Luxman CL-1000 | Control Amplifier

Reference tube preamplification, purity before everything

The Luxman CL-1000 is Luxman’s statement vacuum-tube control amplifier, created with a single goal:
to pass the musical signal unchanged, uncompressed and emotionally intact.

At Authentic High End, the CL-1000 holds a very special position. It is Steve’s favourite preamplifier, and the one he consistently returns to — especially when driving active ATC loudspeakers. In that configuration, the CL-1000 shows just how powerful a truly transparent control amplifier can be: it adds nothing, yet gives everything.

Positioning Within Luxman

The CL-1000 sits at the very top of Luxman’s Premium Reference range and represents the brand’s most purist interpretation of a preamplifier.

Unlike feature-rich control units, the CL-1000 is conceived as a signal conduit, not a system hub. It is designed for listeners who already know that the preamplifier is one of the most decisive components in a high-end system.

Design Philosophy: The Control Amplifier as a Straight Line

Luxman approached the CL-1000 with radical restraint.

The objective was not to create a “tube sound”, but to use vacuum tubes where they excel most:
in preserving linearity, micro-dynamics and tonal continuity.

Every design choice follows that principle:

• minimal circuit complexity

• extremely short signal paths

• carefully stabilised operating points

• absolute focus on signal integrity

The CL-1000 does not shape the music. It steps out of the way.

Vacuum Tube Architecture, Done Luxman’s Way

The CL-1000 uses a carefully selected vacuum-tube topology, chosen and voiced through extensive listening.

Rather than romantic warmth, the sound is:

• open and immediate

• harmonically complete

• dynamically unrestrained

• exceptionally quiet for a tube design

This makes the CL-1000 equally convincing with analogue sources, high-resolution digital playback and professional-grade active systems.

Volume Control Without Musical Loss

One of the most critical aspects of any preamplifier is volume control.

The CL-1000 uses a high-precision, transformer-based attenuator, developed to minimise signal loss and preserve channel balance at all listening levels. This approach avoids the sonic flattening often associated with conventional potentiometers or digital attenuation.

The result is a sense of scale and stability, even at low listening levels.

Listening Experience

The Luxman CL-1000 does not draw attention to itself.

Instead, listeners notice:

• improved separation without fragmentation

• more natural dynamics

• better timing and phrasing

• a stronger emotional connection to the music

With the CL-1000 in the system, recordings feel less reproduced and more intentional. This is especially evident in systems using active loudspeakers, where the preamplifier directly defines the quality of the entire signal chain.

Steve’s Reference: CL-1000 + Active ATC

For Steve, the CL-1000 is the perfect partner for active ATC speakers.

In this configuration, the CL-1000 acts as the sole control point between source and loudspeaker electronics. Its neutrality, low noise and dynamic freedom allow the ATCs to perform at their best — controlled, expressive and utterly honest.

This combination demonstrates that a great tube preamplifier does not soften or romanticise sound. When done right, it reveals intent and authority.

Design & Craftsmanship

The CL-1000 reflects Luxman’s highest standards of build quality:

• rigid, resonance-controlled chassis

• meticulously laid-out internal architecture

• premium components selected for stability and longevity

• understated, purposeful Luxman design

Everything about the CL-1000 communicates permanence and precision.

System Integration

The CL-1000 is designed for high-quality systems where purity matters most:

• multiple line-level analogue inputs

• balanced and unbalanced outputs

• ideal partner for power amplifiers or active loudspeakers

• optimised for both analogue and digital sources

It is not meant to manage complexity — it is meant to elevate quality.

Why We Selected the CL-1000 at Authentic High End

We selected the CL-1000 because it exemplifies what a reference preamplifier should be:

• transparent

• musically truthful

• technically uncompromising

• emotionally convincing

In our Brussels listening rooms, the CL-1000 consistently proves that when the control stage is right, everything downstream improves.

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