Luxman CL-1000
 

Hello all...thank you for accepting me as a new member!

Just wondering: I’m told the USA version of the Luxman CL-1000 flagship has a ‘throw in’ solid state phono card. The Japanese and European versions are line stage only if my information is correct. The lower CL-38 variations has an excellent integrated tuned phono stage with individual step up transformers. Would a vinyl aficionado be better off with the lower model or is the solid state phono card with the flagship CL-1000 line stage preferable? Interesting contrast...thanks for your responses in advance.

The phono is equal to the $2250 E-250 phono. I would venture to guess if you were spending 20K on a preamp you'd want a top of the line phono. I have the CL38U-SE and the three tube phono is excellent. Very quite w/excellent channel separation. At it's current price it's quite a steal. :thumbsup:

Art Dudley has a very nice review in this month's Sterophile on the CL-1000.

Hi
I have a MQ 300 and a CL 38 u SE.
has someone had the chance to compare a CL 38 u with a CL 1000?

Actually I found it somewhat "disturbing" that a 20K Pre-Amp isn't heads and tails above one you can get for 5-6K used (Monbrison)

MusicLoverBkln... Welcome to AA! :wave:

As a good rule-of-thumb, unless one has something "tres chic" and in high demand, used prices are about 60% of new. So we are comparing a $13K used CL1000 with many bells & whistles to a minimalist Monbrison at half the price. At these levels, one has definitely entered the realm of 'diminishing returns'. You pick your poison. Plus, AD (may he RIP) was always a Shindo fan and I've never read a review from him where he stated he would be replacing either his Shindo preamp or amp with the piece being reviewed. No surprise there.

As Luxman38 states, the CL-38uSE is the 'sweet-spot' in Luxman preamps.

I don’t think he ever said he prefered the Shindo in the review. He just compared them.

Hi !
This is not so important but I notice that the actual gain of the phono stage, as measured by Hifi news, is VERY different than quoted by the manufacturer. It is not so difficult to announce correctly a gain so I am a bit puzzled... Aren't you ?

already hitting the used markets.... :scratch2:

https://img.usaudiomart.com/uploads/...an-cl-1000.jpg