Luxman has introduced its first monaural power amplifier in 20 years, the B-100C. So, naturally, you’ll need two of them for stereo.
Recently, we’ve been seeing rather more dedicated power amplifiers appearing on the market. Of course, that could simply be a coincidence, but it suddenly caught our attention. Either way, the new Luxman B-100C fits neatly into this apparent trend.
It is a monoblock amplifier operating entirely in Class A for its first 25 watts, delivering up to 25 watts into 8 ohms in this mode. More power is available, however, at which point the amplifier switches to the more energy-efficient Class AB mode. This increases the maximum output to 125 watts into 8 ohms or 250 watts into 4 ohms.
The B-100C’s output stage uses a 4×4 configuration, with a four-way parallel, three-stage Darlington push-pull arrangement (sorry, but that’s simply how it is…) in each amplifier. Its power supply is built around an EI-core transformer with flat copper windings. In addition, Luxman’s proprietary feedback circuitry is designed to ensure low distortion, linearity and stability.
As for its appearance, the amplifier features a substantial meter on the front of its metal enclosure, displaying the output power in real time.
If you would like to bring a Luxman B-100C into your home — incidentally, the C stands for Centennial, marking the manufacturer’s 100th anniversary — be prepared to spend a considerable amount of money. The price is €26,495 per unit, or €52,990 for a stereo pair.