Luxman K-12 (circa 1979–1980)

The Luxman K-12 is a cassette deck, and it was the company's first move into cassette hardware. According to a brief trade note in Modern Recording (May 1979, p.33), it was one of two decks Luxman debuted at the time. It was a serious, full-sized machine aimed at the same buyers Luxman served with its amplifiers and tuners.

Audio (April 1980, p.76) gave the K-12 a thorough lab workout and reported strong numbers: frequency response stretched from 30 Hz to 21 kHz with metal tape, signal-to-noise measured 56 dB without Dolby and 69 dB with Dolby engaged on metal tape, and weighted RMS flutter came in at 0.04 percent. Harmonic distortion was given as 1.2 percent overall, with third-harmonic content at 0.3 percent. The review noted that the tape-timer scheme was well executed and that the deck’s play response, checked with TDK and BASF test tapes, was excellent aside from a slight high-frequency droop with 70 µs EQ (Audio, April 1980, p.78). The deck handled normal, CrO₂, and metal tapes, and included both microphone and line inputs.

The K-12 was priced around $340 at launch (HiFi/Stereo, October 1979, p.78). It measured 17⅜ inches wide, 14⁹⁄₁₆ inches deep, and 5 inches tall, and weighed 23.1 lbs. The look was classic late-1970s Luxman: brushed metal face, clean layout, no unnecessary flash. Surviving examples turn up infrequently, and little beyond these period reviews has been preserved.

• Type: Stereo cassette deck (three tape types: normal, CrO₂, metal)
• Frequency response: 30 Hz–16 kHz (normal), 30 Hz–20 kHz (CrO₂), 30 Hz–21 kHz (metal)
• Signal/noise: 56 dB (no NR), 65 dB (Dolby), 69 dB (Dolby + metal)
• Flutter: 0.04% WRMS
• Harmonic distortion: 1.2% overall, 0.3% HDL₃
• Input sensitivity: 0.25 mV (mic), 100 mV (line), 30 mV (DIN)
• Output level: 580 mV (line), 1 mW (headphone at 8 Ω)
• Dimensions: 17⅜ × 14⁹⁄₁₆ × 5 in (438 × 370 × 126 mm)
• Weight: 23.1 lb (10.5 kg)

eBay Listings

Luxman K-12 Cassette Review, 4 pg, 1980, High-End Cassette!

$9.99

As an eBay Partner, we earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support our independent vintage technology research.

Related Models

• luxman k-05
• Luxman K 110
• Luxman K 111
• Akai CS-M40R (1983)
• Akai GX-7 (1970)
• Akai GX-8 (1975)
• Akai GX-F44R (1979)
• Akai GX-F71 (1982)
• Denon DRS-610 (1985)
• Sony TC PB5 (1970s)