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Luxman LV-105u hybrid integrated amp (w/ pics)
- Thread starter Gigapod
- Start date
This is a Old Thead...
My Recap:
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?p=7064950
Let me check if the LV-103U uses different Speaker connectors then LV-105U as I have a LV-105U parts unit.
What size Wire are you using?
My Recap:
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?p=7064950
Let me check if the LV-103U uses different Speaker connectors then LV-105U as I have a LV-105U parts unit.
What size Wire are you using?
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Rob.
Super Member
Prices are low cuz they are ugly and perform alright at best. All it has is a exotic name....lol
asking you
Active Member
Really it sound beter than pioneer A-777?i just been offer by the bigger brother lv-107u,pioneer a-777,still prefer luxman?There must be an easier way to do this - I think!
There must be an easier way to do this - I think! ("People are funnier than anybody" - Spike Jones)
After re-tubing the Luxman 105 above with real "CG" class quality tubes, the sound improved immensely.
The (really) old tubes sounded weedy and thin, the new ones opened up the treble and improved sound over the whole range, and a much beefier, detailed sound emerged.
So, choose only top notch tubes, it really pays.
This amp really like big JBL speakers, listening to a JBL L7 biamped using a LV 105 for the top, a really crappy sounding Pioneer A-777 for the bass.
Sources vary, but for digital usually a Crystal CS 4328 direct coupled with 51 ohm // 110 nF on the output.
And vinyl sounds excellent due to the very good quality RIIA with Stanton 881s and Yamaha MC9 & MC11 cartridges.
As i have 2 of these amplifiers, and wanted to continue with the re-tubing of the next one, I was faced with a 2 hour struggle to get the faceplate off.
But, careful study of the first amp revealed some interesting features.
There are 2 slots over the latches, where you can push the latches down from the inside, for speedy and easy removal.
Tool made of brass rod for the right hand.
Tool for the right hand.
Left hand tool inserted in slot below the tube cage.
Left hand tool poking out below tubes after faceplate removal.
Right hand tool inserted from the side.
Right hand tool in slot just below blue switch.
Right hand tool poking out after removal of faceplate.
And after inserting the tools, the faceplate just slid out, nice and easy.
Hope this will help others, you really think you are going to break something, when removing the faceplate by brute force.
No, he's wrong. Nothing is better than that Pioneer because it is 100% neutral and distortion free. He may like muddy, distorted sound (lots do, just look at how popular old Marantz stuff is). The Luxman here is an overly complex and very poor product. It was made when anything Luxman branded outside of Japan (such as these models) was garbage. It was designed as a gimmick only - mosfets and tubes, both hyped products at the time. Now practically obsolete - for a good reason. While the A-777 still kicks ass, sporting the (objectively) best output transistors ever made - Toshiba 2SA1302/2SC3281 and a brilliant power amp design, making all the right choices. And no pre amp stage at all. Cleanest sound possible.
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asking you
Active Member
This generation of luxman seems very terrible step down built quality except their luxman lv-109u,its very nice built.
SWIN
New Member
An old thread, yes - but I still prefer the LV105 over the Pioneer A-777.
And, thru some Yamaha vintage monitor´s it is very clear, that the A-777 sound´s a small bit muddy, and unclear compared with the more open sound of the LV105.
As for the build quality, yes Pioneer is better than the LV105 - as you can see, I have opened my LV105´s - but not touched my A-777, not even opened it - just works.
I still have a British HiFi mag, with a test on the A-777 - the conclusion is in line with my own findings.
But, the LV105 can sound a bit thin, as was the "house sound" of Luxman - the A-777 really kicks the woofers, when required.
Bi-amping, with the LV105 driving mid and tweeters, and the A-777 driving the woofers is a good option.
And, thru some Yamaha vintage monitor´s it is very clear, that the A-777 sound´s a small bit muddy, and unclear compared with the more open sound of the LV105.
As for the build quality, yes Pioneer is better than the LV105 - as you can see, I have opened my LV105´s - but not touched my A-777, not even opened it - just works.
I still have a British HiFi mag, with a test on the A-777 - the conclusion is in line with my own findings.
But, the LV105 can sound a bit thin, as was the "house sound" of Luxman - the A-777 really kicks the woofers, when required.
Bi-amping, with the LV105 driving mid and tweeters, and the A-777 driving the woofers is a good option.
Not a lot of threads on this topic so I thought it best to revive this one once again.
I'm working on a LV-105u (and a matching D-105u) and had all the same struggles decribed here removing the face plate and accessing the tubes. What I don't see mentioned in this thread is that the design only uses one side of the tubes! The three pins from one plate in the tube simply go to ground. I found mention of this on the lampizator site where a D-105u CD player is extensively modified but the same applies to the amplifiers.
Now here's the interesting bit - the pins that are grounded are mirrored as between the two tubes (the opposite set of pins is grounded.) It is possible then to swap the tubes top to bottom and voila ... a new tube! You are then using the plate that has never been used - at least that's the theory. It would be interesting to have a tube from one of these amps tested to see if there is degradation on one side only after years of use. This might explain why many have commented on other sites that these Luxman hybrids are gentle on tubes and they last a long time (and therefore many, but not all, have noted little improvement from installing new tubes.) So before buying new tubes, just try swapping them top to bottom. That's what I will try once I have fixed everything else on mine.
I also note that there has been discussion of the tubes themselves (GE 6CG7) and someone referred to the TV quality inferior equivalent (6FQ7.) The only difference between these tubes as I understand it is that the CG tube has shielding between the plates that the FQ tube does not. However, given that only one side of the tube is actually used, the existence of shielding would be irrelevant so don't get hung up that.
I'm working on a LV-105u (and a matching D-105u) and had all the same struggles decribed here removing the face plate and accessing the tubes. What I don't see mentioned in this thread is that the design only uses one side of the tubes! The three pins from one plate in the tube simply go to ground. I found mention of this on the lampizator site where a D-105u CD player is extensively modified but the same applies to the amplifiers.
Now here's the interesting bit - the pins that are grounded are mirrored as between the two tubes (the opposite set of pins is grounded.) It is possible then to swap the tubes top to bottom and voila ... a new tube! You are then using the plate that has never been used - at least that's the theory. It would be interesting to have a tube from one of these amps tested to see if there is degradation on one side only after years of use. This might explain why many have commented on other sites that these Luxman hybrids are gentle on tubes and they last a long time (and therefore many, but not all, have noted little improvement from installing new tubes.) So before buying new tubes, just try swapping them top to bottom. That's what I will try once I have fixed everything else on mine.
I also note that there has been discussion of the tubes themselves (GE 6CG7) and someone referred to the TV quality inferior equivalent (6FQ7.) The only difference between these tubes as I understand it is that the CG tube has shielding between the plates that the FQ tube does not. However, given that only one side of the tube is actually used, the existence of shielding would be irrelevant so don't get hung up that.
denbertuz
New Member
Hi SWIN,
I'm planning to get my good old LV-105u back in "mint" condition and will clean all contacts etc. and whil I'm having everything out of the box, I will also renew the tubes, after reading your post.
I've looked at these from the US: https://www.thetubestore.com/ge-6cg7-6fq7?quantity=1&additional_options=3
The price seems very competitive IMO. Would they work?
Cheers
@denbertuz
First off Welcome to AK and best of luck getting your Luxman back up and running, as a big fan and owner of Luxman gear I wish you the best.
On another note the member you quoted and asked a question of posted that almost 14 years ago and hasn't posted to AK in almost 6 years now. Your best bet would be to create your own new thread with a title specific to what information, help etc you're looking for.
There's a lotta of Luxman fans here who should be able to assist.
First off Welcome to AK and best of luck getting your Luxman back up and running, as a big fan and owner of Luxman gear I wish you the best.
On another note the member you quoted and asked a question of posted that almost 14 years ago and hasn't posted to AK in almost 6 years now. Your best bet would be to create your own new thread with a title specific to what information, help etc you're looking for.
There's a lotta of Luxman fans here who should be able to assist.
denbertuz
New Member
Thank you for the heads up - And yes, I did note the online long pause, but was hoping that the user had setup email notification (as I've done) - I'll prepare a new posting with some pictures and my thoughts in the weekend.
Cheers
How would you compare the the A.777 to the Spec 1 amp and matching pre amp. I know it’s not the right forum, but i sold the pioneer and replaced it with the luxman 105u. I can listen for hours to the luxman but the pioneer wire out after short periods although the reproduction was accurate! To each his own I say!
(Sorry to necrobump this thread again, but this is one of the first that comes up on Google when looking for info on these amplifiers.)
I recently got an LV-105 (no u) with original tubes. Over the course of a month, the right channel tube started to die (dimmer glow, much lower output volume, then crackling and static), just in time for Christmas.
Switching the tubes top-to-bottom worked and the amp sounds like new again! Although this isn't an objective test of the tube's performance, the degradation in my case was obvious.
Hope this can help another owner of these amps!
BartmanEH
New Member
This is incredibly interesting. I'm considering trying this in my LV-105 to see if the sound improves, however, I'm so happy with how it sounds with my Klipsch Heresy II speakers, I'm inclined to leave it alone lest I risk breaking something.