Sir Rab of Everest Posted June 11, 2015 Posted June 11, 2015 I made my first ever visit to John's Hi Fi Exchange last week. While i was poring over the shelves of used audio gear, I noticed a familiar beast with a big SOLD sticker on its face: the Luxman M-6000 power amplifier. When i was a young lad, already enamoured with high quality audio, this is one of those items of gear that i dreamed of owning. Does anyone else here remember when someone broke the glass window of Encel's (in it's original location in Bridge Rd) to steal an M-6000 on display? Just googled it and learned for the first time that Tim de Paravacini designed it! (http://www.thevintageknob.org/luxman-M-6000.html) Coincidentally, among the first hits of my google search is a youtube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLGquSgLbHs) of an M-6000 driving a pair of Allison One speakers ... which someone only just posted about on SNA only a week or so ago...! Well, after all this raving, i have to confess that i'm pretty sure i never actually heard one. Does anyone here have any experience with this amplifier, maybe even bought the one from John's? - r. 1
Addicted to music Posted June 11, 2015 Posted June 11, 2015 That was 1974-75, I was 11. I use to hang around a Tandy Electronics and thought that had the best HiFi gear out. It wasn't unit a little later that my cousin drove me to Encel Stereo and we spent the Friday evening there checking out Luxman/Nakamichi cassette decks. When I walked into Encel the images of a wall full of cassette decks that included the entire range of both brands is still fresh to this day. Believe me I use to dream of owning Luxman components back then. There turntables were the 1st ones I saw with a vacuum device that suck the vinyl record onto it to stabilised and flattened it out. Encel were also competitive with TDK cassette tapes, as a teenager I use to save pocket money to make a special trip down there by train from Clayton to buy a box of 90 min TDK SA-X tapes that came in a box of 10. My 1st tape deck was a Nakamichi BX1, Encel use to have sales on and in this case it was 10% off the RRP. Sad to let go of it about 12 month ago on SNA! What an era, a treasured memory! 4
Sir Rab of Everest Posted June 12, 2015 Author Posted June 12, 2015 Believe me I use to dream of owning Luxman components back then. There turntables were the 1st ones I saw with a vacuum device that suck the vinyl record onto it to stabilised and flattened it out. Encel were also competitive with TDK cassette tapes, as a teenager I use to save pocket money to make a special trip down there by train from Clayton to buy a box of 90 min TDK SA-X tapes that came in a box of 10. My 1st tape deck was a Nakamichi BX1, Encel use to have sales on and in this case it was 10% off the RRP. Sad to let go of it about 12 month ago on SNA! What an era, a treasured memory! I still have in storage my collection of cassettes, mostly TDK Super Avilyn and related types. I wish I had seen you Nakamichi, i might have bought it... I could never afford one! The best deck I had was a Rotel I bought around the mid-80's from Encel at the same time as my Rotel 965BX CD player (one in the classifieds now!) My turntable lusts were Micro Seiki 'tables (in addition to the LP12, of course), but could never afford anything so fancy. My last and best turntable was a Thorens TD-160 BC Mark II, sold when I moved to the US in 1995. - r
The Fez Posted June 12, 2015 Posted June 12, 2015 I don't have any direct experience with the amplifier. However a friend of mine does have one. I'll contact him and get his thoughts on it. He has an extensive vintage collection of some very fine vintage amplifiers.
JukKluk2 Posted June 12, 2015 Posted June 12, 2015 I still have in storage my collection of cassettes, mostly TDK Super Avilyn and related types. I wish I had seen you Nakamichi, i might have bought it... I could never afford one! The best deck I had was a Rotel I bought around the mid-80's from Encel at the same time as my Rotel 965BX CD player (one in the classifieds now!) My turntable lusts were Micro Seiki 'tables (in addition to the LP12, of course), but could never afford anything so fancy. My last and best turntable was a Thorens TD-160 BC Mark II, sold when I moved to the US in 1995. - r I have a Pioneer CT-S550S sitting boxed up if you feel the urge @@Sir Rab of Everest.
Sir Rab of Everest Posted June 13, 2015 Author Posted June 13, 2015 I have a Pioneer CT-S550S sitting boxed up if you feel the urge @@Sir Rab of Everest. Thanks for the generous offer, but i already have a cassette player from Mr Darko.. been sitting in the postal box for over a year now, lying in wait for the right day...
Addicted to music Posted June 15, 2015 Posted June 15, 2015 I still have in storage my collection of cassettes, mostly TDK Super Avilyn and related types. I wish I had seen you Nakamichi, i might have bought it... I could never afford one! The best deck I had was a Rotel I bought around the mid-80's from Encel at the same time as my Rotel 965BX CD player (one in the classifieds now!) My turntable lusts were Micro Seiki 'tables (in addition to the LP12, of course), but could never afford anything so fancy. My last and best turntable was a Thorens TD-160 BC Mark II, sold when I moved to the US in 1995. - r You are going to hate me now! When I moved to Altona Meadows I had to collect all my stuff of my parents as I was going from a 1 bedroom unit to a 3 bedroom house. By the time I moved to Point Cook, the better 1/2 made a suggestion that I will regret for the rest of my life. I threw out all those cassette tapes I bought as a teenager, 100s of them, that included TDK top of the line metal versions, Maxwell Crome versions and some Apex. This also included a collection of originals and it all went in the bin. Then a few years back we did a garage clearing and there was the black Nakamichi BX1 in storage, powered it up and all the motors fired up, however I couldn't test it because there wasn't a cassette tape anywhere to be seen!!! Placed it in the classified just so SNA can receive a donation!!! I didn't ask for anything more. I got a PM from a member here who lived in Tassie, and I dropped it of to a lovely lady in Port Melb so he can pick it up when he comes through on the Spirit of Tasmania, this guy still uses cassettes and has about 3000 of them. I wasn't sure if it worked properly but I knew it will be looked after and be used in a good home......so sad to see it go! A sad ending to childhood memory of a wonderful era in my journey of this hobby. 1
Sir Rab of Everest Posted June 15, 2015 Author Posted June 15, 2015 You're right: I hate you just a little more now.... [emoji5]ï¸
Art Vandelay Posted June 20, 2015 Posted June 20, 2015 (edited) Then a few years back we did a garage clearing and there was the black Nakamichi BX1 in storage, powered it up and all the motors fired up, however I couldn't test it because there wasn't a cassette tape anywhere to be seen!!! Placed it in the classified just so SNA can receive a donation!!! I didn't ask for anything more. I got a PM from a member here who lived in Tassie, and I dropped it of to a lovely lady in Port Melb so he can pick it up when he comes through on the Spirit of Tasmania, this guy still uses cassettes and has about 3000 of them. I wasn't sure if it worked properly but I knew it will be looked after and be used in a good home......so sad to see it go! A sad ending to childhood memory of a wonderful era in my journey of this hobby. I'll soon be clearing out some of my old cassette decks too I suspect. They will either end up in the classifieds, ebay, or (sadly) out on the front lawn for council collection. I've also got an old Nak LX-5, Several other 3 head Aiwa's and a Luxman K-03. I'll probably keep the 700ZXL for posterity. Edited June 20, 2015 by Art Vandelay
Addicted to music Posted June 20, 2015 Posted June 20, 2015 @@Art Vandelay, I use to dream of owning a Nakamichi Lx-5 what waste....no cassettes in the house!
Art Vandelay Posted June 20, 2015 Posted June 20, 2015 @@Art Vandelay, I use to dream of owning a Nakamichi Lx-5 what waste....no cassettes in the house! It's in minti condition too, and with new drive belts. FR is still flat to about 27kHz on pretty much any formulation, and it sounds fantastic. I still have about 100 old cassettes, mostly TDK SA and MA, and a few are unused.
Addicted to music Posted June 20, 2015 Posted June 20, 2015 It's in minti condition too, and with new drive belts. FR is still flat to about 27kHz on pretty much any formulation, and it sounds fantastic. I still have about 100 old cassettes, mostly TDK SA and MA, and a few are unused. Off the topic, But like to hear your opinion between a Sanders a Magtech or an ME850 with a steel chassis, what's your preference?
Art Vandelay Posted June 20, 2015 Posted June 20, 2015 Off the topic, But like to hear your opinion between a Sanders a Magtech or an ME850 with a steel chassis, what's your preference? PM sent
Ian McP Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 Ah cassette tape decks! Re belted my Yamaha K960 a couple of years back, the old ones had disintigrated into evil black slime. WES (Wagner Electronic Supplies) in Sydney stock a huge array of belts. Threw in a cassette and was surprised just how good they can still sound! Inherited a Nakamichi 480 from my father (he'd bought it on my recommendation!) Alas it wouldn't record, a quick google revealed the nefarious Nakamichi orange capacitor disease, replaced them and a couple of semi conductors and we were in business again. Traded it for a couple of good reds (wine) with a friend on PBS's board, I believe it's now preserving sacred cassette recordings of PBS's early live broadcasts. Speaking of Lux amps, ever seen pics of their ultra rare 300B SE monoblocks, go for a king's ransom these days.
Ian McP Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 http://cassettestoreday.com yep, cassette store day, in the same vein as independent record store day, there's life in the old beast yet! Some indie bands love putting out limited releases on cassette.
Steve M Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 (edited) I made my first ever visit to John's Hi Fi Exchange last week. While i was poring over the shelves of used audio gear, I noticed a familiar beast with a big SOLD sticker on its face: the Luxman M-6000 power amplifier. When i was a young lad, already enamoured with high quality audio, this is one of those items of gear that i dreamed of owning. Does anyone else here remember when someone broke the glass window of Encel's (in it's original location in Bridge Rd) to steal an M-6000 on display? Just googled it and learned for the first time that Tim de Paravacini designed it! (http://www.thevintageknob.org/luxman-M-6000.html) Coincidentally, among the first hits of my google search is a youtube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLGquSgLbHs) of an M-6000 driving a pair of Allison One speakers ... which someone only just posted about on SNA only a week or so ago...! Well, after all this raving, i have to confess that i'm pretty sure i never actually heard one. Does anyone here have any experience with this amplifier, maybe even bought the one from John's? - r. Richard, I think we have all been mesmerized by the gold fascias of Luxman and Accuphase in our younger days, I know I have and it has lead me to where I am now. I've not heard the Lux M-6000, but it can be hit-n-miss with Luxman products. I have had a half dozen or so of them over the years from M-2; L480; L510; L550 and an older 507x. Some sound a little warm and soft and some a bit electronic, you just never know? You would think that the 50w/ch Class A L550 was the best of them, but not so. I liked the 507x the best, beautiful balance of bass weight, warmth and treble clarity (Thoersten Loesch has one too). Yes, I too have a pile of TDK metal cassette tapes somewhere in the attic ...probably gone a bit rusty by now. Cheers, Steve. Edited July 17, 2015 by Steve M 1
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