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This is exactly why we've been trying to steer you away from the Leben
This is the LCD3 thread after all. In addition to what Anax said, the Leben is also rolled off in the treble. Still, I could see people being susceptible to its charms (especially paired with bright headphones like the HD800 or HE6.) But in my book, that amp just isn't "high-fidelity." If you ever wanted to get a sense of the Leben (for headphone use), grab a used Dynaco ST35 or build a Bottlehead Crack (
without the Speedball upgrade, because the upgrade could possibly make it sound better.)
I would otherwise recommend to you a hybrid, but the current non-DIY hybrids are Lyr (awesome for its price, but "meh" in the absolute sense of things) and Liquid Fire (beyond your budget.) I know I took the Peak/Volcano off the shelf, but you may want to consider that again too (but this too blows away a big chunk of your fund at $2200.)
Here's why I was thinking Super 7 with the LCD3:
- Fits your budget with an even split between your amp and DAC needs.
- Relatively low output impedance (@2.5ohms or was it lower?) with good power. The Super 7 actually has tighter bass less rounded bass and more power than the BA. Driver control is really needed on the LCD3. I may actually buy a Super 7 specifically for the LCD3. Again, maybe a hybrid amp would be preferable if this aspect is important to you, but the bass of the S7 (or BA) is hardly slow or wobbly. Knowing Craig, he would rather kill himself than release an amp that didn't have fast punchy bass and went "blub blub blub, blub blub, blub blub blub".
- Solid-state speed but with the inner resolution of tubes.
- You can roll tubes to get the exact tone that you want.
- Fits your budget with an even split between your amp and DAC needs.
- Good resale value if you didn't like it.
- And here's my cheap appeal to authority: Made by the same guy who made this: http://www.mothmuseum.com/mothaudio/m304tlhi.html and this: http://www.mothmuseum.com/mothaudio/sphynxhi.html