Интегральные усилители — Luxman LX-380

The LX-380 is a vacuum tube stereo integrated amplifier from Luxman housed in a wooden case with an aluminium front panel, a styling that recalls the brand's classic models. It was the first Luxman tube amplifier to use LECUA, the company's computerized control attenuator that sets volume in 88 steps.

Key specs that matter

Rated output is 18 W per channel into 8 ohm, 20 W per channel into 6 ohm and 14 W per channel into 4 ohm. Total harmonic distortion is 1% or less at 1 kHz into 6 ohm. Signal to noise (IHF-A) reaches 95 dB for line, 84 dB for MM phono and 67 dB for MC phono. Line response covers 20 Hz to 80 kHz (+0, -3.0 dB) and phono response 20 Hz to 20 kHz within 0.5 dB. Line inputs take 180 mV at 47 kohm, the MM input 3.0 mV at 47 kohm and the MC input 0.38 mV at 100 ohm. A main-in rated at 690 mV and 100 kohm, a record out at 180 mV and a pre-out at 1 V are provided. Power consumption is 127 W, and versions exist for 230 V at 50 Hz and 115 V at 60 Hz. The chassis is 440 x 197 x 403 mm and weighs 17.6 kg.

Engineering and use context

Inside are four 6L6GC output tubes and three ECC82 (12AU7) small-signal tubes. The output stage is a fixed-bias push-pull design in Class AB, with the 12AU7 tubes working in a Mullard driver circuit ahead of one pair of output tubes per channel. Tone control is electronically operated and gives 8 dB of adjustment with switchable turnover points, 150, 300 or 600 Hz for bass and 1.5, 3 or 6 kHz for treble. A loudness mode compensates for human hearing at low levels. For vinyl there are subsonic and mono switches. A separation switch splits the preamplifier and power amplifier sections, which allows bi-amplifier use. The front panel also has a 6.3 mm headphone output, and four pairs of screw speaker terminals make bi-wiring straightforward. The front also carries a number of toggle switches, and a detachable power cable is supplied.

Pairing

The integrated phono section for MM and MC and the subsonic and mono switches make the LX-380 ready for a turntable without extra boxes. The pre-out and main-in connectors also let an external power amplifier join the chain, and the flat aluminium RA-25 remote handles everyday operation.

Alternatives

The Luxman SQ-N150 is a smaller tube integrated amplifier with four EL84 output tubes using P-K split phase inversion in a chassis the size of an A4 sheet.