Well, i just bought this SQ-N100 amp with built-in MM phono stage and Headphone amp., it was hard to resist. You know me as a fan of the Luxman PD-444 turntables, we will see how is the amp. My sample was Made in Japan.
From the history of Luxman:
Lux Corporation was founded in Japan on June 1925, by T. Hayakawa and his brother K. Yoshikawa. The company began as the radio equipment department of Kinsuido Picture Frame Store in Osaka, until then only an importer of picture frames, and was founded just ahead of the first radio broadcast that year.
In the mid 1970s and early 1980s, Luxman rose to prominence in the world hi-fi community, owed to the quality sound produced by its equipment. Luxman were primarily specialists in making vacuum tube amplifiers of the highest caliber. One of the traits of Luxman equipment from this era is the quality and warmth of vacuum tube sound, paired with powerful solid-state electronics and often beautiful, minimalist aesthetic designs. Preamps and power amps such as the Luxman C-05 and M-05, with their champagne gold finish, high-calibre electrical designs (pure copper interconnects, Class A amp design, separately powered channels with dual AC cables, copper-plated chassis), beautiful sound, and superior rock-solid build became the dream of audiophiles worldwide.
Sadly, the 80s saw Luxman being sold off to the Alpine brand and as a result seemed to find their way out of high-end into mainstream big box retailer gear. Another ownership change occurred in 1994. This resulted in Luxman returning to the capable hands of a Japanese private ownership in 2000 that has since restored the former audiophile brand’s glory and direction.
http://www.luxman.com/company-history.php
From the history of Luxman:
Lux Corporation was founded in Japan on June 1925, by T. Hayakawa and his brother K. Yoshikawa. The company began as the radio equipment department of Kinsuido Picture Frame Store in Osaka, until then only an importer of picture frames, and was founded just ahead of the first radio broadcast that year.
In the mid 1970s and early 1980s, Luxman rose to prominence in the world hi-fi community, owed to the quality sound produced by its equipment. Luxman were primarily specialists in making vacuum tube amplifiers of the highest caliber. One of the traits of Luxman equipment from this era is the quality and warmth of vacuum tube sound, paired with powerful solid-state electronics and often beautiful, minimalist aesthetic designs. Preamps and power amps such as the Luxman C-05 and M-05, with their champagne gold finish, high-calibre electrical designs (pure copper interconnects, Class A amp design, separately powered channels with dual AC cables, copper-plated chassis), beautiful sound, and superior rock-solid build became the dream of audiophiles worldwide.
Sadly, the 80s saw Luxman being sold off to the Alpine brand and as a result seemed to find their way out of high-end into mainstream big box retailer gear. Another ownership change occurred in 1994. This resulted in Luxman returning to the capable hands of a Japanese private ownership in 2000 that has since restored the former audiophile brand’s glory and direction.
http://www.luxman.com/company-history.php
