Luxman D-500X
The Luxman D-500X was the flagship CD player in Luxman's lineup when it came out around 1987. It sat above the D-500 and D-300 in the premium Reference series and was aimed at the top of the CD player market. The Classic Audio Site calls its sound wonderfully natural and analog-like, which was rare among early CD players. It credits the analog output stage, built from high-quality discrete components, for the musicality.
The D-500X uses two PCM54HP 16-bit DAC chips in a dual differential configuration, with a 4-times oversampling digital filter. Some sources call the player simply "18 Bit," but the more detailed account specifies the dual 16-bit chip arrangement. The chassis has a die-cast aluminum front panel and a rigid structure, typical of Luxman's premium build philosophy of the era. Contemporary publications grouped it with other high-end CD players of the period (HiFI-Stereo, February 1996, p.60), noting a THD of 0.002% and a signal-to-noise ratio of 114 dB for comparable models.
Documentation on this model is thin beyond its basic specs and a handful of owner impressions. Known specifications include a frequency response of 5 Hz–20 kHz, dynamic range of 96 dB, signal-to-noise ratio of 110 dB, THD of 0.0015%, channel separation greater than 110 dB, and an output level of 2 V. Dimensions are listed as 440 x 89 x 296 mm (W x H x D) with a weight of 6.4 kg, though another source gives slightly different figures (470 x 92 x 280 mm, 7.1 kg) — the discrepancy is unresolved.
Known Issues & Collectibility
The most commonly cited weak point is the transport. The D-500X uses a Philips CDM-1 swing-arm laser mechanism, which is known to fail and is increasingly hard to find as a replacement part. The loading tray belts are also prone to stretching, and the display can develop dim segments over time.
No original price has been found in any source. On the used market, examples have appeared in eBay listings ranging from roughly $150 for a non-working "parts only" unit to around $800 for a fully serviced example.
- DAC: Two PCM54HP 16-bit chips in dual differential configuration (some sources cite "18 Bit")
- Digital filter: 4-times oversampling
- Frequency response: 5 Hz – 20 kHz
- Dynamic range: 96 dB
- S/N ratio: 110 dB
- THD: 0.0015%
- Channel separation: >110 dB
- Output level: 2 V
- Dimensions: 440 x 89 x 296 mm (per one source; another cites 470 x 92 x 280 mm)
- Weight: 6.4 kg (per one source; another cites 7.1 kg)
- Laser mechanism: Philips CDM-1 swing-arm
eBay Listings
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