Luxman C-03

 "Luxman C-03 has a fair number of controls reflecting its operational versatility, yet these are helpfully laid out and differentiated as to shape with discreet little lamps indicating the source selected, tape monitor mode and straight-through mode. Basically there is provision for five source inputs, including Video 1 and 2 with switching for audio and video signals, perhaps from a VCR, LaserVision or CDV disc player, plus two tape playback inputs labelled Tape!

  The phono input has an associated selector switch on the front panel giving a choice of two capacitance loading values for moving-magnet cartridges and three resistive values for moving coil. The recording selector either sends the selected source to all recorder outlets or permits dubbing (of video signals as well as audio) between two machines, in which case a normal source can be listened to while dubbing is in progress.

 As is common nowadays there is a 'straight' mode bypassing the tone controls, subsonic filter and balance control circuits for minimum signal losses or interference. However, rather unusually, this can be switched to operate in the phono chain as well as for CD. There is also a tone in/out bypass switch, mono/stereo switch and an output selector for the two pairs of output phono sockets, routing the signals to power amplifier A, B, A + B or headphones. The output impedance is relatively low (20 Ohms) which allows flexible operation of two stereo power amplifiers or pairs of active loudspeakers over specifications"

The output circuit operates in Class A, avoiding crossover distortion, with the so-called 'straight' modes for phono and CD taking the shortest possible wiring route. They even bypass the normal source selection buttons. There are separate regulated power supplies for the phono, tone control and video amplifier stages, with the volume control placed after the control amplifiers. Luxman have unfortunately fallen into line with the current Japanese fashion for daft names and incorporated what they call a STAR (Signal Transit for Accurate Response) circuit which, apart from its name, is a sensible provision of separate power and earth lines for each stage. Proper use of the fairly generous internal dimensions keeps a safe distance between mutually sensitive parts of the circuit."

Gramophone, august 1988

Specifications C-03

Output Voltage:  1 V

Input Sensitivity (1 kHz):

CD, Tuner, VCD 1&2, Tape/DaT : 150 mV ±15%

Phono MM (47 kΩ) Cap-1, Cap-2 : 2,5 mV ±15%

Phono MC (3Ω) : 0,1mV ±15%

Phono MC (40Ω - 100Ω) : 0,22 mV ±15%

Input Impedance (1 kHz)

CD, Tuner, VCD 1&2, Tape/DaT : 32 kΩ ±20%

Phono MM (47 kΩ) Cap-1, Cap-2 : 47 kΩ ±20%

Phono MC (3Ω) : 120 Ω  ±20%

Phono MC (40Ω) : 40 Ω ±20%

Phono MC (100Ω) : 100 Ω ±20%

Total Harmonic Distortion (1 kHz)

CD, Tuner (Pre-out : 2V) : 0,01%

Phono MM (Rec-out : 5V) : 0,01%

VCD 1 & 2 (Pre-out : 2V) : 0,01%

Frequency Response

CD, Tuner : 20 - 100 kHz  ±0,5 dB

Phono MM (Rec-out:1V) : 100 - 10 kHz  ±0,5 dB

Tape, DAT, VCD 1 & 2 : 20 - 100 kHz  ±1,5 dB

Tone Control

Bass (100 Hz) : ±6 ±1,5 dB

Treble (10 kHz) : ±6 ±1,5 dB

Loudness (VR -30 dB) : ±6 ±1,5 dB (100 Hz); ±4 ±1,5 dB (10 kHz)

S/N Ratio (Input Terminal Shorted)

CD, Tuner, DAT, VCD 1 & 2 : 77,8 dB

Phono MM Cap-1 : 43,8 dB

Phono MC (3Ω, 40Ω, 100Ω) : 43,8 dB

Residual Noise : 88,2 dB

Cross Talk (Pre-out 5V=0dB, Input Terminal Shorted at 1kHz):  70 dB

Power Supply : 100/120/220/240 V,  50/60 Hz

Semiconductors:  6 ICs, 61 Transistors, 8 FETs, 18 Diodes, 11 Zener Diodes

Dimensions (W x H x D):  438 x 328 x 88 mm

Weight:  5,5 kg