Luxman CD Players

Luxman is one of the legendary brands in HiFi. Hailing from Japan, their name has been around since 1925, when radio broadcasting was in its infancy. Luxman has focused simply on audio since then and is now world renowned for their high-end audio products. Luxman is always striving for naturalness in their presentation, allowing the listener to get closer to the music, ‘through emotional involvement’.

Luxman has been producing CD players ever since their DX-104 back in 1983, at the birth of CD. We are great fans of CD as a format, as we feel it still has much to offer compared to other digital replay formats. Luxman have a reputation for excellence and their CD players are no exception.

We have introduced Luxman into our portfolio after close A/B testing some alternatives brands and our own reference products. The new D-03R model is impressive for both the sound quality and the exceptional build quality. The sound can be summarised as transparent, fast and refined. The soundstage is very large, especially depth, and the speed of dynamics and transients is impressive, with rapid playing of piano or guitar passages delivered faultlessly. It never gets flustered rhythmically. The D-03R is slightly richer sounding than the D-03X, that the D-03R is replacing, along with a larger soundstage and the ability to decode higher resolution files.

Regarding the Luxman D-100 Centennial CD player, launched to commemorate 100 years of Luxman. Even immediately from the carton, it was clear this is one very special CD player. There is little doubt this is one of the best sounding CD players we have heard and is on a par with the Spectral Studio Reference models, which is one of the highest compliments we can offer. The latter already outperform many branded CD players costing several times more, and the Luxman D-100, even though it is priced at £16000, represent particular value for money. A more detailed report and appraisal on it performance is shown below. It is an evolution of the D10x, which is one of our favourite items, we have ever listened to.

The D-07X sits between the D-03R and D-100 in performance. It is, in essence, a cut down D100. The D-07X's CD mechanism and Power supply are cut down versions of those found in the D-100, along with the previous generation of DAC chip to that found in the D100. It offers exceptional realism.

In our listening tests we found this unit to be very engaging. Tone is natural, with vocals being particularly well rendered. Highs are detailed and distinct but, importantly for us, are never fatiguing. Another attribute important to our selection is the illusion of the depth of soundstage and the D-03R  does not disappoint, being both deep and wide. Well recorded classical works can show their dynamic range, micro details in quiet passages are dealt with so well, and the decay of notes sounding very natural. Bass is full, tight, and with high levels of textural information. Fast played passages on piano or guitar are presented with ease and without blurring of one note into the next. It has an extremely easy sound to live with. It is an improvement on the outgoing D-03X, which it replaces, with a new dual-mono DAC from ROHM Semiconductor employing dual ROHM BD34352EKV chips, one for each channel. This new DAC delivers a larger soundstage, a richer tone and the ability to now decode DSD up to 22.5 MHz (DSD 512). These are all improvements over the outgoing D-03X.

The player includes MQA decoding technology, which enables you to play back MQA-CDs (a new physical format) as well as MQA audio files up to 24-bit, transferred via USB, optical and coaxial inputs. MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) is an award-winning British technology that aims to get you closer to the sound of the original master recording. The dual mono, one DAC per channel, designs maximises detail retrieval.

For playing back music from a personal computer, Luxman recommends their Luxman Audio Player application. Available for both Windows and Mac systems, the software enables superlative USB output of FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, MP3 and DSF/DSDIFF files. (The application is downloadable from the official Luxman website).

Luxman D-03R CD player

We have recently received this new model from Luxman and, after the usual 300 hours of running-in process, this new model sounds very realistic. The D-07X shares its luxurious build in a slightly smaller in height chassis.

Our listening impressions are that the D-07X majors on a wide and deep soundstage which is a prime consideration for our portfolio of products. Tone and timbre are accurate, allowing for very realistic renditions of instruments with piano being delivered in a particularly natural way. Vocals have lots of micro-detail, which allows for a closer emotional connection to the artist. Dynamics are first rate with transients being delivered with real speed and attack. The overall presentation is rich and satisfying and will work with a wide range of systems. The D-07X is clearly a trickle-down stable mate from to the D-100 and is a real step up from the D-03R. Compared to the D-100, the D-07X has a slightly more forward delivery but still very much a holographic presentation that is typical of the Luxman sound. The D-100 still delivers more resolution of the finest nuances and textural information but the D-07X is close but at a significantly lower price point. The D-100 digs slightly deeper into the bass too.

Both the D-100 and the D-07X use the same make of DAC chips, from ROHM Semiconductor, in dual-mono configuration. However, the D100 uses the newer version of their flagship chip.

Luxman D-07X CD player and DSD/MQA DAC

Luxman has launched their flagship Centennial Products, created to commemorate LUXMAN’s 100th anniversary, including the L-100 Centennial Class A integrated amplifier and this D-100 Centennial CD/SACD player.

The D100 builds upon the success of the D10X CD player, that this now replaces, which was one of our favourite ever items. The D-100 has a newer version of the DAC chip found in the D10X, with improved clocking and digital processing. This unit also has a larger display with around 70% more area than in the D10X. This is the first Luxman CD player to use Luxman’s NEW LIFES v1.1 feedback engine in the analogue output section.

The build of the D-100 Centennial is exemplary weighing in at over 25kgs. We strongly believe that CD offers the best sound from any digital replay source and have been lucky enough over the years to hear some of the best units from around the globe. This unit is right up there with the best of them and will outperform some brands that cost multiple times more.

The action of the CD drawer itself (with locking and sealing mechanism) and reflects the level of detail Luxman went to in the development of this flagship unit.

For playing back music from a personal computer, Luxman recommends their LUXMAN Audio Player application. Available for both Windows and Mac systems, the software enables superlative USB output of FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, MP3 and DSF/DSDIFF files. You can download the application from the official LUXMAN website.

D-100 Centennial Features include:

New, upgraded, DAC using the new and improved version of the BD34301EKV chip in the outgoing, flagship, D10x. The D-100 marks the debut of the world’s finest D/A converter, utilising the new MUS-IC™ BD34302EKV chip from ROHM Semiconductor, implemented in dual-mono configuration (one per stereo channel). These converters have industry leading specifications and have been developed with a focus on audio quality.

The Analogue Output Circuit uses Luxman’s new LIFES 1.1 Feedback Engine. The analogue output stage of the D-100 CENTENNIAL is the first CD player to incorporate LUXMAN’s completely renewed LIFES amplification feedback engine. This has the low noise of a feedback design but with the musicality of a non-feedback design. Further information on this can be found in the additional information section below.

Two newly developed clock circuits are employed, combining ultra-low phase-noise oscillator ICs and large crystal oscillators. This design reduces noise around the oscillation frequency, achieving extremely high precision and low jitter. For USB input, asynchronous communication is managed by a dedicated DSP, while for S/PDIF input, LUXMAN’s integrated DAIR system (Digital Audio Interface Receiver) provides high-accuracy clock control. By selecting the optimal low-jitter function for each input, the D-100 CENTENNIAL optimises digital signal transmission.

Highly regulated power supply. The D-100 CENTENNIAL incorporates LUXMAN’s traditional highly stable power supply design, combining a CI-core power transformer, independent left/right rectification circuits, regulators, and a bank of high-capacity filter capacitors. This ensures pure, powerful, and stable power delivery. To minimise even subtle effects from potential sources of pollution.

Luxman’s in-house LxDTM-i CD drive mechanism – LUXMAN original Disc Transport Mechanism (improved). The transport is enclosed in 8 mm thick aluminium sides that extend to the front and rear panels, plus a 5 mm thick steel top plate. Together with an improved disc reading mechanism, the result is playback of an altogether higher order.

Unique Luxman Printed Circuit Board (PCB) - Dielectric effects, unwanted resistance and stray capacitance in printed circuit board patterns can all degrade the audio signal. LUXMAN suppresses these effects with generously thick 100 μm copper foil, gold-plated connections. In addition, their gently curved wiring pattern delivers smooth signal flow.

Premium selected components - The RCA output jacks apply gold plating over an alloy that combines the conductivity of copper with the durability of brass. Neutrik XLR terminals are used for the balanced in/outputs. In addition, density gradient cast iron insulator feet provide firm support, whilst minimising mechanical resonances.

We will be doing extensive listening tests in the coming weeks once our demonstration unit is fully run in and repost on its sound in due course.

NEW Luxman D-100 Centennial CD/SACD player