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Best Luxman Receiver?

R

Rocker77

New Member
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Hi people. I want to find a vintage Luxman Receiver to use with a new set of Pinnacle Black Diamond 2500 speakers. I need all your opinions as to which unit will give me the best overall bang for my buck. I have narrowed things down to three units.
R-117
R-361
Rx-105
Now I cannot find any info on the R-361 like harmonic distortion etc. It is supposed to be the last unit after the R-117? I read that the RX-105 has a Suck Face and THD rate of 0.013. Is that true?
So guys, which one is the best Luxman Receiver to look out for? Please gibve me as much detail as you can regarding your favorite. Power, Features, Conectivity etc, etc. I really apprecieate your advice.:no:
 
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Seeing as how the speakers you want to drive are not that efficient at 88dB/W/m, I'd go with a R-117 at 160WPC. The R-361 is 100WPC I think. Not sure about the RX-105, but probably not as much as the R-117.

The R-117 has often been hailed as one of the best receivers of it's era, in any case you cannot go wrong with this unit.

One more thing. I would not look at THD specs to judge an amplifier's quality. Values are vanishingly low in any case and won't be what will make or break a specific, well-designed amp, for your ears. Speakers will introduce much more distortion than any amplifier in good condition anyway.

Edit - Just remembered what you asked for was best bang-for-buck. Not sure about this one though... You'd have to check average CL/eBay/Audiogon prices. Hope someone can help you!

az
 
The R-117 is a fantastic unit. Wish I still had the one I sold earlier this year, but was just offered too much money to turn down. Right now I have an R-106: 60 watts/ch. Not in the R-117's league, but pleasant sounding with a good tuner and very affordable by comparison.
 
Better than any of these is the Luxman R-1120. Older styling, but TOTL in a very high quality line of receivers (R-1030, 1040, 1050, 1070, 1120). The 1120 is 120 W/Ch, with a very good tuner, and just about the best sound quality you'll ever hear from a reciever, at any price.
 
The R-117 is the best Luxman receiver and IMO could be the best remote controlled receiver of the Eighties. The R-1120 has T-03 outputs while the R-1120a has chip type outputs. I like the non-a better. The R-371 or 361? is basically a HT receiver and not so good for 2-channel use.
 
Hi you wrote: "Seeing as how the speakers you want to drive are not that efficient at 88dB/W/m". Really, Not trying to be a cheepo here but the Pinnacle's will set me back about 2K. Maybe it's the exterior finish of the 2500's that have me interested but I thought the specs looked pretty darn good. Is efficiency in a speaker as important as THD is in a receiver? I mean, my Minimus 7's are darn efficient LOL! Perhaps I need to jump to the speakers forum to find out a best bang for buck sinareo. Cheers
 
There is no question here. the R-117 is by far the best Luxman receiver with over 2db of dynamic headroom, an excellent tuner, and the front end can be invisable via the CD direct selector if you wish. The R-117 can push just about any speaker system to deliver live level spl's. I've had 3 of these and each one was outstanding. If I had to keep only one receiver to run my system the R-117 would be it.
 
I had an R-117,and I kick myself everyday for selling it.I had a pair of Rectilinear LowBoys that I used with it,and the headroom from that amp was amazing.I had an M-85 at the time,also,which was 260 wpc,and that receiver gave it a real run for its money.
Not even close.
Jimmy
 
Rocker77 said:
Hi you wrote: "Seeing as how the speakers you want to drive are not that efficient at 88dB/W/m". Really, Not trying to be a cheepo here but the Pinnacle's will set me back about 2K. Maybe it's the exterior finish of the 2500's that have me interested but I thought the specs looked pretty darn good. Is efficiency in a speaker as important as THD is in a receiver? I mean, my Minimus 7's are darn efficient LOL! Perhaps I need to jump to the speakers forum to find out a best bang for buck sinareo. Cheers
Click to expand...

You took this the wrong way. It was not a criticism of your speakers. Just saying that 88dB/W is not that efficient. It means that they require a fair ammount of power to play loud. If you want to drive them up to pretty loud and not risk your amp going into clipping, you better have a lot of power into the latter.

Speaker efficiency is not a measure of how good they are, simply something inherent to their design. I run 90dB/W towers with a 125WPC amp. I don't think 90dB/W is very efficient either. You average hi-fi setup might be around 86-92dB/W. Stuff with BIG woofers, horns, will be a lot more efficient, up to 100dB/W and more. Final speaker efficiency is a design parameter that is a trade-off with other parameters.

Look up the sticky thread "Amplifier Sensitivity, Decibels, and You!" at the top of this very forum and Google about amplifier power and how it relates to loudness of the speakers. The gist of it is for each increase in loudness of 3dB you want, you need to double amplifier power. You can see how fast this extra power demand can pile up getting into three-digits dB's from 88dB/W/m. The 160W from the R-117 (excluding headroom) would let you have SPL of ~110dB.

az
 
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Old school receivers

I am biased against Alpine-era Luxman.
I had an RX-102 for years. I thought it was great. It was built like a tank, would drive any speakers I could hook up to it with 60 watts per channel and stability down to 4 ohms.

My R-1040 (and R-1050) sound better than the RX-102. Regarding the tuner and phono sections, no contest. The low end, below 125 Hz... forget it. The older machines are better, hands down. Tighter, better defined bass.

Don't get me wrong. I do not knock the R-117 nor the other Alpine/Luxmen in general. I'm sorry I sold the 102. I wish I had gotten the retractable face repaired. Modified the speaker terminals to accept banana plugs. It was worth keeping. My old Kyocera R-451 was milquetoast by comparison.

Listen to as many Luxmen as you can. Don't discount the ones with analog tuners, though.:music:
 
I have heard good things about Luxman....so going to try one of there R115 recievers with remote....currently running a 1976 Pioneer SA 8500 & love it....never selling it.....Will compare & see?
 
You guys are tempting me to try out a 117 or 1120 at some point (have never heard one). Sounds like these are very good units.
 
I have had and still run several Lux receivers as a big fan of their sound..
Consensus is the R-117 is the bad boy on the block. I've never had one. Seems like lots of power under the hood for a receiver.
Seems for that much power and having read of issues with these I'd rather get a separate power amp and run a R-113 as the preamp.

R-115. I have 2; One as a main daily driver and one in the closet as a backup and for future parts if needed.
Love this receiver. Lots of inputs and options. Good tuner. Good sound. Remote control. Been a good unit for me for years.

R-113. For only 35wpc a nice sound, good tuner, good inputs and outputs. and can be used as a preamp to run a larger amp. Run in the bedroom and like it.

R-104, 105, 106. Ok units. Touches on the smooth Luxman sound. Not in the same league as the larger R units. R-106 has had power relay issues and runs hot at times to make power to the speakers.

RX-102. Very nice sound. Most tube like out of all my Luxmans. I use it daily and have enjoyed it. Don;t let the 70wpc fool you, it has a nice sound and powers some B&W 685's very nice.

R-1120A. My favorite of them all and I would believe what they say about it being one of the best ever "monster" receivers.
Mine is currently in the closet awaiting power board repairs for some rectifiers that burned when some speakers shorted out.
Though a large receiver, it has great power, sound, silver looks, build quality and in-out options. My favorite of them all.. I will keep it forever probably.

That's my experience with Luxman's. I fell in love with the "Luxman sound" from day one and am always on the lookout for a good deal on an old unit.

Good luck and hope you enjoy whatever you decide to get.
 
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432HzBob said:
I have had and still run several Lux receivers as a big fan of their sound..
Consensus is the R-117 is the bad boy on the block. I've never had one. Seems like lots of power under the hood for a receiver.
Seems for that much power and having read of issues with these I'd rather get a separate power amp and run a R-113 as the preamp.

R-115. I have 2; One as a main daily driver and one in the closet as a backup and for future parts if needed.
Love this receiver. Lots of inputs and options. Good tuner. Good sound. Remote control. Been a good unit for me for years.

R-113. For only 35wpc a nice sound, good tuner, good inputs and outputs. and can be used as a preamp to run a larger amp. Run in the bedroom and like it.

R-104, 105, 106. Ok units. Touches on the smooth Luxman sound. Not in the same league as the larger R units. R-106 has had power relay issues and runs hot at times to make power to the speakers.

RX-102. Very nice sound. Most tube like out of all my Luxmans. I use it daily and have enjoyed it. Don;t let the 70wpc fool you, it has a nice sound and powers some B&W 685's very nice.

R-1120A. My favorite of them all and I would believe what they say about it being one of the best ever "monster" receivers.
Mine is currently in the closet awaiting power board repairs for some rectifiers that burned when some speakers shorted out.
Though a large receiver, it has great power, sound, silver looks, build quality and in-out options. My favorite of them all.. I will keep it forever probably.

That's my experience with Luxman's. I fell in love with the "Luxman sound" from day one and am always on the lookout for a good deal on an old unit.

Good luck and hope you enjoy whatever you decide to get.
Click to expand...

Thanks...really helps...my friend back in 1990 swore by them......always been a Pioneer guy...will never sell my amp...but will go ahead & buy this R115 as a quality back - up....Rick
 
Fomoco1649 said:
Thanks...really helps...my friend back in 1990 swore by them......always been a Pioneer guy...will never sell my amp...but will go ahead & buy this R115 as a quality back - up....Rick
Click to expand...
I think the R-115 is the overall best bang for the buck receiver option out there.
It has enough power to drive most speakers to fill a room (but not enough for my 4Ohm Infinities), and with 2 variable pre-outs, works well to use as a preamp to a more powerful amp if you want.
The R-117 is probably an excellent unit but has anyone seen the prices they command these days?? o_O
My senses say R-115 as a base unit and spend the extra on a nice 150wpc power amp to drive.
I use a Kenwood Basic amplifier to provide the power to Infinities that the Luxman just can;t push to their potential..
Have fun. Luxman's, like Marantz, has that addictive sound.
 
When new, the best "bang for the buck" Luxman in my opinion was the R-113.

An R-117 was knocking at the door of power/pre's but sonically it was the best Luxman receiver.

But not the best ergonomically. I remember the remote bring vital for operation and no readily available "smart remote" being able to control all functions.

That may not be so these days.
 
432HzBob said:
I have had and still run several Lux receivers as a big fan of their sound..
Consensus is the R-117 is the bad boy on the block. I've never had one. Seems like lots of power under the hood for a receiver.
Seems for that much power and having read of issues with these I'd rather get a separate power amp and run a R-113 as the preamp.

R-115. I have 2; One as a main daily driver and one in the closet as a backup and for future parts if needed.
Love this receiver. Lots of inputs and options. Good tuner. Good sound. Remote control. Been a good unit for me for years.
Click to expand...

I had 3 at one point, down to just 1 now with another on perma-loan. I know where there is a R-117 that has the dreaded speaker relay issue and could be mine for relatively cheap however I'm happy with the R-115.
 
Dswankey said:
I had 3 at one point, down to just 1 now with another on perma-loan. I know where there is a R-117 that has the dreaded speaker relay issue and could be mine for relatively cheap however I'm happy with the R-115.
Click to expand...
I found a supplier out of Eastern Europe for those speaker relays as they can be hard to find.
Replaced the one on my R-106. The contacts are known to carbon over and cleaning the contacts didn't help my issues.
 
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