Refuse to Compromise: Japanese-Made Luxman L-509Z Integrated Amplifier Plays with Rarified Naturalism, Throws Down Gauntlet on Separates Debate

If you’ve never heard a Luxman integrated amplifier, there’s really no better place to start than with the L-509Z. Handcrafted in Japan to feverish degrees, this 64.8-pound component outputs a true 120Wpc (into eight ohms) and drives most high-end speakers with effortless ease. The 7.6 x 17.3 x 18.2-inch L-509Z plays with rarified levels of elevated naturalism and musicality, presenting music with vivid detail, color, tones, and dynamics — just like you’d experience in a live or studio environment. With L-509Z, the debate over separates versus one-box approaches becomes irrelevant. Go ahead and call L-509Z a “single-chassis separate.”

Equipped with a built-in MM/MC phono preamplifier that puts most to shame, three-band tone control, two headphone outputs, and four line-level inputs, L-509Z welcomes you to connect the sources you want. Two balanced XLR inputs ensure the highest-possible signal quality. A pair of pre-outs mean you can hook up an external preamplifier now or in the future if you so choose. Two pairs of robust, bi-wireable, Y-lug speaker binding posts and a trigger and control ins/outs for customized setups are here, too. 

Inside, L-509Z throws its weight around. Both the preamplifier and power amplifier sections simultaneously use Luxman’s new-generation LIFES amplification feedback engine. Specifically, the output section utilizes three-stage Darlington bipolar transistors in quadruple-paralleled push-pull configuration to achieve outstanding power and near-perfect linearity that’s comparable to a standalone, reference-grade power amplifier. As for the power supply: A bespoke, highly regulated 600VA EI transformer abetted with large-capacity filter capacitors (10,000μFx 8). 

The audio-first engineering extends to the volume control, which draws support from a brand-new LECUA-EX attenuator system that suppresses sonic deterioration and realizes crack precision. L-509Z combines a highly precise rotary encoder with a weighted rotation mechanism to create LECUA-EX, which offers unstinting reliability and a tactile operational feel. Enjoy 88 fine steps from 0 to 87dB and an acceleration setting for the speed at which the volume knob rotates. Trust us: You’re gonna want to touch and feel the knobs and switches on L-509Z, but for ease, it also comes with an aluminum remote control. 

Nothing is overlooked. Peel-coat circuit boards are used for the main audio signal path, eliminating the negative effects of the coating film that can adversely affect sound. Beeline construction, which configures circuits to take the shortest route possible, and a non-angled wiring pattern for smooth signal transmission further distinguish L-509Z. Large, low-resistance speaker relays are connected in parallel to transmit the driving force from the substantial power supply and output circuitry. What’s more, an ultra-thick cable is directly connected to the speaker terminals to ensure low impedance transmission, achieving a damping factor of 330.

Visually, L-509Z is a stunner. The thick aluminum top panel sports an exquisite hairline finish. Machined one by one, large ventilation holes provide efficient heat dissipation. Four large cast-iron insulator feet leverage their density gradient to protect the main chassis from unwanted vibrations. And the elephant in the room — two large VU meters, brightly back-lit by LEDs, furnish a crowning touch that draws the eyes to the action. 

Backed by a three-year manufacturer warranty, L-509Z is worthy of any system. For more information on this spectacular integrated unit, or Luxman itself, call a Music Direct audio consultant at 312-433-0200. 

"Its message is clarity, balance, coherence, seamlessness, quietude, and a certain invisibility — in keeping, I believe, with a Japanese audio aesthetic of delivering music artifact free, above all else. As Luxman’s evolving [distortion]-suppression technologies make the company’s amplifiers more silent, what is left behind is purity and focus."
— Ken Micallef, Stereophile, Class A Recommended Component