Luxman R-113 (1990)

Name: Luxman R-113
Brand: Luxman

It clicks on, warms up, and sounds right - like someone got mid-fi to punch above its weight.

Overview

The Luxman R-113 doesn't beg for attention. No flashy meters, no stacked EQ bands, no remote control. It has a clean front panel with knobs that have some weight to them and a subtle glow from the display. Introduced in **1990** (though some sources cite 1987, manufacturer documentation and major archives favor 1990), the R-113 was the most affordable model in Luxman's new line of receivers. That was a deliberate move after Alpine Electronics acquired the struggling high-end brand and decided its previous offerings were "Bloody Expensive for what you appear to get."

Even as a cost-conscious design, the R-113 has solid construction, thoughtful circuitry, and the "tube-like" warmth the brand is known for, despite being fully solid-state. It puts out 35 watts per channel into 8 ohms. That won't shake your walls, but one long-term owner describes the rich, full sound as "amazing" after nearly three decades of daily use.

Specifications

Manufacturer	Luxman
Model	R-113
Year of Release	1990
Type	AM/FM Stereo Receiver
Rated Continuous Power per Channel (20 -20,000 Hz, 8 Ω )	35 W
Dynamic Power per Channel	50 W at 8 Ω, 84 W at 4 Ω, 100 W at 2 Ω
Dynamic Headroom per Channel at 8 Ω	1.5 dB
THD at rated Continuous Power	0.085%
Input Impedance (1 kHz)	Phono MM : 47 kΩ +25-20%; Tape 1, 2 : 47 kΩ +25-20%; CD, Aux, Video : 47 kΩ +25-20%
Input Sensitivity (1 kHz, Rated Power= 40W Output)	Phono MM : 2.5 mV ±0.5 mV; Tape 1, 2 : 150 mV ±20 mV; CD, Aux, Video : 150 mV ±20 mV
Frequency Response	Phono : 100 Hz ±0.5 dB; Phono : 10 kHz ±0.5 dB; CD, Aux : 10 Hz - 50 kHz ±2 dB
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (input Shorted)	Phono MM : 80 dB; Tape 1, 2 : 86 dB; CD, Aux, Video : 86 dB
FM Section Frequency Range	87.9 - 107.9 MHz
FM Stereo Separation	40 dB
General Power Consumption	200 W
Power Supply	120 V - 220V 50/60 Hz
Semiconductors	96 Transistors; 67 Diodes; 5 Zener Diodes; 9 FET's; 12 IC's
Dimensions (W x H x D)	438 x 110 x 343 mm
Weight	6.1 kg
Speaker load impedance	4Ω to 16Ω

Key Features

High-Speed Dynamic Amplifier & Toroidal Power Supply

The R-113 uses a high-speed dynamic amplifier design backed by a high-efficiency toroidal power transformer and high-energy storage capacitors. The dynamic power ratings show what that buys you: 100 watts into 2 ohms, so the receiver can handle difficult speaker loads and sudden transients. It also has 1.5 dB of dynamic headroom, which looks trivial on paper but is the difference between a clean snare hit and one that distorts under pressure.

CD Straight Circuitry

One standout feature for its time is the CD Straight function. It routes the CD input directly to the amplifier, bypassing tone controls, loudness circuits, and any unnecessary switching. That gives purists the cleanest possible path from disc to speaker, and it shows Luxman's attention to signal integrity even in a budget-oriented model. With a well-mastered CD, flipping this switch opens up the staging and tightens the bass.

Anti-Clipping Protection Relay

The R-113 has an anti-clipping feature. If the volume is turned up too high and clipping is detected, a relay (designated RL1) temporarily cuts off the output. You'll hear a distinct click a few seconds after power-up, and sometimes during overdrive, as the protection circuit engages. It protects both your speakers and your ears. Some describe the construction as "flimsy" compared to earlier RX-series models.

Build and Layout

The chassis is mostly metal, which helps with shielding and durability, though it's not as heavy or overbuilt as vintage Luxman gear from the 1970s. The front panel has large tuning and volume knobs, a row of input selectors, and a fluorescent display that shows frequency or input. The speaker terminals are binding posts, solid if not exotic. The rear panel is neatly laid out with dedicated outputs, including a pre-out for future expansion.

Historical Context

The R-113 arrived during a big shift for Luxman. After Alpine Electronics took over the financially struggling company, the brand moved from ultra-high-end to more accessible, mass-market designs. The R-113, R-115, and R-117 formed part of this new "Ultimate Power" amplifier line, with the R-113 as the entry point. It was priced at **$350** at launch (though one 1987 article references $400, the $350 figure is more consistently documented). It competed in a crowded mid-fi market dominated by brands like Pioneer, Sony, and Kenwood, though Luxman aimed to stand out with superior build and sound.

Older Luxman receivers were "MUCH more substantially built" and "will sound a bit better," and the R-113 was never meant to replace them. It was meant to bring Luxman's sonic signature to a broader audience, one that might otherwise have settled for "shitty" (in one owner's words) receivers from other brands.

Collectibility & Value

Today, the R-113 trades in a quiet corner of the vintage audio market. Recent asking prices reflect its utilitarian status: $100 on Marketplace, $120 CAD on Canuck Audio Mart, $124 in Argentina, and up to $250 on Reverb for well-documented units.

Maintenance is the main ownership issue. A bad relay, specifically RL1, the one in series with the speaker selector switches, is a common cause of problems. Symptoms include channel dropouts, distorted sound, or the output never engaging. The relay is a small plastic box (about 1.5 x 3 cm), often white, black, or transparent, and can sometimes be cleaned with contact solvent and fine paper. Replacement is often the smarter move. Look for a DPST, 12V or 24V, 8A, with the correct pinout.

Other issues include crackling buttons and scratchy sound on startup, often tied to dry solder joints, particularly under the relay. One owner notes that "soldering was a bit of a weak point on that era of Luxmans," so a quick reflow of critical joints can go a long way. A service manual is available, and some enthusiasts recommend upgrading the output transistors (NJW0281) to modern equivalents.

Owners consistently report strong performance. "Sounds very nice more like hi end then mid fi," one writes. Another calls it a "very nice amp, rich full sound."

Market Value

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ LUXMAN R-113                                                    Nov 2026 │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ High      $139                                    Latest            $134 │
│ Median    $112                                    Trend                — │
│ Low       $85                                     Volume           ~5/mo │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│   $200 ┤                                                                 │
│        │                                                                 │
│        │                                                                 │
│   $136 ┤    .                                                            │
│        │ .             .                                                .│
│        │.         .                .                                 .   │
│        │     .                                                      .    │
│    $50 ┤                                                                 │
│        ├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────│
│    vol │██  ██    █    █           █                                ██  █│
│        └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────│
│         2026-04                      2026-05                      2026-06│
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

eBay completed sales. Excludes accessories, parts, and non-working units. Hover points for details.