My Luxman Integrated has AC Inlet Envy


I love my Luxman 507ux, it does so many things right, so soon after I got it I built a shielded power cable as an upgrade to the relatively plain cable that came with it.

To make a long story short, after trying out a number of different cables and female IEC plugs it seems the AC inlet has prongs which seem too short. For sure, the Luxman has no ground pin. I'm sure that this means it's not required, so that’s not an issue. What is an issue is that even a Wattgate plug, which are famous for a tight grip, can’t stay in. Even a little wiggle can disconnect the amp.

It seems either or all of these are true:

  • The missing ground pin is keeping plugs from feeling very grippy
  • The pins are too short
  • The pins are too thin

If I play with a cheap power cord, it seems like the AC doesn’t connect unti lthe very last 2 mm of travel of the plug. This seems wrong.

I bought a cheap replacement inlet and it just feels so much better. Meaning, I can feel the plug grip the pins much earlier, and they all grip much better.

Anyone else have issues with Luxman inlets??

 

PS - I absolutely insist on building my own power cables. This is my hobby not yours so please stop trying to convince me my problem is that I didn’t buy your boutique brand.

 

erik_squires

I'm awaiting one more part from Mouser before I change out the inlet. I don't want to open it up and find out I have the wrong parts. :)

@imhififan 

To answer your question the Luxman transformer has 3 wires on the secondary and exactly 2 on the primary. These are not convertible transformers.

Best,

 

Erik

I've dismembered my Luxman and have had the original C18 outlet on my workbench for a couple of days.

The pins measure exactly to spec.  I can't find anything at all wrong with the pins or the casing at all. In fact the pin to PCB construction is impressive.  They look like a single piece of cast metal that retains it's thickness through the PCB connectors. 

I'm now 100% sure that the weakness I was feeling in the grip of cables is due to the missing ground pin.  Also, without the ground pin the Wattgate 320i sucked.

Tomorrow I replace it.

Tomorrow I replace it.

Good luck and please keep us updated with your progress!