Luxman HQ33 (1963)
The Luxman HQ33 is a stereo receiver-amplifier released in July 1963 at ¥46,000. It is a tube unit with a 10W+10W amplifier and an unusual tuner arrangement. The tuner splits channels by band: the left channel handles MW/SW, and the right channel covers MW/FM. FM stereo broadcasts therefore needed an external multiplex adapter, and the rear panel has an FM-multiplex connector for it.
The HQ33 is a simplified sibling of the HQ34. Per the period documentation, it is essentially the HQ34 with the variable crossover left out. The amplifier section uses fourteen vacuum tubes: four 6BM8 output tubes, four 12AX7s, three 12BA6s, a 17EW8, and a pair of 12BE6s. A deep NF circuit in the preamp section (tone control and equalizer) keeps distortion at or below 1%. The tone control is the NF-type LUX circuit also used in the SQ5B and SQ63.
All operation is handled by 14 push buttons arranged in four blocks. Luxman promoted this as a "one touch system" for operability. The center of the panel carries an output meter that doubles as a tuning indicator via a switch. An AFC circuit locks the tuning point to prevent drift. Volume is adjusted separately for left and right channels.
The cabinet is covered in Art Bond, a vinyl chloride and metal laminate developed by US Rubber Co., instead of a painted finish. Inside, the vacuum tubes run on DC ignition to eliminate hum.
Known specifications:
- Output: 10W + 10W
- Distortion: 1% or less
- Frequency response: 40 Hz – 20 kHz, −2 dB
- Output impedance: 8 Ω / 16 Ω
- Input sensitivity (at 10W, 1 kHz): Phono 4 mV; Aux/MPX/Tape rec 120 mV
- SNR: Phono 50 dB+; Aux 60 dB+
- Tuner bands: MW 535–1,605 kHz; SW 3.8–12 MHz; FM 76–90 MHz
- Power consumption: 120W max
- Dimensions: 475 × 125 × 260 mm; 14 kg
Little is documented about the HQ33's reception or legacy beyond its specifications. No period reviews have surfaced, and no production history beyond the release date is recorded.
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