The Musical Fidelity AMS 35i thread

[CnoEvil]

Hi Guys

Thanks for the info. Indeed I have the ams for a couple of days. For now I compared it with the m6i, and actually realized how good the m6i is... great dynamics, bass controll and it sounds very realistic.

But with the focals, the ams really shines. I do not think I will be able to return it... do not feel like checking the Luxman at all... do not care about the heat that much... if I can get a good price, I will take it.

-mute

IMO. Viable alternatives are always worth checking.......especially if they are cheaper (and made by Luxman).

If you can get a home dem, there is nothing to lose........Oh, and there is the fact that some on here would like to know the result.

 

[mute]

I am using a pioneer dvd as a transport connected to MF m1 dac. Interconnects and speaker cables are all VDH (revelation).

I will take your advice and audit the Luxman too. Will update as soon as I have my conclusions.

But need your help asking the right questions... I am not a pro audio reviewer :wall:

 

[CnoEvil]

I am using a pioneer dvd as a transport connected to MF m1 dac. Interconnects and speaker cables are all VDH (revelation).

I will take your advice and audit the Luxman too. Will update as soon as I have my conclusions.

But need your help asking the right questions... I am not a pro audio reviewer :wall:

Nb. Both amps (ideally) need to be fully warmed up when compared. This means that the amp waiting to be compared, needs to be left plugged in (if possible).

You don't need to be a "pro-reviewer" to have a preference......as you did with M6i vs 35i.

It is worth remembering that there is a lot of upgrade potential in the source end of your system.

 

[Macspur]

I am using a pioneer dvd as a transport connected to MF m1 dac. Interconnects and speaker cables are all VDH (revelation).

I will take your advice and audit the Luxman too. Will update as soon as I have my conclusions.

But need your help asking the right questions... I am not a pro audio reviewer :wall:

Yes, you might as well... speaking from experience, you won't want that nagging thought at the back of the mind wandering what if... I believe the AMS will win over the Luxman, but I'm not so sure of the result if you were to have a shoot out between the MF and Accuphase.

Can't personally claim to be any kind of expert myself, Cno and others on this thread have been a font of advice for me in my search for kit over the last couple of years... just ask and there will always be someone to support.

Do you have any plans to change the source at any time?

Good luck.

Mac

 

[mute]

Hi Guys,

The Luxman dealer came to my house to demo the 590AX with my focal 1028be's. The demo went for 45 minutes without performing an A/B test between the two (I felt it was not proper to do so, given the fact the AMS was a loaner from another dealer which I like a lot).

First, the Luxman 590AX looks stunning!!! it has smaller form factor than the MF (which looks like a huge power amp with a volume control knob ) and it offers more features such as balance & tone controls, headphone jack and a phono stage.

I listened to some jazz albums in a low-to-moderate volume and it sounded really good... actually really really good :dance: I could hear every detail of the recording including low frequencies in a very low volume. It had similar class-a type of sound . I think both amps are in the same ballpark in terms of sounds quality.

Overall comparing between the two, I think the AMS has slightly warmer sound with less details than the Luxman, but nothing significant. something like 5% warmer with 3% less details. Quite hard to describe sound quality in terms of percentage, but this is the best I can....

I think I am able to live with both amps, they are really great, but I slightly prefer the sound of the AMS. Somehow it made me listen the the music as a whole without searching for details... I was just relaxing and listening to whatever it threw on me like saying, hey I trust you... Also drums were backward just as I wanted them, I felt it had slightly better balance & synergy with the focals. But again, this is my personal preference, both amps are really fantastic.

In terms of price, I got quite similar offers from both dealers, the AMS demo unit is slightly more expensive than a brand new Luxman. Right now I'm not sure how to proceed... meanwhile I will stay with the m6i (which is not bad at all :bounce: ), till/if I'll make up my mind to spend this amount of money (around $6K after trading my m6i).

I spent a week with the AMS at my home, just returned it to the dealer, I will definitely miss it

-mute

 

[Macspur]

Hi Guys,

The Luxman dealer came to my house to demo the 590AX with my focal 1028be's. The demo went for 45 minutes without performing an A/B test between the two (I felt it was not proper to do so, given the fact the AMS was a loaner from another dealer which I like a lot).

First, the Luxman 590AX looks stunning!!! it has smaller form factor than the MF (which looks like a huge power amp with a volume control knob ) and it offers more features such as balance & tone controls, headphone jack and a phono stage.

I listened to some jazz albums in a low-to-moderate volume and it sounded really good... actually really really good :dance: I could hear every detail of the recording including low frequencies in a very low volume. It had similar class-a type of sound . I think both amps are in the same ballpark in terms of sounds quality.

Overall comparing between the two, I think the AMS has slightly warmer sound with less details than the Luxman, but nothing significant. something like 5% warmer with 3% less details. Quite hard to describe sound quality in terms of percentage, but this is the best I can....

I think I am able to live with both amps, they are really great, but I slightly prefer the sound of the AMS. Somehow it made me listen the the music as a whole without searching for details... I was just relaxing and listening to whatever it threw on me like saying, hey I trust you... Also drums were backward just as I wanted them, I felt it had slightly better balance & synergy with the focals. But again, this is my personal preference, both amps are really fantastic.

In terms of price, I got quite similar offers from both dealers, the AMS demo unit is slightly more expensive than a brand new Luxman. Right now I'm not sure how to proceed... meanwhile I will stay with the m6i (which is not bad at all :bounce: ), till/if I'll make up my mind to spend this amount of money (around $6K after trading my m6i).

I spent a week with the AMS at my home, just returned it to the dealer, I will definitely miss it

-mute

Very interesting Mute, good to hear your views.

Is it an option to have an extended home demo of the Luxman?

Must admit, now I've got the added features of tone controls and excellent built in headphone amp, I would be loathe to go back to an amp without.

Did you happen to ask about Accuphase Class A?

Mac

 

[mute]

Hi Guys,

The Luxman dealer came to my house to demo the 590AX with my focal 1028be's. The demo went for 45 minutes without performing an A/B test between the two (I felt it was not proper to do so, given the fact the AMS was a loaner from another dealer which I like a lot).

First, the Luxman 590AX looks stunning!!! it has smaller form factor than the MF (which looks like a huge power amp with a volume control knob ) and it offers more features such as balance & tone controls, headphone jack and a phono stage.

I listened to some jazz albums in a low-to-moderate volume and it sounded really good... actually really really good :dance: I could hear every detail of the recording including low frequencies in a very low volume. It had similar class-a type of sound . I think both amps are in the same ballpark in terms of sounds quality.

Overall comparing between the two, I think the AMS has slightly warmer sound with less details than the Luxman, but nothing significant. something like 5% warmer with 3% less details. Quite hard to describe sound quality in terms of percentage, but this is the best I can....

I think I am able to live with both amps, they are really great, but I slightly prefer the sound of the AMS. Somehow it made me listen the the music as a whole without searching for details... I was just relaxing and listening to whatever it threw on me like saying, hey I trust you... Also drums were backward just as I wanted them, I felt it had slightly better balance & synergy with the focals. But again, this is my personal preference, both amps are really fantastic.

In terms of price, I got quite similar offers from both dealers, the AMS demo unit is slightly more expensive than a brand new Luxman. Right now I'm not sure how to proceed... meanwhile I will stay with the m6i (which is not bad at all :bounce: ), till/if I'll make up my mind to spend this amount of money (around $6K after trading my m6i).

I spent a week with the AMS at my home, just returned it to the dealer, I will definitely miss it

-mute

Very interesting Mute, good to hear your views.

Is it an option to have an extended home demo of the Luxman?

Must admit, now I've got the added features of tone controls and excellent built in headphone amp, I would be loathe to go back to an amp without.

Did you happen to ask about Accuphase Class A?

Mac

I can probably extend the demo period, but do not like to do so untill I will make up my mind to spend this amount of money. The Accuphase is more expensive around here than the Luxman.

 

[Macspur]

Ah I see... keep us posted on what you decide.

Mac

 

[CnoEvil]

@ Mute
It's great to hear what you think.
The 35i has tremendous bass, which can give the impression of warmth.
FWIW. I would go with the amp that you prefer, but make sure that you have fully got the measure of the Luxman.
To really hear what these Amps can do, you really need to connect a source of similar quality.
Anyway, whatever you decide, you will end up with a fantastic amp.

 

[mute]

Agree about the bass of the 35i...

Actually I consider the AMS warmth as an advantage; this is the main reason I slightly preferred its sound over the 590AX.

Regarding the source, indeed it has more room to improve. Not sure though if the bottle neck is MF M1 DAC or the transport, but perhaps it is related to a different thread.

 

[Neuphonix]

Agree about the bass of the 35i...

Actually I consider the AMS warmth as an advantage; this is the main reason I slightly preferred its sound over the 590AX.

Regarding the source, indeed it has more room to improve. Not sure though if the bottle neck is MF M1 DAC or the transport, but perhaps it is related to a different thread.

Not to say that the transport couldn't be improved upon, but I'd say the M1 would be the thing to look at. That's not to say it's not a good DAC, just that others may have a signature sound that you prefer more.

I would say however that a certain someone may suggest that you consider a streaming solution, perhaps something that starts with an L and finishes with an N!!!

Good suggestion, he got me & I've not wiped the grin off my face yet

 

[robhifi]

For your info Mute, Luxman was acquired by IAG recently.
IAG is Chinese owned and operated with some very capable European designers.
Very soon, IAG will start making LUXMAN in China(the same factories making AudioLab, Quad etc) and most likely, you will see significant price drop.

During this "transition period", hold on the purchase.

Being Chinese myself, I think IAG owns too many brands and it is a huge challenge to the management. :help:

 

[Macspur]

For your info Mute, Luxman was acquired by IAG recently. IAG is Chinese owned and operated with some very capable European designers. Very soon, IAG will start making LUXMAN in China(the same factories making AudioLab, Quad etc) and most likely, you will see significant price drop. During this "transition period", hold on the purchase. Being Chinese myself, I think IAG owns too many brands and it is a huge challenge to the management. :help:

Only hope the quality doesn't drop.

Mac

 

[iceman16]

And the AMS is designed and built in the UK

 

[Neuphonix]

And the AMS is designed and built in the UK

It was a pommy with a dodgy soldering iron that apparently caused me all my dramas!

 

[Neuphonix]

And the AMS is designed and built in the UK

It was a pommy with a dodgy soldering iron that apparently caused me all my dramas!

 

[mute]

Hi Guys,

There was an interesting twist in my quest for a class-a amp... I ended up with the Pass Labs XA30.5 power amp...

It is currently being driven by the pre out of the good old (actually new) m6i. Sound is incredible.. very similar to the ams35i with little less bass & coloring. Fantastic peace of gear! Price was same as the ams35i, but without traid in... so I kept the m6i and the pass for the same price. Now I will be looking to trade the m6i with a dedicated pre-amp.

Thanks forn your help.

I will be glad to get some pre amp recommendations at the same price range as the m6i.

-mute

 

[gregvet]

If anyone is trying to locate one of these beauties, I noticed today that here is an ex demo silver one on the Unilet blue murder sale list.

£4199 sounds a lot more affordable to me than £5999 for some reason, if only I hadn't just bought a flat :doh:

 

[CnoEvil]

If anyone is trying to locate one of these beauties, I noticed today that here is an ex demo silver one on the Unilet blue murder sale list.

£4199 sounds a lot more affordable to me than £5999 for some reason, if only I hadn't just bought a flat :doh:

Why don't you avail of your own research?

 

[CnoEvil]

Hi Guys,

There was an interesting twist in my quest for a class-a amp... I ended up with the Pass Labs XA30.5 power amp...

It is currently being driven by the pre out of the good old (actually new) m6i. Sound is incredible.. very similar to the ams35i with little less bass & coloring. Fantastic peace of gear! Price was same as the ams35i, but without traid in... so I kept the m6i and the pass for the same price. Now I will be looking to trade the m6i with a dedicated pre-amp.

Thanks forn your help.

I will be glad to get some pre amp recommendations at the same price range as the m6i.

-mute

Glad you are happy.

You are right in that the weak link is the pre-amp.......If I come up with a suggestion, I'll let you know.

Are you looking for a tube pre, or does it not matter?

 

[mute]

I am open to any suggestions regarding pre amps, both tubes and solid states are ok, as long as sound will be goooood and price will be more or less like the m6i...

mute

 

[gregvet]

If anyone is trying to locate one of these beauties, I noticed today that here is an ex demo silver one on the Unilet blue murder sale list.

£4199 sounds a lot more affordable to me than £5999 for some reason, if only I hadn't just bought a flat :doh:

Why don't you avail of your own research?

Nice try Cno, but the timings just not right, plus its still too rich for me.

more likely when the price comes down in a few years on the second hand market (he says hopefully ?!)

 

[CnoEvil]

Nice try Cno, but the timings just not right, plus its still too rich for me.

more likely when the price comes down in a few years on the second hand market (he says hopefully ?!)

It will become a rare classic.....and the price will go up! :roll:

 

[CnoEvil]

I am open to any suggestions regarding pre amps, both tubes and solid states are ok, as long as sound will be goooood and price will be more or less like the m6i...

mute

Here is a possibility - JE Audio VL20: http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/jeaudio2/prepower.html

and maybe another here - Raysonic C200: http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/raysonic3/quartet_3.html

 

[gregvet]

Nice try Cno, but the timings just not right, plus its still too rich for me.

more likely when the price comes down in a few years on the second hand market (he says hopefully ?!)

It will become a rare classic.....and the price will go up! :roll:

Please tell me this isn't your pension plan Cno lol