Luxman L-550
(1982 - 1984)

First of a very successful line of integrated amplifiers which would receive many awards and sell very very well worldwide.

Produced around the time of the Alpine "takeover / collaboration" and just before the DAD revolution, the L-550 did receive a "State of the Art" award in 1982 besides being selected as "Best Product" by Stereo Sound.
Most of its direct followers did about the same :
L-560 (an upgraded L-550 with shiny knobs),
L-550X (upgraded L-550 with a toroidal transformer and minor circuit differences) or the later L-540 and L-570.

All did bear two common features : Duo-Beta S and... Class A all the way. And all did sport something which was NOT to be discarded once the fad faded: double Heat-Pipes !
The 1991 L-570 did keep the Heat-Pipe system although it had vanished from all other brands since very long - why change a winning team ?
Behind its somewhat over-featured looks, the L-550 is an excellent amplifier.