Voltron

Midlake -- The Courage of Others

Thanks for that!

Copying post from HF: Todd asked me if I was interested in starting out another one of his great loaner programs by checking out the Luxman P-1u because I own and love the P-1 and therefore I might be able to provide some comparisons, context, etc. After mulling it over, I decided it would be fun to hear them together and I am very glad that I did. I knew about the planned release of the P-1u, but hadn't been really focused on it and I wasn't sure whether the P-1u was supposed to be better than my P-1 or not quite up to its predecessor, cheaper or more expensive, or what. Todd has done a nice summary of his impressions of the P-1u and I pretty much have to agree with everything he wrote. I have been enjoying some good concerted listening and wanted to share a few impressions and comparisons, although I am not sure this rises to the level of a "review." I have been listening to the P-1u and P-1 and even the headphone output of my Amarra Model 4 DAC over the last week or so, and it has been the most concentrated headphone time I have spent lately. I have a Mac Mini connected by Firewire to the Amarra Model 4, and have been playing tunes from the hard drive or on CD using Amarra software. The Model 4 has 8 channels of identical output so I have both Luxmen receiving identical signals through the identical cable (Mogami breakout cable from a DB25 connector on the Model 4). I also connected my iPhone 3GS by a mini-RCA connector and ran it into the P-1u and even out through the pass through to the P-1. The latter source didn't quite match up, but it was an alternative that isn't out of the question and sounded pretty darn good. The output levels on the two Luxmen is very similar, but I wanted to match the levels to the extent I could using an SPL meter. I found that the P-1u is a little higher output such that when it was on 10:00, the P-1 was on 9:57/9:58. Very close but I kept that difference in mind and matched the levels throughout. I used a wide variety of headphones on both amps, with an emphasis on the P-1u, obviously. I started with the HD800 for the sake of trying to hear the amps at their purest because I think those cans are a pretty clean and neutral option. I also used the AT AD2000 quite a bit, the Sony CD3000 for a long session, the Grado HF-1 for a while, and now the AKG K340 just to see how well this amp can drive one of the hardest loads around. Are you surprised to learn that it can? At half way up the volume, it sounds wonderful, which would have melted my ears on some of the other cans. At 3pm the volume is darn loud but not until pretty much fully pegged can I induce some distortion on the K340s at dynamic peaks. That is pretty impressive to me. For music selections, I was really trying to get a wide range through the amps to see how well they could portray different styles and deal with music that might be quieter, faster, louder, denser, leaner, more acoustic, more electronic, etc. A number of selections that stand out include the following: Anour Brahem, The Astounding Eyes of Rita Queen, News of the World Dave Alvin, Blackjack David Gerry Mulligan & Thelonious Monk, Mulligan Meets Monk Lorin Maazel: Cleveland Orchestra, Pictures at an Exhibition Ray Charles, etc., Genius Loves Company The Beatles, Rubber Soul Ry Cooder, Paradise & Lunch David Russell, The Art of the Guitar Robert Plant & Allison Kraus, Raising Sand Toe, For Long Tomorrow The Feelies, Crazy Rhythms Patricia Barber, Companion Clark Terry, One on One The Smithereens, Play Tommy Dick Hyman, Thinking About Bix You get the point. I was trying to listen to stuff I know pretty well, and stuff that represented a lot of genres and challenges for an amp. Much of it was high resolution music, at 24/96, 24/88.2, 24/176.4 or 24/192. The CDs and rips were at 16/44.1. The iPhone tunes were Apple Lossless files. The bulk was well-recorded, some not so much. I had a really good time listening. As Todd points out, one of the strengths of the P-1u is how involving it is. As a starting point, I can say that I did not find one single headphone or type of music that the P-1u handled well and others that are not as good a match. All of the cans I tried sound about as good as they can sound, and draw you in to keep listening. It does not sound "solid state" to me, and neither is it mushy or "tubey" as some might use that term. The detail and clarity are stunning and superior. The body, cohesion, and balance are really impressive. True timbre and tone something that I think sets this amp apart from many others. Piano keys sound like they should, guitars -- whether acoustic and jazzy or amplified and crunchy -- sound like they should, and vocals have a beautifully real texture to them. The Amarra Model 4 sounds like a world class source and the iPhone sounds like a hobbled but passable alternative. Some examples come to mind from my listening. Trumpeter/flugel-hornist Clark Terry was over 80 when he recorded 14 duets with 14 different piano players on the same piano in the same recording space and I listened to all 14 in a row on the P-1u/P-1. I don't think I have listened to this Chesky Records session as closely before and I loved it because the distinct sounds and styles were all there. The details like creaking foot pedal or the breathing/lips sounds before Terry started a run were present but not artificially enhanced or exaggerated. The organic presentation of these very nicely recorded sessions was outstanding. The super, hi-rez recording of Dick Hyman solo piano by Reference Recordings is another piano challenge that not all amps can meet. I thought the P-1u made this recording sound pretty much perfect, and I listened straight through for over an hour without noticing the time fly by. The oud is not an instrument I am really long-familiar with, but the ECM recordings of Anour Brahem are fantastic and allow you to hear this string instrument with remarkable clarity. I loved they way these sounded on the P-1u, just like have already heard them on the P-1. It is a dynamic sound that brings in the sound of the room and the reverberations of the strings and the notes that flow from them. The P-1u portrayed this recording with delicacy and power. The Feelies are not particularly well recorded, and neither is Toe. But they are powerful, driving records and the P-1u pumped them out to the AD2K and HF-1 with lots of force. I really liked the bass tone on the Feelies and in general I think that the bass presentation of the P-1u is very well defined and nicely deep. It is not overpowering, but that is not what it should be, imo. On the other end of the spectrum, cymbals sparkle and sound very clean and clear. Toe is dense and layered and came through with nice effect. Rubber Soul in mono was tons of fun on the HF-1, as was Ray Charles on the CD3000. The Smithereens, Plant/Krause and Dave Alvin (MFSL) are very well recorded and well-mastered, and reflect some difficult loads for headphones. The Tommy songs Sparks and Pinball Wizard on the Smithereens are fast and dynamic and the amp kept up well. The vocals (Pinball Wizard) are nicely placed and have their own place in the soundstage, and the mid-range cannot be questioned. The vocals stand out even more as the focus on Raising Sand and the duets sound wonderful. Another bass test I often use is Dave Alvin's vocals on his Blackjack David album, and the P-1u portrayed the depth, body and soul of those vocals just like I like them. All of these statements apply about equally to my P-1 and I have been saying them for a long time. Somebody else reading my comments about these two amps may have hit the nail on the head when he mentioned that these two amps may be more like twins than mere siblings. To me, that is quite accurate because I have a hard time hearing more than subtle differences between them. It is also a huge compliment in my book because I thought (without knowing) that the P-1u might just be a lesser replacement. If anything, it might edge out the older brother. Just don't tell my P-1 I said that.

My plasma is 720p, looks great, and I haven't bothered with Blu Ray so it doesn't much matter. Thing is that I bought it years ago and I just wouldn't buy an outdated item when given the choice. I can't imagine the 1080p options are that much different in price because most new sets have it. Panny is still known for having the best blacks in plasma, right? I agree with Dan that store calibration is generally all fucked up, so I wouldn't put too much stock in how a particular panel looks at Target.

Make it so.

FOTM Whoar btw, please keep that avatar for a good long while.

Bass to rock your balls, Bat Monkey! I love the JH13 bass and think it is a strength. Anybody who says otherwise is a fucktard.

And that Doshi is cool.

I can't imagine buying an HDTV at this point that is not 1080p. Doesn't seem like a forward-looking purchase. Love plasma and support that choice. Samsung, Panasonic and Pioneer. Wait, did I already send that in email today?

Hope they sound as good as they look!

Bummer Mike. Maybe he will fold soon. The Doshi is great, but it fails to meet many of the requirements, not least of which is the price.

Nice!

Response to your offer?

Dan, I gotta get the needle-dropping going again. I got askew for some reason with the SoundBlade software and haven't gotten back on track. I will make the effort soon. Now playing: The Raconteurs -- Consolers of the Lonely Double Vinyl

X -- Los Angeles Recent Rhino Re-Release 180g vinyl

Hatch is funny.

x2! Actually, my father-in-law has several and I intend to snag one at some point for this reason alone.

It's one of The-Ray's favorite demo groups. Deep bass and uncomplicated sound.

A gift from Ray?

52nd Street Blues Project -- Blues and Grass HD Tracks 24/96

Right on Mike! 4070 power! Anyway, the SR-Omega is a really great option to consider and a good pair should stay good unless mistreated, or so I told myself when buying them. I am going to set the 007t/SR-Omega & 4070 up today as a change of pace/counterpoint to the Luxmen.

Sonny Clark -- One On One HD Tracks 24/96

Not to pile on again, but Jim's post reminded me that I meant to point out this particularly closed-minded and completely hypocritical comment you made. You plan to stick with PCs regardless of the potential for better options, huh? Stringent indeed.

Thanks for the responses. This guy wants an easy, one-stop solution so I am not sure that I can get him to search elsewhere. The shop has a few options but I really think that the B&W 805S, which he can get on a deal because discontinued in favor of the much pricier 805D, is his best bet there. I just don't know those other options.

I slogged through the whole series, which really lost its way at the end as you guys have recognized. For a reprise I read some of the stuff his son did, and it was really just an attempt to go back to the style/content of the first Dune books. Suggestions: Mary Doria Russell -- The Sparrow and to a much lesser extent the sequel The Children of God Philip K. Dick -- You should read The Man in the High Castle, but I also like some more off-beat selections like The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch and Dr. Bloodmoney. Kurt Vonnegut -- Cat's Cradle and Slaughterhouse 5