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Ordered Leben cs300xs (Arrived with photos)

post #1 of 143
7/16/10 at 9:50pm
Thread Starter 

I ordered a Leben CS-300xs from Pricejapan.  The site claims the limited edition version with the Sovtek EL84 has been discontinued.  Does anyone know what tubes it ships with now?  Did it go back to the Mullards or should I just be surprised

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post #2 of 143
7/17/10 at 12:10am

Check this one http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/415214/my-recently-acquired-leben-cs300x-mullard-or-sovtek-el84s

 

Limited came with Mullards, while not limited with Sovteks, but you can always send an mail to Leben...

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post #3 of 143
7/19/10 at 6:23pm
Yeah, pretty sure you'll be getting Sovteks. And I'd replace those if I were you. Even some Sylvania, RCA, or GE tubes will sound better. I'm using Sylvania black-plate 6BQ5's and Hytron 5751's in my CS300X - and loving every minute of it! Congrats on your purchase - the Leben is absolutely terrific.
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post #4 of 143
7/19/10 at 7:37pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks guys! I kind of figured it would have Sovteks, $60 a quad versus $400 for NOS Mullards.  The pricejapan description is very confusing and a email from Kaneda at pricejapan did not clarify:

 

Sorry to say that we do not know the internal details of CS300XS, and that we do not know what is different from 'limited version'(already discontinued) and current 'normal version'.

 

I thought the "S" at the end denoted Sovtek but why would a current production tube be a "limited version"?  Hopefully the S now stand for black plate Sylvanias.

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post #5 of 143
7/20/10 at 6:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Double F View Post

Thanks guys! I kind of figured it would have Sovteks, $60 a quad versus $400 for NOS Mullards.  The pricejapan description is very confusing and a email from Kaneda at pricejapan did not clarify:

 

Sorry to say that we do not know the internal details of CS300XS, and that we do not know what is different from 'limited version'(already discontinued) and current 'normal version'.

 

I thought the "S" at the end denoted Sovtek but why would a current production tube be a "limited version"?  Hopefully the S now stand for black plate Sylvanias.

 

LOL!  Very funny

 

It will be interesting to know what you do get.  Some Leben amps did come with NOS tubes that were not the expensive Mullards.  I bought mine used, with no tubes included at all, which was a-ok with me, since I have lots of tubes
 

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post #6 of 143
7/21/10 at 4:53pm

Voltage 100V only.

 

Is that a problem? I know there are few members using AT amp that are 100V without converter......

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post #7 of 143
7/21/10 at 6:39pm
I'm using a converter. $29 at voltageconverters.com
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post #8 of 143
7/21/10 at 9:30pm
Thread Starter 

 

The Leben arrived safely today via DHL. .  Few photos:

IMG_2377.JPGIMG_2378.JPGIMG_2379.JPGIMG_2380.JPGIMG_2381.JPG

 o

It has Sovtek EL84s but a Quad of Sylvania Black plate 6bq5/EL84 in route.  Build quality is quite impressive and it has understated  good looks.   Wife approves but I think because she dislikes the Woo WA2 look (reminds her of Dr Frankenstein's lab)

 

I did a brief listen to make sure it made the trip intact.  Sounds a little brash at top end but again this was just a cursory listen with Sovteks.

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post #9 of 143
7/22/10 at 3:21am

Congrats, looks very nice.

 

Just run it for like 100 hours at least and then put the Sylvania's in and enjoy:)

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post #10 of 143
7/22/10 at 7:12am

Beautiful pics.  Don't you love those beautiful custom transformers?  If you want to know why the Leben sounds so good, those trafo's are a major, major reason.

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post #11 of 143
7/22/10 at 7:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab View Post

I'm using a converter. $29 at voltageconverters.com

The cheappo voltage converter WILL degree the SQ quite bit. A member iamoneagain, who was using one, and we did a test on this.

 

Impressive craftmanship on those amps

 



 

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post #12 of 143
7/22/10 at 8:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Seamaster View Post



The cheappo voltage converter WILL degree the SQ quite bit. A member iamoneagain, who was using one, and we did a test on this.

 

Impressive craftmanship on those amps

 



 

 

The one I am using isn't the cheapo that pricejapan sells.  It's a pretty beefy step-down, and all it's doing is stepping the voltage down from 120V to 100V - hardly a difficult talk.  And running a 100V device from 120V directly is very likely to result in problems down the road.
 

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post #13 of 143
7/22/10 at 10:16am

It will shorten the component's life, that is for sure.

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post #14 of 143
7/22/10 at 3:54pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Seamaster View Post

It will shorten the component's life, that is for sure.


I don't believe so.  A step down transformer of this type is similar to isolation transformers like Equi=Tech used by audiophiles for power conditioning.  If anything it would increase the longevity of the product by filtering out junk coming from the power lines

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post #15 of 143
7/22/10 at 4:14pm
I'm pretty sure Seamaster meant that NOT using the step-down transformer would shorten the component life :)
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