Luxman – MQ-88uC Tube Power Amplifier

There’s Nothing Like the Sound of a Highly Efficient, Bespoke Vacuum-Tube Amplifier: Japan-Made Luxman MQ-88uC Features Eight Tubes and Plays with Organic Tonality

Since designing its first vacuum-tube amplifier nearly six decades ago, Luxman has remained wedded to a heritage of bespoke components staked to unstinting technology, ambitious engineering, and hand-selected parts. Projecting a modern yet classic appearance, MQ-88uC extends that legacy in a rarified manner. In-house-developed transformers and blocking capacitors, four JJ Electronic KT-88 output tubes, four Mullard tubes, Nichicon-made film-coupling capacitors, and EI-type power transformers speak to the pellucid clarity, lush warmth, organic tonality, and sumptuous richness the Japanese-made MQ-88uC SE delivers – playback certain to beguile you for years and years to come.

Read more about the specifics surrounding The Absolute Sound Product of the Year Award-winning MQ-88uC below. As you do, recognize each unit undergoes a final performance check after a 48-hour aging process following assembly and boasts a mind-boggling 105dB signal-to-noise ratio. And that there’s nothing, absolutely nothing, like the sound of tubes, particularly when they’re implemented in a design so meticulously executed. 100% Music Direct Guaranteed.

“The Luxman MQ-88uC is nothing short of a musical treasure. It represents a nearly perfect introduction to the joys of triode sound and is highly recommended for those in search of a closer approach to the real thing…”
—The Absolute Sound, Product of the Year Award

Alluring Transparency and Excellent Longevity: KT-88 Tubes
Made by JJ Electronic, the KT-88 output tubes used in MQ-88uC deliver intense power and rich sound quality. The triode configuration achieves longer vacuum-tube life and a highly transparent timbre. The paralleled first stage feeds a driver stage featuring performance-proven Mullard circuitry. For the final stage, a Mullard-compatible push-pull configuration achieves an output power of 25 watts per channel at 4, 8, and 16 ohms with very low distortion.

Independent Speaker Terminals
MQ-88uC features independent 4-, 8-, and 16-ohm speaker terminals to better match with and bring out the best abilities of any kind of speakers, allowing powerful music reproduction with very low distortion. A variable input (volume adjustable) mode in which the signal bypasses the input section, connecting a source device (such as a CD player) directly to the output section comes standard.

OY15-Type Output Transformers and Beefy Power Supply
Output transformers play an important role in determining sound quality and performance. Luxman’s classic amplifier products featured OY15-type output transformers with die-cast aluminum housings. These have been redesigned and reproduced with the original shape. The power supply section boasts a highly stable El-type power transformer in tandem with custom-designed blocking capacitors to yield steadfast sound quality and excellent drivability.

Classic Appearance and Timeless Beauty
The main chassis of the MQ-88uC has a dark brown finish. The hairline finished aluminum top panel and matte black aluminum die-cast power transformer housings make for a harmonious match, fine quality and beauty being important to our designs.