Hi all
I have a Luxman L230 from the early 80s. At 60w per channel, the amp doesn't drive my Monitor Audio MA3s as well as I would like. I therefore am seeking more power (if for nothing else than some extra head room - been listening to some metal of late).
I have had this amp recapped, serviced and the phono stage upgraded by a local Adelaide audio guru, John Matheson (ex Revolver music), and really like the SQ it gives me (despite the lack of drive for the speakers). With only line-out jacks, I currently cannot use this as a preamp (unless I can find power amp with volume controls). So I have been thinking that rather than selling the amp, I might see if I can add a pre-out & effectively use it as a preamp for a (yet to be purchased) power amp.
I read conflicting views on this subject - some say it should be fine, others say not so much. Most say it comes down to the design of the amp itself (some are easier to do this to than others). As I am not entirely knowledgeable on electronic circuit design, I'm struggling to find out if my amp could accommodate this idea. The link below has a reasonably detailed overview of the amp design:
http://www.hilberink.nl/codehans/luxman19.htm
I would greatly appreciate any advice. As my signature says, my budget is low, but I am keen on bringing a good quality vintage sound into my poverty-stricken PhD existence!
Cheers folks!