I would suspect the issue is with the Leben, not your DAC.

Again, those cables are not needed at all with this amp.  In fact they will probably damage his Leben.  Please stop suggesting this to him.

I didn't mean to chase you off the CS300 thread like that.  It just gets really confusing in that thread when people start discussing the CS600 which is a totally different amp with different tubes. I understand you are having a problem and just want help figuring it out.   I *just* sold my...

I just put it into service tonight so it is still fresh on my ears.  And I actually have no other proper DAC to compare directly to as I'm coming from an upgraded ASUS Xonar STX doing to D to A duty. I can say I've got lots of experience listening to different systems in all different sizes and...

loserica's monster in it's new home  

Just got the modded MHDT Havana Lab NOS DAC online and added the Vinyl Flat Can Opener to power Alpha Prime headphones off the Pioneer SA-9800 B speaker taps. I am no longer concerned I made a bad decision by selling the Leben CS300XS integrated tube amp.  Not saying I don't miss it at all though.

This is a CS300 thread.

Better shot.  After this pic I hooked up the VinylFlat Can Opener and was surprised to find it sounded better than the headphone jack. Still wrapping my head around the sound of this amp.  Do I like it?  Better than my re-capped/upgraded Marantz 1060?  Hard to say...it is such a different sound.  

Finally...Pioneer SA-9800 is in my clutches. Seller took over a week to ship it out, but at least it was packed well.  Ran it home @ lunch break to hook it up quick and verify there was nothing silly going on....seems to be cool after hasty test on both speakers and Alpha Prime's.   Crummy...

Well, I purchased the Pioneer SA-9800 that was on AK.  Seemed like a good opportunity for a high end solid state Pioneer and I have a thing for integrated over receiver...I got it for a fair price (not a steal by any means).  Still waiting for it to get shipped out.

I've started the painful process of looking for a DAC.  One of the thoughts/questions I have is which is "better" for lower bitrate (128k) internet radio streams? I tend to listen to streams more than I would like to admit.  I don't expect miracles with a DAC as there is only so much that can...

I've been looking for a used Yulong D18 DAC because of its very slightly warm presentation.  No USB input on that one though. Schiit and iFI are also on my watch list.  Possibly Audio-GD.

Ordered myself a pair of Alpha Primes.  I expect to see them tomorrow morn already.  (when you are already dropping a G, paying a little extra for 2-day shipping seems like a no brainer)   I've been listening to a pair of Beyerdynamic T1's for like 3.5 years now and love them ( mainly EDM with...

See if the TV has a setting for variable line level output.  With that the volume goes up and down with the TV remote instead of being constant full blast line level output. Otherwise, you are buying a separate line level attenuation box with a remote. I'm assuming you are running an RCA cord...

Thank you! No it is some other weight I got somewhere along the way.  I think it is a TTWeight. But yes, KAB PSU.  Upgraded bearing, bypassed pitch, Audioquest PT-9 tonearm.

Got my Marantz 1060 back from the recap job today.  Only got about 20 hours on the new caps (some upgraded) so I have a little while to go before the real presentation arrives. I can't make any formal judgments just yet...but so far so good.  

Thank you for the perspective, dude.

Skylab, I'd be interested in your thoughts on your SX-1980 vs. your Leben for headphone use.  Would you care to expound upon this subject?  Or point me to where you may have already covered this... I doubt I could ever find/afford an SX-1980, but I could see something like a 1250 or 1280 in my...

I do have my sights on a bigger Pioneer next if things go like I expect.  We'll see how things go.  I get that some people don't care for the Marantz sound. I don't mind it, but I suspect I'll like Pioneer better.   Tonight I hooked up a Koss T-5 Junction Box.  When I saw pictures of it I...

From the ad/seller.  I'll post pics of the guts tonight.    

I just picked one of these up.  It's got terminals on the bottom for connecting speaker wire (from receiver) and more terminals to continue on to your speakers. A switch on the front for turning your speakers on/off And two pots for adjusting headphone level.  And two 1/4" headphone jacks.  ...

Oh and regarding the re-cap work, I've found another fella via AK that is within driving distance.

Yeah, I guess I don't mean to imply that I expect to unseat the Leben just yet with this part of the plan.  My thinking is if can get close enough to get by for a bit, I'll sell the Leben to finance a jump up the SS pole.  I feel like I need to get away from stressing over tubes for awhile.

Ok, I got a line on a nice Marantz 1060.  I should have it next week.  I plan to get it completely re-capped right away now because in the meantime I picked up a stock Marantz 2230.  I was simply dying to hear what all the fuss is about.  Just got it this afternoon, listening to it now.  I gotta...