LUXMAN AUDIO
The LUXMAN room sported a fine mix of components and debut products from the legendary company. The system featured the LUXMAN C-900u Control Pre-Amplifier ($15,995 ), LUXMAN M-10X Monoblock Amplifier ($19,995 ), LUXMAN D-07X SACD Player ($9,995 ) in its debut, LUXMAN PD-191A Turntable ($12,495 ) also in its debut , LUXMAN LMC-5 Cartridge Moving-Coil Cartridge ($2,695 ), LUXMAN E-250 Phono Equalizer ($2,395 ), and the LUXMAN NT-07 Streamer (TBD). Complimentary components were the MELCO N1-S38 Server ($11,999 ) and the MAGICO S5 MKII Speakers ($45,400/pr) and MAGICO QSUB15 Subwoofer ($22,000).
The LUXMAN room was a buzz of activity, seemingly, from beginning to end. Whenever we stopped by to listen there was a healthy number of folks listening and suggesting songs for a quick study of the LUXMAN MAGICO system at hand was no easy task. The folks of LUXMAN, Sue Toscano, Jeff Sigmund, and John Pravel were gracious, nonetheless, and the events—talk, media reception—were very well received.
Abbey Fonn of IMPEX Records and Nicolaus Getz, son of Stan Getz, were in the LUXMAN room to announced the release via IMPEX Records of the classic Bossa Nova album Getz/Gilberto. It was also very interesting to gain insight into the back story of the Getz/Gilberto recording. One such insight was that Astrud Gilberto was not a professional singer, nor had she ever been, when she was asked to sing two songs—”The Girl from Ipanema, Corcovado”— on the world renown album and there was much trepidation of the part of her husband, João Gilberto, with regard to Astrud singing.
It was also quite the pleasure to meet LUXMAN’s President, Mr. Tatsuya Sueyoshi, its Chief of Overseas Sales, Ms. Izumi Saito, and its Director of R&D, Mr. Masakazu Nagatsuma, who were all on hand for the premiere of several LUXMAN products. Of course, I most definitely look forward to reviewing them.
It certainly goes without saying, that LUXMAN components from turntables to CD Players, which I am so thrilled that LUXMAN continues to make, to integrateds and amplifiers have always been exceptionally well executed from an industrial design perspective and from a musical perspective as well.
With more than 15 billion CDs worldwide and more being sold everyday, still(!), one must salute LUXMAN for continuing with this format that has grown by leaps and bounds since its introduction. Bravo!
