Luxman M-05

Magnificently impressive good looks and typical LUX quality, the splendid kind, radiant as a setting sun... not sure it will ever come back.

The M-05 ha quite a long production run, almost Accuphase-like, even if that happened only in a few markets and certainly not in Japan.

First presented in october 1982 as M-300 replacement, Luxman and Luxman/Alpine produced many M-05s... and sold just as much.
It is however probable only three or four production runs were made until 1984/85 and the enthusiastically accumulated overstocks were then sent to local Lux distributors for quiet selling at bargain prices until the late 1980s.

The M-05 is fully dual-mono, with Duo-ß circuits and Plus-X power supplies, superlative componentry, real Class A housed in non-magnetic and copper-plated aluminium chassis.

Also two "medical-quality" fans, a bridged mode, OFC wiring at the critical points, the all-important L/R grounding concentration into one point to achieve 0 potential - and then some plus the usual since 1980 Duo-ß, Plus-X and the not yet named STAR earthing system.

The main speaker terminals are directly coupled to the output devices ; the second outputs are dedicated to electrostatic loudspeakers with banana plugs and a Zobel network added for stability into reactive loads.

Optional but extra-rare were beautifully structured and anodized rack attachments and a massive wood enclosure, both Japan-only items.

The M-05 and C-05 started their life with a LUX T-tag and serial numbers for a year, switching to Alpine T-Tag after fall 1983, then Alpine serial numbers as well.

This powerhouse and the C-05 were the center of the october 1982 Luxmanism magazine.
There was only one other Luxmanism magazine : for the Alpine-built K-05 and K-04. End of an era.

Replaced after a very successful and long production run by the somewhat similar but different M-07.