Luxman

Luxman K. K. (Japaneseラックスマン 株式会社, Rakkusuman Kabushiki - gaisha, Eng. Luxman Corporation) is a Japanese manufacturer of hi-fi equipment and high-end devices, such as amplifiers, receivers, turntables, CD players, radios and tape decks. The slogan of the company is Ultimate Fidelity since 1925.

History

The company was founded in June 1925 by T. Hayakawa and his brother K. Yoshikawa. They opened a department for radio equipment and accessories in the " Kinsuidō Picture Frame Shop " (锦 水 堂 额 縁 店, Kinsuidō gakubuchiten ) in Osaka ( he sold imported picture frame ). Later in 1925 there was the first radio broadcast in Japan. The import of radios was so then a new field of business. Many passers-by saw or heard in later Luxman for the first time in her life a radio. From 1926, the brand name Lux was used. In 1935, the restructuring as a corporation KK Kinsuidō (株式会社 锦 水 堂), the 1943 in Kinsui Denki KK Kōgyō (锦 水电 気 工业 株式会社, " Kinsui -Elektrotechnik AG") and renamed in 1961 after Lux KK (ラックス 株式会社). The present name took to the company in 2000.

The Lux Corporation decided to build himself electronic components and devices in addition to sales of imported goods. Luxman for example, was known for the quality of their transformers and switches and is now one of the oldest manufacturers of electronic components.

In the mid-1970s hi-fi equipment have been a rapidly growing market. The Japanese economy grew strong; technical equipment from Japan (such as cameras, cars ) were exports. Luxman was at HiFi friends and enthusiasts worldwide famous for the sound quality of its equipment, especially for its high-priced tube amp. Pre- Endverstärkerkombinationen ( preamplifier and power amplifier in a housing with its own power supply ) won at the expense of the amplifier market share. The design of the device was particularly aesthetically and rezipiert (they had and have aluminum fronts in a shade that could be described as a champagne color or ' lighter gold sting '). The units were built very sound; used many Amplifier Class -A technology.

1984 bought Alpine Electronics, another Japanese electronics company ( and known at this time in Europe as a car radio manufacturers ), Luxman. Alpine hoped it synergies by merging departments and producing. Shortly after the purchase they started with Yamaha ( which at that time also had a high market share in many segments of the hi-fi market ) a battle for market share; they changed their distribution policy. Until then, Luxman products were (ie by dealer) sold in independent HiFi Studios; now it was also available in stores like Costco (USA) and Richer Sounds (UK). He was led as a new brand name ' Alpine / Luxman ' a (co - branding). The concept failed. The company withdrew from all foreign markets and only acted in Japan, where in the meantime had begun a period of economic stagnation after the economic boom that continues to this day (2012 ).

In 2000 Alpine closed its last factory for ' Home HiFi ' ( in Hong Kong). Alpine Luxman sold in the early 2000s.

Luxman sells its products today, especially in Japan, parts of Asia, in the U.S., UK, Germany, Czech Republic and Slovakia, France, Poland, Italy, Romania, Denmark and Sweden.

2009, the Luxman Corporation of the International Audio Group Ltd.. Bought (IAG ).