Luxman D-105u CD Player

[braxus]

These old Lux CD players were the thing in 1989 with tubes as a buffer stage to help smooth out the sound. Still command a decent price used these days, but you have to make sure the tubes are in good shape or they should be replaced. This is my second "hybrid" unit from Luxman. I had a LV-103 before. I got this player a couple years ago, but I'm waiting to get the tubes replaced. I'll use it for now till I finally get a McIntosh SACD player to replace it. I always loved looking at the tubes in these things while playing music in the dark. Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. :P

[MacGyver]

uh-oh, looks like i started something!! wow, i didin't know they actually had any tubed CDPs in the '80s!

[Web Police]

Luxman also made a tubed pre-amp in the 1980's as I recall. :)

[braxus]

Luxman was well known for their tubed gear. But in the 80s these 100 series units were hybrids. The amps were solid state preamp and amp, with a tubed buffer stage in the output stage. It warmed up the sound a bit and gave the solid state units more of a tubed sound. The LV 103, 105, 103u, 105u, and 107u were their tube hybrid integrated amps. I had the 103. Good smooth open sound which was easy on the ears, but the power of the amp was lacking as it had no balls. Any peaks were rather lackluster compared to the Rotel gear I've had. Rotel has some balls behind their power amps. Luxman's hybrid design carried over to their CD players too which became the D-105, 105u, and 107u. Their may have also been a 103u. I will have to hear what my Lux sounds like when I get the tubes replaced in it.

[gamve]

I had one of these seconhand units borrowed from the local shop out on a test run. I had previously owned some Lux Corp gear that was good quality. They wanted $ 150.00 for it, this was three or so years ago. We hooked it up and compared it against a modded Marantz CD63 an earlier Marantz, cant remember the model and a Rega Planet. I dont know if the Luxman was knackered but it sounded like crap against all of the others. I took it back the store and was pretty discreet with my comments, then all the sales guys in the shop cracked up laughing. Setup me thinks. Braxus hope you get a much better result than I did, what tubes does it run?
Cheers
Graham

[stuwee]

Memories, I used to drool over those, never heard any of the series, Lux was trying to rekindle the tube magic, IIRC, failed on several fronts which is why you don't see many of them. Lux was trying to do several things at once in those days (or the company that bought them out) The "suck-face" series with the moving faceplates was another angle they tried. I happen to like the looks of all of them.

And I happen to really enjoy the sound of my Luxman K-112 cass deck immensely, I know it's not a TOTL BMC, I'm glad I have two, it holds it's own against the Nak, *ducking* *flame* It works for what it is, of course having top-notch separetes to back it up helps, see system #2
Craig

[braxus]

http://www.stefanopasini.it/Luxman_D105u-2.htm

"I haven't reviewed that many optical disc players over the years. The reason is quite simple; I didn't much like them. In fact, the first CD player I owned that offered a true glimmer of hope for the red book CD format was the Luxman D105u, circa 1989. Utilizing a pair of 6CG7 output tubes, the D105u was one of the first players I heard that began to musically tame that era's all-too-prevalent digital "edge" and really offer an engaging glimpse into the musical event."- Greg Weaver Mccormack Audio

My player needs new tubes, but I did hear another one of these before I got the current one and it seemed musical without the edge of CDs. I am aware that technology has come a long way and surpassed what this old Luxman can do. But people still like these units and they sell for quite a bit which tells me that can't be that bad. The only bad thing about this unit is in the output stage where it uses ICs instead of discrete parts. That lowers the quality. When I get mine fixed with the new tubes, I'll give it a listen and comment.

Here's a pic of the insides which tells me there isn't a whole lot going on in there.

[braxus]

Here are some fun pics of my player.

[Socal Sam]

The D105u was dual Burr Brown DAC's in addition to the tubes. Too bad they didn't spend a few more bucks and spec a better Sony transport. The KSS-152A is consumer grade.

[braxus]

And they used Op amps in the output stage which kills quality. They should have made it discreet to improve the quality. But that said the player still sounds good.

[Socal Sam]

A collector buddy briefly had one and was not impressed either with the build or the sound. So, I have never been tempted to buy one at the $300 or so market price.

[braxus]

Funny I never heard anyone complain about the sound from these players. Of course it is from 1989 standards and things have improved much since then. These things are of course 20 years old now. Mine sounds fine, but frankly I haven't really heard a super great CD player for years, so its hard to judge today.