Luxman DU-50 (2005–2009)
A high-end universal disc player that played everything from SACD to MP3, and still turns heads for its build and sound
Overview
The model number is misleading. This isn't a 1970s preamp. The Luxman DU-50 is a full-featured digital universal player from the mid-2000s, when high-resolution audio was making real inroads into living rooms. It plays SACD (both stereo and multichannel), DVD-Audio, DVD-Video, CD, Video CD, CD-R, and even MP3 files, which made it one of the most versatile players of its era. Luxman was long known for its analog roots, and the DU-50 was its step into the digital age without giving up the audiophile-first philosophy the brand is known for.
Production ran from 2005 to 2009, with some sources citing 2006 as the starting year. All agree it was gone by 2009. Universal players were the top of disc-based audio then, and they offered some future-proofing before streaming took over. The DU-50 earned respect. It won Absolute Sound's "Editor's Choice Award" for both 2008 and 2009. One reviewer listened to the Tallis Scholars' recording of Allegri's Miserere through a high-end chain including Aerial speakers and Luxman electronics. He called the presentation “startlingly clear and crisp” with “no trace of the muddiness” that could plague other players.
Luxman clearly intended it as a reference-grade component. In at least one high-profile review system, it was the source paired with the Luxman L-505u integrated amplifier and PSB Imagine B speakers, which suggests Luxman positioned it as a centerpiece for discerning listeners. It was part of a “Luxman combo” that reportedly retailed for $8,500, but that price likely included the amplifier. No standalone MSRP for the DU-50 alone has been confirmed. It was not a mass-market machine.
Collectibility & Value
Today the Luxman DU-50 holds a niche but respected place among vintage digital players, and its pedigree and accolades keep it on collectors' radar. A used unit was listed for $1,500 on August 8, 2024, nearly 15 years after its debut. Given the awards and the use in high-end review systems, that price makes sense for a fully functional unit in good condition.
Shipping isn't trivial. The player is substantial, and one seller noted in a 2017 transaction that shipping would be “probably around $65,” which hints at its weight and packaging needs. No widely reported failure modes or maintenance requirements are on record. As with any disc player from this era, though, the laser assembly and transport mechanism will eventually need attention.
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