The Luxman C-10X is the successor to the Luxman C-900u released in 2013, but is a completely redesigned amplifier. This new flagship pre-amplifier was developed with the aim of achieving the overwhelming audio quality that next-generation components should provide for the 100th anniversary of LUXMAN in 2025.
In the amplifier section, LUXMAN’s new LIFES amplification feedback engine, which was first adopted for the M-10X flagship power amplifier, is installed for the first time in a control amplifier.
Four fully-balanced preamplifier blocks, under completely identical operating conditions, achieve pristine purity and a natural, three-dimensional sound.
LUXMAN’s original electronically controlled attenuator, LECUA, is directly connected to the preamplifier section, translating volume control operation into attenuation in fine increments of 0.5dB.
The rotary encoder system is driven by a stylish volume knob, with its built-in heavyweight damping mechanism.
The Luxman C-10X is equipped with LECUA-EX, which reproduces the feel of traditional audio equipment, but with modern technology under the hood, and achieves smooth and tactile volume control, while thoroughly suppressing sound quality deterioration. The exterior expresses a three-dimensional layering with a bold contrast between the authentic, blasted white finish front panel, inherited from the C-900u, and a fresh hairline finish top panel.
An exquisite combination of different finishes and shapes evokes a presence as a component, indicative of the richness, depth and delicacy within.
To attain its flagship pedigree, the C-10X control amplifier is a C-series model revision, the first in 10 years, with plenty of luxurious features unique to high-end products.
As the perfect partner to their M-10X power amplifier, it is equipped with their latest LIFES amplification feedback engine and as a controller, it draws out peak performance from any power amplifier, challenging the high expectations of audiophiles all around the globe.
By their innovation and imagination, they deliver the highest quality sound and listener satisfaction.
LIFES (Luxman Integrated Feedback Engine System)
Since its founding, LUXMAN has developed numerous amplifier circuits in order to achieve the highest performance and musicality required of high-end audio amplifiers.
ODNF (Only Distortion Negative Feedback) 1.0, which was first used in car audio amplifiers in 1999, achieved excellent static characteristics without feeding back the actual musical component of the audio signal to the main amplifier, providing natural distortion elimination, almost like a non-feedback equipped model.
As an epoch-making amplifier circuit that provides excellent sound quality, their system has steadily evolved up to its final version, ODNF-u, which debuted in 2020.
In 2021, in anticipation of the 100th anniversary, LUXMAN has completed work on a new amplification feedback system, “LIFES” , which has achieved even more realistic, fresh, rich musicality and overwhelming audio performance.
Simple, high performance
Their newly developed LIFES amplifier feedback engine greatly improves the static characteristics of the ODNF system and they have made improvements to the differential amplifier that detects distortion in the signal.
Various approaches were considered at the design stage and, by adopting an N-channel dual JFET with excellent audio characteristics in the first stage of the differential amplifier, distortion detection accuracy was greatly improved.
They have succeeded in reducing the number of parallel elements that make up the circuit while improving performance and, by drastically changing the operation configuration of the entire amplifier, they have effectively reduced distortion during amplification by 50%.
Improving constant voltage circuitry
In order to support delicate amplification operations that accurately convey all of the nuances in a music signal, the combination of a dual packaged control elements and improvements to the constant voltage circuitry contribute to stable operation, as did the adoption of the US-made Zener diodes (Vishay), of course with the emphasis on audio quality.
The new, highly stable power supply is resistant to input and output load fluctuations, AC and DC gain variations and has excellent regulation performance that faithfully supports reproduction of the finest musical details.
Improved response to environmental changes
For the purpose of stable operation, LIFES features four current mirror-type constant current circuits and dual transistors for each channel to thoroughly eliminate the effects of fluctuations in ambient temperature and power supply voltage in the listening room.
Furthermore, the temperature compensation of the current amplification stage combines a transistor and a thermistor to suppress bias fluctuations, improving the circuit for more stable operation.
Smooth and precise volume control with reduced sound quality deterioration
A volume control function is essential for audio amplifiers and it is necessary to have a mechanism that smoothly attenuates the voltage while maintaining the quality of the input source in order to output audio at a level suitable for listening on a fixed gain power amplifier. LUXMAN’s original LECUA is an electronically controlled attenuator system that switches independent, high-quality fixed resistor steps for each channel, arranged orderly on the circuit board according to the position of the volume control.
Since the release of their C-1000f control amplifier, the 80th anniversary model released in 2006, the “LECUA1000”, embedded in the amplifier circuitry, saw very little change in sound quality due to the influence of external vibrations affecting the volume setting. As a volume control system that does not deteriorate over time, it has been installed in many of their products.
The C-10X combines a high-precision rotary encoder with a newly developed heavyweight rotation mechanism to complete the “LECUA-EX” system, achieving even greater reliability and a natural, high-quality feel over 192 fine steps from 0 to 95.5dB. Increased volume knob rotation speed and long-pressing of the volume buttons on the remote control moderately accelerate the increase or decrease of the output level.
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