The Luxman is a premium phono stage worthy of the very best of systems
Phono stages aren’t the most glamorous item in a hi-fi chain. But if you want to hear your cherished record player at its best, a good one is essential. We have heard few better than Luxman’s EQ-500.
Luxman has built the EQ-500 into full-sized casework and packed it full of toggle switches, dials and signal-level meters. It is hard to think of a more feature-packed alternative, and the majority of these features are very useful too. There are switches to govern whether the unit sends out the signal balanced or single-ended, and its phase. Further toggles govern impedance (for moving-magnet cartridges only), high- and low-pass filtering, type (moving magnet, high- and low-output moving coil), stereo/mono switching and inputs.
This phono stage has an usual two-stage gain adjustment for each of the three cartridge type settings, allowing up to 4db extra to the basic gain steps of 36dB (MM), 55dB (MC high) and 63dB (MC low). The two-stage adjustment allows the user to fine-tune the balance of gain between the phono stage and preamp circuitry, and helps give the volume control a more useable range of adjustment.
Take a look inside the EQ-500 and you will find step-up transformers for the moving coil part of the circuit and six small valves (4 x ECC83 and 2 x ECC82) used for amplification duties. An additional valve, an EZ81, is used in the generously specified power-supply section. There is extensive internal shielding to keep noise levels and distortion low.
The casework feels solid and is finished to a high standard, while the front panel switches all work with precision. This is an expensive unit and feels it. The EQ-500 is hefty for a phono stage, weighing in at just under 13kg – around the same as a decent integrated amplifier – and at 44cm it’s a touch wider than the standard full-size width too.
PUNCH AND POWER
On initial powering it sounds thick and a little timid, but even at this stage there are signs of exceptional detail resolution and class leading refinement, but the generally sludgy attitude doesn’t impress initially.
Allow that valve-driven circuitry to stabilise properly, though, and the presentation gains transparency, life and openness. The first thing that strikes us is just how quiet it is. Background hiss is at a very low level, which is testament to the Luxman’s carefully considered electrical internals and extensive shielding.
Once firing on all cylinders this is a wonderful-sounding unit. You wou
