Luxman DZ-112 (c. 1988–1990)
The Luxman DZ-112 is a stereo cassette deck from the late 1980s, built at a moment when CD was already ascendant — which makes it something of a deliberate anachronism: a serious, statement-grade analog recorder meant to show what Luxman could still do with tape. The documentation that survives is a service manual and database listings; no original retail price or precise introduction year has been confirmed. What the record does show is a well-specified two-motor transport with a DC servo direct-drive capstan, a Permalloy record/playback head, and Dolby B and C noise reduction. Frequency response is rated at 20 Hz–20 kHz on normal tape and out to 21 kHz on CrO₂ and metal formulations (±3 dB), with wow and flutter at 0.08% WRMS and signal-to-noise up to 87 dB with Dolby C engaged.
It was a full-size component — 440 × 120 × 230 mm, 5.5 kg, 20 W power consumption — with line and mic inputs, a headphone jack, and an input for an optional wired remote. The front panel carried separate left/right recording level knobs, a 400 Hz calibration oscillator for bias adjustment, and peak-reading LED meters. Owners on tape forums consistently praise the playback and recording quality, particularly with metal tape, and describe the transport as rock solid. The recurring complaints are practical: the reel motor belt is genuinely difficult to replace, the transport needs professional alignment after any work, and dried-out electrolytic capacitors in the power supply are a common failure point on original units. HiFI-Stereo (May 1993, p.109) carried period advertising for Luxman CD players touting the company's digital precision — useful context for understanding where Luxman's marketing focus had already shifted by the early 1990s.
One point of confusion in the record: the service manual and database listings describe a two-head design (a single record/playback head plus erase head), while various forum posts refer to it as a three-head deck. The manufacturer's own documentation is the more authoritative source here, and the conflicting forum claim should probably be treated with skepticism unless a unit is inspected in person.
Known specs, per the service manual:
- 4-track, 2-channel stereo cassette deck
- 2 motors (DC servo capstan, DC reel)
- Wow & flutter: 0.08% WRMS
- Frequency response: 20 Hz–20 kHz (normal, ±3 dB); 20 Hz–21 kHz (CrO₂/metal, ±3 dB)
- S/N: 67 dB (Dolby B off); 87 dB (Dolby C on)
- THD: 0.7% (1 kHz, 0 dB)
- Dolby B and C noise reduction
- Dimensions: 440 × 120 × 230 mm; weight: 5.5 kg
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