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Luxman L-110

S

steelglam

AK Subscriber
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I've got a possible lead on a Luxman L-110 integrated for $150. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Both sonically and in terms of build.

Features-wise, it seems to have a great pre, esp the phono, which is what I'm looking for. I'd even consider mating it as a pre with my Yamaha MX-1000 or Bryston 3B power amps, as I'm unhappy with my Onkyo P-3030 pre. I've been on the lookout for a Kenwood C-2 or Yamaha CX-1000 pre, but they don't seem to pop up too often.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts on this Luxman unit.
 
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The price is really fair. It's an amp dating from the glory days of Luxman. As a L-505V owner I would say: try to discuss the price, but if the owner insists on the 150, get it if the condition is OK.
 
Thanks, everyone.

So, what's the sonic character of the Luxman?

And would it be silly to use it as a preamp? In other words, would it be better to look for an equivalent Luxman dedicated pre? Or any sense of how it's pre section compares to things like the Kenwood C-2, the HK Citation 17, the NAD 1300, or one of the really good Yamaha preamps (CX-1000, C-2x, etc.)? Especially in terms of functionality and quality of the signal in the phono section.
 
I had the L-100 and was sincerely blown away...to the point that I went with separate Luxman gear. I found it powerful, detailed and full sounding. really top rate sound in my opinion.
 
For that price it's a no brainer to acquire it. I had an L110 that I used the pre out section for quite a while. I really liked the sound of mine It had somewhat of a laid back warmish sound. I wouldn't call it bright at all. It did look great doing it's job as well. The only thing I didn't like about it was that lunkheaded volume knob. It's not finely detented at all and turning it just one click sometimes meant turning on the mute button and starting all over again.
 
Thanks, everyone.

Well that's good because I'm not looking for something too bright. That's the problem with my Onkyo, frankly...too bright to the point that things sound harsh.

How does it do with detail? I know that SOME units that tend to have a warmer sound gloss over detail (not talking about Luxman here...I mean in general). I ask because that is important in terms of what I'm looking for...something that is not bright but that is also detailed. I'm looking for a pre to integrate into a system with either a Yamaha MX-1000 or Bryston 3B amp whose purpose would be close/detailed listening, but that isn't so bright that I can't sit there for more than 15 minutes at moderate volume because it becomes too harsh to handle.
 
Every Luxman I have heard has a similar sound; a very sweet, rich sound, no harshness at all. The detail is all there, not obscured at all. They sound so good, so non - fatiguing, that it makes you want to crank the volume up to get more of that sound. Using it as a preamp would be a waste. The power amp sounds fantastic. I have not heard the L110 but I have worked on an L100 and it is a wonderful amp. Go for it!
 
I love my L-505V because of its sense of detail. It's analytic but not over-analytic and everything from low bass to high is nicely balanced.
 
I just got a C-1010 pre and I am blown away by the sound - just like dr*audio describes it. Running it through a Mitsubishe DA-A10DC right now, but have a M-2000 coming. I'm a Luxman convert and wouldn't hesitate to get that L-110 if I were you.
 
Coconuts 500 said:
Bright AND warm - at the same time. Very unique - in an incredible way. Luxman gear is the best you'll find, for sure. It is one of the few brands that doesn't have a bad unit!
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I agree in so far that you should stay away form the amps that they made after the company was sold to Alpine and later Samsung. From mid 80's till they decided that they would become Luxman with a big L again, it was really mediocre stuff they produced. Nowadays Luxman is a phoenix that rises in full glory. I own a L-505V and the new 505F and 505U's are great, but also have a stiff price.
 
bearwil said:
I agree in so far that you should stay away form the amps that they made after the company was sold to Alpine and later Samsung. From mid 80's till they decided that they would become Luxman with a big L again, it was really mediocre stuff they produced. Nowadays Luxman is a phoenix that rises in full glory. I own a L-505V and the new 505F and 505U's are great, but also have a stiff price.
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Luxman was never sold to Alpine. It just joined the Alps corp which means Alpine/Luxman were just partners but Luxman was still part of the Luxman division and they produced some of their best equipment through those years such as the R115, R117 etc. Their only downfall was their marketing strategy to compete with mid level equipment that was geared towards to the basic electronic consumer. They took their equipment out of the high end stores and sold them in the big box stores instead. I do admit some of the parts that were used in the construction suck as the casing did switch to plastic but then again so did every stereo line of that era as it was the times however the Luxman technology was still hard to beat.
 
Don't hesitate. Buy it. But beware. It will spoil you.
Try the pre section with any other power amps and try it with the Luxman power section. I'll bet you stay with the Luxman.
 
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