MeloManiac

https://critesspeakers.com/ I've never done business with Bob Crites, being relatively new to the audio world myself, but I 've seen so many references to Bob's expertise here on the forum, with the greatest respect to his business and to him as a person. RIP Bob.

I want to share this, though only partly relevant. Even if you buy digital files, you can have unpleasant surprises. A while ago, I bought Podger's Four Seasons recording as a dsd file from a reputed online provider. In the first track, there was a skip. I couldn't imagine this was normal, so I contacted that company. I got a ticket and they said they would look into it. I never heard from them. I then contacted the Dutch record label itself and asked if they could help me - I also sent them my invoice, of course. That same day, I got a link where I could download their own digital files. These were absolutely fine. They explained that there are quite some cowbows in the digital market who will upscale or downscale the same file to the format that was ordered. And when you do this with unprofessional gear, you get really bad files sometimes. The company where I bought the corrupted files is nativedsd.com: https://www.nativedsd.com/catalogue/nativedsd-selections/vivaldi-highlights/40318-le-quattro-stagioni/ The record company that helped me was channel.nl https://channelclassics.com/catalogue/40318-Vivaldi-Le-Quattro-Stagioni-The-Four-Seasons/

Today, I have been listening to Klara, the Belgian Klassikal Radio station, using the Advance Acoustic WTX Microstreamer. This little wifi streaming device is connected to my Leben CS300 directly and streams in the highest available quality. The speakers are the RP160M. I must say that the sound quality is absolutely wonderful. Not just the music, but I'm hearing all kinds of ambient sounds too, which are also recorded, like a deep rumble, or a truck passing by outside the recording venue, or a distant door slamming, or in case of a live recording, all kinds of distant, ambient sounds from the orchestra and the public. This really puts you as a listener really close to the music...

A bit like the TubeCube7, but probably much better.

In fact, of you just look at the number of transformers etc that is crammed inside, the cost of it barely equals the cost the parts. Nothing you'd ever find a commercial brand for that price, if you understand what I mean..

No hostility intended, sir! Now that you explained that the amp is upside down, it makes a bit more sense. 😁

I would file a damage report for this. It is shameful and you should receive financial compensation. Also, I would sand it to wood and stain it brown. You'll have to work on this anyhow now. On second thought.after repair, painting it black will hide the reparation.

@setiand @joessportster I cannot argue with the sonic qualities of the Trumpet because I haven't heard it, but to me, visually and as for the design, it doesn't make sense at all and breaks every rule of the book: the tubes are upside down (heat rising up, right?), the top-level is crammed, and as someone posted, just 1/16 inch of movement will result in a hum, while the mid tier is almost barren, with plenty of room vacant. But the proof is in the pudding, they say... Enlighten me, please!

My Leben CS300 with new Genalex Gold Lion tubes.

In my experience the EL84s are excellent with Klipsch speakers. And compared to other tubes, they are not expensive, not even the good ones, like the Genalex Gold Lions.

You're welcome!

I had a similar positive experience with this little hybrid tube amp, which was my introduction to the tube sound, since then I've bought the TubeCube 7 and I'm now the proud owner of the fabulous Leben CS300. But that little cheap made-in-China amp with tubes blew away my budget Marantz and Denon amps easily... LINK to amazon

Apologies I react to this again, but this score is so good I want you to listen to it! So John Carpenter not only directed the movies, he also composed the score, for budget reasons...

You probably know this, but John Carpenter wasn't just the director of the movies, but also the composer of the score !

Although they are much cheaper, the Klipsch RP600M (and their predecessor, the RP160Ms, which I own), are often compared with the KEF LS50 (Meta) speakers. The LS50s are less efficient (85dB) and 4ohm speakers so they need a powerful amplifier. On their own, they are really good speakers, of course. I came across this video of the Leben CS300xs (15 watt) and the LS50. It is *not* a good combination. You can hear the distortion in the high spectrum clearly. The sensitive Klipsch speakers are a much better match.

After a couple of days of use of the CS300, I came to realise something interesting about the volume nob of the CS300. And this is about the agreeable handling and feel of it when I turn it. Here is the thing. Heresy speakers are very powerful and sensitive. So with my modern Marantz (PM5005) and with my vintage H/K 430, I seldom turn the volume beyond 9 o'clock. The twin engine H/K will blow the tiles off my roof if I turn it slightly higher than that (or my wife and 3 teenage kids will give me the evil eye... )It seems the H/K volume is exponential, almost. Not so with the CS300. I can easily use the full range of the volume nob. Yes, it will play loud at 12 o'clock, but it is producing a decibel level that is still suitable to my den. It makes it so much easier to set the volume just right. As for a phono stage preamp, I'm currently using a cheap made-in-China 'I am nobody' brand (this is truly what is written on it!). When I turn the volume of the CS300 to 12 o'clock, without a record playing, I can actually hear the innards of that little pre-amp at work. Not a good thing. This is does not happen with my Denon microsystem. So I guess, when I purchase a phono preamp, I'll have to invest in something better. The iFi Zen Phono is on my shortlist. 'I am nobody' then will move back downstairs. Both the CS300 and the H/K 430 have something in common: no standard spacing between the analog in (rca) sockets. When using cables, it's a non-issue. But I own an advance acoustic WTX Microstreamer, which can be plugged in directly into the rca sockets. But here it doesn't fit. Right now, I'm using a switch as an in-between temporally, but I have ordered a male-female rca cable (5cm) and then I can get rid of the switch. When did this stardard came to be? Is it world wide? I don't know.

No, not selling. I'm going to have the HK recapped by a professional in spring. Will cost 150 euro but they are worth it.

That's what it is. No hum in the woofers.

It is the Bass Boost nob that makes the noise, only when I turn it. I've noticed there is a minimal constant hum present. I can hear it when I put my head close to the amp and I can hear it when there is a silence or in between tracks. It is not affected when I turn the volume. A friend says this is typical for a tube Amp. When the music plays, I can't hear it. The Gold Lion tubes were bought by the first owner in March 2020, they've had 200 hours playtime now. I have the old Sovtek tubes too. He replaced them because in March the volume went up and down 'on its own'.

It beats the HK on every level, except volume. Mind you, my hk is in original state and over 40 years old. I do miss a built in phono stage in the Leben, though.

Thanks for the advice. Going to move the amp to the rack tonight.

Enjoying the Leben CS300 with my 1972 Heresies.

Eric Clapton, 461 Ocean Boulevard This is a brilliant album and I find it difficult to understand that it was conceived while Clapton was so deep into an alcohol and cocaine addiction...