Be A Part of the Evolution - 35 Years of Music and Luxman

The Luxman L-550 Series was first launched in 1981 as the L-550. At 50 watts it was the world’s most powerful Pure Class A integrated amplifier. Stereo Sound, Japan proclaimed it “State of the Art” and “Best Product 1982”.

The Human League – Dare circa 1981

Rolling Stones – Tattoo You circa 1981

McLaughlin DiMeola & De Lucia – Friday Night in San Francisco circa 1981

Refined 11 times starting in 1983 in the form of the L-550X with a larger Bando toridial transformer for greater power delivery. It featured a partially copper clad chassis and as such was on the cutting edge of material science for improved shielding and mechanical resonance cancellation.

Michael Jackson – Thriller circa 1983

Talking Heads – Stop Making Sense circa 1983

David Bowie – Let’s Dance circa 1983

In 1985 the Luxman L-560 evolved with the introduction of a STAR Earthing Circuit which was market speak for an impressive Star Grounding Circuit to dramatically lower the noise floor of this seminal amplifier. Other improvements included an redesigned phono stage and a larger power supply for improved dynamics.

Prince – Around the World in a Day circa 1985

Bruce Springsteen – Born in the USA circa 1985

Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms circa 1985

1989 saw yet another round of evolution in the Luxman L-570. Improvements included a non- resonant composite chassis base, a larger EI transformer, a 4-gang volume attenuator and PC-OCC wiring. Combined this forward thinking design was one of the most refined and later copied amplifiers in history.

Guns and Roses Appetite for Destruction 1989

Guns ‘N Roses – Appetite for Destruction circa 1989

Madonna – Like a Prayer circa 1989

1992 saw the L-570 X’s with newer IO Relays placed closer to the terminals and switching both the ground and hot sides of the signal. Other improvements included redesigned constant voltage circuits and upgraded gold plated non magnetic capacitors made from copper foil styrene.

Nirvana – Nevermind circa 1992

Leonard Cohen – The Future circa 1992

In 1993 Luxman’s L-500 introduced a dramatically improved aesthetic outside the box while inside the box we find the “ultimate attenuator”; a large composite housing holding two PCB’s etched with 32 non magnetic “P” shaped gold resistors. Dubiously this was the first year Luxman dropped a phono stage from the amplifiers list of capabilities. Remember “Perfect sound forever”? How can we ever forget!

Dead Can Dance- Into The Labyrinth circa 1993

Bjork – Debut 1993

sarah mclaughlan fumbling towards ecstasy 1993

Sarah McLaughlan- Fumbling Towards Ecstasy circa 1993

The L-580 of 1994 saw the following innovations. A circuit of pure complementary all DC and Duel Beta and star grounding to further lower noise and distortion. Non resonant 5 point FRP Base; a fiber reinforced plastic base to cancel mechanical feedback to the circuit for state-of-the-art clarity.

dave matthews band under the table and dreaming 1994

Dave Matthews Band – Under the Table and Dreaming circa 1994

Portishead – Dummy circa 1994

In 2005 Luxman commemorated their 80th anniversary with the L-590A ending a 9 year hiatus from Class A amplification. It featured a phono stage and was the first of the 550 series to feature VU Meters. Power was lowered from 50 watts to 30 watts per channel but thanks to continual refinement it actually sounded more dynamic when compaired to it’s more higher watt siblings.

Coldplay – X & Y circa 2005

Beck – Guero circa 2005

Jack Johnson – In Between Dreams circa 2005

2007 Luxman again refined their 550 Series with the L-590A Mk II. Improvements included the input selector from the C1000F, Luxman’s flagship pre-amplifier. The revised ODNF 2.2A offered lower distortion when attenuating volume and a significant lowering of the noise floor over 2005’s L-590 A

robert plant alison krauss raising sand 2007

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss – Raising Sand circa 2007

Amy Winehouse – Back to Black circa 2007

The Beatles – Love circa 2007

2011’s L-590AX was a major evolution with improvements in aesthetics and internal componentry and was the first to feature Luxman’s LECUA ( discreet volume control). Tone controls could now be engaged and importantly disengaged from the remote control. Other refinements included and updated ONF which lowered noise and distortion. Lastly an improved phono stage offered dramatically improved resolution and clarity over all previous models.

Lady Gaga – Born This Way circa 2011

Adele – 21 circa 2011

Paul Simon – So Beautiful or So What circa 2011

The current 2015 model is the L-590AX Mk II designed to celebrate Luxman’s 90’th anniversary. As a major evolution of the L-590 AX it features a staggering array of improvements including a LECUA volume control which has been re-enginered for more linear volume attuneation. The power supply is beefed up with larger capacitors and includes a more powerful transformer. The ODNF has been re-designed to deliver silky high frequency extension. All told these improvements allow the L-590AX II to drive more difficult speaker loads and is both the most powerful and most refined 550 to date.