LUXMAN D-380

The D-380 is a digital CD player that also offers the ability to play music through its vacuum tube output, bearing the number '38'—a number associated with the golden era of LUXMAN vacuum tube amplifiers. This player features a vacuum tube output consisting of a buffer circuit with an ECC82 tube and a dedicated transformer, along with an advanced digital circuit that includes a 32-bit compatible DAC and a jitter reduction IC. The D-380 is housed in an elegant wooden box, enhancing the listening experience for music enthusiasts who appreciate this mature medium.

As part of the ‘38’ series, the D-380 CD player comes equipped with a function that allows the user to select the output according to their musical preferences, via a lever switch located on the front panel. The user can choose between a high-purity semiconductor output, which connects directly to the DAC chip, or a vacuum tube output, where the buffer circuit with the ECC82 tube is connected to a high-quality film capacitor and a dedicated output transformer. The semiconductor output delivers vivid resolution and high-quality source sound, while the vacuum tube output provides a rich density and greater expression to the sound, with the appropriate addition of harmonic components. This tonal quality switching can even occur while a CD is playing. When the vacuum tube output is selected, the ECC82 tube gently lights up, adding a design element that enhances the ambiance.

The elegant exterior of the D-380 is enclosed in a standard-sized wooden box (440mm wide), with a natural veneer finish and a front panel with a hairline effect. When used with similarly designed LUXMAN amplifiers, such as the LX-380 vacuum tube integrated amplifier, the aesthetic effect is particularly pleasing.

The D-380 is equipped with a Texas Instruments PCM5102A DAC chip that supports 192kHz/32-bit processing and includes a high-quality buffer amplifier. The embedded digital filter allows for the selection and reproduction of two types of tonal quality without issue via remote control.

To ensure accurate playback of music from a disc, not only does the clock for transferring data need to be highly precise, but it is also essential to completely eliminate fluctuations along the time axis (jitter). To achieve this, the D-380 is equipped with a dedicated jitter reduction IC to suppress distortion caused by jitter during D/A conversion and achieve high-quality sound expression. Additionally, the digital audio can be output externally via coaxial/optical terminals. There is also the option to expand or upgrade the system in the future, such as adding a digital recorder or D/A converter.

The D-380 features a large, high-quality, highly visible FL display with a 4x zoom mode, a useful tool for remote operation from a listening position at a distance from the system. The orange color of the display is designed with consideration for the lighting environment of the listening room, and a dimmer (illumination switching) function allows the display light to be completely turned off.

The D-380 employs a left-sided mechanism layout to optimize the flow of the sound signal and power supply, as demonstrated in the D-series SACD players. A new mechanical design resulted in an 8mm thick solid aluminum base with a loopless, shielded box chassis, providing support for the drive mechanism and stability in reading the digital signal.

An elegant aluminum remote control is included with the D-380, allowing comfortable operation of the system from any listening position. The remote control enables the user to perform all necessary functions, such as selecting various playback options. The "articulator" mode is also available by holding down the CLEAR button to refresh the sound quality by demagnetizing the vacuum tube circuit's output transformer.

Technical Specifications:

• Compatible discs: 2-channel CD
• Analog output: 1 unbalanced output
• Digital outputs: 1 coaxial, 1 optical
• Output voltage:
  • SOLID STATE: 2.1V
  • VACUUM TUBE: 2.4V
• Output impedance: 300Ω
• Frequency response:
  • SOLID STATE: 20Hz to 20kHz (+0, -0.2dB)
  • VACUUM TUBE: 20Hz to 20kHz (+0.1, -0.3dB)
• Total harmonic distortion:
  • SOLID STATE: 0.005%
  • VACUUM TUBE: 0.8%
• Signal-to-noise ratio (IHF-A):
  • SOLID STATE: 115dB
  • VACUUM TUBE: 105dB
• Tubes: ECC82×1
• External dimensions: 440 (W) x 167 (H) x 286 (D) mm (front knob of 4mm and rear terminal of 8mm included in depth)
• Net weight: 10.8kg