Luxman LV-113 (1988–1992)

A late-eighties integrated amp that put the DAC inside the amplifier.

Overview

The LV-113 landed in March 1988 at ¥65,700. It had something most integrated amps of the day didn't: a built-in digital-to-analog converter. Luxman's own documentation calls it an "integrated amplifier with built-in D/A converter," and one original owner, writing years later, called it "one of the first 'digital direct' amps with a DAC built in." In 1988 the CD player was still a separate box with its own converter, so moving that conversion stage into the amplifier was unusual. Luxman was betting that digital sources were here to stay and that the amp was the place to handle them.

The converter section wasn't an afterthought. Luxman's literature describes a two-stage FIR cascade connection feeding a 4x oversampling digital filter, with a twin DAC configuration in which the left and right channels run independent converters. The stated goal was eliminating inter-channel phase difference and improving separation. Three sampling frequencies - 32 kHz, 44 kHz, and 48 kHz - are supported, automatically detected and switched. The analog low-pass filter is a passive low-order design, a deliberate choice rather than a cost-cutting one.

On the amplification side, the manual describes triple Darlington outputs and driver topology, a high-current output stage meant to stay stable into low-impedance loads, and a massive power supply and heatsink design. Luxman's integrated amplifiers of this generation used voltage-driven amplification with high filter capacitance to deliver the steady-state and dynamic power needed for demanding musical transients, as described in Audio (October 1990, p.332). The rated output is 80W + 80W into 6Ω across 20Hz - 20kHz, with harmonic distortion measured at 0.006% at 8Ω and 1kHz. One caveat: a conflicting figure of 65 watts per channel into 8Ω circulates from another source, and no single authoritative document resolves the two. Buyers comparing listings should expect to see both numbers and treat the 6Ω rating as the one Luxman's own documentation states.

The phono stage is more serious than the typical integrated amp of the era. MM input sensitivity is 2.5mV into 50kΩ, and the inputs take both moving-magnet and high-gain moving-coil cartridges. Line-level inputs - CD, tuner, and aux - take 150mV into 40kΩ. Signal-to-noise is quoted at 85dB or 87dB for MM phono (sources disagree) and 105dB for line inputs, both IHF. Frequency response for the phono stage is flat within ±0.3dB from 20Hz to 20kHz. The line inputs run from 1Hz to 150kHz at −3dB, which is wider than most sources will ever need. Power consumption is 155W, and the unit runs on 100VAC at 50 or 60Hz. That's a Japanese-market specification, so anyone importing one should keep it in mind.

Key Features

Built-In D/A Converter with Twin DAC Architecture

The converter is the reason this amp exists in the historical record. Luxman's documentation describes a two-stage FIR cascade connection and a 4x oversampling digital filter, with independent left and right channel DACs. The twin configuration is meant to eliminate phase difference between channels and improve separation. The surviving documentation doesn't say whether that delivered audible benefits in 1988, but the intent is clear: Luxman treated digital conversion as a core amplifier function, not a bolt-on.

Optical and Coaxial Digital Inputs

The LV-113 accepts digital sources through both optical and coaxial interfaces, and the converter auto-detects and switches between 32 kHz, 44 kHz, and 48 kHz sampling rates. That was a convenience in an era when source components weren't always consistent about their output format. The manual also notes that only the highest-quality TV monitors, Hi-Fi VCRs, and laserdisc players should be paired with the amp to complement its performance standards. So it was sold into a video-capable system, not just a two-channel audio rack.

Phono Stage with MM and High-Gain MC Support

The phono inputs are compatible with both moving-magnet and high-gain moving-coil cartridges. MM sensitivity is 2.5mV into 50kΩ, with signal-to-noise quoted at 87dB. The phono frequency response holds within ±0.3dB from 20Hz to 20kHz. Owner reports consistently single out the phono section, and one forum post describes it as "beating separates." That's a big claim and should be read with some skepticism, but it does show the stage was taken seriously.

Line Straight Function

The amp has a line straight function that routes the input signal directly to the power amplifier, bypassing the tone and balance circuitry. It takes the tone controls out of the signal path entirely when they're not wanted.

Triple Darlington Output Stage

The output stage uses triple Darlington outputs and driver topology, which Luxman's manual describes alongside a high-current, high-power design intended for low-impedance loads. The rated 80W + 80W into 6Ω is paired with a massive power supply and heatsink. In practice the amp should handle speakers that dip below 8Ω without complaint, though the documentation doesn't specify a minimum impedance rating.

AV Input Terminal — Route 3

The rear panel has an AV input terminal designated Route 3, which fits the amp's role as a hub for both audio and video sources. The manual's video equipment connection section advises following the connection diagram carefully and recommends high-quality monitors and VCRs to match the amp's performance standards.

Analog Low-Pass Filter

Luxman used a passive low-order low-pass filter in the analog stage rather than an active design. The documentation doesn't explain the reasoning, but passive filtering avoids adding active gain stages to the signal path.

Historical Context

The LV-113 was released in March 1988 at ¥65,700. Production is generally cited as running from 1988 to 1992, though at least one source gives 1988-1990, and no single authoritative document confirms the end date. The amp was made in Japan.

Luxman's own product library groups the LV-113 under "analog age heritage." That sits awkwardly against a March 1988 release date and a built-in DAC. The period was transitional: an amp could be filed under the analog era and still ship with digital inputs and a twin-DAC converter inside.

An original owner, writing on a classified listing, mentioned owning the LV-113 alongside a Luxman T-111 tuner. That's a companion component rather than a confirmed family member, and the only related model named in the available sources. No competitor models are named in the documentation.

Collectibility & Value

Prices for the LV-113 are all over the map, and the spread says more about condition and servicing than about the model's reputation. Recent listings include a serviced example from a Swedish dealer at €300, an eBay listing at $185, another at $450 described as tested and working, a Ukrainian listing at PKR 90,000, and a Japanese vintage dealer listing around ¥33,000. European listings have appeared in the €400 - €490 range. None of these figures carry capture dates, so treat them as a rough sense of the market rather than a valuation.

Maintenance is the big issue with any LV-113. Technicians who work on these amps consistently flag three things: the power supply filter capacitors, which age out after roughly thirty years and should be recapped; the output relays, which develop contact issues; and bias pot drift, which needs checking. A capacitor repair kit specifically for the LV-113 exists on the used market, which is a good sign for parts availability on the passive side. The service manual is available, at 23 pages with fold-out schematics and part numbers for coils and inductors, and a 50-page user manual circulates as well. The bad news, per one owner, is that service parts have largely stopped, so a failure that requires a proprietary component could be difficult to resolve.

Owner sentiment runs warm. Forum posts describe it as "a fantastic amplifier - dual mono with that smooth warm Luxman sound" and "one of the most underrated Luxman integrateds." Those are enthusiast claims, not measured verdicts. The built-in DAC, the selling point in 1988, is now the least relevant part of the package for most buyers, since modern outboard converters will outperform it.