The Leben CS300XS Thread

[sachu]

fair enough..yeah a friend wrote to me on another forum asking for help on tube rolling options. I've never heard a leben so was trying to point him to someplace else where he can get some advice/info.
 
Thanks though

 

[Afrikane]

In every EL34 based amp I have owned my favourite tubes have been NOS Gold Lion KT77s (if the amp can take them) and Mullard XF2s; whether or not they will play nicely with the CS600 I don't know but it is worth looking into.

 

[Clayton SF]

Do you think it's worth it to sell the 300 to get a 600? I know the headphone specs were changed on the 300. Does anyone know what the headphone specs are for the 600?

 

[daveDerek]

Quote:

Do you think it's worth it to sell the 300 to get a 600?

it might be if you prefer a 6L6 type of sound vs an EL84, else stick with the 300.
 
earlier today i heard a leben 300 paired with an hd800 and it sounded really good! i preferred it to his pinnacle and marantz amps (though other variables were different sources and different sets of hd800s).
 

 

[rgs9200m]

I'd be curious to hear how the Leben's sound (the 300 or 600) compares to the RSA B52, since they are both on the warmer side of the fence I believe.
Has anyone heard both?

 

[MikeLa]

I'm running two matched pairs of NOS USA 6CS7's for the first stage (sorry can't remember the manufacturer) and a quad of EL34M - Mullard reissue Groove Tubes.  The Groove Tubes replaced Shuguang Treasure Black EL34's.  You can direct your friend to Jeff Day's blog site, he has quite-a-bit of Leben info there.  http://jeffsplace.me/wordpress/  I just checked his site and noticed he announced the CS600 earned the Stereophile Class A rating (April 2011 issue).

 

[Wedge]

I will be going into the city tomorrow to listen to the Leben CS300XS, hopefully I will be joining the owner's club soon.  I have Mullard EL84s ready to go, and some 5751s to start with.  Does anyone one know if E84L or 7320s are compatible with the 300?

 

[vert]

If you listen to it, you will probably buy it. 

 
I picked up a CS300XS, and there's a buzzing coming from the amp. I know this has been discussed before, but it I didn't have this problem on the previous unit I owned. The previous unit hummed, but once the music was playing, I couldn't hear it. Now on this unit, the buzzing is quite apparent.
 
The Powerbright transformer I'm using also hums, so I'm going to try a different transformer to see if it solves the problem.

 

[Skylab]

Hi vert,
 
just to be clear, you hear the buzz from the headphones, not a mechanical buzz from the amp?
 
Either way, turn off any lamp dimmers you may have on nearby.  And is there any chance you have a ground loop?  Maybe try a cheater plug.

 

[vert]

Hi Skylab, the buzz is coming from the headphones. But I think I also hear some kind of buzz/hum coming from transformer. I'm going to try a different transformer next week.
 
The power cord from the amp is only 2 prong, so I thought about swapping it out for a 3 prong US cord, but I didn't know if it would fit into the transformer's outlet if the outlets were Japanese spec.

 

[Skylab]

That could be the problem right there, is that there may not be any ground currently running. That could cause quite a buzz!

 

[Wedge]

Quote:

If you listen to it, you will probably buy it. 

I agree, saying that I bought it.  Now the wait begins.
 

 

[Clayton SF]

Quote:

I will be going into the city tomorrow to listen to the Leben CS300XS, hopefully I will be joining the owner's club soon.  I have Mullard EL84s ready to go, and some 5751s to start with.  Does anyone one know if E84L or 7320s are compatible with the 300?

I've run my 300 with those Siemens E84L. They really sound great. I bought a quad of those back a few months ago but they're no longer available from my source. Perhaps he'll get more in later.
 
E84L/7320 Premium Grade EL84 has higher ratings (450V Anode Voltage with 13.5W Anode Dissipation versus EL84 (300V/12W) or 7189 (400V/12W). These can be used for any EL84/6BQ5 or 7189 application with the exception of 7189A, which has a different pinout.
 
 

 

[vert]

     Quote:

That could be the problem right there, is that there may not be any ground currently running. That could cause quite a buzz!

I've tried swapping out the cord for a 3 prong, but the problem is still there. I'll have to see if the transformer solves the problem.

 

[Anders]

I have Siemens E84L and EL84 and they sound close if not identical. I have not made any thorough comparison switching back and forth repeatedly. Good and neutral tube.