Even though the receiver is about 11 years old it sounds better than some of the seperates out there. I am thrilled with it so far. I wish they still made them this good. Very much a quality product. I have the Magnepan 3.5R and this receiver is able to run them and sound great in the process!

Similar Products Used:

Sony es, Adcom GFA535II

Powerfull with class

getting old

I do have the R-117. My father runs a high end store for video and Audio. We bought a house a few years ago and he gave it to me as a house warming gift. An old lady had it in its original box with remote. He died and it sat for 8 years. This thing was brand new in the plastic.
I have been using it with a pair of PSB Golden Stratas. This is a tough combination to beat. Very articulate but when you have a few friends over this thing will move your foundation.It has the power headroom of the older NAD amplifiers I have recently added an old NAD 7155 as a slave amp. for 2 reconed advent speakers. Very warm but precise system it has become.
This unit was way ahead of its time. I will never sell it. I will also never sell my other NAD 2200PE Power amp.

Similar Products Used:

NAD

This is a great very warm very powerful stero revceiver. If you are looking for a very high quality used piece this could be it. I have had mine for over 10 years - it came with a 5 year warranty i have Never had ANY problems. It drives my 4 ohm Kef speakers flawlessly. Crystal clear when the volume is as loud as you can take it. Email me if you have additional questions about this receiver.

Low volumn strength and no loss at high volumn

Volumn knob static. Also, my dog ate my remote, but it still works!

I purchased the R115 Luxman way back in the mid 80's at a stereo store having a sale for older equipment. I paid $1000 and have never regreted my purchase. This was the first and only high quality reciever/amp I have bought. I have been tempted to replace it many times but have never heard the same full, rich sound from newer higher priced peices.

Many friends have updated their old Sony, Kenwood, Harmon recievers to high end equipment but when we compared them to the Luxman it sounded as if I had my head in a tin can. I sometimes with for the surround sound with movies, but I just can't give up my old Luxman.

One problem I have had is finding a replacement peice. It's the piece where the speakers are connected to in the back. I am unsure of name of this peice, but it looks similar to a relay switch. In order for it to work I have had to wedge a peice of a pop-ciscle stick against the case. This stick has been in place for over five or six years now and I have not had anymore trouble with the speakers cutting out.

I have used many speakers, ranging from 1970's style with 20 inch woofers to bookshelf speakers by Boston. Now I have a nice pair of Pinnacle 3-ways.

At all volumn levels the Luxman produces rich, full sounds. At only 70w this amp packs a good punch, just ask the neighbors.

Similar Products Used:

None

After reading everyone else's reviews of this product I thought I'd might as well jump on the bandwagon. I first purchased the Luxman in 1989 at a fire-sale department store for pennies on the dollar ($275 to be exact, it retailed new for $1600 at the time). I was 19 years old and just getting into better quality audio.

The machine made me a rock star on the college campus. I almost got thrown out of my dorm for listening to Stevie Ray Vaughan at near peak power one afternoon. I thought I had the best system in the world. Then it was stolen. An unfortunate reality for living in New York City.

Just 6 months ago I was in Century Stereo and found the R117 used for $350 bucks. I told the sales guy (who had his nose so far in the air that he would have drowned if it was raining). That all he had to do is prove to me that the thing works and I will take it. The best $350 buck I have spent in a while.

I agree with everyone here that for the money, you cannot beat this receiver. The punch and clarity even after 10 years is fantastic.

The only problem I have had to date is that the volume knob is dirty and makes for very staticky volume changes (a problem that is easily fixed with some Radio Shack, connector cleaner)

Once again, this product has renewed my faith in the bargains that can be had from used equipment.

Related equipment:
Pioneer DV-414 DVD PLayer
MSB Link DAC
Audioqest Digital Interconnect
Celestion DL12 Loudspeakers (of the same era as the Luxman)

I have had the Pleasure of owning the Luxman R-117 Receiver since 1991. Never had a problem with the unit. The only problem with the unit is that it does everything so well, I can not give it up for a newer AVR with AC-3, DTS for playing DVD or HT. This unit is built to last. At a (conservative rating) 160W per channel continous power it outperforms many seperate power amps. Someday I will challenge the Denon AVR 3300, or Yamaha DSP A1, but for now it works well enough for DVD especially if the DVD player has the VSS feature (Virtual Surround Sound). With just 4 speakers(B&W 804, B&W DM550) this Luxman performs like a seasoned veteran with no end in sight. For just breaking into the HT market this unit will not disappoint you until you can get an AVR. I only need a center channel to complete the system. The Luxman has a pre-amp bypass feature that allows the CD to be directly connected to the power amp. I find this feature tightens the bass, increases the overall loudness, and with some CD's improves the sound.
If you are looking for the R-117 check out eBay. Seen them for @$300 or less.
But if you got the extra $$, check out Alpha Sound&Vision,(N.J) for the Denon AVR 3300, (@ $749 or lower).
Closing comments: you can not go wrong with this Luxman R-117. Even though it is an aging unit, It sounds as good today as it did in 1991. I hope to keep the Luxman and integrate an AVR with it if this is possible.
This Luxman likes Highend friends connected to it. Treat it well, and the Luxman will treat you like Royalty.

System components:
Luxman R-117
B&W 804 Matrix
B&W DM 550 (bookshelf spkrs.)
Transparent MusicWave Super spkr. cbl.
Panasonic A120 DVD (has VSS) with Tributaries (SCV-S) S-Video cbl.
Rotel CD, RCD 971 with Tributaries (SCA-100) Silver interconnects
Monster Cable (HTS 1000) Power Conditioner

Thank-You Audio Review for this website.
I have bought many products due to the reviews and experiences, you have allowed all of us to share.
This is definetly a 5-STAR product, even today.

very detailed sound

none

First of all let me say that my model is the r-113 receiver-I thought back in 1998 it died--let me explain.One channel finally gave out and to make a long story short I was horrified cause this was my first foray into upscale audio although it may be termed budget upscale audio.I bought it new in 1989 and could tell from the first time I plugged in headphones to it that I purchased a real gem .Well,fast forward to 1998 when it died..or so I thought.I replaced the receiver with an adcom preamp and adcom 80 watt amp and could tell that this did not deliver the goods as in clarity or warm rich sound.Also,I just could not bear the thought of throwing it away and could never find a place to repair it.Now, I have been using the adcom components for almost 5 years and could not afford to replace that with higher end equipment and for whatever reasons Luxman just cannot stay in buisness. I decided to pull it out of the attic and just see if there was any chance i could use the pre out jacks and hook up the adcom 80 watt amp so the luxman could be used as a pre-amp--holy balls,I had to tap the volume control with my finger a number of times to loosen up the pot behind it and i'll be doggone ! IT STILL WORKS AT LEAST AS A PRE-AMP AND BLOWS THE ADCOM GTP-450 AWAY--No, for some reason the amplifier section is not working in the luxman,however,Ihave to rely on adcom for that horsepower but now I have 50% of luxmans' warm, rich,and clean full bodied sound back in my stereo. It takes a minute to warm up and the unit needs cleaning and dire need of contact cleaner on the volume control and balance.I hope to god it will last me another 9 years ! I hope I did not sound over dramatic or verbose but anyone can understand my position on this especially when I cannot afford to shell out 800 or more dollars for a new piece of equipment to enhance the sound of my system

Similar Products Used:

adcom gtp450/5300

Very detailed warm sound

Age

This is for the R-115, I have it hooked up to Kef 103.2 and a Pioneer CD player, all old! The sound is tremendous for the small room I have this system in. I also use it for movie watching and sometimes find it more engaging than my high end system (5 channel with Sub) because it is so warm!
This unit was ahead of it's time as it handles digital very well with the CD direct path. I listen to alot of different types of music and find stuff like Bob Marley, Clapton, and acoustical works make you feel as though you've toked a doobie, thats a good feeling when you actually haven't.
Anyway this is an excellent sounding piece of equipment in the right setup and believe it to be a classic!!!

Similar Products Used:

Rotel, Musical Fidelity, Phase Linear, Yamaha, Denon, Harman Kardon, Linn, etc.

I actually have the next one down from the R117, the R115. I bought mine used and have had it many, many years, maybe even 9 or 10 years with absolutely no problems. My dad has a Sony ES, and after only 5 years or so it has circuit problems which not even the best repair shops in the northwest can fix. Although not quite as powerful as the R117, the R115 still has plenty enough for me. I was surprised how audible the difference was between it and my previous amp. Most differences in electronics tend to be more on the subtle side, at least to my ears. I'm only interested in paying for differences that are clearly audible. Although I'm starting to lust after something that can play Dolby/DTS movies, I'm loathe to give up the high current, high quality sound of my Luxman. Luxman was good enough to provide pre-amp ins and outs back when they tended to be rather rare on receivers not costing mega-bucks. So, I might go for a receiver that has pre outs that can be hooked up to my Luxman's amp. All in all it was a great buy for me. Absolutely rock solid reliability, high current design, heavy build, wonderful sound. Just quality all around.