Luxman P-100

Luxman P-100

LUXMAN will launch their Centennial edition headphone amplifier, the P-100 CENTENNIAL.

LUXMAN’s 100th anniversary year.

The P-1, from 2002, was developed as a new model that embodied their product concept of a power amplifier dedicated to headphones, applying their original ODNF technology, which was developed to drive the final stage of their power amplifiers.

The P-1 was developed for dedicated headphone listeners, but the market wasn’t as big as it is today.

That model quickly attracted the attention of many high-end users and was recognised for its unique sound quality as a reference amp for headphone designers and recording studio monitoring.

After that, in 2012, the P-700u was the first model to offer fully balanced circuitry, ahead of many other manufacturers.

To improve on that unique headphone listening experience, where the signal ground is shared between the left and right channels, many users now enjoy the high-performance sound of balanced headphone connections, with quality audio from a home system setup or portable player.

And now, as 22 years have passed since the P-1 was launched, their latest headphone amplifier, the 7th generation P-100 CENTENNIAL, is an amplifier that drives headphones exactly as you would like and released as a flagship model to commemorate the 100th anniversary of their company’s founding, with the best circuitry components and materials that LUXMAN can currently offer.

At its heart is their unique LIFES amplification circuitry, which LUXMAN developed as core amplifier technology and is installed in their current and future product lineup for years to come.

This headphone amplifier achieves a generous output, rated 4W+4W (unbalanced output, 8Ω load) and 8W+8W (balanced output, 16Ω load), and has their signature, rich sound field, delicate expressiveness, full of the energy that they bestowed upon their M-10X flagship power amplifier.

To deliver high sound quality and sufficient power, this new model is equipped with a highly regulated power supply with completely independent left and right power transformer feeds regulator circuitry and filter capacitors.

In addition, multiple output modes, such as parallel BTL, and ground independent, which combine the four built-in amplifier circuits, are available for connection to the wide range of high-end headphones available in today’s global audio market.

When configured in a special high-end user mode, two P-100 CENTENNIALs can be used in dual mono mode as an ultimate paralleled BTL balanced output setting that employs a total of eight amplifier circuit blocks.

The unit is also equipped with expandability that will allow it to fully demonstrate its capabilities even when combined with headphones with characteristics yet to be developed that may be launched in the future.

In addition to conventional functions, utilities for achieving comfortable listening include the adoption of our LECUA-EX transparent, electronically controlled attenuator system, ranged over two hundred 0.5dB steps, which is complemented with a smooth and moderately weighted volume knob operating as a rotary encoder, as well as large 3-digit 7-segment LED indicator and a VOLUME LIMIT function to protect your ears from excessive volume.

As a LUXMAN flagship product, the exterior is comprised of a highly rigid housing which has been enlarged to accommodate numerous large components, an extremely thick steel base plate, an oversized bonnet with a hairline finish on three sides, and a “CENTENNIAL” nameplate representing their 100th anniversary.

The P-100 CENTENNIAL is an anniversary model that has been perfected to deliver overwhelming drivability and musicality to all headphone lovers.

Specifications Luxman P-100

Functions

– A fully balanced headphone amplifier with 4 amplifier circuit blocks

– A wide variety of output terminals compatible with various headphone connectors (unbalanced φ6.3mm, balanced φ4.4mm, balanced XLR-4P, balanced XLR-3P*)

*dedicated terminal for parallel BTL balanced output mode using two units

– A total of 4 output configurations to choose from according to the desired performance and sound quality (see the “output configuration” table on the next page)

– 3 input pairs (unbalanced RCA, balanced XLR x 2) for connection to multiple source devices and through output (unbalanced RCA)

– Precise volume adjustment using a rotary encoder with 200 x 0.5dB steps from 0 to -99.5dB

– Large 7-segment LED for easy visibility of the 3-digit volume display

– Two output modes, switching selectable when using the balanced output terminals (BAL: BTL balanced/G-DIV[GROUND DIVIDE: Parallel unbalanced with separate

grounding for left and right]

– Three-step sensitivity switch (0, -6, -12dB) and left and right balance adjustment (0.5dB steps, LR 0 to -12dB) without increasing unnecessary connections as part

of the LECUA volume control system, volume mute function

– VOLUME LIMIT function to set the upper limit of the volume range to protect your ears from excessive volume (6 levels: OFF, -10, -20, -30, -50dB)

– A luxurious parallel BTL balanced output mode is available, consisting of a total of 8 amplifier circuits using two P-100s (see the connection image below)

Electrical circuit

– Equipped with four LUXMAN’s latest LIFE1.0 amplification feedback engines

– Rated output of 4W+4W (unbalanced output, 8Ω load) and 8W+8W (balanced output, 16Ω load) that linearly follows the load resistance of various headphones

– Maximum output is 20W+20W (balanced output 8Ω load)

– Within the rated output, one output element achieves pure class A operation without switching distortion across the full audio spectrum (unbalanced output 32Ω load)

– The volume control mechanism, used in our latest solid-state amplifiers, won’t lose musical details even at low volume. LECUA-EX combines a highly pure,

electronically controlled attenuator system with a weighted rotation mechanism, providing a luxurious tactile feel

– The power supply section is equipped with two large-capacity OI type transformers for the amplifier circuitry and another transformer for peripheral circuitry such as relay switching and LED indicators

– The power stage is equipped with four 10,000 filter capacitors and the driver stage is equipped with four 3,300 filter capacitors, independently configured for the left and right channels.

– Large, low-resistance speaker replays are connected in parallel, thoroughly reducing the impedance of the output lines that drive connected headphones

– Beeline construction, which configures the signal paths to yield the most rational and shortest wiring route, and non-angled circuit tracing patterns, which realises smooth and stress-free signal transmission

Design, Mechanism and accessories

– The “CENTENNIAL” nameplate with a glossy chrome finish will only be attached to our 100th anniversary models

– The case size has been significantly increased from the previous model (P-750ull)(panel heigh 80 → 120mm) to accommodate the amount of components required to achieve overwhelming flagship performance

– The 6mm thick three-sided aluminium oversized bonnet increases the rigidity of the case and the fine hairline finish and powerful face protruding from the front panel create a luxurious feel befitting a high-end product

– The bottom chassis is made from extremely thick 4.1mm (2.9 + 1.2mm) steel plates that increases the ground mass and also serves as a heat sink for the power block

– Density gradient cast iron feet protect delicate music signals at micro levels from unnecessary vibrations

– A gold-plated AC inlet that has a reversed mounting direction to allow the entire terminal to support the weight of heavy IEC cables

Image of using two P-100s, each in mono, while connecting them in balanced BTL mode