After thoroughly reviewing its Class AB amplification circuit, fearing that its Class A integrated amplifiers would no longer meet CE standards, Luxman has decided to respond to the expectations of many customers by relaunching a Class A amplifier to celebrate its 100th anniversary.
Part of the Centennial series presented with the P-100 headphone amplifier (VU#59; Editor’s Choice), the new L-100 Centennial pays homage to the 1976 L-100 integrated amplifier, which at the time had a power output of 110 W into 8 Ω in class AB, without a VU-meter. Today, the new model returns with 20 watts per channel into 8 Ω in pure class A, doubled to 40 watts into 4 Ω, the same as the previous L-550 axII. But under the cover, it uses the latest version of the LIFES (Luxman Integrated Feedback Engine System) amplification circuit, adapted to pure class A, as well as the latest generation LECUA 1000 (Luxman Electric Controlled Ultimate Attenuator) volume attenuator with 88 steps. Its high-inertia power supply combines a high-power transformer with eight filter capacitors, each with a capacity of 10,000 μF.
To stand out from the new Generation Z Class AB integrated amplifiers, the L-100 Centennial features the same yellow lighting on the VU-meters as the previous Class A models. But like other Luxman amplifiers, the L-100 Centennial has RCA and XLR analog inputs, two pairs of speaker terminals, and pre-out outputs. It also has an MM/MC phono preamplifier section, which is normally difficult to surpass by phono preamplifiers costing less than 2 000 €. Similarly, its 4.4 mm balanced and 6.35 mm unbalanced headphone outputs on the front panel will allow you to amplify many headphones before you need to consider a better headphone amplifier such as the P-100…
Available in Japan from October, the L-100 Centennial is expected in early 2026 with a European 220V power supply. In yens, it places it exactly between the L-507Z and the L-509Z, so it will probably cost around 11 000 € including tax in Europe.
15/10/2025
