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The Leben CS300XS Thread
Apr 9, 2014 at 4:53 PM Post #2,056 of 2,299
My leben cs 300 is the Japan 100 v version with voltage step down. So it probably put out less power than the cs300 sx. My listening room is only 11'x 25' with acoustic treatment. Most of the time the volume dial is at 10 to 11 o'clock position for proper loundness. I bought the 1.7 because I wanted the sound of the LCD2 in a scaled up version of speakers. The combination of 1.7 and leben is fantastic. The clarity, definition and liquidity is addicting. The low end extension and resolution is excellent. Never feel a need for sub. I think a 20'x 30' room would be ideal for this set up but here in Honolulu the realestate space come a premium.
 
Apr 9, 2014 at 6:49 PM Post #2,057 of 2,299
Very cool! I'm sure that sounds great.
 
Apr 9, 2014 at 8:05 PM Post #2,058 of 2,299
I have used prima prologue one amp(el34 tube) driving the 1.7 with good result but the Leben has better low end definition and overall transparency compared to the prima prologue amp. The prima has more power and head room on spec but the leben has better sound quality watt for watt. I also preferred the tone of the Leben probably due to the difference between el 34 and el 84.
 
Apr 12, 2014 at 2:57 AM Post #2,060 of 2,299
My Leben hums with very sensitive speakers that amplify the bass so that the hum is exaggerated.
Is there anyone out there who has heard a hum through speakers that finds it not there with LCD3s?
In other words, would I be better off buying LCD3 headphones for the amp, or selling it and buying a different amplifier (say the Jadis I35) and listen over my speakers still (assuming the Jadis won't humm too).
 
Mark
 
Apr 12, 2014 at 7:29 AM Post #2,061 of 2,299
zoroastra said:
  My Leben hums with very sensitive speakers that amplify the bass so that the hum is exaggerated.
Is there anyone out there who has heard a hum through speakers that finds it not there with LCD3s?
In other words, would I be better off buying LCD3 headphones for the amp, or selling it and buying a different amplifier (say the Jadis I35) and listen over my speakers still (assuming the Jadis won't humm too).
 
Mark
Click to expand...

 
My impression is that the hum varies - may be due to local AC conditions. 
 
However, it seems that is prone to humming with high impedance headphones. Haven't tried many speakers, but y unit didn't have a noticable  hum with the Klipsch RF82 (98dB) http://www.klipsch.com/rf-82-ii-floorstanding-speaker - which was a great pairing, I must add - abolutely reccomended as a budget speaker option for the Leben. 
 
However - with very sensitive speakers (>100), most amps will have a hiss or a hum. It is also relevant what impedance your speakers are - maybe you should try some with loer impedance?
 
Apr 12, 2014 at 8:12 AM Post #2,062 of 2,299
When I had the CS300, I got slight hum/noise from my 91dB speakers as well as from LCD-2 (headphone output). I think the hum/noise may be caused by "dirty power" from the wall outlet, but I had hum/noise even when using a power conditioner.

If the hum is 50-60Hz it's from the amps main trafo, but if it's 100-120Hz it can allegedly be fixed by mounting a choke as earlier described in this thread.
 
Apr 12, 2014 at 6:14 PM Post #2,064 of 2,299
The Lebel website still lists the US Distributor as Tone Imports 646-425-7800 jhalpern@mac.com

I found them a bit difficult to deal with since they wouldn't sell me one directly even though the closest dealer to me was 7 hours away in Cleveland. So I bought mine used.
 
Apr 13, 2014 at 9:11 AM Post #2,065 of 2,299
skylab said:
The Lebel website still lists the US Distributor as Tone Imports 646-425-7800 jhalpern@mac.com

I found them a bit difficult to deal with since they wouldn't sell me one directly even though the closest dealer to me was 7 hours away in Cleveland. So I bought mine used.
Click to expand...

 
Thanks for the information. It sounds like a wonderful amp. However, for 3k I don't want to deal with the hum issue. For that price, I want all the phones I own to work hum-free.
 
Apr 13, 2014 at 9:25 AM Post #2,066 of 2,299
Anecdotally but I read a critical opinion about the 300 XS on stereo.net.au
 
The reviewer and an audiophile friend of his were seriously underwhelmed by its sound, even after rolling tubes etc.  Then they put a pre-amp between the CD-transport and the Leben that brought down the output (2V I assume) of the CD to closer to the unit's specified 600 mV sensitivity and things cleared up dramatically.
 
See here:  http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php?/topic/48804-leben-cs300xs-a-dissenting-opinion/
 
No idea if this is somehow related to the hum issue which I'd instinctively chalk down to either the power supply or the transformer but perhaps someone more knowledgeable can chime in.  But I agree that for the price the sound should be hum-free and pretty darn good.
 
May 7, 2014 at 10:57 AM Post #2,067 of 2,299
Hello in this thread!
 
I´ve been spending days reading it. 138 pages is a lot  :) Good stuff inhere...
 
 
Here is a picture of my cs300 from 2006 and my cs300xs from 2014. I took them today. I wanted to upgrade to a cs300xs but I can't get used to the more "contrasted colors" of the front. The green color is much more green, and the gold is more shiny gold on the cs300xs compared to the old cs300.
I couldn't find anything in this thread about the colour differences, so just want to pt it inhere :)
 
Personally I prefer the CS300. I think it much more aesthetic and old school looking compared to the "bling bling" cs300xs. 
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a57/MSGDiller/WP_20140507_16_34_13_Pro.jpg
 
Here is the back panel... the cs300 is also my personally favorite here
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a57/MSGDiller/WP_20140507_16_35_59_Pro.jpg
 
Here the top panel:
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a57/MSGDiller/WP_20140507_17_02_45_Pro.jpg
 
 
Sorry about the links, my account don't have permission to use the "image button"
 
May 12, 2014 at 5:18 PM Post #2,069 of 2,299

Forget your cans
wink_face.gif

 
My Leben Cs 300 drives Seas Exotic F8 drivers in open baffles ...... It's great !!
I don't know what idiot concluded speakers should be placed in boxes, but he's so wrong, take my word for that !
 


My setup :
PC with Debian Wheezy
Deadbeef player
ESI Juli@ Soundcard
Coax out into Audiolab M-Dac
Leben CS300 ( choke mod ) with 2 RCA 6211 driver tubes and 4 Reactor 6P14P EB power tubes
 
I Call it Magic , yes I do !
 
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