Luxman L5 solid state amplifier

As a slim follower to the Laboratory series from 1979 on, the L series came to confirm the brand intentions: Luxman was on the top of the list. Cleverly, as they knew their quality came with a price, the range was splitted among model numbers (L2, L3, L5…) where features and power rise gradually, so did the price.

This L5 is on the top of the range zone, with plenty enough power to drive any good speaker, delivering a superb image, massively detailed and of course this absolute "tube style" warm color that Luxman magically created in this blessed period.

The 2 phono stages allow for MM/MC in a very qualitative and musical rendition, but the dynamics are so good that digital source are never lost either.

Add to this the top of the specs of the period: Direct Current, a defeatable equalisation section, tape dubbing, pre out / main in, filtering subsonic, low and high cut, loudness, a big toroidal transformer. From the press and owners, there is a global opinion that this amplifier was one of the best sounding of the period.

Radical vision of quality perhaps was a step too far here, as all the entry connections are below the device to shorten the signal circuits, which is not the most comfortable option for the enthusiast swapping cables among several amps stacked on a cabinet.