Luxman R-105 (1986)
A rare 80s receiver that doesn't shout for attention, but keeps winning listening contests.
Overview
Introduced in 1986, the R-105 is an AM/FM stereo receiver. Many competitors at the time were chasing power ratings and plastic-heavy industrial designs. "50 watts per channel" was becoming standard, and Luxman delivered 55 watts per channel, with more care in the details.
This receiver has no bells, whistles or forest of buttons. It does the basics well. It tunes FM and MW bands, offers both MM phono and line inputs, and drives a pair of speakers with calm authority. It's the kind of unit that shows up at a garage sale missing a knob or two, gets a quick cleanup, and ends up running someone's living room setup. It isn't rare or hyped. It sounds right.
Owners report it holds up especially well with acoustic and vocal material, where its neutral but not sterile character lets instruments breathe. There’s a sense of control here—like the engineers knew exactly where to draw the line between power and poise.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Luxman |
| Model | R-105 |
| Year of Release | 1986 |
| Product Type | AM/FM Stereo Receiver |
| Power Output | 55 watts per channel into 8Ω (stereo) |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz to 45kHz |
| Total Harmonic Distortion | 0.05% |
| Input Sensitivity | 2.5mV (MM), 150mV (line) |
| Signal to Noise Ratio | 86dB (MM), 98dB (line) |
| Tuning Range | FM, MW |
| Dimensions | 453 x 110 x 305mm |
| Weight | 8kg |
Collectibility & Value
When it first hit the market, the Luxman R-105 carried a retail price of $500. That was solidly mid-tier for a name-brand receiver in 1986, especially compared to high-tax imports that could double that. Today it trades far below its original cost. A recent eBay listing accepted a best offer of C$150 (approximately US$109.76), which keeps it in the "affordable vintage" category.
For some, that's the appeal: a well-specified, no-nonsense receiver from a respected brand that doesn't demand collector's prices. One forum user put it bluntly: "Less than a buck a watt when the taxed units Pio/Mar/Suis are selling for $10 per watt… and the Luxman probably sounds better." It may not have the cult status of a Luxman R-1050 or the later RX102, but the R-105 delivers a taste of the brand's sonic philosophy without the premium.
No widespread reports of chronic failures or design flaws have surfaced, though like any 35+ year-old electronics, capacitor aging is a possibility. There are no known service kits specific to this model, but general maintenance is straightforward for a technician familiar with solid-state receivers of this era. A unit that powers on cleanly and has all its knobs is a good find.
eBay Listings
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