Luxman upgraditis

[punprankster]

Having tasted the goods...
I just recently completed my Luxman stack. C, M, G-120s and T-115. Loving it but also got myself a case of Luxman upgraditis. Would it be worth parting with them to get an M-02/C-02 combo? I am fine with not having a tuner and an equalizer but wondering if higher end Luxmans would be worth trading my present stuff in for.
Other ones I'm thinking of at the moment are M-2000/C-1010 or the likes and an L-505 or its derivatives. What say you, guys?

 

[Blue Shadow]

Don't know the sound of the -02 gear, it is a few years later, after the Alpine era started and the units sold for about the same as the -120 gear sold for, $50 or so more maybe, list price. I would want to hear the -02 gear or get info from someone that has heard both.

The C-1000/1010 and M-4000 is a high water mark for the beautiful Luxman gear and the following year 1976, they came out with some of their best stuff up until this century with the LRS gear, the 5C50, 5M20, 5M21, preamp, amp and metered amp, respectively, with additional 2 tuners, a eq, a tone control unit, LED power indicator and cassette deck. I don't know the M-2000 but if it is in the same vein as the M-4000 and the C has been recapped, that would be a nice step up on quality but same power. The LRS amps are 100 watts but them are damn big watts, not shetland watts like AV gear but true Clydesdales.

I think the move to a new Luxman would be a great step. The have reasserted themselves as a top sound quality manufacturer after goofing off for a decade or two and want to build great sounding gear. Unfortunately, much of their gear is just a little spendy for many here on AK. One low volume listener had the tube integrated amp and he was very happy with the sound. He has changed gear so much, I can't keep up with the reasons. I recapped a Cary SLi-80, he loved it, sold it and bought another one for me to recap. The Lux came after those as he searches for a downsized unit to enjoy.

Keep us posted on what you listen to and what you think of it. Maybe you can look at the L-100/110 integrated amps, too.

 

[punprankster]

I've only heard good things about the new Luxmans but unfortunately they are a bit too pricey for me. Maybe in another 30 years when their prices have come down I'll buy them used.

It's interesting what you said about the C/M-02. I thought they sat above the X-120s in the Luxman range of products based on what I read about them in VintageKnob. If that's the case I wonder if there would be an audible difference between the two. Maybe I should focus my attention on the C/1010-M2000 combo.