Are my tastes changing? I am beginning to prefer Luxman over Yamaha

[dman777]

For couple of years now I have had a Yamaha 2000a that I use a preamp to the Yamaha AS-3200. I always loved the sound. A year later I bought a Luxman 595 Class A amp. I didn't like the sound of the Luxman.... I thought it sounded stuffy and did not have the openness of the Yamaha. This is over the course of about a year. But recently, I have found myself listening to the Luxman more (no preamp). I like the punch and meat it has... and although it does not have the openness of the Yamaha, it has superb holographic sound in it's own manner. When I switch back to the Yamaha, I still appreciate it's open sound (which is much better than Luxman) but I find it a bit to bright for me on some music.

It doesn't make sense to me how after all this time I can like the Yamaha so much more than the Luxman, and then begin to prefer the Luxman more and also bothered by the Yamaha's brightness. I guess my tastes are changing over time? Is that normal in this hobby? If so, it seems it could be very expensive if my tastes change like this.

Note: Everything with Focal Sopra N1 speakers, always. And in the same listening spot, always.
Note: This isn't a diss on Yamaha... I think the Yamaha is actually better than the Luxman in it's design, build quality, meters, and value.... just preferring sound signatures

 

[Purité Audio]

Is there actually any SQ difference between the amps, is one not capable of driving your loudspeakers?
Keith

 

[staticV3]

I guess my tastes are changing over time? Is that normal in this hobby?

Only if you're not aware of bias/placebo.

 

[JeffS7444]

Unless you were using the receiver as a streaming source or radio, I'm not sure why you'd want to use the 2000A + AS3200 combo in the first place. If the 2000A is similar to other receivers I have examined, the pre-outs may have high output impedance and be best used with short interconnect cables, say 1 meter or less.

What happens if you compare apples to apples, with a level-matched comparison between Yamaha AS3200 and Luxman 595 integrated amps?

 

[Doodski]

also bothered by the Yamaha's brightness

Yamaha amps do not have a bright sound... It is a urban rumor that keeps circulating... I have compared hundreds of Yamaha amps large and small to Luxman amps large and small and there is zero difference in quality of sound as long as you don't run them beyond their capabilities. I'll say it again, There is zero sound quality difference.

The reality is that it is you that is the difference. You think you hear a difference and you can't put your finger on what it is but you make up terminology that has no basis in reality.

The Luxman is a very nice piece of gear. It is built to last, to be gorgeous and to be timeless but it won't sound different than a Yamaha.

 

[Verig]

Is there actually any SQ difference between the amps, is one not capable of driving your loudspeakers?
Keith

There is no way 30W Luxman would be enough for Focal Sopras.

 

[Mr. Widget]

Only if you're not aware of bias/placebo.

Or you are into aesthetic differences... I can see preferring the aesthetics of a vintage Luxman, though both are pretty decent in the looks department. I'd have to say I'm a bit less into the 595.

Regarding SQ... probably not a lot to talk about there.

 

[DMill]

Based on your report I’d say sell your Yamaha gear to someone who will appreciate it. You won’t be improving your sound at all but you’ll make a few bucks and someone else will get to enjoy those wonderful amps.

 

[DVDdoug]

What is a blind ABX test?

If you want "different sound" try some EQ or different speakers. Different speakers/headphones always sound (and measure) different.

I thought it sounded stuffy and did not have the openness... I like the punch and meat it has... and although it does not have the openness... superb holographic sound... the Yamaha's brightness.

Most of those words have no scientific-engineering definition except "brightness" usually means boosted high frequencies or mid-high frequencies. Sometimes I'll say "bright" or "dull" but I try to remember to explain myself. You don't normally get that "accidently" with an amplifier. "Audiophiles" love that kind of terminology but this is Audio Science Review.

Lots of people here consider themselves audiophiles (including our host, Amir, I believe). There's nothing wrong with the word, but for me there's too much weirdness associated with it, unfortunately.

With amplifiers (and other electronics) there are 3 sound quality characteristics, noise, frequency response, and distortion. And with most modern electronics frequency response and distortion are better than human hearing unless you over-drive an amplifier into distortion. Sometimes there is audible noise (hum, hiss, or whine in the background). The audibility of the noise depends on how close you are to the speakers, the sensitivity of the speakers, and any other acoustic noise in the room. You can also have gross defects like a dead channel, or the sound cutting out, or the left channel being louder than the right, etc.

With speakers and sound "bouncing around" in rooms there are other characteristics.

See Audiophoolery

 

[VMAT4]

Yamaha amps do not have a bright sound... It is a urban rumor that keeps circulating... I have compared hundreds of Yamaha amps large and small to Luxman amps large and small and there is zero difference in quality of sound as long as you don't run them beyond their capabilities. I'll say it again, There is zero sound quality difference.

The reality is that it is you that is the difference. You think you hear a difference and you can't put your finger on what it is but you make up terminology that has no basis in reality.

The Luxman is a very nice piece of gear. It is built to last, to be gorgeous and to be timeless but it won't sound different than a Yamaha.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think the Yamaha is gorgeous and timeless as well. I bet it last just as long.

 

[Doodski]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think the Yamaha is gorgeous and timeless as well. I bet it last just as long.

Me too. I love the Yamaha look, fit and finish too.

 

[Mr. Widget]

Me too. I love the Yamaha look, fit and finish too.

For contemporary gear, I appreciate its retro looks. Picking up a nice new Yamaha integrated and a pair of Source Point 10s and I can flashback to coming home from Pacfic Stereo ca. 1975.

 

[Doodski]

For contemporary gear, I appreciate its retro looks. Picking up a nice new Yamaha integrated and a pair of Source Point 10s and I can flashback to coming home from Pacfic Stereo ca. 1975.

Haha. Often I get flashbacks from the day in ~1978 when my second oldest brother took me with for buying and financing a 4 ch Kenwood stereo system. I was amazed at the shiny beautiful gear in the store and the prices where out of this world high for the time. I was drOOLing all over the Kenwood, Sansui and Technics. So shiny and perfect! Anyway... I remember he financed the receiver for ~$2000, the Kenwood rock turntable was ~$1200 I think, a Shure V5(?) phono cartridge for ~$500, 4 speakers at ~$4000, a stand at ~$150 and finally that really cool Kenwood flat/horizontal cassette deck that was all the rage at that time. So he got his loan for the gear so he could build credit and buy a house... LoL. Everybody was very stoked and fun...

 

[dman777]

I have compared hundreds of Yamaha amps large and small to Luxman amps large and small and there is zero difference in quality of sound as long as you don't run them beyond their capabilities. I'll say it again, There is zero sound quality difference.

Are we talking about sound quality or the sound charastics of amps? Yes, they are both high quality and not one better than the other. But for the uniqueness of the sound and the sound charastics of the amps... each amp will always have it's own unique sound characteristics which is what I am talking about.

 

[Doodski]

Are we talking about sound quality or the sound charastics of amps? Yes, they are both high quality and not one better than the other. But for the uniqueness of the sound and the sound charastics of the amps... each amp will always have it's own unique sound characteristics which is what I am talking about.

You are imagining stuff. The sound quality is the same thing as the characteristics.

 

[Mr. Widget]

Are we talking about sound quality or the sound charastics of amps? Yes, they are both high quality and not one better than the other. But for the uniqueness of the sound and the sound charastics of the amps... each amp will always have it's own unique sound characteristics which is what I am talking about.

What @Doodski, @staticV3, and the others are getting at is that while it is possible for different amplifiers to have different responses due to the load the speaker places on the amplifier, the differences are rarely audible and verifiable in a double blind test.

The Stereophile, Absolute Sound, etc. reviews of an amplifier "opening a whole new acoustic landscape" or what have you are most likely due to sighted bias and do not hold up as fact under the lens of scientific study.

 

[dman777]

I don't understand that at all... if all amplifiers have the same sound, why have so many on market? Why do amplifier reviews describe details of the sound of a amplifier if they all sound the same?

 

[Doodski]

Why do amplifier reviews describe details of the sound of a amplifier if they all sound the same?

They are selling and not reviewing it seems. They being many of these reviews are provided by sources that have advertising revenue going into their pockets and they want everything to be good and make exotic esoteric descriptions that have no basis in fact or science. They must make good reviews or they get no more advertisers.... sigh*

I don't understand that at all... if all amplifiers have the same sound, why have so many on market?

It the system man! LoL... It's capitalism and people competing for your dollars and some even make similar products and offer similar prices to compete. So what if there are several companies making a audio receiver if they sell into the tens of millions of them per year?

 

[restorer-john]

I don't understand that at all... if all amplifiers have the same sound, why have so many on market? Why do amplifier reviews describe details of the sound of a amplifier if they all sound the same?

Different amounts of power, performance, features, build quality, aesthetic and functions.

All amplifiers do not sound the same (and don't listen to anyone who gives you that piece of wisdom that they do), but most competently designed, similarly rated and specified modern designed amplifiers will be indistinguishable from one another.

Yamaha and Luxman had completely different sonic characteristics in the 1970s. Not so much now, but they still trade on those legacies, 50 years later.

 

[Doodski]

All amplifiers do not sound the same (and don't listen to anyone who gives you that piece of wisdom), but most competently designed, similarly rated and specified modern designed amplifiers will be indistinguisable from one another.

Sigh* OK. I'll change my pitch to, "Indistinguishable." It's more correct but these people sometimes need firm terms and not soft spoken fine line terms... LoL.