Luxman L 116A (1981)

The L-116A is a solid-state stereo integrated amplifier, rated at 2×70W into 8Ω with 0.02% THD at rated power. It was the first model in Luxman's short-lived Series 100, a lineup that also included the L-114 and the larger L-120A. Luxman built it for roughly two years before the company's tie-up with Alpine - the same pre-Alpine window that produced the R-5030 and R-5045. It appears to have been sold only in select markets, which is why it turns up mostly in Europe and Australia rather than in North American catalogs. The circuit uses Luxman's Duo-βeta output transistors (high fT, low Cob). The tone controls are folded directly into the power amplifier stage rather than sitting in a separate preamp section, a deliberate step toward the "straight wire with gain" ideal. Phono is flexible for the era: both moving-magnet (1.5mV / 50kΩ) and moving-coil (250µV / 200Ω) inputs are built in, alongside tuner, aux, and two tape loops. Line response reaches 10Hz - 150kHz (−1.5dB), S/N is quoted above 100dB on the line inputs, and there's a subsonic filter (6dB/octave below 30Hz) plus a high-cut filter above 7kHz. Size is modest: 438 × 111 × 335mm at 10.5kg.

Period coverage is thin, but what exists is specific. Audio-Collection (p.74) reviewed the L-116A and found the front panel a bit busy, with knobs, switches, buttons, and LEDs scattered about haphazardly. It also confirmed the MM/MC inputs, the two tape decks with bidirectional dubbing, LED source confirmation, and separate per-channel bass and treble controls. The same review noted the high and low filters were of limited effectiveness. That's about the extent of contemporary press. Most surviving spec text on this model traces back to a single source and repeats itself, so treat the numbers as single-source until corroborated. Service documentation is better than the reviews. A factory service manual survives (archived on archive.org), and it lays out the bias and DC-offset procedure clearly: adjust idling current across the 0.33Ω 5W emitter resistors (R727) to 33mV, then set center voltage at the speaker terminals to 0V, using VR701/VR702 on board PB-1362. The manual also documents the multi-voltage variants (120V, 220V, 240V) and a line-voltage selector on E-type units, which fits the "select markets" story.

The few user comments that survive call it sweet and balanced. Capacitor replacement kits are sold for it, which usually means the electrolytics are the wear item. No original price, no production totals, and no independent lab measurements have surfaced.

• Power output: 2×70W into 8Ω
• THD: 0.02% at rated power, 8Ω
• Phono: MM 1.5mV / 50kΩ; MC 250µV / 200Ω
• Line inputs: tuner, aux, tape 1, tape 2 (150mV / 40kΩ)
• Frequency response: 20Hz–20kHz ±0.3dB (phono); 10Hz–150kHz −1.5dB (line)
• S/N: >80dB (MM), >100dB (line)
• Bass: ±8/−10dB at 80Hz; Treble: ±8/−10dB at 14kHz (per channel)
• Filters: subsonic 6dB/oct below 30Hz; high-cut 6dB/oct above 7kHz
• Dimensions: 438 × 111 × 335mm; Weight: 10.5kg

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