L.A.-based dealer Common Wave Hi-Fi is presenting in six rooms in Costa Mesa this year. The one I visited was showing a Luxman PD-151 Mark II turntable ($5995) with Luxman's LMC-5 cartridge alongside other Luxman components from the 100-year-old Japanese maker's limited Black Edition Centennial series.
Instead of the company's ubiquitous silver chassis, these come in, yep, black: a Luxman L-509Z integrated amplifier ($12,995), D-07X SA-CD player ($10,495), and NT-07 streamer ($7995). Music was played back through a pair of QLN Signature speakers with stands ($24,500/pair).
Backgrounds were silent as tracks refreshingly of a hi-fi show came through in rich detail, including Bright Eyes' "Lua," from Qobuz. Also via Qobuz, Julia Jacklin's "Body" sounded intense, visceral, and weighty with a somewhat dark timbre. The vocals were big and powerful.
In a room next door, I found some simple and elegant record-cover frames from Luz de Mano. Made of natural hardwood brackets and triple-strength glass, these looked like a handy solution for music lovers who enjoy displaying album cover art—and who also enjoy playing their records, since the albums can be slid out sideways from the wooden brackets without removing the frame from the wall. Nifty.
Instead of the company's ubiquitous silver chassis, these come in, yep, black: a Luxman L-509Z integrated amplifier ($12,995), D-07X SA-CD player ($10,495), and NT-07 streamer ($7995). Music was played back through a pair of QLN Signature speakers with stands ($24,500/pair).
Backgrounds were silent as tracks refreshingly of a hi-fi show came through in rich detail, including Bright Eyes' "Lua," from Qobuz. Also via Qobuz, Julia Jacklin's "Body" sounded intense, visceral, and weighty with a somewhat dark timbre. The vocals were big and powerful.
In a room next door, I found some simple and elegant record-cover frames from Luz de Mano. Made of natural hardwood brackets and triple-strength glass, these looked like a handy solution for music lovers who enjoy displaying album cover art—and who also enjoy playing their records, since the albums can be slid out sideways from the wooden brackets without removing the frame from the wall. Nifty.
