Luxman D-06u SACD player Associated Equipment

Sidebar 2: Associated Equipment

Analog Sources: Garrard 301, Thorens TD 124 turntables; EMT 997, Thomas Schick tonearms; EMT OFD 15 & TSD 15, Shindo Laboratory SPU pickup heads.
Digital Sources: Halide Designs DAC HD, AudioQuest DragonFly Black & Red USB DACs; Apple iMac G5 computer running Audirvana Plus 1.5.12; Sony SCD-777ES SACD/CD player.
Preamplification: Auditorium 23 Hommage T2 & T1 step-up transformers, Shindo Laboratory Masseto preamplifier.
Power Amplifiers: Shindo Laboratory Corton-Charlemagne (monoblocks) & Haut-Brion (stereo).
Loudspeakers: Altec Flamenco & Valencia, Auditorium 23 Hommage Cinema, DeVore Fidelity Orangutan O/96.
Cables: USB: Wireworld Revelation 2.0. Interconnect: Audio Note AN-Vx, Shindo Laboratory. Speaker: Auditorium 23. AC: Luna Orange, manufacturers' stock cords.
Accessories: Box Furniture Company D3S rack (source & amplification components), Audiodesksysteme Gläss Vinyl Cleaner.—Art Dudley

COMPANY INFO
Luxman Corp.
US distributor: On a Higher Note LLC
PO Box 693
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92693
(949) 488-3004
ARTICLE CONTENTS

COMMENTS
georgehifi's picture

Quote:By Art Dudley
"I decided to compare the Lux's SACD- and CD-layer performances—and in so doing heard distinctions both subtle and obvious. In the latter category was the SACD layer's notably superior clarity as compared to the CD layer: the Luxman unearthed from the SACD layer a wealth of musical and sonic details, and presented them with clear, "dark" space between the notes; by comparison, the CD layer sounded congested and unclear through the Lux.
The Luxman D-06u delivered, overall, the best sound and most reliably high level of involvement I've enjoyed in my home from SACDs. And if it wasn't the most accomplished player of my experience of "Red Book" CDs"

Quote: Mojo Music, and many more believe the same.
"When a PCM file is played on a DSD or Bit Stream converter, the DAC chip has to convert the PCM to DSD in real time. This is one of the major reasons people claim DSD sounds better than PCM, when in fact, it is just that the chip in most modern single-bit DACs do a poor job of decoding PCM."

Cheers George

Allen Fant's picture

Nice review! AD
does this mean the Luxman will replace your Sony ES spinner?

Art Dudley's picture
Thanks, Allen! I would love for the Lux to take up residence here, but these days I'm saving my pennies for other things.
John Atkinson's picture
Allen Fant wrote:
does this mean the Luxman will replace your Sony ES spinner?

The Luxman has long since been returned to the distributor, Allen.

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

mixpro's picture

I'd love to have someone weigh in on how this compares to the Oppo BDP-105, which has been doing these same jobs for several years. For about 1/8 the scratch, too.

FabVir's picture

It would be interesting to compare the Luxman with the Norma Revo DS-1, which in my experience is one of the most neutral, musical and detailed CD player I have heard, at any price, due not only to the digital section but also to an impressive analog section coming from the designers experience in amplifiers.
I think this player would rank very very high in your "best ever CD player" list.
Fabrizio Virtuani

Christopher Mankiewicz's picture

What has become increasingly apparent is that the obvious reticence of many of the audio reviewers who are loathe to admit the unquestionable sonic superiorities of multi-channel DSD/SACD disc players is their desire to have their computers be at the center of everything digital. As a result, they cannot abide "discs" rather than "files" being the source of home musical playback, "convenience" being more important than "quality", and their disregard of multi-channel sourced playback as well, since it would mean taking off the cans they are so accustomed to using in place of a probably 5.1 or better required speaker set-up. SAD.

trebor's picture

Is there a difference sound wise between the D-06u and the D-05u?

Allen Fant's picture

Follow Up:
JA- do you know why Luxman has discontinued this Player?

John Atkinson's picture
Allen Fant wrote:
JA- do you know why Luxman has discontinued this Player?

Sorry, no.

John Atkinson
Technical Editor, Stereophile

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