Trying to sort of the differences between Luxman generations R-115, r-1030, r1040, 405, L5

[dsx123]

So, as I am somewhat obsessive about audio, trying to sort out the differences in sound quality/ sound signature of the different luxman models.

The info I have is this:
(units i have tried or owned)
R-113--R-117=. Later alpine luxman, very good sounding, newer sound then the early ones, a bit more detailed, a bit less warm
R- 1040 -- R1070= late 1970s luxman, very good. clear and distortion free, while still very lively and musical, a bit like older marantz, but a bit cleaner

(generations I am unsure of)
R-404--R406=. possibly early alpine units, unsure how these compare to the r-11x series.
L-1--L5 amplifiers=. late 1970s luxman, I would assume these sound like the r-10xx series.
R-3030=. early 1980s luxman, i would assume these sound a lot like the R-1040, but dont know.

I guess i would be curious if anyone had experience comparing the sound of the 5 different generations listed.

or any of these comparasions
the R-1040 compared to the L5/3/2 or the R3030
the R115 to the R404

Just wondering if I am missing anything with the generation receivers that I dont have.
Hopefully I am posting some useful info as well.

 

[Blue Shadow]

R-1040, 1050 and 1120 were first
then R-1070 added with R-1030 at the start of the line and 1120a replacing the 1120.
The R-3030 replaced the 1030 and had the R-3045 and R-3055 in the line. i think these were duo-β designs like the L-450/480/580 amps. I used an L-580 for years while I was just using the stereo.

the L-1-5 were the regular line, Studio Standard Series, b4 the duo-β amps. The L-80/85V/100/110 were the amps before the 1-5. I preferred the early rosewood vinyl clad 80/85 partly because of the odd bottom RCAs directly mounted to the circuit board on the L-5 group. For that time frame I prefer the Laboratory Standard Series amps, L-11, L-10 (yes, I like this one) and the ToTL, Laboratory Reference Series 5L15, an excellent integrated amp.

I’ve always liked the R-1050 since the 1120 wasn’t as reliable (maybe just partying induced overdriven failures when new back then) and I don’t know the 1070/1120a, yet. I have a 1050 and 3055, keepers for me if I downsize to receivers, both going to be recapped. One aker has said the 30xx sounds better than the 10xx, both recapped and improved.

a friend has the R-405 but I haven’t heard it to compare. I don’t think these were sold in large enough numbers to have much knowledge of them out there. The later R-113/114/115/117 are acknowledged as sounding great and the only other receivers in that group were the 1040-1120 ones. Only because of lack of info on many between these. I’ve read the R-351 sounds very good but only one comment so far, not a common knowledge type evaluation like come with the 113-117 or 1040-1120 groups.

Lux made a lot of different gear and tried to voice it similarly and I have a pile of favorites that I would want instead of any of the major brands.

 

[Mr Bill]

I have an R-1050 and I used it as a phono input preamp to record all of my vinyl onto CD format ( about 1200 albums converted to CD ) I sent the headphone output ( which had adjustable volume as I recall ) into the great sound card that was installed in my old tower PC running Win 7 then Win 8. I used a program called Magix as the Digital mastering format and burner - writing all CD discs at 1x so as not to lose any analog info. It was a very timely process using older hard drives that could just maybe support 2 albums at a time. So I would record both sides of the album then write 2 or 3 CDs from the hard drive. 1 was the working CD ( I Dj'd for just a few years for friends and family events ) and the other 2 were backup masters in case the working discs got damaged. I then had to erase the hard drive to leave enough space for the next album. What A PITA - still have all those CD's but the burner CD writer / player died and I have not been able to find anyone that can resurrect it for me here locally. I took it to one computer shop here they had it for about 3 weeks and charged me $150 but when I then tried to burn CD's afterwards it would never work again. They messed something up bad. Have not had the ambition to try to resalvage the system again - looks to be easier these days to just get a streamer ripper. The quality of sound the Luxman phono section provided for this process converting the CD's using the R-1050 was superb. I have been very happy with the results.
Now for the rest of the story as Paul Harvey used to say..... I took a friend that resurrected old TV's , Stereos, VCR's and any audio equipment he could find in transfer stations and recycle centers in the different towns around here to a salvage company in Worcester about 35 years ago.. He sold them a bunch of electronics scrap metal from all kinds of things he could not fix. He would scrap the stuff out and separate the metals as best he could throwing wood and plastic parts in his normal house trash smashed up to keep the trash bags smaller. Fact was he was 90% blind in one eye and had about 50% vision in the other eye from fighting diabetes since he was 12 or 15 years old. Poor Dave was a cracker jack electronics tech but his poor eyesight really prohibited him from fixing a lot of stuff. SO on our way out of the scrap yard previously mentioned I spotted an electronic piece in the snow on my side of the car. I stopped and got out and went through about 6 inches of snow and pulled my Luxman R-1050 out of the ice and snow it was stuck in. I also found the cover next to it and had a tough time but finally got it out too without damaging it. I let it sit in my basement for about a month next to the furnace to defrost it and dry it out. Plugged it in and it worked.....This is my Luxman story and it is true. My friend Dave passed about 8 years ago now and I truly miss him and his escapades with electronics. BTW does anyone have a service manual and or schematic for a Luxman R-1050... I would like to rebuild mine someday soon before I kick the can for the last time and am reunited with all of my old friends that have left this earth before me.
Mr. Bill

 

[Dswankey]

. BTW does anyone have a service manual and or schematic for a Luxman R-1050...

Here you go

http://akdatabase.com/AKview/albums/userpics/10007/Luxman%20R1050%20Service%20Manual.pdf

 

[Mr Bill]

Dswankey: Thanks SO MUCH and Happy Holidays to you. I hope it sounds even better after my re-cap. Are you a Bass Player ? I was I had 7 Kapa basses at one time down to 3 now. I have small hands can't play one of those big babies............
Best Regards
Mr. Bill