Why a Passive Switch Belongs in a Serious System
One of the quiet joys of building a high fidelity system is the ability to compare. Comparing two sources, two amplifiers, or two pairs of speakers is how you learn what you truly prefer, and it is how you make confident decisions rather than guesses. Luxman has long understood this, and the Luxman passive switches are purpose built tools that let you audition and route your signal without coloring it.
Specifications compared
| Specification | AS-44 | AS-55 |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Passive line level switch | Passive speaker level switch |
| Configuration | — | Switches 1 amplifier to 3 speaker pairs (one at a time), or 3 amplifiers to 1 speaker pair |
| Power supply | None required (passive) | — |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 370 x 71 x 136 mm | 370 x 71 x 164 mm |
| Weight | Approximately 2.4 kg | Approximately 3.0 kg |
| Connectors | RCA (unbalanced): 4 inputs and 1 output | — |
| Country of Origin | — | Japan |
| Internal Wiring | 6N (99.99997%) pure copper (OFC) with gold-plated RCA terminals | 6N (99.99997%) pure copper (OFC) with a 20 A rotary selector |
| Signal Path | Fully passive, no active gain stages | Fully passive, no active gain stage |
| Switching | 4-position rotary selector (also reversible: one source to multiple amps) | — |
| Terminals | — | Gold-plated binding posts (accept bare wire, spade lugs, and banana plugs) |
At All Elite Audio we field regular questions about the difference between the Luxman AS-44 and the Luxman AS-55. They look related and share the same design philosophy, but they solve two different problems. This guide walks through the shared engineering, then goes model by model, and closes with clear scenarios so you can choose with confidence.
The Shared Luxman Philosophy
Both of these switches are built around a single guiding idea: get out of the way of the music. Each unit is fully passive with no active gain stages in the signal path. That means there is no added electronic circuitry between your components and no external power supply to introduce noise or complexity. The signal you send in is the signal that comes out, simply routed to your chosen destination.
This passive approach reflects the same care Luxman brings to its amplifiers and players. The goal is transparency and reliability, letting you switch between sources, amplifiers, or speakers so that your ears, not your memory, make the comparison. Because each unit is passive, setup is straightforward and there is nothing to plug into the wall.
Luxman AS-44: Line Level Source Comparison
The Luxman AS-44 operates at line level, between your source components and your amplifier or preamplifier. It uses RCA unbalanced input and output connectors and a rotary selector so you can move between sources for direct A and B comparison.
Design Goal
The AS-44 is designed for the listener who wants to compare sources cleanly. Think of comparing two digital to analog converters, two phono stages, two streamers, or a turntable against a CD player. Because it is fully passive with no gain stages, it does not require power and keeps the line level signal path uncomplicated.
Who It Suits
The AS-44 is a natural fit if your comparisons happen upstream of the amplifier. Reviewers of gear, listeners who rotate multiple front end components, and anyone who wants a tidy way to switch RCA sources will feel at home here. It is a line level tool for a line level question.
Luxman AS-55: Speaker Level A and B Switching
The Luxman AS-55 works at speaker level, further along the chain. It is configured for A and B comparison of two speaker pairs or two amplifiers, using binding post speaker terminals and heavy gauge internal wiring. Like its sibling, it is fully passive with no active gain stage, and it is made in Japan.
Design Goal
The AS-55 answers a different question. When you want to compare loudspeakers, or compare how two amplifiers drive the same speakers, you are working at speaker level with substantial current. The AS-55 is built for that role, with proper binding posts and heavy gauge wiring to handle the connection between amplifier and speaker.
Who It Suits
Choose the AS-55 if your comparisons live at the speaker end of the system. Listeners evaluating two pairs of speakers, or auditioning how a pair sounds through two different amplifiers, will appreciate a dedicated speaker level switch that keeps the path passive and the connections secure.
Which Should You Buy by Scenario
You want to compare sources such as DACs, streamers, or phono stages
Reach for the Luxman AS-44. Its RCA line level connections and rotary selector are made for switching between front end components ahead of your amplifier.
You want to compare two pairs of speakers
The Luxman AS-55 is the right tool. Its binding post terminals and heavy gauge wiring let you route your amplifier to one speaker pair or the other for a direct listen.
You want to compare two amplifiers driving the same speakers
Again the AS-55, thanks to its speaker level A and B configuration built to handle amplifier connections.
Your comparisons happen upstream, at line level, with RCA cables
The AS-44 keeps that line level path simple and passive.
Your comparisons happen downstream, at speaker level
The AS-55 is purpose built for that stage of the chain.
A Quick Way to Remember the Difference
The distinction is really about where in your system the comparison takes place. The AS-44 lives between your sources and your amplification and speaks RCA line level. The AS-55 lives between your amplification and your speakers and speaks speaker level through binding posts. Both share the same passive, no gain philosophy, so the choice comes down to what you are comparing and where.
Come Listen in Timonium
All Elite Audio is an authorized Luxman dealer with a showroom in Timonium, Maryland. Demo units rotate and not every model is always set up, so if you would like to hear how a Luxman passive switch fits into your system, please contact us to arrange a listen. We are happy to help you match the right tool to the comparisons you want to make.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which should I choose if I want to compare sources such as dACs, streamers, or phono stages?
Reach for the Luxman AS-44. Its RCA line level connections and rotary selector are made for switching between front end components ahead of your amplifier.
Which should I choose if I want to compare two pairs of speakers?
The Luxman AS-55 is the right tool. Its binding post terminals and heavy gauge wiring let you route your amplifier to one speaker pair or the other for a direct listen.
Which should I choose if I want to compare two amplifiers driving the same speakers?
Again the AS-55, thanks to its speaker level A and B configuration built to handle amplifier connections.