Luxman T-50A (1979–1981)
A wood-clad tuner with a lot of buttons, and very accurate when it locks onto a station.
Overview
The Luxman T-50A isn’t your average 1970s tuner. It doesn’t just receive radio—it conquers it. Built between October 1979 and 1981, this AM/FM stereo tuner sits at the intersection of elegant industrial design and cutting-edge analog engineering. While its warm wooden enclosure suggests a classic, conservative aesthetic, the T-50A is anything but old-fashioned under the hood. Instead, it packs Luxman’s advanced Closed Loop Locked (CLL) tuning system, a technology designed to eliminate drift and deliver surgical tuning accuracy. This is a machine built for listeners who demanded perfection in an era when FM stereo was still a premium experience.
SONIC, a known partner for Luxman during this period, manufactured the T-50A. The goal was minimal distortion, maximum selectivity and a level of stability that few contemporaries could match. It pairs a wooden case with a front panel full of buttons and indicators, and it looks understated for the amount of engineering in it.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Luxman |
| Model | T-50A |
| Year of Release | October 1979 to 1981 |
| Type | AM/FM Stereo Tuner |
| Receiving Frequency | 87.5 to 108 MHz (FM), 540 to 1600 kHz (MW) |
| 50 dB Quieting Sensitivity | 75µs / 14.2dBf (2.8µV); 50µs / 14.8dBf (3.0µV) |
| IHF Usable Sensitivity | 10.3dBf (1.8µV) |
| S/N Ratio | 75 dB (FM), 50 dB (MW) |
| Frequency Response | 30 Hz to 15 kHz (±1 dB) |
| Mono THD | 0.08% (100 Hz, wide); 0.08% (1 kHz, wide); 0.2% (1 kHz, narrow); 0.15% (6 kHz, wide) |
| Stereo THD | 0.2% (100 Hz, wide); 0.15% (1 kHz, wide); 0.5% (1 kHz, narrow); 0.3% (6 kHz, wide) |
| Capture Ratio | 1.0 dB (wide); 2.0 dB (narrow) |
| Adjacent Channel Select. | 10 dB (narrow, ±200 kHz) |
| Alternate Channel Select. | 80 dB (narrow, ±400 kHz); 40 dB (wide, ±400 kHz) |
| Selectivity | 80 dB (FM) |
| Spurious Response Ratio | 80 dB |
| IF Response Ratio | 80 dB |
| Image Response Ratio | 55 dB |
| AM Suppression Ratio | 60 dB |
| Stereo Separation | 45 dB (wide, 100 Hz); 48 dB (wide, 1 kHz); 40 dB (wide, 10 kHz); 30 dB (narrow, 1 kHz) |
| Subsonic Product Ratio | 65 dB |
| SCA Rejection Ratio | 60 dB |
| Output | 1 V / 100 Ohm |
| Muting Threshold | 5µV...30µV |
| Power Consumption | 10W |
| Dimensions | 466 x 350 x 120 mm |
| Weight | 6.5 kg |
Key Features
The AccuLock Tuning System
The T-50A's precision comes from the AccuLock mechanism. It uses a control voltage derived from the CLL (Closed Loop Locked) circuit to detect the exact center of a station's frequency, then mechanically locks the tuning knob in place. You get a solid, tactile "click" when the station is tuned in. No drifting, no hunting.
CLL-Type Closed Loop Tuning
The T-50A adopts Luxman's CLL system, which synchronizes the front end, IF stage, and detection stage to the actual transmission frequency of the FM station. The closed loop corrects for tuning drift, so the tuner stays stable over the long term. Simpler tuners rely on manual tuning and passive filters. The T-50A holds alignment through a feedback loop, which makes it especially reliable on weak or fringe signals.
Advanced Front-End Design
The RF front end uses Dual-gate MOS FETs and a 5-gang varicap diode with an AGC (Automatic Gain Control) circuit. This gives high input sensitivity and good immunity to signal overload, which matters for strong local stations. The MOS FETs offer low noise and high linearity, so the signal stays clean before it reaches the IF stages.
Precision IF and Detection Stages
The intermediate frequency (IF) stage uses a Quadrature IC, a detector transformer, and a bandwidth selector, allowing two-stage bandwidth switching. You can choose between wide and narrow reception modes, depending on station strength and interference, to optimize signal-to-noise ratio and selectivity. The detector stage uses Racea ICs, which contribute to stable demodulation and low distortion.
PLL-Based Stereo Demodulation
Stereo decoding is handled by Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) ICs in the MPX section, with a 3-pole low-pass filter on each channel. This keeps the left and right channels separated and reduces crosstalk. Stereo separation reaches up to 48 dB at 1 kHz in wide mode.
Low-Impedance Output Stage
Op-amp ICs lower the output impedance to 100 Ohms, so the T-50A can drive long interconnects and a variety of preamplifiers without signal loss or high-frequency roll-off. The buffered output stage is a modern touch on an otherwise purely analog design.
Warm Wood, Cool Tech
Outside, the T-50A has a warm wooden enclosure, often described as an "analog masterpiece in a rosewood outfit." One observer noted that the T-50A is "more modern on the inside than the warm wooden enclosure would lead to believe." Under the veneer are digital-style push-button controls and IC-based signal processing, all late-1970s technology.
Collectibility & Value
The Luxman T-50A has a quiet but devoted following among vintage audio collectors. It is not as widely recognized as some of Luxman's amplifiers. It is praised as a "Hochwertiger Radiotuner" (high-quality radio tuner) and described in listings as "gorgeous, in original box and never for sale, highly sought after."
Market prices vary significantly based on condition. A partially defective unit listed in February 2026 on willhaben.at asked for €70, labeled "teildefekt für Bastler und Sammler" (partially defective for tinkerers and collectors). A fully functional, desirable example appeared on Audio-markt in February 2026 with an asking price of €1,150. Danish listings show a similar spread: DKK 600 (~€80) in March 2026, up to DKK 1,990 (~€267) in mid-2025. Given the complexity of the CLL system and the age of the components, a fully operational T-50A commands a premium.
No detailed repair guides or common failure modes are documented in the sources. The ICs, mechanical locks, and precision RF circuits suggest that servicing may require specialized knowledge. Non-working units call for caution, though tinkerers may find them rewarding projects.
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Related Models
- Luxman T-353L (1975)
- Luxman T-300V (1957)
- Luxman 5710-FM
- Luxman R-1050 (1975)
- Luxman R-107 (1975)
- Kenwood KR 3200 (1973-1975)
- Kenwood KR 3400 (1977-1979)
- Kenwood KR 4070 (1977-1979)
- Kenwood KR 4200 (1975-1977)
- Marantz 1515 (1976-1978)