Luxman T-117
Overview
Run both, and you get fast, accurate tuning without the drift that plagued analog front ends.
The T-117 tunes FM in 87.5-108 MHz for the general SD and EK versions, with the North American UZ variant covering 87.9-107.9 MHz. AM coverage runs 522-1,811 kHz on most versions, with the UZ model spanning 530-1,620 kHz.
FM usable sensitivity is rated at 18 dBf for the JA, EK, and UZ models, with the SD version listed at 16 dBf. Stereo quieting sensitivity lands at 40 dB ± 1.5 dB for 50 dB signal-to-noise. The FM signal-to-noise ratio is quoted at 70 dB in stereo, with image rejection at 70 dB and stereo distortion at 0.2% at 1 kHz. Frequency response spans 20 Hz to 15 kHz within 40 dB ±1.5 dB, and mono output voltage is 700 mV ±3 dB. These aren't flashy figures next to the era's statement tuners, but they describe a receiver that pulls in weak stations cleanly and holds them.
The tuning system itself is where the T-117 earns its keep. None of this is exotic by later standards, but in its moment it was the difference between a tuner you tolerated and one you actually used.
Versions differ in their power requirements. The SD model runs on 200V AC at 50 Hz, while the UZ model takes 120V AC at 60 Hz. Check that before buying, since a mismatched voltage version is a hassle to live with.
Period coverage places the T-117 in the late-1980s tuner market alongside other digital-synthesis designs. HiFi-Stereo (February 1990, p.114) listed it as a digital-synthesis tuner with twin FM detectors in its tuner roundup. The T-117 also appears in the same family as the T-117L (the West German market variant) and the T-03/T-03L export versions, which share the schematic and many of the same adjustment procedures. Service documentation for the T-117 covers all of these variants, with model-specific notes for the JA (Japan), UZ (North America), EK (general foreign), and SD (West Germany) versions.
Collectibility & Maintenance
The T-117 has a quiet reputation among tuner enthusiasts. It isn't the flashiest Luxman tuner of its era, and it doesn't command the prices of the brand's Laboratory Reference Series gear, but it does the job it was built for. The twin-detector architecture and the attention paid to the IF strip mean it still sounds good on a decent antenna, which is more than can be said for a lot of digital tuners from the same period.
The service manual is available and covers the alignment procedure in detail, including the Vf adjustment at L305 and VC303 and the sensitivity adjustment at L301 and VC301. Those are useful reference points if a unit needs realignment after repair. The manual's PCB layout doesn't always match every production run exactly, so cross-check it against the actual board before repairing.
Prices for the T-117 sit in the modest range for a Luxman component. It's not a collector's trophy, but not a throwaway either. The combination of a genuinely good tuner section, a compact chassis, and the Luxman name keeps it on shopping lists for anyone building a period-correct late-'80s system or just wanting a better-than-average FM source. Units with the correct voltage for your region are worth waiting for.
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