Luxman was showing with Magico in a similar setup to Axpona 2023. But what was different this year was flying in top brass from Japan. Activities setup by Luxman included a presentation by Chad Kassem of Acoustic Sounds, Analogue Productions, Quality Record Pressings, and The Mastering Lab. Mr. Kassem has a chain of companies that control the music recording process from the mastering step, to the vinyl pressing, to the delivery, and even includes a reissue label.
Words and Photos by Graig Neville
I only caught the very end of one of the sessions, but the vinyl sounded superb and I’ll definitely check out the Acoustic Sounds catalog.
Luxman debuted several models this year, including the C-10X preamplifier ($19,995), the NT-07 streaming network transport ($7,495), and a forthcoming E-07 phono preamplifier (price TBD). Other gear included the M-10X power amplifier ($19,995), the D-10X SACD player ($16,995), and PD-191A turn table ($12,495) with LMC-5 mc cartridge ($2,695). Our editor, Marc Phillips, thought highly of this cart as can be seen here.
All this pretty Luxman gear was driving Magico S3 loudspeakers ($45,500/pr) in a lovely blue. I didn’t see it, but perhaps it was hidden somewhere in the room was a Magico SSub ($18,650). All this gear was connected with a full loom of AudioQuest Dragon series cable.
I had a chance to hob knob a bit with the Luxman North America president and other top executives during a media only after hours event. Luxman appears to be very healthy, selling just about every piece of gear they make, which is why reviews are so infrequent. Luxman Japan is increasing production and plans on adding another assembly line within the current manufacturing facility they are sharing. Overall, despite Luxman being owned by a larger conglomerate Luxman has been given free range to pursue their audiophile roots and make their own decisions. Luxman North America does have some minor input on what products Luxman develops in Japan, especially for the American market. But for now, besides the choice of 110v or 220v all the Luxman products are the same worldwide.
Luxman is not a sound you get to hear often, and I visited this room a few times to really enjoy the smoothness and refinement of this “house sound.” That Luxman sound drew me in and tempted my muse to never leave, but alas I had other obligations. Luxman is gear that you can lust over, and perhaps aspire to own. I know I do.
If you would like to hear even more coverage from AXPONA 2024, check out our recap report and highlights from our audiophile-oriented show The Occasional Podcast. You can stream the episode direct from the embed below, or from your favorite podcast platform including iTunes, Android, Google, Deezer, Spotify, iHeartRadio and more.
