It's a shame that 6moons reviewer says he can't comment on how the Leben CS-300XS compares to the Luxman SQ-38U. That's the comparison I'm most interested in right now.
As for the prices, yeah, imported amps are going to be really pricey stateside. I paid $3600 roughly for my CS-300XS, and I was told the price went up right after I ordered. Apparently there's a huge backorder on the CS-300XS right now.
The price of $6000 for the SQ-38U is a little absurd in my opinion. It's about $4800 direct from Japan without the usual importer fees (source: Audiocubes2). Similarly the P-1u is $3000 on US importer sites, while only $2100 direct from Japan.
You can get a Leben CS-600 from PriceJapan for about $4,400. The CS-660P will cost you $7,300 there as well.
can't believe the cs300xs price is still going up from $3600. Fortunately I bought it several months ago at around USD 2200 before the appreciation of Yen/drop of USD
When looking at crazy price increases, my standard to measure everything against is the EAR Yoshino HP-4 which climbed from around $2000 all the way up to nearly $5500 now.
yeah, japanese products are quite cheap in Hong Kong, I guess the list price of cs300xs has raised above > HKD20000. The actual price should be less than HKD20000, still way cheaper than in US. FYI, the SQ38u is just around HKD 27000 after bargaining.
In Srajan Ebaen's November 2009 6 Moon review of the Luxman SQ-N100 he compares it to its bigger brother the SQ-38u and this is what he has to say,
" Considering its overkill power rating in this context, that was impressive indeed. Since this is no headphone review, I won't get more detailed. Instead, I'll simply reiterate that of all the can openers - er, amplifiers I've heard, the Luxman SQ-N100 which isn't even really marketed as such belongs at the very top. It's better than the equivalent output of its bigger EL34 stable mate."
Earlier in that same review, he says this about the N100 in comparison to some of the other amps he has listen to:
" Over statement headphones, this amp has most the color density of my EAT 300Bs but a sprightlier snappier demeanor, clearly more air and openness than the Woo, Yammy and its own SQ-38u EL34 stable mate; greater speed and incision than the Western Electric pentodes; and more linearity than the Yamamoto with its luscious midrange centricity."
His statement that of all the headphone amps that he has heard that the N100 belongs at the very top is quite a praise when you consider that he owns the Woo WA5 as well as he reviewed the SQ-38u just a few months (Aug 2009) prior to his review of the N100.
When you consider that the street price of the US version of the N100 (not the grey market PriceJapan price) from a authorized dealer is 2/3 the price of the $3600 Leben CS300xs, and the N100 has a very good phono stage, remote control and drives the HE6 off its speaker taps like you wouldn't believe makes it an incredible value. Just my 2 cents.
Apparently my CS-300XS is next to be sent out in a MASSIVE backorder (according to Tone Imports). So yes, lead times will be longer than four weeks if this backlog is still as it was when I placed my order.
I've been waiting six weeks thus far, and still no word on when it'll arrive. Hopefully by the end of this year. Fingers crossed!
Sorry, didn't speak to Halpern directly. I asked my local shop who is using Tone to import one for me.
The forwarded e-mail from Halpern at Tone Imports simply mentioned mine was next, and that there was a huge backorder. He just said "should be coming soon" so who knows.
I just got a note from Steve at In Living Stereo and he said my CS300x should be in in the next 4-5 days. Sounds like they upped production or the demand has dropped since I ordered it only 11 days ago.
I just got a note from Steve at In Living Stereo and he said my CS300x should be in in the next 4-5 days. Sounds like they upped production or the demand has dropped since I ordered it only 11 days ago.
I just got a note from Steve at In Living Stereo and he said my CS300x should be in in the next 4-5 days. Sounds like they upped production or the demand has dropped since I ordered it only 11 days ago.
Fantastic. Perhaps it's just in the stars that you get yours so quickly. The quicker you get it, the sooner we get to hear your impressions on its personality. Congratulations dminches!
I've decided to sell my CS300X 100V since I was able to get a 120V one for a very good price, and it will make for less clutter. (Hint Hint - anyone looking for a Leben at a very nice price might want to check the FS section here
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