Regarding the Luxmans,
I am not a Luxman expert except that I have 4 Luxman amps i can compare. Ever since Sir Sandawa advised me on the great quality of Luxman amps I have been on the lookout for them...
1). M120a power amp, Duo-Beta, 2x120W, (1980-83
2). L400,
3). L3 integrated amps, 2x42W, (1980)
4). and LV105u hybrid 80WPC into 8 ohms (105w into 6 ohms), with low impedance compatibility
5). even a nonworking LV100 i got dirt cheap. (I initially thought the LV100 was an L100. Its a different dog pala altogether.)
The m120a is a great unit. I am still looking for a pre-amp though. The unit has separate controls for left and right so it can be used without a pre-amp. I use it with an old Citation eleven preamp.
I gave away the LV100 to a brother. He's trying to convert it into a gainclone amp.
The L400 and L3 are well used. The Bass seem inordinately low, solid and loud for the low wattage of these two amplifiers. I use them in small rooms. Sometime ago, my brother used them for a biamp setup that worked fairly well. (This is the kind where he just connects a tweeter plus midrange to one amp and the bass woofer to the other amp. No separate crossover was used.)
The LV105u i really haven't used a lot. There's a problem with the balance controls (which doesn't work) although the amp seems already set with equal left and right channels. I don't use this unit often because of the balance problem. It might get worse. And yes, I've also seen comments against this amp. It seems that some afficionados consider the tube part as just a commercial strategy since the tubes do not really enhance the sound. A review in Axel's Vintage Knob debunks these claims:
Read up on Axel's vintage knob site specially :
http://www.thevintageknob.org/LUXMAN/LV107/LV107.html# and you'd get a better idea of the LV10+ series.
Click on CN to read Zeljko's in depth review of the LV10+ series. Zeljko debunks some misconceptions about the hybrid amps in his review. To quote Zeljko's...
"In 1984 Luxman stunned everyone by introducing a mass produced tube-MOSFET hybrid integrated amplifer, into a completely solid state dominated world of mainstream audio - the LV-103 [1st one was the LV-104?]. It was then followed with a tube hybrid CD player, the D-105. This unique line of components persisted in Luxman's lineup until 1992 and finished with the hard to find LV-107u. In 1986 Luxman gave it's already existing LV-105 model a full overhaul and re-introduced it as the LV-105u. It is widely accepted that the design really came into it's own with the untroduction of the u-postfixed amps, the LV-105u being the flagship until the LV-107u was introduced."
"The long production run of the series, however, shows that if the Brid units didn't make LUX a bestselling brand, it helped keep that glorious name fairly in sight until the early/mid 90s... The 1984/85 introduction of the LV-104 was received with a "Good Design" award from the japanese industry."
This unit is in the Japan Nisi site also.
http://www.niji.or.jp/home/k-nisi/lv-105.htmOther Luxman sites:
http://www.audioinvest.no/luxman/luxamp.htmhttp://my.reset.jp/~inu/ProductsDataBase/Products/LUX/LUX.htmAll in all Luxmans are solid investments in my humble opinion. I've seen an 400 and an L410 being sold the past weeks in the pinoydvd forum. The L400 and L3 normally sells for 3500 up at the pier. Theres a LUXMAN POWER TUBE AMP. A3700, mint condition being sold at Buyandsell for 30,000.
A Luxman pre-amp C1010 was on sale at pinoydvd for 7000+ i think.
Here's my data base on Luxman asking prices at the buy and sell magazine the past year (s)
6/25/2004 LUXMAN AMP. 10,000 L-5, 110V USA. 441-0859.
11/12/2004 LUXMAN AMP. 13,000 M-4000A. 628-0260.
8/17/2004 LUXMAN AMP. 19,000 (neg) L308, ultimate stereo amp. 541-7719 or (0916) 4491972.
8/17/2004 LUXMAN AMP. 20,000 250W, class A. 628-0260.
8/3/2004 LUXMAN AMP. 23,000 (neg) 250W, class A. 628-0260.
12/14/2004 LUXMAN AMP. 25,000 m4000a. 901-5012.
11/30/2004 LUXMAN AMP. 6,500 L-45A mode. 887-3030.
11/5/2004 LUXMAN AMP. 7,000 L10. 272-8438.
12/21/2004 LUXMAN AMP. 7,500 L-45A, 65W/chn. 887-3030.
3/22/2005 LUXMAN AMP. 8,000 L48A, integrated, duo beta. 867-2370.
3/18/2005 LUXMAN AMP. 9,000 M120A. 874-4553 or (0922) 8551098.
5/11/2004 LUXMAN DIGITAL TUNER 3,500 bnew, w/ manual. 874-4553.
9/10/2004 LUXMAN INTEGRATED AMP. 4,500 L-2800, 60W. 742-6471 or (0919) 3776044.
12/14/2004 LUXMAN INTEGRATED AMP. 7,500 L-45a, Japan. 887-3030.
2/15/2005 LUXMAN POWER AMP. 8,000 120W/chn, 220V. 874-4553.
1/14/2005 LUXMAN POWER AMP. 9,000 120A, 120W/chn, RMS, 220V. 471-1028.
1/17/2005 LUXMAN POWER AMP. 9,000 120A, 120W/chn, RMS, 220V. 471-1028.
6/24/2005 LUXMAN POWER AMP. 9,000 M120A, 120W/chn, 220V. 471-1028.
10/29/2004 LUXMAN POWER AMP. 9,000 M-120A, 120W/chn, 220V. 874-4553.
5/31/2005 LUXMAN POWER AMP. 9,000 M120A, 120W/chn. 471-1028.
10/8/2004 LUXMAN POWER TUBE AMP. 26,000 MQ-70, mint cond. (0920) 9613251.
8/20/2004 LUXMAN POWER TUBE AMP. 33,000 MQ70, very mint cond. (0920) 9613251.
8/24/2004 LUXMAN POWER TUBE AMP. 33,000 MQ70, very mint cond. (0920) 9613251.
9/21/2004 LUXMAN PRE-AMP. 7,500 C-1010. 750-3826.
9/9/2005 LUXMAN PROCESSOR 3,800 prologic, digital, 5.1out, w/ remote, US. 714-2696.
3/18/2005 LUXMAN PROCESSOR 4,000 digital, prologic, same as Lexicon CP2, w/ remote. 714-2696.
11/12/2004 LUXMAN PROCESSOR 4,000 prologic, digital, w/ remote, slightly used, fr US. 714-2696.
8/19/2005 LUXMAN PROLOGIC Processor P4,500 digital, same as Lexicon CP2, US, w/ remote. Allan
9/6/2005 LUXMAN RECEIVER 10,000 R1120, vintage, 120W/chn, mint cond. 714-2696.
1/25/2005 LUXMAN RECEIVER 20,000 R117, w/ remote. 874-4553 or (0922) 8551098.
3/26/2004 LUXMAN STEREO RECEIVER 20,000 R117, 160W, RMS, w/ box/manual. 873-9376.
4/9/2004 LUXMAN STEREO RECEIVER 20,000 R117, 160W/chn, RMS, w/ remote control. 471-1028.
10/15/2004 LUXMAN STEREO RECEIVER 25,000 mdl R117, 160W, w/ remote ctrl. 874-4553.
9/9/2005 LUXMAN STEREO RECEIVER 6,500 R-1120, 120W/chn, mint cond. Allan 714-2696.
12/21/2004 LUXMAN TAPE DECK 1,500 787-5888.
10/22/2004 LUXMAN TAPE DECK 1,600 638-7034.
12/3/2004 LUXMAN TAPE DECK 1,800 787-5888.
10/29/2004 LUXMAN TUBE INTEGRATED Amp. P30,000 LV-105, box/manual. 874-4553.
3/26/2004 LUXMAN TUBE INTEGRATED Amp. P35,000 LV105, w/ box/manual, NOS. 874-4553.
10/1/2004 LUXMAN TUBE POWER AMP. 26,000 old tube, mint cond, MQ-70. 894-7454/(0920) 9613251.