Luxman d-380 - what do people think?

[Chris Newman]

Hey everyone!

I’m eyeing up a Luxman d-380, but can’t find much by ways of reviews online. It fascinates me because not only does it look so beautiful, but you can switch between tube and solid state mode. My current CD is an Adcom GCD-750 in an Adcom stack with GFP-750 and GFA-555. I do really like the CD player in that set, but wondering what the Luxman is like in comparison. I do want to upgrade my solid state components eventually (I also happily have a Sansui AU-111), so this could be a nice way to get into Luxman. I have some LS3/5a at the moment as well as big Ohm Acoustics Model I (eye) which I’ll soon be swapping out for Klipsch Forte 4.

Any options welcome! Thank you,

Chris

 

[Sansuiman]

I looked over the specs on Luxman's site. That's a superlative player on specs and build quality. I'm sure it sounds excellent, though I doubt I'll ever have a chance to hear one in person, unless I happen across someone who owns one and is willing to invite me for a listening session. It also has just enough "eye candy" factor to appeal to those who are concerned with such things, even with it's fairly minimalist design (which is typical among modern high end players).

I've used numerous different CD players (most of which are admittedly midrange product from the 80's and 90's) with my AU-111, and have found only a couple I didn't think satisfactory. Both of these were models derived from early Toshiba players (Luxman D-404 being one of them), but being 1st or 2nd gen players, one wouldn't really expect them to be especially good.

 

[Chris Newman]

Thanks, Sansuiman! I just bought a accuphase c-280l so thinking of getting one of their more reasonable cd players as a match. Dp-510, 550 or 600 maybe… reasonable in the context of what their higher end models go for I guess!

 

[restorer-john]

That's a superlative player on specs and build quality.

No, it's a very nice looking player with poor specifications using a very cheap (which can be a good or bad thing) laser mech, dressed up in a nice block of aluminium in a pretty box with tube or two thrown in to sell to audiophiles.



The mechanism is a Sanyo SF-P101 (or clone of a Sanyo) which is about as cheap as you can get. They are used in kid's CD boomboxes. I've pulled them from Barbie VW beetle boomboxes.
Thing is, there only a few mechs still being made in 2026, so a super cheap one like this can be a good thing as it'll be easy to replace when the RF-310T Mabuchi brushed spindle motor dies like they do.

Rated THD is atrocious for Compact Disc even in SS mode. Consider when CD was introduced in 1982, THD was 0.002% and the best players in the late 80s it was <0.0015%. S/N is good enough, but nowhere near SOTA players from the 1980s.

 

[Sansuiman]

@restorer-john, Ok, I stand corrected. I didn't delve quite deep enough into the nitty gritty on the D-380. A cursory assessment on my part was clearly inadequate. That they are using a Sanyo pickup is actually rather embarrassing. However, what is currently in production that would be considered genuinely high quality in that regard? All the renowned of Philips pickups of yore are long since disco'd and obsolete. Does Sony even make any optical blocks anymore? Or is it all chinesium as far as the eye can see?

It's a damned shame, that even Luxman has resorted to the "all sizzle and no steak" design philosophy. I was a bit amused by the "zoom" function on the display. While perhaps a nice touch, it's the sort of silly feature that is if little actual value, but gets talked up heavily in the marketing.

Having a wealth of older CD players amongst my collection of gear, some have better displays than others in terms of information conveyed and readability.. The display on the Luxman D-380 is pretty sparse compared to most of these, though it does show the neccessary info for the needs of most users. I prefer a VFD with a greater level of detail, personally.

 

[restorer-john]

However, what is currently in production that would be considered genuinely high quality in that regard? All the renowned of Philips pickups of yore are long since disco'd and obsolete. Does Sony even make any optical blocks anymore? Or is it all chinesium as far as the eye can see?

There are a few bespoke mechs, but the Sanyo (or clones) seem to be what everyone is using. Not sure what Yamaha is using anymore. And there seems to be some Chinese slot loaders too.

The Sanyo works and is cheap, but Luxman should be honest and not dress it up as something special. They could sell the inexpensiveness and ubiquity as a good thing if they honest.

Don't get me wrong, it's a lovely 'looking' player for sure.

 

[Sansuiman]

I was looking online at the Sanyo (and clone version) transports, and the complete block assembly can be purchased for $50. That's the optical pickup, motor and related gearing, all installed on the steel plate, as a complete drop in unit. That's less than most replacement pickups for older designs that are still available for purchase. I guess the ubiquity of the part is a benefit if one wants to maintain the functionality of the unit for the longer term.

What I find puzzling is why Luxman skimped on the electronics, such that the THD rating is so poor. That number isn't a function of the pickup, but of the processing of the signal after being read off the disc. Certainly they could've done better than they did, and on a player positioned as a premium product, is a pretty serious shortcoming.