[Clayton SF]

Quote:

Hi guys. I just finished reading all 35 pages of this thread. This is the first place I have visited that had a relatively large crew of Leben 300 owners. I have had my Leben CS300XS for a couple of years now. I love it. I am currently using the original GE 5751s that it came with along with a set of Gold Lion re-issue EL-84s that I just got a few months ago. The Gold Lions are my favorite so far. The Sovteks were too bright and hard sounding. I tried the Mullard re-issues and they were much better, but maybe a bit lush - or they were getting soft after almost 2 years of use. The Gold Lions bridge the gap and have more presence and authority than the other sets of tubes. I listen mainly thru speakers, but when I want to do some headphone listening, I use my Beyer DT-990 Pros. I like these because they have a nice beefy sound to them. The other headphones I tried all had a kind of airy ethereal sound. The Leben does equally well with speakers and headphones, so I am equally happy listebing to either. Now if it only had a phono stage ...
 
Mike

Hi Mike,
Thanks for your post on the Gold Lions. It's great to know that the Gold Lion re-issue of the EL-84s are your favorite. NOS tubes are getting ridiculously pricey and good re-issues are a welcome alternative to ensure my wallet's survival after last year's (2010) spending frenzy.

 

[mikecole]

Yeah, if I am going to have a tube amp, then I don't want to have to rely on NOS to get good sound. Luckily, the Gold Lions do it for me. I definitely don't want to pay more for something that will need to replaced every couple of years. And even at $120 for a matched quad, they are still on the pricey side.
 
Mike

 

[Jian]

I ordered Sylvania black plates 6BQ5 and Sylvania grey plates tripo mica 5751 for my CS300X, hopefuly they will sound great.

 

[mikecole]

BTW, for those of you who don't like the gold knobs (I didn't), there is a guy on the net (thingamaknob) that makes knobs for stereo equipment. He made a set for my Leben from Macassar Ebony.
 
 
 

 

 

[Skylab]

Wow, those are gorgeous!

 

[dminches]

Quote:

Wow, those are gorgeous!

They are, but I happen to love the golden knobs.  I love everything about the styling of this unit.

 

[Skylab]

I agree - I like the look of the stock unit as well, of course

 

[Clayton SF]

The wood knobs compliment the wood sideboards. It's a very nice touch. Well done.

 

[zen87192]

Hi all,

I'm collecting my Leben CS-300XS on Wednesday and although I am interested to find out how it sounds out of the box in standard form I want to prepare for an upgrade.
This will be my first table top amp as I have used portables up until now so please forgive my ignorance.
I've seen that Mullard EL-84 's are flavour of the century and I have been hunting these down somewhat unsuccessfully. I realise that I need a quad set and my question is as follows: Do I need to select a quad set of near equal ma for all tubes? Or is it good enough in pairs regardless of each pairs ma?
I ask this as I have found a quad set of Phillips branded Mullard EL-84 Khul Tube Cryo all at 49ma-50ma and also two separate pairs of standard Mullards which -in pairs- are 10ma difference between them - but more expensive as they are actual branded Mullards. Has anyone any thoughts on the Khul Tube Cryo?
Thank you for any feedback. Happy New Year to all.

 

[Skylab]

Small differences in the tubes measurements should not matter much if at all.  Tubes do sound quite different in the CS300XS, though.  I just rolled in a quad of Philips Holland EL84's and some Sylvania triple-mica black plate 5751's, and they sound different than what I was using.  So for sure get a nice set of tubes or two.  I can't comment on Kuhl tubes but in general I'm not a big believer of paying a premium for cryogenic treatment which I think it dubious at best.

 

[arnesto]

Do you guys use the Bass Boost? The HD800 phones really came alive when I started to use the Bass Boost.
 
Some CDs sound better with it off, but I can't imagine not using it for some other CDs.
 
Just wondering if other owners are using it.

 

[Skylab]

I personally do not, but I am using the CS300XS with my R10's now, and they do not need it. But I can imagine with the HD800 it could often be a benefit.

 

[RedBull]

I'm using it with LCD-2 which already have bass 'fullness', I don't need the Bass Boost.
 
So Skylab, how's R10 with the Leben?  Since I think R10 is quite sensitive, do you hear hum or buzz with the CS-300XS?

 

[Skylab]

I'm using it with LCD-2 which already have bass 'fullness', I don't need the Bass Boost.


 


So Skylab, how's R10 with the Leben?  Since I think R10 is quite sensitive, do you hear hum or buzz with the CS-300XS?

 


Not even a trace of hum or buzz. It sounds absolutely heavenly. Best sounding headphone and headphone amp combo I have ever heard, at my home, or anywhere else

 

[RedBull]

^ as expected 

  I wish I could afford the cost. 
Ok, I pass, can't follow you this time, now matter how good your review is about R10