 20 watts into 8 ohms (40 watts into 4 ohms) in pure Class A. But when the amplifier moves into class A/B (on dynamic peaks and extra loud sections) the amp is capable of putting out over 70 undistorted watts per channel in to 8 ohms and even more into 4 ohms, which is why it sounds so ballsy and is so big and heavy 😆.

[@carlosgoncalves4243]

You are absolutely right! I wrote an email to Luxman of America to ask those questions about the power of the amplifier and them saying that is between 65-67 class A/B into 8 ohms and almost 100 at 4ohms! But in reality I don’t hear music using more than 1 or 2 Watts. So I always envoy it into pure class A! Thank you very much to share with me your point.

[@daniannaci3258]

@@carlosgoncalves4243So cool! Thank you so much for replying. Enjoy your excellent system!

[@janulik9535]

Hello, I agree. But there is a but. I had a chance to listten good luxmen integrated in tandem with xavian orfeo speakers which do have absolutly great transparency. This was the first time I recognized easely chello upright bass from bass guitar in not very good recording. I have to mention that this was 12 000 EUR amplifier and I do not have any other experience from different brand with such a pricy component. Now this but, I agree with many reviewers thay say the luxman has character, which is recognizable. I do not know how to discribe it with correct word, if it is air, or longer decays, some "glass" like sound character which I can definitely recognize too and I unfortunately do not like it very much, anyway I will try it again at home if I have a chance because I like that fact of the tone rendering of luxman.

[@indrakumarc73]

I am planning to purchase this particular model. Is it too heavy to unbox and lift for a single person?

[@edsinger8900]

How would the 507z or 509X match up with Sonus Faber Sonetto V speakers?

[@gabrielnilsson7955]

You must try it out yourself. Trust your own ear/mind. /Gabriel

[@edsinger8900]

@@gabrielnilsson7955 - have you previewed the Sonetto V with either one Luxman? I don’t have a retailer that carries both brands to preview.

[@mahasidha9]

It is now the L-509Z

[@1999zrx1100]

Wonder if this will be a future classic much like many are saying about the 590axII. Try finding a used one cheap is impossible.

[@daniannaci3258]

I don’t see why the 507 could not also become a classic. I own the (now sadly discontinued) L-590AxII for a few years now and am totally familiar with its sound. Recently I visited my dealer and he sat me down in front of the 507 using the same speakers I own, Bowers and Wilkins 805 D4. On the 507 I heard all the wonderful things I love about my 590. It maybe sounded ever so slightly different, maybe.. Different room? But not at all worse in any way. If I were buying today, I would happily own the 507!

[@marvinchang7077]

Why Luxman feature two products 509z and 507z with only 10W difference per channel? But with big price difference between the two?

[@user-ut6jq5wm9t]

Different phono stage (extra loading options on the 509z), slightly higher damping factor 330 v 300). May also be different standards for parts matching, based on previous distinctions between models which also had only a 10 watt difference, but no indication of the other differences in their published materials. Interestingly, the phono stage on the 509z is slightly noisier by spec, but quieter for line level.

[@user-ut6jq5wm9t]

Also, the 509z idles at 150 w vs 85 or so for the 507z, which hints that it is biased more highly in class A and may need different thermal protections, but here I am only surmising.

[@baronofgreymatter14]

Im pairing this with Klipsch Cornwall IV 102db efficiently

[@JohnLee-db9zt]

This has to be the most boring review I’ve ever watched.

[@daniannaci3258]

Not at all. Far more informative than most. If you were considering an integrated amplifier in this price range, he gave you all the reasons why should AND shouldn’t buy the 507. Most reviews of gear at this level either are “This is your Last Amp!” or come off as dealer advertisements.