Luxman L-505uXII
The Luxman L-505uXII marries richly colored, natural sound with impressive control, revealing fine detail without sacrificing long-session ease. HIFI.DE found its presentation expansive, relaxed and dynamically assured, while the built-in MM/MC phono stage makes this 100W integrated amplifier an especially compelling centrepiece for a serious analogue system.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
94/100
Build Quality
95/100
Features Connectivity
91/100
Value for Money
88/100
Pros
Natural, tonally balanced presentation with strong resolution, coherence and low-level detail.
Capable MM/MC phono stage delivers nuanced, satisfying vinyl playback.
Exceptional Japanese build quality, premium controls and comprehensive analogue connectivity.
Cons
No built-in digital inputs, DAC or streaming facilities.
Balanced XLR input is reported to give up a small degree of clarity and dynamics versus RCA.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 94/100
Reviewers consistently describe a refined but involving presentation: clear and natural without becoming clinical, with substantial control and an unusually cohesive musical flow. It combines strong low-level resolution, generous tonal color, energetic timing, and a spacious, well-layered stereo image.
Transparency Resolution
94/100
HIFI.DE found that sounds retained their character unusually well even near the threshold of audibility, and reported no lost nuance from a demanding MC cartridge. StereoNET heard plentiful detail without stridency, while other reviewers praised its clarity, clean leading edges, and ability to separate fine instrumental detail.
Tonal Balance Musicality
95/100
HIFI.DE calls the balance neither bright nor dark, combining the virtues of both while retaining coherence and weight. Reviewers also highlight warm, mellifluous bass, vivid vocal timbre, colorful mids, and an exceptionally smooth, intoxicatingly enjoyable way with music.
Dynamics
92/100
HIFI.DE could not reach the limits of the 100W output stage and heard unrestrained dynamic expression, while other reviewers praised its drive, timing, control, and musical energy. StereoNET was more reserved, noting that huge dynamic contrasts were not its dominant trait, even though bass remained full and satisfying.
Soundstage Imaging
94/100
Reviewers describe a broad, precisely organized stage with wrap-around immersion and strong instrumental separation. HIFI.DE particularly noted vividly sculpted depth layering, including information on familiar records that had not previously been apparent.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
95/100
Build praise is emphatic across the reviews: HIFI.DE calls it heavy, perfectly built, and fitted with high-quality sockets and speaker terminals. StereoNET compares its Japanese construction to Swiss-watch quality, while Pursuit of The Perfect System praises the premium feel of every control and its reassuring 22.5kg mass.
Features Connectivity
91/100
The L-505uXII offers extensive analogue flexibility, including numerous line inputs, balanced input, pre/power separation, home-theater bypass, recording output, remote control, and tone controls. Its phono stage supports both MM and MC cartridges, and reviewers specifically found vinyl playback enjoyable; there are no built-in digital, streaming, or Bluetooth facilities.
Value for Money
88/100
At roughly $4,299–$5,000 or £3,500, it is a substantial purchase, but reviewers generally feel its sound, build, and ownership appeal justify the outlay. HIFI.DE distinguishes its tonal accomplishment even from very good similarly priced integrated amplifiers, while Pursuit of The Perfect System notes that Luxman's entry price sits where some competing brands' ranges end and still considers the package justified.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
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Specifications
- Rated output
- 100W + 100W (8Ω),150W + 150W (4Ω)
- Input sensitivity/input impedance
- PHONO (MM): 2.5mV/47kΩPHONO (MC): 0.3mV/100ΩLINE: 180mV/47kΩBAL.LINE: 180mV/55kΩMAIN-IN: 1V/47kΩ
- Output voltage
- REC OUT: 180mV, PRE-OUT: 1V
- Frequency response
- PHONO: 20Hz to 20kHz (within -3dB)LINE: 20Hz to 100kHz (within -3dB)
- Total harmonic distortion
- 0.009% or less (8Ω, 1kHz)0.09% or less (8Ω, 20Hz to 20kHz)
- S/N ratio (IHF-A)
- PHONO (MM): 91dB or morePHONO (MC): 75dB or moreLINE: 104dB or more
- Volume adjustment
- LECUA
- Amplification circuit
- ODNF 4.0
- Output configuration
- Bipolar parallel push-pull
- Damping factor
- 210
- Max. amount of tone control
- BASS: ±8dB at 100HzTREBLE: ±8dB at 10kHz
- Power supply
- 230V~(50Hz) / 115V~(60Hz)
- Power consumption
- 270W85W (under no signal), 0.4W (at standby)
- External dimensions
- 440(W) x 178(H) x 454(D) mmfront side knob of 20mm and rear side terminalof 27mm included in depth
- Net weight
- 22.5kg (main unit)
- Accessories
- Remote control (RA-17A)Power cable
- Speaker terminal Supported Y-lug terminal dimension
- Width of part a: 15mm or lessWidth of part b: 8mm or more* Connection may not be performed depending on the shape of the Y-lug terminal.
Manufacturer's Description — Luxman
ODNF* Version 4.0 - Innovative amplification feedback circuit
An integral part of the design of the L-505uXII is LUXMAN's original ODNF amplification feedback circuit featuring a high-speed primary slew rate, an ultra-wide bandwidth and a low level of distortion that is achieved by feeding back only the distorted components of the audio from the amplifier's output circuit. The L-505uXII is equipped with the latest Version 4.0 ODNF circuit, resulting in a dramatically enhanced accuracy in distortion detection due to the paralleled first stage and Darlington equipped second stage amplification circuit, as well as a paralleled first stage error detection circuit. With it's lower impedance and higher S/N ratio, the L-505uXII realizes accurate reproduction of even the gentlest audio signals and achieves a full range of dynamic musical expression. The output stage, with it's parallel push-pull structure, has secured sufficient power at 100W+100W(8Ω) and 150W+150W(4Ω).
Highly accurate LECUA computerized attenuator
LECUA (Luxman Electronically Controlled Ultimate Attenuator) is at the heart of the pre-amplifier section and the sound volume adjustment function of the L-505uXII. The L-505uXII design also uses a solid state(IC) type circuit to achieve a significant reduction in size. LECUA provides an ideal level control mechanism that allows smooth and fine volume adjustment over 88 steps, thereby minimizing any deterioration of the audio signal. In addition, left and right balance adjustment is integrated into the attenuator's control functions. The multifunctional ability of LECUA ensures accuracy over the full range of the volume control, whilst suppressing any deterioration of sound quality. The volume may also be adjusted with the remote control, but when adjusting the volume manually, the tactile design and gradual motion of the control itself enables intuitive adjustment of the attenuation level.
Discrete buffer circuit
The L-505uXII features a new discrete buffer circuit in the output stage of the pre-amplifier circuit that is equivalent to the type used in our high-end C-900u separate amplifier. The pre-amp output stage is able to drive the signal with enhanced current supply capacity. The clarity of the audio signal is protected, whilst at the same time, the driving force fed through to the power amplifier stage is significantly increased. The power and reproduction capability of the L-505uXII achieves overwhelming scale sensitivity and a sharpness on start-up that cannot be achieved by conventional pre-amplifiers.
High stability power supply
The power supply of the L-505uXII consists of an EI core type power transformer, highly regulated, with four large capacity 10,000μF blocking capacitors creating a highly stable power supply. This ensures an instantaneous, constant and stable current supply.
Low impedance transmission
Large-capacity, low resistance speaker relays are connected in parallel to enable lossless transmission for the powerful driving force that is generated by the large-scale output circuit. In addition, the damping factor has been improved from 180 to 210 by lowering the impedance of the wiring pattern.
Original technologies prioritize sound quality
To realize a smooth, stress free signal transmission LUXMAN use an original Beeline construction that features a non-angled wiring pattern to allow smooth signal transmission along the shortest optimal route. This is one of many examples of a LUXMAN original design that makes sound quality a priority.
A wide variety of custom-made components for high sound qualitycomponents for high sound quality
OFC cabling is used in the internal wiring of the L-505uXII, achieving natural signal transmission due to the spirally wrapped shielding on each non-plated wire core. A high quality input selector IC is employed to improve separation and eliminate crosstalk. This model is generously equipped with many custom-made parts designed to achieve high sound quality such as in-line layout speaker terminals for easier speaker cable connection.
An abundance of user-friendly functions
The L-505uXII is equipped with a high quality phono pre-amplifier that is compatible with MM and MC cartridges supporting full analog reproduction. This model offers all the functions that a high quality pre-main amplifier should offer such as bass/treble tone control, L/R balance adjustment using LECUA, pre/power separation function, volume function and headphone output to name a few.
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- In Living Stereo — in-store — New York City, New York, United States (website)
- Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
- Acton Gate Audio — online and in-store — Cymru, United Kingdom (website)
- All Elite Audio — online and in-store — Perry Hall, Maryland, United States (website)
- Alpha High End — online and in-store — Brasschaat, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium (website)
- Alta Fedelta — online and in-store — Lombardia, Italy (website)
- Analog Emporium - GEM Dandy — in-store — Memphis, Tennessee, United States (website)
- Analog Matters — online and in-store — Ormond Beach, Florida, United States (website)
- Analogue Seduction — online and in-store — Whittlesey, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Arizona Hi-Fi — in-store — Phoenix, Arizona, United States (website)
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