Luxman T 404 (1985–1988)
Little is documented about the Luxman T 404. What the record shows is an AM/FM stereo tuner built around digital quartz-locked tuning — a synthesized design rather than a knob-and-dial analog front end — and sold in two versions: the standard T-404 and the T-404 L. The same source that gives those prices describes the T 404 as part of a series regarded as a high point in Luxman's analog engineering, which is a slightly odd framing for a digitally tuned tuner, but it's what the record says and it's characteristic of how Luxman's mid-'80s output gets talked about.
Specification coverage is thin. Output is quoted at 500 mV on FM and 200 mV on MW. One listing for the L variant gives a weight of roughly 2 kg and a grey finish. It describes the faceplate as champagne with a digital display and station buttons in a notably flat chassis. A separate source lists the L's tuning bands as FM, MW, and LW, with FM coverage of 87.5-108 MHz and MW from 522 to 1611 kHz. That conflicts with the base model's FM/MW-only listing. It isn't clear whether the difference is real or a cataloguing error, so this page doesn't assert it either way. No source we've found gives frequency response, THD, sensitivity, capture ratio, or signal-to-noise data for this tuner, and there are no dimensions for the base T-404.
The bench picture is just as sparse. A period Audio (October 1994, p.166) equipment directory lists the T-404 alongside a wall of other tuners without commentary. That at least confirms it was still appearing in buyer's guides years after production ended. The only practical repair note in circulation is a forum thread from an owner trying to revive a T-404 who couldn't identify several diodes on the board. A service manual does exist: a 4.5 MB English PDF circulates, and HiFi Engine hosts the owner's manual in four languages. Collectors describe the model as ultra-rare and collector-focused, with complete stacks exceptionally difficult to find. Individual units do surface. One was listed at $125 in great condition in mid-2024, and European listings have appeared in the $20-$80 range more recently. Supply is intermittent.
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