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Luxman M-12 Power Amplifier

rasenthiran

rasenthiran

Well-Known Member
Hi Guys,

I would like your opinion on above luxman power amplifier. I am planning to buy it and use my Sansui AU 7900 amplifier as a preamp. Is it a good idea?? The sansui produce 80 waat and the luxman output is also 80 waat perchannel. Will be there any noticeable different in term of sound or i should look for more power full power amplifier?

Thanks

Raj
 
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highly regarded If it has the original transistors, you'll see the luxman 'L' logo on them. You can see them through the screen that covers the heat sink.
 
Thanks Binkman,blue shadow.

How about the power rating?? Does it play the role between the pre/power because both has around the same output?
 
This is a very high quality amp, just about the best there is, and the little Sansui won't come near it in terms of performance. Luxman units of this era played best with passive pre-amps (so just a volume control), which also happened to be what all of Luxman's integrated amps used at the time.

You'll never find anything better than this.
 
rasenthiran said:
How about the power rating?? Does it play the role between the pre/power because both has around the same output?
Click to expand...

There is a preamp and the M-12 is not one. And there is a power amp and this is what the M-12 is.

Your Sansui is a combination of these two, an integrated amplifier. It does have the ability to separate the two sections and use the preamplifier output to drive the M-12 and leave the AU-7900 amplifier idling with no input. The rear panel of the Sansui has the switch to separate the sections and offer the preamp output you would use for the Luxman.

But I wrote that because I didn't completely understand your question.
 
Thx Blue Shadow, I am clear now...,i was a bit confused on how to get it fixed. Trying for the first time to add a power amp.
 
Hi Guys,

I managed to get the luxman M-12 power amplifier and connecting it to my Sansui au 7900. The sound is very good but I have few quick questions/advice to ask before going further since this is my first pre/power experience. This power amplifier weights the same as my Sansui AU 7900,14.5 KG !!

1.
The seller told me to power on the Sansui AU 7900 first and then only I can power on the luxman before listening,and when to switch off, vice verse,off the luxman first and then the Sansui. He said this is to make sure power amplifier is not damage. I am not really sure whether its true or not. How about the source ( cd player ) ??off it first or last.

2.
There is a level setting behind the m-12 for right n left speaker, looks like the output knob in tuners which is usually set in the middle. Does it function the same way in this power amplifier. When I set to minimum, there is no sound.

3.
This m-12 is looks very original. It has all the eight original transistors with "L" signs. My question is whether do you think I should send it for recapped to protect the original luxman transistors or used it as it is.It works fine now. What can actually caused the original transistor to fail??Do you think recapping will solve the transistors failure??

I am very new to this setup and your advice and opinion will help me to increase my knowledge on using pre/power setup.

Thanks guys
 
Last edited:
I talk about volume controls in this thread:

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=599322

Set the M-12 controls so the AU has good movement on its control.

Yes. Turn the whole system on before you turn on the power amp with the volume control of the AU all the way down.

This prevents the turn on pops and clicks from getting M-12 amplified and damaging the speakers or amp. Turn amp off first for the same reason.

A recap would not be a waste on this unit as it is from the late 70s or so.
 
The original question was concerning whether replacing an 80wpc amp with another 80wpc amp would make a difference in the sound quality. It seems to be the consensus of opinion in this thread, that the 80 wpc Luxman is a better power amp than the 80 wpc power amp side of the Sansui. If the speakers and room did not need more power than you had before, then there would be an improvement in sound, and so this would be a worthwhile change.

If, however, your speakers were inefficient, and your room large, you might have been better advised to look for a power amp with a higher power output. But, to get a noticeable improvement in loudness, without distortion, you would have to go to a very powerful amp indeed, say 300 wpc or more. Sound and power work on a logarithmic scale.
 
Hi Rick,

Thanks for your opinion and advice. Rite now I have only budget to support a 80 watt power amplifier. It can drive the Monitor Audio Studio speaker easily. May be later I will go for more power.

Hi Blue Shadow,thanks for the info and tips..Got a question here..If I am going to use the headphone, the sound I am getting is only from the Sansui Preamp rite??
 
rasenthiran said:
If I am going to use the headphone, the sound I am getting is only from the Sansui Preamp rite??
Click to expand...
It has been 5 years and you know the answer but yes only the Sansui is part of the headphone system.

I just picked up an M-12 and wondering how you liked it and if you moved on. I see you have some Sansui separates in your sig now.

Did you get the amp recapped, if so did it make a difference? Did you have to replace the DML-01 modules in the amp?
 
Hi Blue Shadow,

Sold it after i bought a Sansui Pre/Power. I sold it to Luxman fan who had the matching Pre.

Thanks

Raj
 
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