Luxman is another old-school, technology-driven Japanese company. Looking at the 250Wpc B-100F (80th Anniversary Commemoration) ($55,000/pair) is a reminder of the days when the great Asian manufacturers fought for the title "best." The B100F is huge and can deliver 2000W into 1 ohm.
It's packed with unique tech, too. Luxman believes that undyed circuit boards sound better, so they use uncolored Teflon boards and coats the copper traces with gold to deter corrosion. Luxman engineers also assert that 90-degree turns sound audibly inferior to gentle curves, so they perform "feng shui" in laying out gently curvilinear circuit paths that resemble something organic.
Luxman engineers also think that round wre doesn't "stack" right, so the wind the transformers with copper bars that have to be hammered into place by hand. The craftsman who performs this feat can only produce two transformers per day. Each transformer weighs 55lbs, uncaged.
All components are hand-connected, no soldering allowed. Luxman also employs a technology it has developed itself: ODNF (only distortion negative feedback). 0DNF is only applied to distortions within the signal, not globally.
And the sound, driving the G1Giya loudspeakers? Glorious—full and vivid, but absolutely effortless. De-freaking-luxe!
