"Reflecting decades of Luxman experience and with build quality second to none, the massive, beautifully executed M-10x power amplifier also debuts our LIFES1.0 circuit technology to achieve a new benchmark in performance," comments Jeff Sigmund, president of Luxman America.
"Amplifier negative feedback use has always been a double-edged sword. While feedback plays a central role in reducing distortion, even minuscule inaccuracies in its application can compromise the expressive power of music reproduction," Luxman states. It was to overcome this paradox that Luxman created the Only Distortion Negative Feedback (ODNF) circuit in 1999, repeatedly updating it through to ODNF 4.0 in the M-900u and most recently ODNF-u in the L-595ASE integrated amplifier of 2021. For the M-10X, Luxman engineers were determined to supersede even these proud achievements, delivering "a dramatic advance in musicality, freshness, and overwhelming impact."
The result of their concentrated efforts is the LUXMAN Integrated Feedback Engine System (LIFES1.0). To create this refined topology, Luxman engineers embarked on a systematic exploration of alternate designs, using dedicated software to simulate electronic performance across the entire circuit. Simulation enabled the team to examine many more alternate layouts and consider individual circuit components. After arriving at the most promising logically simulated circuits, the team’s work had only just begun. Luxman designers carefully evaluated available components for their contribution to audio performance. Finally, the team connected assembled experimental boards to an existing amplifier, assessing prototype designs through repeated listening tests.
The resulting circuit incorporates three essential advances, starting with improved configuration. To substantially upgrade the detection of distortion, Luxman engineers selected a Field Effect Transistor (FET) with unusually high transconductance (gm) and a different polarity in the primary stage. This not only improves sound quality, but also reduces the number of parallel circuit elements. The result, the team determined, is a unique balance of low distortion and exceptional musicality.
The second area of improvement focused on the highly regulated constant voltage circuit. The drive stage has an outsized impact on an amplifier’s ability to render fine musical nuances. For LIFES1.0, Luxman engineers redesigned the constant voltage circuit with new, high-performance regulator chips and carefully selected Zener diodes manufactured by Vishay in the United States. The team adopted a highly regulated power supply circuit that resists load fluctuations, even under duress.
Finally, the designers dealt with the heat generation that can negatively affect the performance of the amplifier. For the most stable operation under all thermal conditions, the M-10X employs a new configuration of high-precision fixed resistance components in the current mirror constant current circuit.
Connoisseurs of Luxman power amplifiers will immediately recognize the massively overbuilt heat sink stacks, giant power transformer, super-sized 80,000 µF filter capacitors and quadruple parallel push-pull output stage with sixteen transistors per channel. The result is prodigious power into just about any conceivable load: not only 150W + 150W into 8ohms, but also an instantaneous 1,200W + 1,200W into 1 ohm, or even 2,400W into 2 ohms in BTL monaural mode.
"As with previous Luxman amplifiers, damping factor is high (710) for extraordinary control of speaker motion. As a result, power is instantly and effortlessly available, regardless of the challenges of loudspeaker impedance or the dynamic requirements of the music. Another result of these design choices is an amplifier chassis of uncommon heft: 107 lbs. (48.4 kg)," the company states.
Respecting the tradition of Japanese classic hifi components, the front panel in the M-10X is understated in blasted white finished aluminum, with small-diameter function switches and generous, needle-type analog level meters, illuminated by incandescent-toned LEDs. Luxman designers repositioned the left channel meter to the center, as a respectful nod to BTL mode monaural listening. Like the companion D-10X digital player, the M-10X incorporates hairline detailing and a beveled front panel for added visual interest.
Luxman designers have examined, tested, auditioned and refined every aspect of the M-10X power amplifier, achieving pure class A operation up to 12W with a bias current setting that successfully balances high output power and detailed sound quality. All circuit boards feature gold plated, low resistance 100μm thick copper signal traces, and peel-coat type removable circuit board solder mask to eliminate dielectric effects causing subtle degradations in sound quality. The composite, loopless chassis isolates the effect of ground impedance and shields the circuits from external magnetic fields and digital noise.
The Luxman M-10X power amplifier will be available in February 2022 at a suggested retail price of $19,995 USD. The amplifier is equipped with 12V trigger input/output connections to daisy chain multiple amplifiers in a home theater or enable convenient integration into automated systems.
Luxman America, based in Ballston Spa, NY, is the exclusive North American distributor of Luxman brand products designed and produced by Luxman Corp., of Yokohama, Japan. Luxman was among the world’s first consumer electronics companies, founded at the dawn of the radio age in 1925. Over the years, Luxman audio components have become synonymous with timeless styling, exquisite fit and finish, and above all, uncompromising sound quality. When the audio industry moved en masse into transistor amplifiers, Luxman continued to create vacuum tube amplifiers without interruption. Landmark products include the SQ-5A vacuum tube integrated amplifier (1961), the PD-300 turntable with vacuum disc stabilizer (1980) and the DU-10 universal disc player for CD, SACD and DVD Audio (2001).
www.luxman.com
www.luxmanamerica.com
