Luxman C-06a

An extra-rare item outside Japan but an extremely common preamplifier in Osaka, Tottori and Kanazawa.

Mostly, an all-stage differential amp configuration was added to the C-06 's Duo Balance Amp balanced circuit as the previous system proved to (sometimes) (depending) induce high frequencies phase-shifts.

The low-impedance end outputs remained the same : positive phase (4x rca + 2x xlr) and negative phase (2x rca) ; their impedance was maintained at 16 and 8 Ohm ! These multi-outputs were mainly meant to power a pair of M-06 or M-07 as monoblocks. Pricey, but well worth the expense.

Also added were more secondary windings to supply independently the 34 relays and front LEDs, complete chassis copper-plating, better RCA terminals, 6N wiring and, as for the M-06 vs. M-06a, a fair amount of hand-applied copper shielding atop the caps.

The Ultimate Attenuator wasn't touched : same 4-gang fixed-resistor box, as used in all late-Alpine & Azden periods : 4x 32 resistors soldered on glass-epoxy PCBs with non-magnetic wiring and enclosed in a diecast enclosure.

According to the published specs, there's a 0,003% increase in distortion (compared to the original C-06). I could live with that ;-)

Attention, beware : the C-06a, like the C-06 has no phono stage : E-06 or E06a necessary !

The original C-06 cost 260,000¥, the 06a 380,000¥ but the increase was obviously audible and that's why the 06a sold much better.
With an M-07 (or two), this is my non-Sony "dream" preamplfier.



A real C-06 here ; a real C-06a here.