AlfaGTV
10-06-2013, 21:36
I really like Luxman's from the 80's, they were there when the "audio-bug" bit me as a teenager. I bought my first Luxman gear with earned money in '84! This was a kit with some swedish made speakers, branded with the Luxman logo but they actually looked very much like Snell E/III, only a little smaller. The electronics was an L-210 amp, a K-210 casette deck, an L-215 tuner and a PD-290 turntable. This was my first experience with higher quality audio and the great moments spent with this gear was difficult to forget.
So, i've been through a bunch of Luxman stuff over the years, and rarely been disappointed.
My intention is to show off some of the gear that has passes my trails, and give some comments on each of them.
I really would appreciate if you did the same!?!?
I'll start off with the gorgeous Luxman L-530:
http://www.ollars.net/hififorum/L-530_S.jpg
This beauty is a 2x120W sliding bias amplifier. It delivers some 15W into 8Ohms in Class A which means it has got quite a high bias on the Sanken transistors. Worth mentioning is the dual phono inputs with a phono direct option, bypassing all filtering and tone controls. The loading is adjustable in three steps for MC carts and two for the MM ditto's.
The phono stage PCB is built into a screening box thats most likely the only thing fully functional after the next Big Bang!
On the rear you have jumper cables to connect Pre Out and Main In, and inputs for Tuner and Aux along with the obligatory dual Tape inputs/outputs of the eighties.
The whole packge weighs in at about 17Kg, and really needs to be on top of your cupboard or shelves, as it generates lots of heat.
The sound is very clean, with a nice addition of warmth in the mid and low bass. Not overly so IMO, but if you like lean and super tajt, this one is not for you. The mids are a little "golden" if you see what i mean! ;) Beautiful, but not necessarily a 100% true transfer of the original.
Okay, i've always wanted ro try one of the classic Class A Luxman's, but since these are hard to find in good working condition, it took me until 2013 to find one:
http://www.ollars.net/hififorum/L-560_S.jpg
The Luxman L-560 2x50W Class A integrated classic.
This beauty runs in Class A all the way, never disgracing the audio with Class AB operation. And you can surely tell! First and foremost by the absolutely gobsmackingly clear and beautiful sounds created, secondly by the room temperature! :)
You can barely touch the ventilation mesh after a couple of hours of music. And i s'pose the electric companies will love you, as their new best customer! This one also has dual phono inputs, if somewhat simplified loading options. Not as tenatiously shielded as in he L-530, but there is no doubt his amp was built with turntables in mind! It does actually have a CD input though, one of the first Lux'es to sport one.
The L-560 have the option of chosing to bypass all filtering and balance controls by using CD/Phono direct. You still have the option to insert Tone controls in the audio path should you want to, even with Direct enabled. The L-560 also sports an extra Line and Tape input on the fro t panel, perhaps meant for future iPod generations? Nothings new, eh? ;)
The option of splitting Pre/Power sections is also present, but here you can use a switch on the rear, instead of using a jumper RCA cable to connect these.
The L-560 is a slightly shinier version of the original L-550. It has an uprated powersupply and some other improvements and variations but these are basically the same.
If you have an opportunity to listen o one of these, grab it! You will be glad you did! :)
Regards Mike
So, i've been through a bunch of Luxman stuff over the years, and rarely been disappointed.
My intention is to show off some of the gear that has passes my trails, and give some comments on each of them.
I really would appreciate if you did the same!?!?
I'll start off with the gorgeous Luxman L-530:
http://www.ollars.net/hififorum/L-530_S.jpg
This beauty is a 2x120W sliding bias amplifier. It delivers some 15W into 8Ohms in Class A which means it has got quite a high bias on the Sanken transistors. Worth mentioning is the dual phono inputs with a phono direct option, bypassing all filtering and tone controls. The loading is adjustable in three steps for MC carts and two for the MM ditto's.
The phono stage PCB is built into a screening box thats most likely the only thing fully functional after the next Big Bang!
On the rear you have jumper cables to connect Pre Out and Main In, and inputs for Tuner and Aux along with the obligatory dual Tape inputs/outputs of the eighties.
The whole packge weighs in at about 17Kg, and really needs to be on top of your cupboard or shelves, as it generates lots of heat.
The sound is very clean, with a nice addition of warmth in the mid and low bass. Not overly so IMO, but if you like lean and super tajt, this one is not for you. The mids are a little "golden" if you see what i mean! ;) Beautiful, but not necessarily a 100% true transfer of the original.
Okay, i've always wanted ro try one of the classic Class A Luxman's, but since these are hard to find in good working condition, it took me until 2013 to find one:
http://www.ollars.net/hififorum/L-560_S.jpg
The Luxman L-560 2x50W Class A integrated classic.
This beauty runs in Class A all the way, never disgracing the audio with Class AB operation. And you can surely tell! First and foremost by the absolutely gobsmackingly clear and beautiful sounds created, secondly by the room temperature! :)
You can barely touch the ventilation mesh after a couple of hours of music. And i s'pose the electric companies will love you, as their new best customer! This one also has dual phono inputs, if somewhat simplified loading options. Not as tenatiously shielded as in he L-530, but there is no doubt his amp was built with turntables in mind! It does actually have a CD input though, one of the first Lux'es to sport one.
The L-560 have the option of chosing to bypass all filtering and balance controls by using CD/Phono direct. You still have the option to insert Tone controls in the audio path should you want to, even with Direct enabled. The L-560 also sports an extra Line and Tape input on the fro t panel, perhaps meant for future iPod generations? Nothings new, eh? ;)
The option of splitting Pre/Power sections is also present, but here you can use a switch on the rear, instead of using a jumper RCA cable to connect these.
The L-560 is a slightly shinier version of the original L-550. It has an uprated powersupply and some other improvements and variations but these are basically the same.
If you have an opportunity to listen o one of these, grab it! You will be glad you did! :)
Regards Mike