Listening Notes · Accessories
Luxman AS-55: What Owners Say About This Speaker Level Switch
The AS-55 is a passive box that routes one amplifier to three pairs of speakers, or three amplifiers to one pair of speakers, with no power cord and nothing active in the signal path. We searched the forums for owner impressions, gathered what is praised and what is criticized, and kept every quote honest about where it came from. The footprint is thin, and we say so up front.
The short answer
The Luxman AS-55 is a passive speaker level switch. Connect one amplifier to three pairs of speakers, or switch three amplifiers into one pair of speakers, with no power cord and no active circuitry in the signal path. Inside, the signal runs through 6N oxygen free copper wiring, gold plated binding posts, and a heavy duty 20A rotary selector, all in a rigid aluminum chassis. Owners use it for two jobs above all: comparing amplifiers into one reference pair of speakers, and comparing speakers from one amplifier. Our price is $1,095.
What is the Luxman AS-55?
The Luxman AS-55 is a passive speaker level switch built by Luxman in Japan. Start with what it is not. It is not an amplifier, it has no volume control, and it cannot power anything by itself. It is a switch box: a heavy duty rotary selector that routes amplified speaker level signals between one input side and three output sides, or the other way around. Put it between one amplifier and three pairs of speakers to choose which pair plays, or between three amplifiers and one pair of speakers to compare amplifiers without moving a single cable.
Everything about the design serves one idea: do not touch the signal. The AS-55 needs no power and contains no active circuitry, so there is nothing to add coloration, distortion, or noise. The signal path is 6N oxygen free copper wire, gold plated binding posts that accept bare wire, spade lugs, or banana plugs, and a 20A rated rotary selector built to handle demanding amplifiers and low impedance speakers. The chassis is rigid aluminum, and at 3.0 kg it is dense enough to sit still on a rack while you work the switch.
The most common owner setup is amplifier comparison. One Audiogon thread from 2019 began with a Luxman L-509X owner wanting to switch between his L-509X and an Air Tight ATM-1S tube amplifier into a pair of Harbeth HL5 Plus speakers, and asking whether the AS-55 had sufficient quality for two high quality amplifiers. That is exactly the job the box was made for. The other common setup is speaker comparison: one amplifier feeding two or three pairs, which is how dealers and reviewers run A and B auditions without swapping cables.
One honest note before the praise, because it shapes everything else in this post. The AS-55 is a low profile accessory, and as of October 2026 we could find no professional review, no Reddit thread, no Steve Hoffman thread, no Audio Science Review thread, and no YouTube review of it. What exists is a small number of Audiogon forum threads where owners name the AS-55 by name, background from Luxman on the design family, and our own product page. This post leans on those sources and labels each one for what it is, rather than dressing brochure copy up as owner testimony.
Luxman AS-55 specifications
| Type | Passive speaker level selector |
|---|---|
| Configuration | 1 amplifier to 3 speaker pairs, or 3 amplifiers to 1 speaker pair |
| Internal wiring | 6N OFC (99.99997% pure copper) |
| Terminals | Gold plated binding posts. Accept bare wire, spade lugs, and banana plugs |
| Switching | Heavy duty 20A rotary selector |
| Power | None required. Fully passive, no active circuitry |
| Signal compatibility | Speaker level signals only. Not for powered subwoofer or low level inputs |
| Chassis | Rigid aluminum construction |
| Dimensions | 370 mm (W) x 71 mm (H) x 164 mm (D) |
| Weight | 3.0 kg (about 6.6 lbs) |
| Our price | $1,095 at All Elite Audio |
A note on price. Every price in this post is our own price at All Elite Audio: $1,095 for the AS-55.
What owners say about using it
The most complete owner report comes from an Audiogon thread from 2019, where a member asked whether the AS-55 had sufficient quality to switch between a Luxman L-509X and an Air Tight ATM-1S into Harbeth HL5 Plus speakers. Owner br3098 answered from experience.
“I have used a Luxman AS-55. It works great although I prefer the AS-50R remote model for comparing speakers because I don't have to get up off my butt to do an A/B comparison. Audio by Van Alstine also makes a very good comparator. It's probably the best of the bunch but the Luxmans have worked great for me. Good sound and no damaged gear.”
Audiogon member br3098, “Does any one have experience with a high-end amp switch or the Luxman AS-55”
The strongest statement of the design comes from cleeds in the same thread, who confirmed the bidirectional configuration and spoke to the build.
“The AS-55 and AS-50R can absolutely be used to switch one amp source to up to three sets of speakers or three amp sources a single set of speakers. Just remember that it's a switch designed for speaker output only. It's a brilliant design and is done well. I don't think I could build myself with similar quality for what Luxman charges for these devices.”
Audiogon member cleeds, same thread
On the question every switch buyer asks, whether the box audibly degrades the sound, one owner in a separate Audiogon thread gave the AS-55 the clearest endorsement we found anywhere.
“It is the only selector i have not been able to detect much sonic degradation thus far.”
Audiogon member, “Is there a way to switch one set of speakers between two sound systems”
And on everyday reliability, an owner who bought the AS-55 for a three amplifier setup kept it short.
“Thanks everyone, for the great suggestions. I went with the Luxman AS-55. Works like a charm.”
Audiogon member audiodidact, “A switch for 3 amps”, June 2024
Practical advice surfaced too. Cleeds recommends standard speaker cables for the longer runs and says the short jumper pair to the single amp or speaker can be almost anything; he prefers inexpensive silvered copper wire jumpers and notes that under 24 inches the choice matters little. Jeffrey Liu, the thread starter, reported that Luxman Global told him the switch was indeed good for the L-509X and that he should use good jumpers and cables.
Five things owners praise
1 No audible sonic degradation
This is the headline praise, and it is the whole point of a passive switch. One owner who had tried other selectors said the AS-55 is the only one in which he could not detect much sonic degradation. A passive design with 6N copper wiring and gold plated posts adds no circuitry to color the signal, and that is what owners hear: nothing.
2 It works great, with no damaged gear
Owner br3098 ran the AS-55 in a real system and reported good sound and no damaged gear. That matters because a switch sits between expensive amplifiers and speakers, and the first duty of the box is to do no harm. The heavy duty 20A rotary selector is built for that duty.
3 Build quality that is hard to match
Cleeds called it a brilliant design, done well, and doubted he could build something of similar quality himself for what Luxman charges. The rigid aluminum chassis, the gold plated binding posts, and the 6N internal wiring are the physical reasons owners keep coming back to the word quality.
4 True bidirectional switching
One amplifier to three speaker pairs, or three amplifiers to one pair of speakers. Owners use it both ways, and both configurations come up in the threads: amplifier comparisons into one reference pair, and speaker comparisons from one amplifier. It is a switch designed for speaker output only, and it does both jobs from the same box.
5 It simply works
The quietest praise is sometimes the most convincing. An owner who bought the AS-55 for a three amplifier setup reported that it works like a charm. No drama, no tweaks, no workarounds. For a passive accessory, that is the review.
The features people name by name
6N oxygen free copper internal wiring
Luxman wires the AS-55 with 6N copper, 99.99997 percent pure, the same wire grade Luxman cites for the AS-44 in its speaker selector lineage. There is no active circuitry to hide behind, so the internal wire is the signal path, and Luxman treats it that way.
Heavy duty 20A rotary selector
The single control on the box is a rotary selector rated at 20A, built to switch high power amplifiers and low impedance speakers without strain. It is the component that defines the AS-55 experience: one knob, positive detents, and secure transitions between systems.
Gold plated binding posts
The terminals accept bare wire, spade lugs, and banana plugs, so the box integrates with whatever speaker cables you already own. Luxman background on the selector line notes high purity gold plated terminals and a discrete wiring layout arranged to avoid noise through circuit loops.
Fully passive, no power required
The AS-55 draws no power and contains no active circuitry, which is why it adds no coloration, no distortion, and no dynamic loss. Note the boundary: it is a switch for speaker level signals only, not for powered subwoofer or low level inputs.
Rigid aluminum chassis
At 370 mm wide and 3.0 kg, the aluminum chassis is dense and inert. It keeps the selector and terminals mechanically stable and helps isolate the signal path from vibration and interference.
The remote sibling, the AS-50R
Owners name one related Luxman product by name: the AS-50R, the remote control version of the selector, which lets you switch from the listening seat. Br3098 prefers it for seated A and B speaker comparisons because he does not have to get up. The AS-55 is the manual rotary model, which is the one we stock at $1,095.
YouTube coverage of the AS-55
We searched YouTube for a review of this exact model, and we could not verify a single one. As of October 2026, no YouTube reviewer has published a video review of the Luxman AS-55 that we can confirm exists, so this section names nobody, because inventing a review would help no one shopping for this switch. When a verified video review of the AS-55 appears, we will add it here.
The honest criticisms of the AS-55
A page that only repeats praise is not worth much to anybody, so here is the other side, drawn from the same sources.
- No guaranteed break before make. In a 2026 Audiogon thread, a poster noted that the AS-55 can safely switch up to three amplifiers feeding one set of speakers as long as only one amplifier is active at a time, but that the switch does not guarantee break before make switching. Do not switch between two amplifiers that are both powered on and under load. The poster called that a design flaw for a product at this price. The practical rule is simple: power down or mute the amplifier you are leaving before you turn the selector, and never hot switch two live amplifiers.
- A purist will still argue against any switch. One skeptic in the 2019 thread argued that a switch of any quality will decrease detail, damping, and overall sound quality, and said he would not use one with better high end gear. Against that stands the owner who could detect no sonic degradation, but the honest version is that a switch is one more mechanical contact in the speaker path, and some listeners prefer the cable swap.
- Tube amplifiers need extra care. Tube amps generally must not run powered without a speaker load, so switching a tube amplifier demands discipline: the amp being switched away from must be off or muted, and some owners wire a dummy load resistor across the tube amp output terminals as insurance. This is not a flaw of the AS-55 specifically, it applies to any speaker switch, but it matters because tube owners are exactly the buyers comparing amplifiers.
- Seated A and B comparisons favor the remote model. For owners who compare speakers constantly, getting up to turn the knob gets old, and br3098 prefers the AS-50R remote version for that reason. If your main use is amplifier comparison from the listening seat, weigh the two models before you buy.
- It is $1,095 for a passive box. Nobody disputes the build, but the price is real money for a device with no electronics inside. The value case is the transparency and the construction: you are paying for a switch you will never hear and never have to think about again.
Frequently asked questions about the Luxman AS-55
What is the Luxman AS-55?
The Luxman AS-55 is a passive speaker level switch. It routes one amplifier to three pairs of speakers, or switches three amplifiers into one pair of speakers. It needs no power and contains no active circuitry. It is not an amplifier and cannot power speakers by itself.
How much does the Luxman AS-55 cost?
The Luxman AS-55 is $1,095 at All Elite Audio.
Does the AS-55 need power?
No. The AS-55 is a completely passive unit with no power cord and no active circuitry, which is why it adds no coloration or noise to the signal.
Can it switch three amplifiers into one pair of speakers?
Yes. The AS-55 can switch up to three amplifiers feeding one set of speakers, as long as only one amplifier is active at a time. Do not switch between two amplifiers that are both powered on and under load, because the switch does not guarantee break before make operation.
Will the AS-55 degrade sound quality?
Owners report no audible degradation. One Audiogon owner called the AS-55 the only selector in which he could not detect much sonic degradation. The passive design, 6N copper wiring, and gold plated posts are built to preserve the signal.
Is the AS-55 safe with tube amplifiers?
It can be used with tube amplifiers, but tube amps generally must not run powered without a speaker load. Always power down or mute the amplifier you are switching away from, and consider a dummy load resistor across the tube amp output terminals as insurance. Never hot switch two live amplifiers.
What terminals does the AS-55 accept?
The gold plated binding posts accept bare wire, spade lugs, and banana plugs.
What is the difference between the AS-55 and the AS-50R?
The AS-55 is the manual rotary model. The AS-50R is the remote control version of the Luxman speaker selector, which some owners prefer for A and B comparisons from the listening seat. The AS-55 is the model we stock, at $1,095.
Hear the AS-55 at All Elite Audio
All Elite Audio is an authorized Luxman dealer in Timonium, Maryland. The AS-55 is $1,095, and the fastest way to judge a switch is in a system you can sit in front of: bring the amplifiers or the speakers you are comparing, and we will wire the AS-55 into one of our listening rooms so you can hear the switch do its job, which is to disappear. Walk ins are welcome during showroom hours.
Shop the Luxman AS-55443-402-5055
- Showroom: 1921 York Rd, Timonium, MD 21093
- Hours: Monday to Friday 11 to 7, Saturday 9 to 1
- Price: Luxman AS-55, $1,095 at All Elite Audio, with free shipping
- Buying notes: Trade ins are welcome. No sales tax is charged on shipments outside Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Tell us which amplifiers or speaker pairs you want to switch between, and we will confirm the configuration and the cabling before the AS-55 ships.
Sources
Every quote and specification in this post comes from the sources below, researched on October 17, 2026. Where a source describes the AS-50R remote sibling or the Luxman selector line rather than the AS-55 itself, the text above says so.
- Audiogon forum, “Does any one have experience with a high-end amp switch or the Luxman AS-55”, 2019. Owner reports from br3098 and cleeds. forum.audiogon.com (read in full)
- Audiogon forum, “Is there a way to switch one set of speakers between two sound systems”. Sonic transparency report. forum.audiogon.com (read in full)
- Audiogon member audiodidact, “A switch for 3 amps”, June 2024. forum.audiogon.com
- Audiogon forum, “Two integrated amplifiers one pair of speakers looking for the safes”, 2026. Break before make criticism. forum.audiogon.com
- Luxman AS-50R page, 6N wire and design background for the AS-44 and AS-55. audiohuylananh.com.vn
- All Elite Audio, Luxman AS-55 product page, specifications and $1,095 price. alleliteaudio.com (read in full)