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What is regarded as the best Luxman amp for the money?
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Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
Laboratory Reference Series 5M20 or the metered 5M21 are their best solid state amps from the 70s at 100wpc but able to drive anything we had. Still want one of these but it would need to be restored. Used daily in the sound room.
MB-3045 converted to use 6550/KT88 from the NLA original, proprietary 8045G is their very highly-regarded, Tim de Paravicini-designed 50w mono amps but these are now over twice the budget. These are my best sounding amps. Better than 90s high end gear.
The M2000, 120wpc, M-4000, 180wpc and M-6000 are the solid state amps before the LRS gear and look amazing. Meters and LEDs, wood cabinets and now getting above budget. Also Tim d P designed. Part of the 50th anniversary gear. Shoulda bought the M-4000 when prices were low.
The M-12, 80wpc or B-12, 150w mono amps are just below the LRS gear and part of the Laboratory Standard Series. I need to try this amp against the tube amps to see if it is as good as the Luxman . io group says. It is a nice amp but looks different with the front of the amp being perfplate covered heatsinks and views of the illuminated beauty rings around the output transistors. These are in budget, generally. I just recapped an M-12 and it does sound cleaner and has a better top end and bass than the original unit I have.
M-120a, 120wpc Duo-ß should be decent but not built like the above amp. I had the L-580 integrated amp from that series and used it for years.
M-300, 40w class A, 150wpc Class A/B is the next offering with the Duo-ß negative feedback circuit of the early 80s era and they seem pretty good. I don't know what they sell for, haven't seen many of them.
Later amps M-02, I don't know but the M-05 is something, way over budget, though.
Don't know the newer stuff as I didn't need to keep learning about Luxman. Then this century the amp quality is like the price, up there.
If you don't need looks the M-12 would be the target.
MB-3045 converted to use 6550/KT88 from the NLA original, proprietary 8045G is their very highly-regarded, Tim de Paravicini-designed 50w mono amps but these are now over twice the budget. These are my best sounding amps. Better than 90s high end gear.
The M2000, 120wpc, M-4000, 180wpc and M-6000 are the solid state amps before the LRS gear and look amazing. Meters and LEDs, wood cabinets and now getting above budget. Also Tim d P designed. Part of the 50th anniversary gear. Shoulda bought the M-4000 when prices were low.
The M-12, 80wpc or B-12, 150w mono amps are just below the LRS gear and part of the Laboratory Standard Series. I need to try this amp against the tube amps to see if it is as good as the Luxman . io group says. It is a nice amp but looks different with the front of the amp being perfplate covered heatsinks and views of the illuminated beauty rings around the output transistors. These are in budget, generally. I just recapped an M-12 and it does sound cleaner and has a better top end and bass than the original unit I have.
M-120a, 120wpc Duo-ß should be decent but not built like the above amp. I had the L-580 integrated amp from that series and used it for years.
M-300, 40w class A, 150wpc Class A/B is the next offering with the Duo-ß negative feedback circuit of the early 80s era and they seem pretty good. I don't know what they sell for, haven't seen many of them.
Later amps M-02, I don't know but the M-05 is something, way over budget, though.
Don't know the newer stuff as I didn't need to keep learning about Luxman. Then this century the amp quality is like the price, up there.
If you don't need looks the M-12 would be the target.
Last edited:
z-adamson
Addicted Member
Don’t you first need to specify what makes the one amp better than another, in your opinion?
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
Nah, 34 asks open questions and just keeps asking. We have finally gotten him to report back occasionally so we don't think he is just a total sponge. I mean we do all the work of responding to his queries and previously he just disappeared until he asked another question. Now at least he mentions what he got before asking about a replacement for that unit. Seems like he is just trying to catch up to those here with 50 years experience in the hobby.
AudioAvarice
Super Member
The LRS does seem to be their most detailed/versatile offering, I'm still looking for a 5M20, or 5M21 to go with my 5C50, 5F70, and 5G12. Got turned on to this series after using their C-12 pre in my main system for a few years.
losthorizon
Well-Known Member
I have an old L10 that sounds amazing,
I still want a M-6000 regardless of what it might do to my electric bill.
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
I didn't address integrated amps as the request was for amps. But those two are nice units. The L-10 is something special. Ask @bharry
The L-100 integrated is an all time classic. It was released in honor of Luxman’s 50th anniversary in the mid 1970s. I finally got one and restored it earlier this year. It’s been in my living room system ever sine, playing every day
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
more work for me.
What model of Luxman Integrated amp would you recommend?
I recently bought a Luxman L-430 and it sounded nice and sweet to me, but still not all there yet, so I did a little digging and the more I dig the more I get confused. I think it's the fact that Luxman made a lot of models, just like Sansui. I am only going to ask the ones that are available to...
audiokarma.org
5L15
L-100
L-110
L-10
L-11 if the work has been done. I've read it is a pain to get inside and get the parts swapped
L-580, great rosewood vinyl wrap, nice sound but not built as heavy as those above
L-58
L-68
Many of the amps with a 500 number 505-507-509-and others. The newer ones seem to be very good.
and a few more.
Jarred555
Active Member
I litterally just bought a Luxman L-31 from marketplace about five hours ago , and have spent the last four hours in my chair listening and am blown away on how good it sounds with my vertical Cornwall's and it was a little more than half your 1000 price , but it may just be that it pairs up really well with my speakers , the more gear I buy the more I learn there may be no rhyme or reason to it different things will just pair well together and give that wow factor
Blue Shadow
Waiting for Vintage Gear from this century
FauxHall
Super Member
I bought a M300 and I'm very happy with it. You can go Class A or Class AB at the flip of a switch.
Lovely wood cabinet and classic front panel styling but alas no meters. I was able to switch voltages to my local 240V with some internal switches, jumpers, and fuse change.
My ADCOM GFA-555 Mk II is a touch crisper while the M300 has a bit more warmth and separation.
Lovely wood cabinet and classic front panel styling but alas no meters. I was able to switch voltages to my local 240V with some internal switches, jumpers, and fuse change.
My ADCOM GFA-555 Mk II is a touch crisper while the M300 has a bit more warmth and separation.
Normally, I run two systems (one main, one bedroom) The two run Linn Katan speakers (lounge active with Klouts), bedroom bi-wired.
I use 'classic' amps upstairs (legacy), NAD 3130/2155. CD broke so I needed a CD transport (I have 4 DACs to choose from) and reality
struck home. Did some research, found that Cambridge Audio Azur use the same transport mech and control in all their models, be that CD
or transports.
Found a 350c for peanuts with remote. Utilising Coax, Optical, Phono all were showing the NAD up or, should I say, were revealing of the
failings of the NAD amplification.
Another search around.
Bought a Luxman L-113a on a whim, the price was right. Perfect condition. Bearing in mind I have the Linn system to measure myself
against I wasn't expecting much.
Stunned.
Bass is defined, notes, deep, full and precise.
Midrange, refined, detailed, revealing of instruments and placings I hadn't heard with the NAD (I use my choice of standard test disc).
Rimshots were rimshots, rumble (thunder) was rumble and voices of backing singers were clear and could be separated into identifiable people!
Treble, a revelation, sparkled and danced beautifully, no sibilance or edge.
I couldn't stop listening.
I thought it must be my imagination.
Nothing that cheap could sound that good (40€)
Changed the system over and the NAD sounded like mud I had lost the magic of distant/background instruments etc
Reinstalled the Luxman and I spent the night listening over and over.
Mesmerising.
It's from 1981, it shouldn't sound that good after 43 years and no servicing!
The list of available amps on various second hand sites in the L range is vast.
Pre 1984 are pre buyout and true Luxman
I can say on paper the figures of the L-113a aren't as good as some other models (frequency response) but examination of
the service manual reveals that to be a total fallacy.
Maybe I will try an L200 series or an L190 or a plain L 1 to 3 with specified 10k to 100k, maybe not.
I certainly won't be moving this unit on - it's bi-wireable with selective speaker switches too!
Deep joy.
Sometimes good kit hides in the long grass and is little known to but a few
A bit like FAMCO Nuance/Plenitude from Prof Hawksford Essex University, which led to the development of the
YBA brand with Audio Refinement kit (same build quality) but mass produced
This purchase (it arrived yesterday) has taken me back to my youth and much to the annoyance of my wife I am going to play about with
different kit (again).
It's not about listening to the equipment but listening to the music after all.
I use 'classic' amps upstairs (legacy), NAD 3130/2155. CD broke so I needed a CD transport (I have 4 DACs to choose from) and reality
struck home. Did some research, found that Cambridge Audio Azur use the same transport mech and control in all their models, be that CD
or transports.
Found a 350c for peanuts with remote. Utilising Coax, Optical, Phono all were showing the NAD up or, should I say, were revealing of the
failings of the NAD amplification.
Another search around.
Bought a Luxman L-113a on a whim, the price was right. Perfect condition. Bearing in mind I have the Linn system to measure myself
against I wasn't expecting much.
Stunned.
Bass is defined, notes, deep, full and precise.
Midrange, refined, detailed, revealing of instruments and placings I hadn't heard with the NAD (I use my choice of standard test disc).
Rimshots were rimshots, rumble (thunder) was rumble and voices of backing singers were clear and could be separated into identifiable people!
Treble, a revelation, sparkled and danced beautifully, no sibilance or edge.
I couldn't stop listening.
I thought it must be my imagination.
Nothing that cheap could sound that good (40€)
Changed the system over and the NAD sounded like mud I had lost the magic of distant/background instruments etc
Reinstalled the Luxman and I spent the night listening over and over.
Mesmerising.
It's from 1981, it shouldn't sound that good after 43 years and no servicing!
The list of available amps on various second hand sites in the L range is vast.
Pre 1984 are pre buyout and true Luxman
I can say on paper the figures of the L-113a aren't as good as some other models (frequency response) but examination of
the service manual reveals that to be a total fallacy.
Maybe I will try an L200 series or an L190 or a plain L 1 to 3 with specified 10k to 100k, maybe not.
I certainly won't be moving this unit on - it's bi-wireable with selective speaker switches too!
Deep joy.
Sometimes good kit hides in the long grass and is little known to but a few
A bit like FAMCO Nuance/Plenitude from Prof Hawksford Essex University, which led to the development of the
YBA brand with Audio Refinement kit (same build quality) but mass produced
This purchase (it arrived yesterday) has taken me back to my youth and much to the annoyance of my wife I am going to play about with
different kit (again).
It's not about listening to the equipment but listening to the music after all.
