Luxman D-03X cd player : underrated & ignored?

CKKeung

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Jun 17, 2011
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Luxman has launched a new cd player D-03X a few months ago.
It's in the mid price category yet very well-built.
http://www.luxman.com/product/detail.php?id=36

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d-03x-internal__large_full a.jpg

I guess the D-03X has been over-shadowed by the coming flagship D-10X.
However I think it should not be underrated & ignored!

Here is a very recent review on the D-03X :
https://www.stereo.net.au/reviews/luxman-d-03x-compact-disc-player-review

It is awarded an "Applause Award" by the review webzine and in the conclusion of the review : " ... Best of all, it offers the experience of owning a cost-no-object Japanese flagship machine, without actually being one. ... "
:cool:
 
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CKKeung

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Jun 17, 2011
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It does not look like it has the same DAC as D-10x, and obviously no SACD
Of course it's way behind the new flagship D-10X. :p

The D-03X is their new entry level CDP and in Hong Kong the net price is less than USD4000 only.
However its sonic performance is not very far away from the older D-08u!
 
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essrand

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Jan 8, 2018
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Of course it's way behind the new flagship D-10X. :p

The D-03X is their new entry level CDP and in Hong Kong the net price is less than USD4000 only.
However its sonic performance is not very far away from the older D-08u!

I am seriously thinking about this CDP. Would you happen to have any idea how it sounds in comparison to the Luxman DA-06 DAC which is the only Luxman digital I have heard, and I loved it.
Even if it matches D-06, for this price, I am down :)
 

Bjorn 2re

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Oct 26, 2020
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I am seriously thinking about this CDP. Would you happen to have any idea how it sounds in comparison to the Luxman DA-06 DAC which is the only Luxman digital I have heard, and I loved it.
Even if it matches D-06, for this price, I am down :)

I got the D-03X. Once I've got it, I sold my DA-06 and my DA-250. I miss nothing! The holographic, the attack, the deep bass, the airy hights, the crystal clear mids and the 'music flow' the Luxman way is present.The dac in this D-03X is so good by it self that, in my opinion, there is no point of owning the DA-06, unless you need more digital inputs than the D-03X brings, and beside; 3X can alternate between the digital inputs/cdplayer by the remote. The sound the 3X gives is absolutely wonderful, and for the first time in 12 years I play my CD's again.
 
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essrand

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Jan 8, 2018
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Wow, that's really high praise. Thanks for your feedback.

What's the rest of your system, if I may ask?
 

Bjorn 2re

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Oct 26, 2020
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Wow, that's really high praise. Thanks for your feedback.

What's the rest of your system, if I may ask?
The rest of my system is L-590 AX mk2 amp, PD-171 A turntable, Aurender N-100 4TB network player and Sonus Faber Sonetto VIII.
 

CKKeung

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Jun 17, 2011
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I got the D-03X. Once I've got it, I sold my DA-06 and my DA-250. I miss nothing! The holographic, the attack, the deep bass, the airy hights, the crystal clear mids and the 'music flow' the Luxman way is present.The dac in this D-03X is so good by it self that, in my opinion, there is no point of owning the DA-06, unless you need more digital inputs than the D-03X brings, and beside; 3X can alternate between the digital inputs/cdplayer by the remote. The sound the 3X gives is absolutely wonderful, and for the first time in 12 years I play my CD's again.
Hi Bjorn 2re,
Thanks for sharing.

Please try your best to get a few of the Japanese MQA CDs.
You will be awed even more by the performance of your D-03X when playing them!
;)
 
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Diasoft5

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Feb 19, 2020
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So, what should I buy for my second system, new D-03x or used D-06u? The D-06u can adjust the sound through different filters.
 

CKKeung

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Jun 17, 2011
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I didn't do the comparison but the HK Lucman dealer told me that the D-03X is sonically better than the older D-06U.
 

thedudeabides

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Jan 16, 2011
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The 03X cannot play SACD's and is a major shortcoming. I would not consider that model on that basis alone. And a dealer told you the 03X is better than the 06u. The obvious question is in what way, in what system, in what room etc. And if he's a dealer, he's likely biased because he wants to sell the 03X.
 
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trebor33

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Sep 5, 2021
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I got the D-03X. Once I've got it, I sold my DA-06 and my DA-250. I miss nothing! The holographic, the attack, the deep bass, the airy hights, the crystal clear mids and the 'music flow' the Luxman way is present.The dac in this D-03X is so good by it self that, in my opinion, there is no point of owning the DA-06, unless you need more digital inputs than the D-03X brings, and beside; 3X can alternate between the digital inputs/cdplayer by the remote. The sound the 3X gives is absolutely wonderful, and for the first time in 12 years I play my CD's again.
I also own the D-03X and agree with your findings. CD's sound superb on it, both MQA and standard. I'm not missing the SACD function of my D-05U as the few SACD Hybrid discs I own sound just as good to me with this player.
 

Addicted to hifi

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I also own the D-03X and agree with your findings. CD's sound superb on it, both MQA and standard. I'm not missing the SACD function of my D-05U as the few SACD Hybrid discs I own sound just as good to me with this player.
The luxman players sound excellent with cds.
 

emilian676

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Dec 28, 2021
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Hello
I bought a Luxman L-590AX II amplifier and a Luxman D-03X CD player. What interconnect cables should I use?
Should I buy from Luxman? The speakers are Marten Duke 2
Thanks
 

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