Luxman A-007

An 80-watt integrated amplifier with MOS-FET output and dual-mono construction, from the late CD era.

Overview

The Luxman A-007 sits in that narrow slice of late-1980s Japanese audio where the integrated amplifier was still taken seriously as a statement piece. Rated at 80 watts per channel into 8 ohms — with 100W available into 4 ohms — it was never about brute force. The numbers that matter are the ones you can't see from across the room: a damping factor of 200, output impedance held to 0.4Ω or less, and harmonic distortion figures that hover around 0.01% (or 0.02%, depending on the source) at realistic listening levels. This was Luxman's top model in its Duo-beta series, and it was built to disappear into the music rather than announce itself.

The A-007 was introduced in 1989. It sat in the flagship slot above the A-117 and was eventually followed by the A-107. CD was on the rise, vinyl was hanging on, and designers were trying to make solid-state gear that didn't sound gritty. Luxman used a MOS-FET output stage with a current-feedback topology, which reviewers and owners describe as smooth and detailed rather than etched or clinical. The front panel is restrained, with clean lines and a sensible knob layout.

The A-007 weighs 9.8 kg (one source lists 8.9 kg) and is 430mm wide. Inside you get dual-mono construction, a toroidal transformer, and separate power supplies for the preamp and power amp stages. This is not a receiver-style cost-cut design. Every section gets its own clean rail, and the LINE DIRECT switch bypasses the tone control circuitry for the shortest path from source to speakers.

Key Features

MOS-FET Output Stage with Current Feedback

The output section uses MOS-FETs instead of the bipolar transistors most competitors used then. Combined with a current-feedback amplifier topology, confirmed in Japanese documentation as カレント・フィードバック方式, the design aims for fast transient response and stable behavior into difficult loads. The 80W/8Ω rating is honest. Into 4Ω the amplifier delivers 100W per channel, and the allowable load impedance spans 4Ω to 16Ω. Owners report it drives low-impedance speakers that choke lesser amplifiers, which fits the 200 damping factor and the 0.4Ω output impedance.

Dual-Mono Construction

Open the case and the channels are separate, not sharing a common PCB. Luxman's デュアル・モノーラル・コンストラクション approach gives each channel its own power supply path, which reduces crosstalk and inter-channel modulation. This is the kind of engineering usually saved for separates, and it is part of why collectors who normally skip integrated amps pay attention to the A-007.

Toroidal Transformer with Separated Supplies

Power comes from a toroidal transformer, which reduces stray magnetic fields compared to conventional EI-core units. The preamp and power amp stages also run on separate power supplies, so the sensitive front end never sees the voltage sags and noise spikes from the output section under load. Power consumption is rated at 280W, which hints at the headroom beyond the 80W continuous rating.

Phono Stage with MM and MC Support

The built-in phono stage handles both moving magnet and moving coil cartridges, with input sensitivities of 2.5mV for MM and 0.15mV for MC. Signal-to-noise is 80dB for MM and 71dB for MC, with a 20dB overload margin on both. Dual FETs in the phono section keep noise low. Owners note the MC input may need loading adjustments to match specific cartridges. It is adequate, but not in the same league as a dedicated outboard phono preamp.

Direct Signal Path

A CD direct input and the LINE DIRECT switch bypass the tone controls and route the signal through the shortest possible path. In this mode, frequency response runs from 5Hz to 100kHz (one source lists 10Hz to 100kHz), and THD drops to 0.005% at rated output according to reference measurements. The direct path sounds cleaner, more immediate, and less colored than running through the bass and treble circuits.

Historical Context

The A-007 was the top model in Luxman's Duo-beta series, above the A-117 and ahead of the A-107. It also replaced the earlier L-570Z in the Esotec lineup. Production dates are disputed. hifi-wiki and HiFi-Archiv place it in 1989 through 1990, while Japanese documentation from audio-heritage.jp extends the run to 1993. It was aimed at high-end home audio enthusiasts who wanted low distortion and high current delivery without the cost and footprint of separate components.

The wide frequency response and low distortion figures were meant to show what CD had to offer, while the phono stage kept vinyl playback possible. Audio (June 1991, p.125) advertised the A-007 as a 40W/ch integrated amp in the Design Series. That doesn't match the 80W rating documented elsewhere, so it is either an early production variant or a marketing typo. By October 1992, Audio (p.192) was still running dealer ads for the model, describing it as "Modest Size, Maximum Performance."

Collectibility & Value

Used prices have settled into a reasonable band. Classic-audio.de lists prices around 350-450 Euro, while audiovintage.fr suggests 300€ - 500€ depending on condition. That's modest for a flagship integrated. The A-007 doesn't have the cult following of Luxman's tube gear, and it was built in sufficient numbers to avoid scarcity.

Know the failure points before buying. The internal cooling fan, present on at least some production runs, can get noisy after years of dust and may need cleaning or replacement. The power supply capacitors are also a concern. As one forum owner put it, "Recap the power supply caps, they are likely out of spec by now." Budget for that service if the unit hasn't been maintained. The MC input may need loading adjustments to match specific cartridges, so expect some experimentation with a moving coil pickup.

The A-007 is straightforward to work on. The dual-mono construction means each channel can be serviced independently, and the toroidal transformer rarely fails. A cleaned, recapped example should give many more years of service.