Unveiled at the Paris Audio-Video Show, the new Luxman D-07X immediately passed through our hands for its first test outside Japan. We were therefore able to spend more than ten days analysing in detail one of the very first models, the one used for MQA certification, and the brand’s second implementation of the best Rohm conversion chip, currently only available on the larger D-10X. Like the D-10X, the D-07X can read very high-quality files, in addition to offering high-class CD and, above all, SACD playback.
Still selling more than 70% of its products in Japan, Luxman develops products primarily for its domestic market. Although its engineers have finally announced a network player for 2023, the brand remains loyal to its customers for the time being, offering them a genuine range of CD/SACD/DAC players. Compared to other global markets, where consumers in China and South Korea, like those in Europe and the United States, have shifted heavily towards streaming in recent years, Japan remains very focused on CD and SACD playback, with network players mainly used to share music from personal file libraries rather than to stream content from external platforms.
This important point helps to understand why, rather than revisiting its standalone converters, the brand has chosen to first introduce a fourth CD player, which is all the more necessary as it fills the gap between the D-03X (£4,790) and the D-10X (£18,990). Less bulky than the latter, the D-07X features a similar architecture, with dual-mono Rohm BD34301EKV chips combined with a new buffer circuit made entirely of discrete components balanced by four transformers, developed to also handle bandwidth filtering outside the audible range (above 5 Hz to 20 kHz), resulting in the reproduction of an extremely pure analogue waveform.
Replacing the D-06u and D08u, the D-07X benefits from a power transformer with a capacity that is said to be 50% higher than the previous generation, in addition to new digital clocks with very low jitter and phase noise, which allow the digital signal to be refined from the input stage right through to its analogue conversion.
Located at the far left of the unit to minimise signal paths, the player section features the LxDTM-i (Luxman original Disc Transport Mechanism – improved) mechanism, an upgrade of the LxDTM, whose main improvements are increased rigidity and vibration damping. Featuring a die-cast aluminium disc platter, the mechanism is encased in a rigid box structure that reduces resonance to a level very close to that of the D-10X.
Supported by four cast iron feet, the chassis uses a shielded structure designed both to eliminate vibrations from the surface on which the player is placed and to dissipate vibrations generated by the player when in operation. The front panel features the basic functions of a player, with the addition of a monochrome display that can enlarge the information up to four times when the player is used remotely with its remote control.
Like all players, the D-07X also features a standby button, buttons to open and close the tray, start and stop playback, and pause and change tracks. In addition, there are four more discreet buttons for reversing the phase, selecting the CD or SACD option, and connecting the player directly via its ‘Digital In’ section or outputting exclusively via its ‘Digital Out’ section. Only available via coaxial and optical outputs when using the CD/SACD transport section alone, the player adds a USB input for files up to PCM 768 kHz/32-bit and DSD 22.4 MHz formats. In analogue mode, it offers balanced output via its shielded Neutrik XLR terminals and unbalanced output via gold-plated RCA terminals spaced 32 mm apart.
THE SET-UP OF THE LUXMAN D-07X
Tested using one of the very first production models, the D-07X displays Luxman’s unique identity right out of the box, in keeping with the Japanese brand’s previous models. As explained above, the continued widespread use of CDs and especially SACDs in Japan explains why the development of this product was prioritised over that of a streamer or a new standalone DAC. But while the SACD/CD playback section is still very important, this device should also be considered a converter in its own right, whose superiority is evident with the highest quality PCM and DSD files.
To carry out our tests, we connected the device to several Japanese amplifiers, Accuphase and Spec, using RCA and XLR connectors, with surprising results in the case of the asymmetrical connection. We then used the player with CDs, SHM-CDs imported from Japan and finally SACDs and hybrid SACDs, the latter allowing us to hear the enormous gain when listening to an HD file compared to AAC encoding. Similarly, we used the DAC in coaxial and USB modes, with a clear improvement in sound quality when transferring Hi-Res files via the USB input.
THE SOUND OF THE LUXMAN D-07X
A Luxman will always be a Luxman, and that’s what you feel when you listen to the D-07X! This player is very musical and never tries to be exuberant, instead allowing the music to blossom with a focus on smoothness and benchmark timbre quality. With very low residual background noise, the player is also very quiet on its turntable, allowing you to listen to headphones right next to it without hearing any unwanted noise.
Its very low output gain means that the amplifier volume has to be turned up quite high, resulting in a muted sound that is less dynamic than that of an Accuphase or our Mark Levinson, both of which use ESS chips, but softer and more fluid, seeking out nuances and colours that are particularly well revealed. In a style reminiscent of analogue sound, the D-07X delivers great detail, whose realism allows you to define the soundstage precisely without exaggerating the volume.
Listening to Scott Walker or Nick Cave, it’s a real pleasure to hear the rich voices of the crooners, as well as the clarity of the guitar strings and other accompanying instruments. The same level of detail is evident with jazz and soul singers, whose voices are warm and smooth, with highly nuanced tones.
Even more striking, listening to a SACD or Hi-Res DSD file via USB seems to lift a veil from the image, opening it up and making it even more airy, with added nuance and realism. When comparing CD and SACD formats on our Hybrid SACDs, for example Janowski’s Wagner recordings on Pentatone or the Amsterdam Concertgebouw recordings, switching to SACD shows how much more information is revealed and how well the Luxman player is suited to this type of file, with the difference between the two levels being much more obvious than on our Mark Levinson.
The same comparison produces the same effects when sending Hi-Res files via USB rather than coaxial, with USB coming out on top, bringing a lot of relief and colour to the palette, allowing you to discover, for example, what type of piano is being played and to differentiate between Gould’s recordings on Steinway and those on Yamaha.
Surprisingly, although the entire architecture of the D-07X is dual mono, the XLR output does not seem to be any better than the unbalanced output. During testing, the fact that we were able to go up to Esprit’s Eterna range with RCA even showed a better result than when listening with an Esprit Célesta XLR, whereas in many previous tests, the XLR from a lower range showed results almost equivalent to the RCA from the range above.
OUR CONCLUSION
Designed primarily for the Japanese market and its SACD consumers, the new Luxman D-07X remains an attractive device for the British market for any music lover who still enjoys CDs. Its build quality ensures long life, and its high-quality conversion, which can also be integrated via USB, makes it the ideal main source for a high-fidelity system, with the addition of a network transport or simply a computer for sharing digital files.
Smooth, nuanced and very well balanced, the D-07X comes close to the performance of the D-10X while costing £6,000 less and remaining more discreet in appearance. At £9,990, this Luxman is certainly not for everyone, but it is a purchase for life, a product in a range where there are only a few Japanese competitors left, or even more expensive products from Switzerland or Scotland.
TECHNICAL SHEET : LUXMAN D-07X
- Origin: Japan
- Price: £11,990
- Dimensions: 440 x 132 x 410 mm
- Weight: 17 kg
- DIGITAL INPUTS AND OUTPUTS
- DAC inputs: Coaxial, optical, USB
- CD transport outputs: Coaxial, optical
- ANALOG OUTPUTS
- XLR; RCA
- AUDIO FORMATS
- CD; SACD; USB (DSD): 2.8 MHz-22.4 MHz (1 bit); USB (PCM): 44.1 kHz-768 kHz (16, 24, 32 bits)
- COAX/OPT: 44.1 kHz-192 kHz (16/24 bits)
- OUTPUT IMPEDANCE
- 300 Ω (RCA); 600 Ω (XLR)
- FREQUENCY RESPONSE
- CD: 5 Hz-20 kHz (+0, -1 dB); SACD: 5 Hz-38 kHz (+0, -3 dB); USB: 5 Hz-47 kHz (+0, -3 dB)
- SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO
- CD: 123 dB; SACD: 125 dB; USB: 122 dB
- HARMONIC DISTORTION
- CD: 0.0016%; SACD: 0.0007%; USB: 0.001%