This is the first time I've ever posted on a hi-fi site but could really use some expert advice.
I just recently purchased a slightly-used Luxman SQ-38u froma Luxman dealer. He promised me that the amp is essentially like-new and even offered the full 2-year warranty through his shop. Given that it doesn't need break-in time (since it's not new), I was surprised by the sound. The mid-range itself sounds really great. The low-bass is also pretty good for a tube amp. But there seems to be basically no low-mids whatsoever. So, for example, with low notes on a cello, or bass guitar, you can hear the boomy low bass but not any defintion. It's just a big hole in the spectrum.
Might this be a problem with the amp? If it had a bad tube, would it cause frequency dropout like this or more obvious artefacts?
If I can somehow find some reassurance that the amp is performing like-new, then I would conclude that it's just a weird mismatch with my speakers (PMC PMC DB1i's). But I don't want to go in circles demoing or replacing my speakers if the Luxman itself is not performing as it should.
Any thoughts would be much appreciated! Thanks!
This is the first time I've ever posted on a hi-fi site but could really use some expert advice.
I just recently purchased a slightly-used Luxman SQ-38u froma Luxman dealer. He promised me that the amp is essentially like-new and even offered the full 2-year warranty through his shop. Given that it doesn't need break-in time (since it's not new), I was surprised by the sound. The mid-range itself sounds really great. The low-bass is also pretty good for a tube amp. But there seems to be basically no low-mids whatsoever. So, for example, with low notes on a cello, or bass guitar, you can hear the boomy low bass but not any defintion. It's just a big hole in the spectrum.
Might this be a problem with the amp? If it had a bad tube, would it cause frequency dropout like this or more obvious artefacts?
If I can somehow find some reassurance that the amp is performing like-new, then I would conclude that it's just a weird mismatch with my speakers (PMC PMC DB1i's). But I don't want to go in circles demoing or replacing my speakers if the Luxman itself is not performing as it should.
Any thoughts would be much appreciated! Thanks!