The Luxman K-05 Cassette Deck was released in September 1983 and was designed as a high-quality 4-track, 2-channel stereo cassette deck with Luxman’s GT transport system and CTS Computer Tuning System. The Luxman K-05 Cassette Deck combined a robust transport structure, dedicated motor configuration and automatic tape calibration to improve tape handling, tape-to-head contact and recording accuracy across different cassette formulations.
At the centre of the Luxman K-05 Cassette Deck is the GT transport mechanism. This system uses a dual capstan arrangement in which two pairs of capstan bearings and pinch roller bearings are integrally moulded at high temperature and high pressure into a thick die-cast alloy motor frame chassis. This construction ensures that the capstan shaft and pinch roller shaft are strictly perpendicular to the chassis, while also keeping the shafts perfectly parallel to each other. The difference in peripheral speed between the two capstan shafts applies stable tension to the tape, improving the reliability of tape contact with the head.
The Luxman K-05 Cassette Deck was also designed with a robust overall mechanism to absorb vibration generated around the pinch roller. This approach was intended to support stable tape running and maintain consistent recording and playback performance. The tape transport uses a 2 + 1 motor configuration, with separate motors dedicated to capstan drive, reel drive and the assist function for lifting and lowering the head and driving the brake. The capstan motor is a Direct Drive FG Servo DC motor, supported by separate DC motors for reel drive and head housing lift.
The Luxman K-05 Cassette Deck includes CTS, or Computer Tuning System, as its auto-calibration function. CTS automatically adjusts the deck to the characteristics of the tape by determining the optimum relationship between bias level and equalisation. The system selects the tune mode that best matches the tape from 1,048,576 possible combinations, completing the process in approximately 20 seconds and displaying the full calibration process on the front panel.
The head section of the Luxman K-05 Cassette Deck uses a combination head. Standard azimuth adjustment requires the head gaps of the recording and playback heads to be precisely parallel, but Luxman’s description highlights the importance of a more exact three-dimensional relationship between the head and the moving tape. This includes perpendicular and parallel orientation of the head relative to the tape, alignment between both tracks and head-base penetration. By using a combination head, the recording and playback head gaps are positioned very close together, allowing their positional relationship to be fixed more precisely for accurate azimuth adjustment.
The Luxman K-05 Cassette Deck was equipped with a recording head using a Sendust and ferrite combination, along with a dual-gap ferrite and Sendust junction erase head. It offers a tape speed of 4.75cm/sec, wow and flutter of 0.022% or less, winding time of 80 seconds or less for both fast forward and rewind using a C60 cassette, and a frequency response of 15Hz to 27kHz, with 20Hz to 22kHz within ±1.5dB using metal tape. Signal-to-noise ratio is rated at 73dB or more using Dolby C, CCIR correction and metal tape.
Additional functions include auto calibration and a line phase sensor. Optional remote control accessories were also available separately, including the AK-10 wired remote controller and the AK-20 wireless remote control. With its GT transport, Computer Tuning System, direct drive capstan motor, combination head and 11.5kg construction, the Luxman K-05 Cassette Deck was a substantial cassette recorder built around mechanical stability, automatic tape optimisation and precise tape handling.
Features
- GT transport mechanism with dual capstan tape handling
- Thick die-cast alloy motor frame chassis
- Integrally moulded capstan and pinch roller bearing structure
- Stable tape tension through differential capstan peripheral speed
- Robust mechanism designed to absorb vibration around the pinch roller
- 2 + 1 motor configuration for capstan, reel and head housing lift functions
- Direct Drive FG Servo DC capstan motor
- CTS Computer Tuning System auto-calibration
- Automatic selection from 1,048,576 tuning combinations
- Combination head for precise recording and playback head alignment