[buson160man]

  anyone have experience with the new CS300F? I can only find one review so far. 

 
i will be matching it with AKG K701, gardo 325 and denon D7100. any idea? thanks! 

 You might consider using a vintage circa late 1970s receiver to drive your headphones. I was following these vintage units for awhile and finally took the plunge about 5 months ago. I have not looked back ever since. I bought a concept 16.5 monster vintage receiver and it easily trumps most headphone amps that I have heard for driving headphones. The available power that a unit like the 16.5 produces with headphones is considerably more than most headphone amps out there. Of course the unit I bought was recapped which anyone with a unit this old should consider having done on your unit. Parts do age over that period of time for sure. The concept 16.5 put out 165 watts rms at 8 ohms and 240 watts rms at 4 ohms per channel. The 16.5 is a real beast with headphones.

 

[Zoop]

 
 You might consider using a vintage circa late 1970s receiver to drive your headphones. I was following these vintage units for awhile and finally took the plunge about 5 months ago. I have not looked back ever since. I bought a concept 16.5 monster vintage receiver and it easily trumps most headphone amps that I have heard for driving headphones. The available power that a unit like the 16.5 produces with headphones is considerably more than most headphone amps out there. Of course the unit I bought was recapped which anyone with a unit this old should consider having done on your unit. Parts do age over that period of time for sure. The concept 16.5 put out 165 watts rms at 8 ohms and 240 watts rms at 4 ohms per channel. The 16.5 is a real beast with headphones.

Thanks! i will look into it. i must admit, my 20 years old denon receiver does a better job than the audiolab 8200 CDQ i have. I do question if some of the new design is all just about cost cutting.... 

 

[BugleBoy]

I liked the Q cable the best with the LCD-3, although I'm not someone who thinks cables make a huge difference, only a very subtle one.

 
Thanks Skylab!
 
The Q cable is one of my shortlist...the others being Moon Silver Dragon and Artisan silver. Q looks like better value of the lot.
 
I agree cables don't always make a difference...thought there have been a few instances where cables have made a big difference in my system.
 
With Leben + Audeze combo I am keen to explore where the diminishing returns kick in

 

[Julz-]

Hi all,
 
This will be my first post on the Head-Fi Forum, very pleased to join you after having read many threads here.
Important to know that I'm a full Newbee in "cans" as I've been mostly listening to music for Hi Fi with Speakers.
 
 
Just a quick sum-up of my configuration :
- Speakers : Proac D18 / MrSpeakers Alpha Prime
- Amp : Leben CS600
- Dac : Hegel HD25
- Source : SOTM SMS100 with dedicated battery - Configuration in DLNA / JRiver&JRemote / Nas Synology 2 x 3TB
 
 
I've just bought a MrSpeakers Alpha Prime (after having read many reviews and the full thread here) and I don't understand because it seems to me it doesn't work properly :
- Very litlle bass / no sub-bass => hence a not well balanced sound (too bright)
- Saturated sound when I put the volume above 11/12 o clock (and the sound doesn't seem loud at all)
 
All in all I have a MUCH better sound with my stupid 75€ Marshall Major Headphone !
 
 
My question is simple : can the leben CS600 drive properly those cans ?
MrSpeaker recommand to have a headphone power rating of 200mW at 50 ohms. Does any one knows the power rating of the Leben CS600's headphone jack ? 
 
Many thanks in adavnce for your help,
Julien
 
PS : I maybe also post this to the MrSpeakers AP Thread 

 

[levlhed]

This is a CS300 thread.

 

[Julz-]

  This is a CS300 thread.

I understand, but since it is a Leben CS300 thread, maybe you could tell me the power rating of the Leben CS300 headphone output ? Tks

 

[MikeLa]

Julz, to my old ears, I've found the Leben amps to sound much better (great) with high impedance headphones - think HD800 and Beyerdynamic T1 type impedance.  When I was using my CS600 with headphones, I married it to T1's - it worked excellent for me. 
 
~michael

 

[dminches]

That has not been my experience. I don't think any amp does a better job with LCD-3s.

 

[Julz-]

 
Julz, to my old ears, I've found the Leben amps to sound much better (great) with high impedance headphones - think HD800 and Beyerdynamic T1 type impedance.  When I was using my CS600 with headphones, I married it to T1's - it worked excellent for me. 
 
~michael

 

That has not been my experience. I don't think any amp does a better job with LCD-3s.

 
Thanks for your help and advices, but I'm looking for closed cans as I mainly listen to music through my ProAC D18.
I justed wanted a good closed Hi Fi headphone when my wife asked me for some rest after 4 hours of music in a raw... Women.

 

[BugleBoy]

I use both low and high impedance headphones with my 300X. In my experience they sound better with my LCD-3, ZMF Vibro (which is also a modified T50RP similar to your mr Speakers). While my HD-600 also sound great, they has a higher noise floor compared to the low impedance cans.

 

[nonno breuss]

an 'inside' headsup/interest check, since you also apprechiate the traints of this amp..
 
I might soon (= within the next four weeks) sell a cs300xs in mint condition with excellent tubes (including Raytheon Black Plate Windmill Getter 5751, NOS Tung Sols 12AX7's, and Valvo EL84 (Hamburg, Germany) from old stock. Same code: rX3 D, Matched quad gold pins gold grid 6P14P-ER Reflector (EL84 7189 6BQ5) NOS, stock sovtek EL83 and 84, Testla E83CC (frame grid, excellent)..  in V230 Version it is from 2009, I have all original paperwork, the headphone output seems to be pre-the change that they had when they lowered the Voltage (so it can easily drive the LCD-2s)
 
The amp is silent with Sony R10's and has a small (!) amount of humm with HD650 (but none that I could detect even in quiate parts, only with music turned off).
 
best, Nonno

 

[weitn]

I am thinking of upgrading my headphone. I never heard of any Audeze headphone. I could get either the lcd-3 and lcd-2. My source is MacBook Pro. DAC is MHDT Pagoda (neutral sounding). Headphone amp is Leben CS600 with KT90 (slightly warm). Which model better suits my system?

 

[ardilla]

Haven't heard the CS600, but the CS300 is stunning with both Audezes, I would certainly go for the LCD3 if money is no issue. I see you have the HD650 - that should indicate that you'll enjoy the LCD3. FWIW. 

 

[Yekine]

Hi, this is my first post.

Has anyone had trouble with the selector switch? Basically my CD and line 1 positions are dead.

 

[deuter]

I use both low and high impedance headphones with my 300X. In my experience they sound better with my LCD-3, ZMF Vibro (which is also a modified T50RP similar to your mr Speakers). While my HD-600 also sound great, they has a higher noise floor compared to the low impedance cans.

I would like to try the tubes you've got for the Leben, any chance you can link me some online stores for them.
I'am currently using the Gold Lion reissue and Jan 12ax7