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

[OldHvyMec]

Only if you're not aware of bias/placebo

MANY people change because of features, looks and the fact that their ears change.

I really like Luxman Turntables, for the way they perform and look. Yamaha GT5000 is a serious TT also.

I have both brands and the finer workmanship is in the Luxman. BOTH are very well made BUT I give a slight edge to Luxman overall.
If I wanted to save some money and get the same performance I'd go with Yamaha. Both brands hold up like a Mcintosh, they are all
pretty close to bulletproof.

Regards

 

[ahofer]

each amp will always have it's own unique sound characteristics which is what I am talking about.

You aren’t going to get much agreement on that. If the amps have flat FR, low distortion, adequate power for the load, and low output impedance, they will sound the same if the gain is the same.

Most of the differences people hear between amps are imagined or due to poor level-matching and bad auditory memory.

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

Why do most reviewers write reviews?

 

[Holmz]

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.

Driving the interconnect will only depend on its capacitance and inductance. Both are usually very small numbers.

I would be pretty surprised if a 1M cable sounded different than a 10M long IC.

 

[JeffS7444]

Driving the interconnect will only depend on its capacitance and inductance. Both are usually very small numbers.

I would be pretty surprised if a 1M cable sounded different than a 10M long IC.

I was surprised too, but experienced difficulties using NAD and Advent receivers as preamps unless cabling from pre-out jacks was kept short. Comparing schematics to those of dedicated preamplifiers suggested that the receiver designers saved a few pennies by omitting a line driver stage.

 

[Mart68]

Sopra No.1 have impedance down to 3 ohm combined with steep phase angle, is it not possible that there could be an audible difference caused by load dependency?

SoundStageNetwork.com | SoundStage.com - NRC Measurements: Focal Sopra No1 Loudspeakers

www.soundstagenetwork.com

 

[Tell]

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.

Can you describe what you mean by "completely different"?

 

[Koeitje]

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.

And used within their operating limits (although similarly rated mostly covers that).

 

[Killingbeans]

MANY people change because of features, looks and the fact that their ears change.

I really like Luxman Turntables, for the way they perform and look. Yamaha GT5000 is a serious TT also.

I have both brands and the finer workmanship is in the Luxman. BOTH are very well made BUT I give a slight edge to Luxman overall.
If I wanted to save some money and get the same performance I'd go with Yamaha. Both brands hold up like a Mcintosh, they are all
pretty close to bulletproof.

Regards

I see a lot of Luxman in the repair shop I work at. They seem to be extremely popular in the collectors market.

Have a feeling it's largely because the Luxman products have an aesthetic that perfectly represent the time period that most hi-fi collectors remember from their teen years (the time that formed their taste in such things), but still isn't ostentatious enough to stick out like a sore thumb in modern decor.

Probably also helps that the name 'Luxman' implies luxury, while 'Yamaha' doesn't

 

[Mart68]

Probably also helps that the name 'Luxman' implies luxury, while 'Yamaha' doesn't

'Yamaha' always makes me think of outboard motors. I know it's wrong but it's the first place I go.

 

[anakin]

Why do amplifiers from different companies, made with different components, sound the same?

 

[Killingbeans]

'Yamaha' always makes me think of outboard motors. I know it's wrong but it's the first place I go.

It's funny, because lately YouTube have been serving me adds for Yamaha outboard motors, and it makes me laugh uncontrollably.

Never owned a boat, and probably never will, but somehow the Google algorithm has concluded that I'd gladly buy an outboard motor

Makes sense that it noted me looking at hi-fi stuff, and then assumed that any Yamaha product would interest me.

 

[Killingbeans]

Why do amplifiers from different companies, made with different components, sound the same?

Why do different hammers from different tool companies hit a nail the same way?

If those different components are implemented equally well, and both amps are specced to have roughly the same limitations, then there's no reason why they shouldn't be indistinguable when compared correctly.

 

[Verig]

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.

Yamaha is not bright. 2000 and 3000 series are powerful and well made. Everything an amp technically should be.
I'm guessing the meat comes from Luxman not being able to drive the Focals and soft bass tones make the whole affair sound a bit different. A bit more distorted flesh and oomph. Warm, one could call it. Focals are not warm and fuzzy so technically speaking there is something wrong if you get that sound. Preference is another matter.

Changing taste through years is interesting. I've always preferred both sounds, warm and meaty vs clarity and punch is an ongoing debate in my head.
If it's time to change gear why not go for it. Last round I did just that, I went from analytic to simpler fun. People's tastes and interests change by years, it's normal. I just suggest you try to achieve the sound by EQ and/or with different speakers - you can balance both openness and warmth that way. Using an amp as a tone control is quite limited and technically not the best way.

 

[Doodski]

Why do amplifiers from different companies, made with different components, sound the same?

Because they use similar/same designs and keep the SINAD low enough that it cannot be heard. Using different components is not 100% factual because they order in and use parts from suppliers that other manufacturers use too.

 

[Killingbeans]

Using different components is not 100% factual because they order in and use parts from suppliers that other manufacturers use too.

True. There's a reason why all repair shops are stockpiling the same Sanken transistors while they can still get some.

 

[Bob from Florida]

Luxman does not spec the class AB output of their class A amps. The 30 watt class A version could easily put out 100 watts class AB at less than audible distortion. Depending on how quickly the amp recovers from clipping - that is happening more often than you think - you may hear the aftermath of clipping. This is where I think most of the audible differences occur between amplifiers.
I initially tried one of the 2000 series Yamahas and really liked it - right up until it started changing the volume all by itself on day 3. Returned it and got a deal on a demo Luxman a week later. Five years later, still like the Luxman. Aesthetically, the Luxman looks better with the larger meters and overall finish as well.

 

[oldsysop]

I've always preferred both sounds, warm and meaty vs clarity and punch is an ongoing debate in my head

 

[ahofer]

How about both meaty and punchy (but cold, and low-res)?

 

[Doodski]

View attachment 378214

LoL... Are you serious, kidding or joking about the thread?

 

[ahofer]

LoL... Are you serious, kidding or joking about the thread?

Clarified above. Meaty & Punchy.