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Luxman Suck Face Stack - My Restoration

Recaptcha

Recaptcha

Active Member
I've done my fair share of Luxman collecting and posting throughout the years, but I've always wanted something from the Servoface era, as I've heard some of the gear from this time, and it sounds extraordinary to me. I've owned a lot of components from the 'Brid' era, some early 90s stuff (L-570), and some decent 70s gear too!

I just recently found a seller on the bay selling a bunch of complete 1983 Luxman 'Suckface' components, all the best TOTL models, so I had to jump right on them! The seller had the entire set of these components, and was selling them all separately. I was able to get a good discount from the seller because I agreed to buy everything he had so the entire set would stay together... and boy do I have my hands full now:

PXL_20250120_184037225.jpg
PXL_20250120_184109650.jpg

Stunning. Perhaps even more stunning is the boxes:

PXL_20250119_151816119.jpg

Combined with my L112 boxes, it looks like I just had these delivered from a boutique hifi store fresh! Incidentally, The L112s sound amazing with these components, it was a match made in heaven that I have seen other AKers attest too as well... I had these L112s previously from another setup, never liked them at all until now.

Back to the components themselves. I ended up with an RX-103 receiver, KX-102 cassette deck, a GX-101 equalizer, and a PX-101 turntable. They all work... mostly. The tape deck has a annoying squeak sound that occurs some, the amp has a bad speaker switch and some dodgy input relays. EQ has a good amount of leaking capacitors. Even with the squeak, the tape deck sounds great, and the EQ is responsive and working... even though it has noticable leakage on the legs of all Matsushita caps.

What I want to do is restore all of these components and log my progress here, but also hopefully have good discussion from those more knowledgeable than I. I haven't started on the restorations yet, but I completed some odd jobs to bring these back to a somewhat functional state:

  • I have replaced the belts in the cassette deck and rejuvenated the idler tire. This has been enough to revive it to full working order (for now).
  • I changed out all the bulbs in each component for fresh incandescent bulbs... to keep the original color. I don't want LEDs... I'm grumpy about that.
  • I did a thorough cleaning inside and out for each component... those acrylic buttons really accumulate dust around them.
  • I fiddled with the suckfaces, but turned them off shortly after because of how annoying they were to me. Such noise...
  • The tonearm on the turntable was broken in shipping, so I had to completely dismantle it and repair it. It also needs a new dust cover now.

Here's how the lights look now:

PXL_20250123_034705457.NIGHT.jpg

Overall, I feel so lucky I found these in such good shape, and with the boxes! Usually, the silver paint is faded and there are deep scratches, but not on these!

More detailed repair updates, pictures, and sound opinions to follow.

P.S. Yes, the TV is getting raised haha
 
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Very nice. I've not picked up any servo face Luxman...yet. Have a stack of "Status" series from circa 1984; MX-100, CX-100, GX-101, TX-101, D-03. These also used the blue and pink lucite "ice cube" buttons as first seen on the "suckface" models, and while it is very much a product of it's time in terms of design, I like the look. Very retro cool, and they sound great as well.

I'm hoping to find a nice PX-101 to finish out the set sometime this year. They aren't that uncommon, but most I've found so far are either obscenely expensive, or have serious issues.
 
I had a cheaper, lower powered Luxman receiver at one point, which I sold when I got my Marantz 2270, which is more powerful and I like far more. Still, the Luxman was cool, and the styling particaurly nice. I wish I had held onto it as a spare, as here and there I have had the Marantz serviced and have had the need for a spare. I bought a cheap Nikko receiver to do that job, and it's fine, but the Luxman would be been nicer!
 
I have the KX-102 in storage. Bought mine from Rodger Sound Labs in 1986 for 499.00(60% off). It's a fine deck. Enjoy.
 
Thanks everyone for the awesome vibes and replies! I feel like I have some good support behind my restoration efforts! Thanks @mrehorst for the great write up on the RX-103, I'll definitely be using your guide AND mouser order... I may have some questions about that spreadsheet when I get closer to working on the receiver.

@qdrone I think the cassette deck is the best part of the stack! I think it's the nicest cassette deck I've used (although I've not owned too many 3 headers). I think the KX-102 is quite rare, you usually find the KX-101, or the 100...

PXL_20250125_154154424.jpgPXL_20250125_154203483.jpgPXL_20250125_154225104.jpg

Here are some closeups I took today of the right faces. I really want to show how clean and nice these are, especially after taking the faces apart and cleaning between the glass layers!

PXL_20250125_154557125.jpgPXL_20250125_155315425.MP.jpg

Someone was mentioning Rodger Sound Labs earlier, and I coincidentally spied a Rodger Sound Labs stamp on the EQ box! The other 3 components are stamped 'Northern Electronics'

...Speaking of Graphic EQ. I have decided to start my restoration efforts by recapping the EQ. It seems the easiest out of the three, and most everything besides the caps are good for a lot more mileage (the relay being an exception). I disassembled the graphic EQ and have started the process of ordering capacitors from Mouser.

PXL_20250127_020516498.MP.jpg

It's very complicated for a graphic EQ I think! (I've repaired a few EQs, usually less board and wires. Spy that massive ALPINE custom chip!!

PXL_20250126_202856049.jpgPXL_20250126_202942492.jpgPXL_20250126_203021197.jpg

Here are ONLY SOME of the capacitor leakage I mentioned in my first post. There are about 10 of these 16V 10UF caps of the same brand that have leaked in here... on the main board. If I remember correctly, I'm thinking that emblem on these caps are for MATSUSHITA (Panasonic). There are some ELNA 16V 10UF caps also on the main board, and none of those have leaked. Seems to be a brand problem. Some of these like caps are on other boards, and they don't look to have leaked. I think it's funny HOW these leaked... one corroded leg, one clean leg. The unit has a strong chemical smell not present in the other components.

Now, I want to use mostly long-life WURTH caps (the red ones) to recap this, as they have really good specs, and they are a tad less expensive, and I have used them in the past with good success.

Next post will most likely be the recap progress/completion!!
 
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Recaptcha said:
I think the cassette deck is the best part of the stack!
Click to expand...
I had a K-12 one of the earliest cassette decks. A friend won a K-15 (sales contest, random drawing) and these were most excellent machines. I think the KX-102 is in the same league as these and will perform as well as just about any but the most special cassette decks made. Well worth making it right but getting used to working on these Luxman units by starting with the EQ is a good idea.
Recaptcha said:
It's very complicated for a graphic EQ I think!
Click to expand...
With what it does in the way of EQ it isn't too complicated. Maybe that full board of chips makes a difference. Hopefully this is an easy introduction to the restore work you have coming.

Are you on the lookout for an LX-104/TX-101 to 'upgrade' your stack? The amp is a few more watts. Without the tuning knob and fancy looking tuning dial of the old analog junk, the LX could go in the system and keep the same visual impact as the RX. I say this because ak is very, very receiver centric because of all the knobs, switches, buttons, dials and colorful lights that give the owner the feeling of driving the starship Enterprise.

Nice stack, great condition. My RX-103 with remote has a bruised faceplate and missing battery cover on the remove. I still need to fix it up. Looking up your gear brought the OM for this unit into my collection of documents since it is on HFE now.

Gonna enjoy this thread as it grows.
 
Recaptcha said:
I've done my fair share of Luxman collecting and posting throughout the years, but I've always wanted something from the Servoface era, as I've heard some of the gear from this time, and it sounds extraordinary to me. I've owned a lot of components from the 'Brid' era, some early 90s stuff (L-570), and some decent 70s gear too!

I just recently found a seller on the bay selling a bunch of complete 1983 Luxman 'Suckface' components, all the best TOTL models, so I had to jump right on them! The seller had the entire set of these components, and was selling them all separately. I was able to get a good discount from the seller because I agreed to buy everything he had so the entire set would stay together... and boy do I have my hands full now:

View attachment 3408557
View attachment 3408558

Stunning. Perhaps even more stunning is the boxes:

View attachment 3408562

Combined with my L112 boxes, it looks like I just had these delivered from a boutique hifi store fresh! Incidentally, The L112s sound amazing with these components, it was a match made in heaven that I have seen other AKers attest too as well... I had these L112s previously from another setup, never liked them at all until now.

Back to the components themselves. I ended up with an RX-103 receiver, KX-102 cassette deck, a GX-101 equalizer, and a PX-101 turntable. They all work... mostly. The tape deck has a annoying squeak sound that occurs some, the amp has a bad speaker switch and some dodgy input relays. EQ has a good amount of leaking capacitors. Even with the squeak, the tape deck sounds great, and the EQ is responsive and working... even though it has noticable leakage on the legs of all Matsushita caps.

What I want to do is fix these problems and log my progress here in this thread as well as hopefully have good discussion from those more knowledgeable than I. So Here's what I've done so far:

  • I have replaced the belts in the cassette deck and rejuvenated the idler tire. This has been enough to revive it to full working order (for now).
  • I changed out all the bulbs in each component for fresh incandescent bulbs... to keep the original color. I don't want LEDs... I'm grumpy about that.
  • I did a thoroughly cleaning inside and out for each component... those acrylic buttons really accumulate dust around them.
  • I repaired the suckfaces, but turned them off shortly after because of how annoying they were to me. Such noise...
  • The tonearm on the turntable was broken in shipping, so I had to completely dismantle it and repair it. It also needs a new dust cover now.

Here's how the lights look now:

View attachment 3408572

Overall, I feel so lucky I found these in such good shape, and with the boxes! Usually, the silver paint is faded and there are deep scratches, but not on these!

More detailed repair updates, pictures, and sound opinions to follow.

P.S. Yes, the TV is getting raised haha
Click to expand...
Love that moniker, "suck face".
 
kgetchmaine said:
Those things are so cool and unnecessary at the same time! :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Part of style is the art. Art is unnecessary for function, which is why it appeals to us.

Recaptcha said:
Thanks everyone for the awesome vibes and replies! I feel like I have some good support behind my restoration efforts! Thanks @mrehorst for the great write up on the RX-103, I'll definitely be using your guide AND mouser order... I may have some questions about that spreadsheet when I get closer to working on the receiver.

@qdrone I think the cassette deck is the best part of the stack! I think it's the nicest cassette deck I've used (although I've not owned too many 3 headers). I think the KX-102 is quite rare, you usually find the KX-101, or the 100...



Here are some closeups I took today of the right faces. I really want to show how clean and nice these are, especially after taking the faces apart and cleaning between the glass layers!



Someone was mentioning Rodger Sound Labs earlier, and I coincidentally spied a Rodger Sound Labs stamp on the EQ box! The other 3 components are stamped 'Northern Electronics'

...Speaking of Graphic EQ. I have decided to start my restoration efforts by recapping the EQ. It seems the easiest out of the three, and most everything besides the caps are good for a lot more mileage (the relay being an exception). I disassembled the graphic EQ and have started the process of ordering capacitors from Mouser.



It's very complicated for a graphic EQ I think! (I've repaired a few EQs, usually less board and wires. Spy that massive ALPINE custom chip!!

Here are ONLY SOME of the capacitor leakage I mentioned in my first post. There are about 10 of these 16V 10UF caps of the same brand that have leaked in here... on the main board. If I remember correctly, I'm thinking that emblem on these caps are for MATSUSHITA (Panasonic). There are some ELNA 16V 10UF caps also on the main board, and none of those have leaked. Seems to be a brand problem. Some of these like caps are on other boards, and they don't look to have leaked. I think it's funny HOW these leaked... one corroded leg, one clean leg. The unit has a strong chemical smell not present in the other components.

Now, I want to use mostly long-life WURTH caps (the red ones) to recap this, as they have really good specs, and they are a tad less expensive, and I have used them in the past with good success.

Next post will most likely be the recap progress/completion!!
Click to expand...

I have no desire to ever own these, but it is nice to see working ones.

egellings said:
Love that moniker, "suck face".
Click to expand...

It's a little brutal, but it is applicable.
 
The suckface keeps folks from messing with the settings when the unit is off. Guess the idea didn't catch on as they seem to be unicorns.
 
Blue Shadow said:
I had a K-12 one of the earliest cassette decks. A friend won a K-15 (sales contest, random drawing) and these were most excellent machines. I think the KX-102 is in the same league as these and will perform as well as just about any but the most special cassette decks made. Well worth making it right but getting used to working on these Luxman units by starting with the EQ is a good idea.

With what it does in the way of EQ it isn't too complicated. Maybe that full board of chips makes a difference. Hopefully this is an easy introduction to the restore work you have coming.

Are you on the lookout for an LX-104/TX-101 to 'upgrade' your stack? The amp is a few more watts. Without the tuning knob and fancy looking tuning dial of the old analog junk, the LX could go in the system and keep the same visual impact as the RX. I say this because ak is very, very receiver centric because of all the knobs, switches, buttons, dials and colorful lights that give the owner the feeling of driving the starship Enterprise.

Nice stack, great condition. My RX-103 with remote has a bruised faceplate and missing battery cover on the remove. I still need to fix it up. Looking up your gear brought the OM for this unit into my collection of documents since it is on HFE now.

Gonna enjoy this thread as it grows.
Click to expand...

That's very good to know, and I wouldn't doubt it based on the quality I've witnessed with this cassette deck, and really the quality of all the components... except the turntable... but we'll get to the turntable soon enough. The cassette deck is scheduled for the next recap job.

I don't have a horse in the race of receiver vs amp, although I will say I've owned very few receivers in my years of the hobby. I've had mostly integrated amps and pre amp/power amp pairs. I like the purity of separates, and the fact you can turn off the tuner when not needed... old unrestored receivers have a tendency for input/tuner crossover. I could be persuaded to move toward an LX-104 + TX-101, but a minimum requirement for me is original box and excellent condition... and having the box is usually an indicator of better than average shape in my experience. The RX-103 spoke to me not because I wanted a receiver, but rather I wanted something from the suckface era that was well kept and with a set... not sure I'll see that in the market again anytime soon.

On another note, all GX-101 caps have been ordered! They are all coming in on Friday, and I've blocked off the entire weekend to do the work. I counted 12 caps that had visibly leaked, so I'm curious to see how it performs after the job is done.

Dude I wish I still had an HFE account. I'd love to have the documents for my components. My account mysteriously disappeared along with the site owner. I used to have an AK DM conversation with him from years ago, but he is long gone now.
 
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Blue Shadow said:

Luxman Service Manuals — Free PDF | Audio Service Manuals

Free Luxman service manuals, schematics and owner's manuals. Read online or download as PDF — no login required.
www.audioservicemanuals.com
PX, RX and KX are there
Click to expand...
That's the same RX-103 manual scan I used when working on my RX-103. Unfortunately, the scan quality is just low enough that it's hard to tell where lines on the schematic just cross and where they are connected. It can make troubleshooting difficult.
 
Kodaline said:
A good receiver would have a mute circuit on the tuner; I haven't run into any crossover like that.
Click to expand...

Is receiver bleed-through par for the course

I have a Sony STR-DE835 receiver. I've noticed that when I listen on headphones to inputs I can hear the faint sound of music from other inputs. Example, my SACD is routed into the analog input of the CD. When I listen to the Tape input on headphones (while no tape source is playing) I can...
audiokarma.org
 
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