If you are new to high-end audio, welcome. Records sound wonderful, but they need a special helping hand before the music reaches your speakers. That helping hand is called a phono preamplifier, and the Luxman E-07 is one of the finest examples you can own. This guide explains what it does, what every control means, and who it suits, all in plain English with no assumed knowledge.
What the E-07 Is and Why It Exists
What is a phono preamplifier, and why do I need one?
A phono preamplifier takes the very small, very quiet signal from a turntable's cartridge and prepares it so your main amplifier can play it properly. There are two jobs happening here. First, the tiny signal is boosted up to a usable level. Second, the sound is corrected using a standard curve (more on that below), because records are cut with the bass reduced and the treble boosted to fit more music on the vinyl. Without a phono stage, a record sounds thin, quiet, and wrong. The E-07 does both jobs beautifully.
Where does the E-07 fit in my system?
The E-07 sits between your turntable and your main amplifier. Your turntable's cable plugs into the E-07, and the E-07 then connects onward to your amplifier or preamplifier. Many amplifiers include a basic phono input already, but a dedicated stand-alone unit like the E-07 does the job far more carefully, with its own power supply and shielding, so the delicate signal stays clean and detailed.
What kind of cartridges does the E-07 support?
The E-07 supports both Moving Magnet (MM) and Moving Coil (MC) cartridges. These are the two main types of "needle" system a turntable can use. Moving Magnet cartridges are more common and put out a slightly stronger signal. Moving Coil cartridges are often used on higher-end setups and put out a much weaker signal that needs more amplification. Because the E-07 handles both, and even splits MC into "High" and "Low" output types, it works with almost any quality cartridge you are likely to own now or in the future.
The Connections and Controls Explained
What inputs does the E-07 have, and can I connect more than one turntable?
The E-07 gives you three phono inputs, so yes, you can connect more than one turntable or tonearm. There is one balanced XLR input and two unbalanced RCA inputs. RCA is the familiar pair of round plugs (usually red and white) that most turntables use. XLR is a sturdier three-pin connection often found on higher-end gear. Having three inputs is unusual and generous. It means a collector with several turntables, or a single turntable with two tonearms, can leave everything connected and simply choose between them.
What outputs does the E-07 have?
The E-07 offers both balanced (XLR) and unbalanced (RCA) outputs. This lets you connect to your main amplifier whichever way suits it best. If your amplifier has balanced XLR inputs, using them can help reject noise over longer cable runs. If it only has RCA inputs, that works perfectly too. You are covered either way.
What is the loading adjustment, and why does it matter?
Loading adjustment lets you match the E-07 to your specific cartridge for the best possible sound. Every cartridge prefers to "see" a certain electrical resistance, and getting this right affects tone and detail. For Moving Coil cartridges, the E-07 offers selectable loading of 4.7, 10, 40, 100, 300, and 1,000 ohms. For Moving Magnet cartridges, it uses the standard 47 kohm loading. If a number sounds intimidating, do not worry. Your cartridge's maker will usually recommend a setting, and you can experiment by ear to find what you like.
What is the capacitance setting for Moving Magnet cartridges?
Capacitance is a second fine-tuning adjustment, and it applies to Moving Magnet cartridges. The E-07 offers 0, 100, 220, and 320 picofarads (pF). In plain terms, this setting influences how the higher frequencies come across, helping you dial in a smooth, natural treble that matches your particular MM cartridge. Again, the cartridge maker's guidance is a good starting point.
What is the gain adjustment, and how do I choose it?
Gain is simply how much the E-07 boosts the signal, and it has selectable settings to match your cartridge type. There are three levels. MM gives 38 dB of gain for stronger Moving Magnet cartridges. MC High gives 57 dB for medium-output Moving Coil cartridges. MC Low gives 66 dB for the quietest Moving Coil cartridges. The rule is simple: quieter cartridges need more gain. You choose the setting that matches your cartridge, and the E-07 delivers a healthy, full volume without strain.
What is the subsonic filter, and when should I use it?
The subsonic filter is a switchable feature that removes very low, inaudible rumble below the range of music. This kind of ultra-low energy can come from slightly warped records, footfalls, or turntable vibration, and it can make woofers flap about needlessly. Because it is switchable, you turn it on only when you need it and leave it off the rest of the time to keep the signal as pure as possible.
Understanding the Key Specifications
What does the RIAA equalization mean in practice?
RIAA equalization is the standard correction curve that restores a record to how the music actually sounded. As mentioned earlier, records are cut with altered bass and treble to fit the groove, and the phono stage reverses that. The E-07 uses a non-feedback type RIAA circuit with a single curve, an approach Luxman chose for its natural, unforced sound. The practical result is music that sounds balanced, tonally correct, and effortless.
What do the frequency response and THD figures tell me?
These two numbers tell you how accurate and clean the sound is. The frequency response is 20 Hz to 20 kHz, which covers the full range of human hearing, and it is held to an extremely tight tolerance (plus or minus 0.1 dB for MM and 0.3 dB for MC). That means the E-07 does not favour or weaken any part of the music. The THD (total harmonic distortion) is just 0.003%, an exceptionally low figure showing the E-07 adds almost nothing of its own to the sound.
What does the signal-to-noise ratio mean for me?
The signal-to-noise ratio tells you how quiet the background is, and higher numbers are better. The E-07 measures 88 dB for MM, 81 dB for MC High, and 78 dB for MC Low. In everyday listening this means a deep, silent backdrop against which the music appears, so quiet passages stay clean and detailed rather than being lost in hiss. This kind of quietness is exactly why a dedicated phono stage is worth having.
What do the input sensitivity figures mean?
Input sensitivity describes how small a signal the E-07 is built to accept from each cartridge type. The figures are MM 3.2 mV, MC High 0.37 mV, and MC Low 0.12 mV. Notice how tiny these numbers are, especially for Low output Moving Coil. It shows just how sensitive and carefully engineered the E-07 has to be to work with such delicate signals without adding noise.
Why Luxman Build Quality Matters
Why does the E-07 feel so heavy and solid?
The E-07 weighs 13.2 kg and measures 440 x 92 x 407 mm, and that mass is there for a reason. Luxman, founded in Japan in 1925, is one of the oldest names in high-end audio. Their components use heavy, high-rigidity chassis, large low-noise power supplies, and careful internal grounding, all built in Yokohama. For a phono stage, this matters enormously, because the signal it handles is so tiny that any stray vibration or electrical noise could spoil it. The E-07's solid construction shields and stabilises that delicate signal, which is a big part of why it sounds so clean and lasts for decades.
Who is the Luxman E-07 for?
The E-07 is for anyone who takes vinyl seriously and wants to hear everything their records contain. It suits the newcomer building a proper system for the first time, because it will grow with you and work with almost any cartridge. It equally suits the experienced collector, thanks to three inputs and full loading, gain, and capacitance adjustment. If records are a meaningful part of your listening, the E-07 gives them the careful, respectful treatment they deserve, and it will keep doing so for many years to come.