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  #21  
Old 09-06-2017, 09:45 PM
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Default Luxman MQ-300

I do not know how good are those 300B tubes but 2500 dollars for a pair just makes no sense.
A pair of Gold Lion reissue 300 B tubes sound fabulous and cost around 350 dollars.

On a side note, the best 300B amps I ever heard are monoblocks with Lundhal
transformers, made by a french engineer in Rennes. The guy makes all kind of tube amps just for passion ans sells them for the price of their parts. I paid my monoblocks 1400 euros and I changed the Shuguang tubes for Gold Lion ones. Double the price for the maker to earn some money and you are at 2800 euros. Double the price for the importer and retailer and you get at 5600 euros + taxes.
An amp sold for 5600 euros in a hifi shop and often much more has 1400 euros of pieces inside.
How much do you think this Luxman amp cost to produce ?
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IMG_7386.JPG
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  #22  
Old 09-06-2017, 09:50 PM
rnrmf1971 rnrmf1971 is offline
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That Luxman amp is GORGEOUS!
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  #23  
Old 09-06-2017, 09:53 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jerome W View Post
I do not know how good are those 300B tubes but 2500 dollars for a pair just makes no sense.
A pair of Gold Lion reissue 300 B tubes sound fabulous and cost around 350 dollars.

On a side note, the best 300B amps I ever heard are monoblocks with Lundhal
transformers, made by a french engineer in Rennes. The guy makes all kind of tube amps just for passion ans sells them for the price of their parts. I paid my monoblocks 1400 euros and I changed the Shuguang tubes for Gold Lion ones. Double the price for the maker to earn some money and you are at 2800 euros. Double the price for the importer and retailer and you get at 5600 euros + taxes.
An amp sold for 5600 euros in a hifi shop and often much more has 1400 euros of pieces inside.
How much do you think this Luxman amp cost to produce ?
Attachment 51871
Attachment 51872
Good point, and no doubt there's a hefty mark up, but the Luxman looks pretty serious under the hood:

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south: Mark Levinson No. 52 pre, Bricasti M28 amps, Lumin A1, Oppo BDP-205, Pioneer CT-43, Sony SS-AR1 Speakers, Audioquest Dragon PCs, Audioquest speaker cables, Audioquest interconnects, HB Power Design Powerslave Star Galaxy power distributor

north: Vitus SIA-030, Luxman D10X, Sony TC-KA3ES, Harbeth 40.2, Siltech cables
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  #24  
Old 09-07-2017, 09:33 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jerome W View Post
I do not know how good are those 300B tubes but 2500 dollars for a pair just makes no sense.
A pair of Gold Lion reissue 300 B tubes sound fabulous and cost around 350 dollars.

On a side note, the best 300B amps I ever heard are monoblocks with Lundhal
transformers, made by a french engineer in Rennes. The guy makes all kind of tube amps just for passion ans sells them for the price of their parts. I paid my monoblocks 1400 euros and I changed the Shuguang tubes for Gold Lion ones. Double the price for the maker to earn some money and you are at 2800 euros. Double the price for the importer and retailer and you get at 5600 euros + taxes.
An amp sold for 5600 euros in a hifi shop and often much more has 1400 euros of pieces inside.
How much do you think this Luxman amp cost to produce ?
Attachment 51871
Attachment 51872
https://www.dagogo.com/takatsuki-ta-...um-tube-review

Apparently, these tubes are supposed to last a very long time (so I am told).

I can also get a box of NOS Western Electric tubes for $900.
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  #25  
Old 09-07-2017, 04:35 PM
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While this thread is in the Japanese Exotica forum, am wondering if the MQ-300 is made in China (one of the China's), as Luxman is owned by IAG, which is a couple of Chinese (Taiwanese) brothers with very deep pockets. IAG also owns Wharfedale, Quad Electroacoustics, Mission, Tag McLaren, Audiolab and Castle Acoustics and has moved most of the production of same from the UK to China, so it would be no surprise if Luxman followed suit. My NQ-10 Luxman stated "Made in China" on the box, but nowhere on the amp did it state where it was made. Most electronics made in Japan still states so.
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Last edited by Formerly YB-2; 09-07-2017 at 04:39 PM. Reason: spelling (or lack there of)
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  #26  
Old 09-07-2017, 04:41 PM
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Says Made in Japan



Best Sir,

Bob
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  #27  
Old 09-07-2017, 04:58 PM
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My recollection is that Luxman moved some production to China a few years ago, but had some problems and moved it back to Japan when they refocused on the high-end market. My SQ-N100, for what it's worth, says made in Japan.
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  #28  
Old 09-07-2017, 05:30 PM
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Correct. What little was made in China has been moved back to Japan. None of their high end gear was ever made in China.
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  #29  
Old 09-07-2017, 05:32 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jerome W View Post
I do not know how good are those 300B tubes but 2500 dollars for a pair just makes no sense.
A pair of Gold Lion reissue 300 B tubes sound fabulous and cost around 350 dollars.
The AA Market Place tube dealer offers Gold Lion Platinum matched pair for $250; EH 300B for a bit less at $195.00 pr.

Just sayin'

Best Sir,

Bob
__________________
Amps:VAC 450iQ Monos in Silver Flake on HRS M3X2-1921's, HRS G7 Footers/G-Links & Sound Anchor Conecoasters.
Preamp:VAC Master Preamplifier (Silver Flake)
Digital Source: dCS Rossini CD/SACD Transport, Vivaldi APEX DAC, Upsampler Plus & matching Clock (Silver)
Analogue Preamp:VAC Renaissance SE Phono stage in Silver Flake with XLR Output Option & with Nordost Valhalla XLR's.
Analogue Sources:SME 20/2 w/SME V arm & Nordost Valhalla TA cable, Palo Santos Presentation Cartridge & Akai GX-400D Reel-to-Reel w/relapped heads by JRF Magnetic Sciences. Akai RC-17 cabled remote (original owner since 1974).
Vibration Control:TT on HRS M3X2-1921 shelf.
Speakers:Wilson Audio Alexia in Argento Silver/Black grills sitting on Acoustic Diode Kit.
Power Cables:4 Nordost Odin Supreme Reference on amps, preamp & DAC. Ansuz Acoustics C2 on Transport & Clock.
Power Distribution Bar:Shunyata Everest 8000 w/Omega XC Power Cable.
Power Outlets:Furutech GTX-D NCF (R) duplex outlet, GTX Wall Plate & Duplex Cover (x2) on dedicated, same panel phase, 20A breakers.
Speaker Cables:3M Nordost Odin Supreme Reference on Nordost Sort Lifts.
Signal Cables:Nordost Odin XLR's on dCS DAC & Amps.
Digital Cables: Nordost Odin 2's, 110 ohm AES/EBU on dCS Transport to DAC.
Clock Cables:5 each 75 ohm 1.25M Nordost Valhalla BNC/BNC Digital
Ethernet Cable: WireWorld Platinum 1M Starlight® 8 Twinax
Headphones:Vintage Koss Pro IV AA.
RCM: Audio Desk PRO
Tube Test Gear:Mint late '60's/calibrated Heathkit TT-1A, MaxiMatcher Preamp & Space Tech Labs ATT-3.02 tube test sets.
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  #30  
Old 09-07-2017, 09:32 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jerome W View Post
I do not know how good are those 300B tubes but 2500 dollars for a pair just makes no sense.
A pair of Gold Lion reissue 300 B tubes sound fabulous and cost around 350 dollars.

On a side note, the best 300B amps I ever heard are monoblocks with Lundhal
transformers, made by a french engineer in Rennes. The guy makes all kind of tube amps just for passion ans sells them for the price of their parts. I paid my monoblocks 1400 euros and I changed the Shuguang tubes for Gold Lion ones. Double the price for the maker to earn some money and you are at 2800 euros. Double the price for the importer and retailer and you get at 5600 euros + taxes.
An amp sold for 5600 euros in a hifi shop and often much more has 1400 euros of pieces inside.
How much do you think this Luxman amp cost to produce ?
Attachment 51871
Attachment 51872
Jerome,

I hear you. $2,500 for a pair of tubes seems outrageous but perhaps these Takaksuki tubes are one on the contributing factors to the magical sound of this amp. Most people who swear by this tube and the original Western Electric claim they are getting 10,000 plus hours of use out of them. I guess if you break it down that way, it's "tolerable".

I hope that more people on AA get a chance to hear this amp.
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Office: Luxman L-595A SE, Diapason Neos speakers, HiFi Rose RS150B, Nordost Frey 2 Interconnects, Tellurium Q Silver speaker cables,

Last edited by GreginNH1; 09-08-2017 at 08:42 AM.
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