Luxman D-07X and D-10X CD/SACD Players
Luxman 507Z and 509X Integrated Amplifiers
Written by George Sallit
Luxman D-07X
Written by George Sallit
Luxman D-07X
Luxman D-10X
Luxman has been rather busy recently and there is more to come. They have added a new CD/SACD player, the D-07X, which is second to their top model the D-10X. In addition, they have released in the UK their new Z technology for their integrated amplifiers with the 507Z being the first and talk of the 509Z following on later this year. And a quick look inside:
Luxman D-07X Internal
Luxman D-10X Internal
Because these models are still quite rare in the UK I went over to those nice chaps, Stephen and Alex, at Audio Consultants and spent an interesting listening session listening to some of my favourite music. We first listened and compared the two CD/SACD players.
The new D-07X player uses the same high-quality BD34301EKV DAC chips in a monaural configuration as that used in the D-10X player. The D-07X uses the same robust LxDTM-i drive mechanism as the D-10X. It is unclear where costs were saved but I believe they may have been with the power supply and the CD drive going from super-duper rigid to just really super rigid!!. Yes, Luxman does not do things by half.
We started with the Luxman D-07X playing into the 507Z amplifier and on to a nice pair of Ophidian Incanto. The interconnect cables were GutWire Uno S. The speaker cables were GutWire Synchrony Cube. The power cables were GutWire Air Cube to the CD players, Pure Cube into the amplifiers. Ground cables were GutWire Ultimate. Supports were HRS SXR frame with M3X2 isolation bases. HRS Nimbus assemblies and Damping Plates throughout the electronics. Mains purification by Puritan Audio PSM 1512 Special Edition.So into the aluminium CD tray goes the EMI Classics recording of Finlandia by the Halle Orchestra conducted by Sir John Barbirolli. And what a start. Although the recording was from 1966 it captures the really powerful and dramatic music that opens the piece. The Luxman had no problem playing the music with real shock value. Yes, the full hall ambience was not captured in the recording and the Luxman replayed it accurately, but the music was captivating. I kept thinking that most audiophiles would be really happy with this system and there was little to criticise.
Next was much more of a test, Beethoven’s 9th Finale from Reference Recordings This recording was captured in Direct Stream Digital (DSDx256) in Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, June 6th to 9th 2019. This music is big, bold and powerful….there is no sleeping when this plays. And the D-07X was in its element here and played it back with ease. The temptation was to play this loud, so we did. And when the big powerful male voice that comes in after the full orchestra has played the dramatic start it was a big powerful voice, not some weak, paper-thin imitation.
And the last track was Led Zeppelin’s Dazed and Confused. This is not by any imagination an audiophile recording but it was a raw rock band’s first recording, recorded quickly, with Robert Plant in fine voice. I added this track because I have lost count of the audio systems that sound great on a lot of music but play some raw rock music and they fall apart and it sounds a mess. Not so here. It initially sounds as though it was too refined for rock music but all that raw power is there but not distorting or accentuating the brightness in the recording.
OK, bring on the big boy. Time to hear what the D-10X could add to the music. Rather than playing all three tracks, we decided to use one track that would highlight the differences. On goes the Beethoven track. Would the D-10X at £15,000 outplay the £10,000 D-07X and would the difference be worth the additional £5,000? Easy and difficult!! The D-10X showed a much larger soundstage with individual instruments sounding more solid and real. It was much easier to listen to each instrument, or just ‘relax’ and let the music flow as one continuum of an orchestra in full flow. And then in comes that powerful voice, much bigger and more powerful. Why difficult? Well, only you can judge if it is worth the £5,000 extra. For me, yes it was worth it, but the rest of the system needs to be of a similar quality. And this system was nearly there??? Nearly?
Luxman 507Z and 509X
Yes, one more step in the process, add the Luxman 509X. Again we played the Beethoven track and this was a really interesting difference. Initially, I thought the 507Z had a more modern sound with more sparkle and it was slightly brighter and possibly preferable. But on further listening it became obvious that the 509X had a more sophisticated and sublime sound. The 507Z gave a great account of itself but I would vote for the 509X with its more integrated musical sound without the small forwardness of the 507Z. Now you may prefer having a bit more sparkle in the system but you would lose that extra sophistication of the 509X. Of course, the newer 509Z (whenever it appears) may be the best of both worlds. The answer will have to wait until later this year/early next year.
So for me, the D-07X has established itself as being one of the best £10,000 CD players/digital systems but not as close as I had hoped to the D-10X in order to save £5K. Between the 507Z and the 509X, the 509X gets my vote and the price differences have eroded as the 509X is going to be replaced.
Once again thanks to Stephen and Alex at Audio Consultants. And they mentioned that once again they intend to offer places at Crescent Recordings where audiophiles can go and hear a band being recorded (with a female singer this time), talk the process through with the recording engineer and then hear the recording on a high-quality audio system. But this time it will be a whole day session. You will also receive the final CD recording of the music. It is scheduled for the 24th and 25th of June and I believe a lot of places have already gone so be quick or miss out.
https://www.audioconsultants.co.uk/
