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Leben. Thinking something drastic here.

Negotiableterms said:
Sacrilege! :yikes:
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9 preamps.
10 amps.
10 turntables.
2 laser disc players
8 CD players
5 receivers
5 integrated amps
5 tuners
7 pairs of speakers.


.....why? Well, I was learning what I liked. You should see the list of what I've sold! And what I like is leaning towards either something like the Leben or something like a SET and passive linestage. I certainly could go solid state but probably could already, just keeping my Luxman 5c-50 and M12. The interesting thing is...I live in a one bedroom apartment, and it doesn't look cluttered. I have two huge walk in closets.
 
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It's true. Very hip bachelor pad. But I have seen the coat closet. Don't remember any coats. Lol.

JohnVF said:
9 preamps.
10 amps.
10 turntables.
2 laser disc players
8 CD players
5 receivers
5 integrated amps
5 tuners
7 pairs of speakers.


.....why? Well, I was learning what I liked. You should see the list of what I've sold! And what I like is leaning towards either something like the Leben or something like a SET and passive linestage. I certainly could go solid state but probably could already, just keeping my Luxman 5c-50 and M12. The interesting thing is...I live in a one bedroom apartment, and it doesn't look cluttered. I have two huge walk in closets.
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keithpgdrb said:
It's true. Very hip bachelor pad. But I have seen the coat closet. Don't remember any coats. Lol.
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It looks better than when you were here...less clutter. A mid century modern table and chairs...more livable! I do believe the closets are more full of gear, though. And a friend just talked me into going to an auction with him to look at some McIntosh stuff. For him, not me. I swear.

cubdog said:
John, I know your big four of speakers but what are the other three?

cubdog
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A trio of British monitors.

Jim Rogers JR-149 (they're in need of repair but I'm keeping these)
Kef 103.2 (on way to girlfriends to replace Coda IIIs)
Celestian SL-6s (on their way out).

I also have a pair of Pioneer CS-a700 that I was going to use the boxes for something else, and KLH-Sixes in storage. And some Fisher Xp-7c or something...those really need to go. Storage is going to be cleaned out this winter.
 
John, St. Louis Stereo has the 600, and the Harbeths or DeVores for you to listen and enjoy. I have the two SET amps to drag along so you could hear them as well, and there is an empty in-law quarters setup down in our basement.

We heard the Harbeths with the Leben at the gathering they hosted, and I considered myself lucky to get out of there alive without making a committment to buy that setup. Gorgeous looks + gorgeous sound = a serious jones for that wicked stuff. If I went on a similar selling binge, that system is on my "buy new" list, a short one at that!
 
One other point should be made:

You're talking Harbeths, and while I can't recall which was which (except for the big ones), every Harbeth I've ever heard made whatever it was hooked up to sound great. The big ones (M40.1 - which aren't actually all that big) are one of the few speakers that grab me as much as my current main set.

Come down to it, before I'd plunk down more money on electronics, I'd want to see what a pair of those sounded like in my space. Hmmm... now you've got me wondering...
 
sheltie dave said:
John, St. Louis Stereo has the 600, and the Harbeths or DeVores for you to listen and enjoy. I have the two SET amps to drag along so you could hear them as well, and there is an empty in-law quarters setup down in our basement.

We heard the Harbeths with the Leben at the gathering they hosted, and I considered myself lucky to get out of there alive without making a committment to buy that setup. Gorgeous looks + gorgeous sound = a serious jones for that wicked stuff. If I went on a similar selling binge, that system is on my "buy new" list, a short one at that!
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That may be the closest place for me to hear them, unless I'm back in LA or Montreal anytime soon. Thank you for the offer...that would be fun. I'll have to see what happens here with raising some cash. Your reaction to them is promising, as you have a collection of excellent tube gear.

Negotiableterms said:
Come down to it, before I'd plunk down more money on electronics, I'd want to see what a pair of those sounded like in my space. Hmmm... now you've got me wondering...
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See...it starts to make sense, doesn't it? Once you hear them make, say, a Yamaha A-1 sound fantastic (not that it needs much helps), then a Luxman, then a Sony Esprit amp sound great....and each time, get better until you find a nice tube combo that just really sounds special...you wonder, "Where can this go?" And that's what I'm wondering. How much better can they get? And if they get all the way there, can I live without all this clutter?
 
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If you guys go to demo that setup at St. Louis Stereo, I might have to tag along just to hear some gear that would completely obliterate my finances...
 
Sam Cogley said:
If you guys go to demo that setup at St. Louis Stereo, I might have to tag along just to hear some gear that would completely obliterate my finances...
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Come on along! It'll take me months probably to get the cash unless I can figure out a quick way. I don't need the whole price, just a big chunk of it. We can pool our money and do a time-share on it. I get it first and promise not to 'lose' it.
 
If you ever make it out to New York City, In Living Stereo carries Leben, Harbeth, DeVore, Well Tempered and if you really want to get crazy, Shindo. I'm going to be scheduling an audition of the Well Tempered in the next couple of months.
 
JohnVF said:
Come on along! It'll take me months probably to get the cash unless I can figure out a quick way.
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Heck, I might be tempted to make that drive (a bit under 3 hours to get downtown). Sounds like a swinging shindig.
 
That Leben looks absolutely amazing... if it sounds anything like it looks, then that makes for a major temptation. What I particularly like is the striking similarity to a Japanese market Sansui model, the AU-Alpha907.

al907mr_1.jpg


Of course, this is SS vs. tubes here. But wow, what a treat it would be to compare the two in an A/B setup. :)

Btw, did you guys see the 6Moons Music Lovers Series review of the CS-600 , from Feb07?

By way of introduction, let me present Mr. Taku Hyodo, founder of Leben Hi-Fi Stereo Company. Before Hyodo San founded Leben, he designed electronics for Luxman. He had made some amplifiers for himself and a few friends. They loved the sound of his amplifiers and encouraged him to use his obvious talent to start his own audio company. Hyodo San responded to their friendly encouragement by founding his own 'private label' electronics company to reflect his philosophy that 'music is life'. In keeping with this philosophy, Hyodo San called his company Leben, which is a German word that literally means to be alive and life, period.
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Interesting company, but I wonder if they've grown much since '07. The photos of their workshop look real small-time.

The Sonic Flare review from '08 is a very interesting read. It looks like it's very important to match the right speakers to the CS-600... no doubt, the Harbeths seem well suited as they are referenced yet again.
 
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myu701 said:
That Leben looks absolutely amazing... if it sounds anything like it looks, then that makes for a major temptation. What I particularly like is the striking similarity to a Japanese market Sansui model, the AU-Alpha907.

al907mr_1.jpg


Of course, this is SS vs. tubes here. But wow, what a treat it would be to compare the two in an A/B setup. :)

Btw, did you guys see the 6Moons Music Lovers Series review of the CS-600 , from Feb07?



Interesting company, but I wonder if they've grown much since '07. The photos of their workshop look real small-time.
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That is a beautiful amp. I'm pretty familiar with the sound of the somewhat-similar (I think) Au-x901 on various speakers. It's a wonderful integrated, this one probably being even a bit better (wasn't it one up on the 901 and Japanese domestic only?). As good as the AU-x901 is, I prefer the sound of good tube gear, if I'm going to call it a day and hang my hat on it. But ending up with something like this would not be a bad way to end up...and it's really nice looking! Makes the black 901 look classless.

I've seen that 6-moons review. He raves...but also raves about the playstation sounding like a $6000 CD player. Which kind of makes me wonder if he's ever heard a (well designed) $6000 CD player. Wasn't this the review that help start the whole PS-1 craze?
 
JohnVF said:
I've seen that 6-moons review. He raves...but also raves about the playstation sounding like a $6000 CD player. Which kind of makes me wonder if he's ever heard a (well designed) $6000 CD player. Wasn't this the review that help start the whole PS-1 craze?
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Heh, I didn't know that. Exact same guy? That does call in some credibility questions... unless the $6000 CD player he had in mind wasn't one of the better ones at that price point. ;) The Sonic Flare review is quite a different review, but also seems to conclude that the CS-600 is nothing short of awesome. Stereophile concurs as well in their October 2010 issue.
 
KeninDC said:
Can you live with a kit that will make Nick Drake sound like he's still alive?

Sounds to me like you want a fling with a small space, low-powered, mid-range tube experience.

As Negotiableterms hinted, are you sure you can do this long term? Or, is it just a crazy mad love affair?
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This post shows me that all of us share the same disease. Can't everyone relate to this? So sad. I have to stop.

I hope you get the Leben, John. It's so sweet looking.
 
I've been lusting after a Leben since I first saw it in a magazine. I totally understand what you are thinking: just returned from 4 days of camping, the only audio was a laptop and a pair of powered desktop speakers from Swan. The cabin was tiny, but regardless I enjoyed what I was hearing. It won't replace my separates but it did get me wondering if I could be happy with a simpler system. I've yet to gear the Leben, but I still really want one.
 
Did you happen to see the new Stereophile? They have a very detailed review of the CS-300 and the RS30 Phono stage. Definitely worth picking up a copy
 
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