AudioValve Luminare black

The AudioValve Luminare / DAC is a tube headphone amplifier and (optional) DAC capable of driving electrostatic, planar magnetic and dynamic headphones to their full potential, delivering top-tier results.

AudioValve devotes the majority of their design and component budget to sound quality rather than all the audio bling and marketable designs featured by some of the comparable survey amplifiers on the market. On sound alone, it outperforms its price point, and in terms of performance, design, fit and finish, it far exceeds our expectations and represents a truly exceptional product at double or triple its price category.

In terms of sound, this amplifier offers excellent tonality, world-class 3D soundstage, noise floor on par with all but the best tube-based amplifiers, and macro and micro dynamics galore.

The sound quality of the Luminare is at an absolute reference level for a tube headphone amplifier. The benefits are a very low noise floor, low distortion, high frequency range, high damping, very natural and musical tonality, wide impedance matching, perfect open soundstage, and more.

• Maximum power (depending on operating mode): up to 2x5 watts
• Damping factor > 600 for all 100 Ω KH in OTL mode

LOW IMPEDANCE Mode:

• 32 Ohm test load: max: 4.5 W power / ch.
  • 1 kHz - 0.1 W - 0.06%
  • 1 kHz - 1 W - 0.15%
  • 1 kHz - 4.5 W - 1%
  • 10 kHz - 0.1 W - 0.06%
  • 10 kHz - 1 W - 0.15%
• Bandwidth: 15 - 100,000 Hz
• Damping: 15
• Min.: 3 Ω load (3 W / 0.33 W - 0.15%)

OTL Mode: 220 Ohm test load.

• Max: 8.5 W power / ch.
  • 1 kHz - 0.1 W - 0.015%
  • 1 kHz - 1 W - 0.08%
  • 1 kHz - 3.3 W - 1%
  • 10 kHz - 0.1 W - 0.08%
  • 10 kHz - 0.5 W - 0.1%
• Bandwidth: 12 - 150,000 Hz
• Damping: 600
• Gain: 32 dB
• Max. load 2000 ohms

STAX Mode: (automatic gain control)

• Bandwidth: 15 - 150,000 Hz
• Bias: 300 + 580 VDC
• Vpp: max: 1700 VAC
• Gain: 34.5 dB + 15.5 dB = 50dB

Connectivity

• 1x input (XLR or RCA optional)
• 1x input (RCA)
• 1 line output
• 1x pre-output 20:1

Headphone jacks:

• 2x Neutrik combo jacks (balanced operation XLR 2x3 pin and 2x6.35 mm jack)
• 1 Neutrik 4-pin jack (balanced operation)
• 1x Stax connection with 300V and 580V bias for electrostatics

General

• Dimensions (WxHxD): 210x140x400mm
• Weight: 10 kg