Recently, I have noticed that whenever I start thinking about an amplifier, it finally falls into my hands. There is an opportunity to buy, or a friend decides to buy such equipment.
This was also the case this timeLeben CS-300FThanks to Łukasz, he came to me for almost two weeks.
I was able to play with it and form my opinion.
First meeting with Leben
I had the opportunity to listen to Leben in one of the audio salons, but that was a long time ago. This time, thanks to Łukasz, I was able to thoroughly test it at home.
I was all the more glad that a moment earlier I had a tube amplifierLAR IA-30MK2whose constructor was inspired by the Japanese amplifier.
Leben CS-300F sound
What does Leben sound like?
cool 🙂
It is really uplifting how much kumaty the constructor can squeeze out of inconspicuous, small lamps.
Going to the point. Leben is an amplifier that wants to play music, it’s a bit of a feature like the aforementioned LARa, or audio noteOTO / P1SE. From here it has, like the LAR, less sophistication in the midrange and sounds a bit neutral, clearer, more objective.
The midrange is very good in Lebena, the musicality at a very high level, although you can feel a bit more Japanese distance than in the case of Audio Note, which slightly heats the presentation.
I would describe the sound of the CS-300F as very universal.
Lebena’s bass is extensive, but it sounds very good with the right speakers.
In combination with Klipsch Forte III, the bass has volume, cool timbre and base, but also a really good outline.
With these loudspeakers, it encourages you to really loudly play, play percussion music or live recordings, but it also works great in a slightly quieter charm.
With Spectral we get a fuller sound, more colorful in the midrange, the bass does not have that much weight, but it is more interesting in terms of color, the whole thing sounds really complete – musical, detailed and dynamic.
You can feel the character of the golden Japanese especially with the spectrals that I know right inside. It is a bit thicker, less sophisticated than my Audion monoblocks, but offers a similar – quite linear tonal balance.
It can be expected that no matter what columns we do not connect it to – it will not be bony, analytical or dispassionate. If Leben is bright or too thick, it can be easily led out by the source or by cables.
Who is Leben CS-300F for?
The Leben CS-300F is for anyone who likes music and its reproduction at a really high level. Properly compiled, it will delight both the old audiophile and the world of Audi music lover.
It is difficult to find a diameter like from Lebena even in several times more expensive transistors.Hardly any tube amplifier is tuned just as well.
For more complex repertoire and electronics, you can find something more competitive, but by combining Leben with friendly loudspeakers (approx. 90dB, not too high impedance drops), you can achieve a balanced, energetic and engaging sound with a good tube diameter.
It is not an amplifier for people who focus on quality, speed, control and bass contour, or a typical analytical sound focused on detail … But it is a very nice stove with a verve to play, reminiscent of my belovedVerdier 220. He will do great with pop, rock, jazz, vocals, acoustics and electronics.
What speakers for the CS-300F?
I would avoid high-volume bass speakers – Leben is unlikely to pull up this bass, but it will blur. The remaining strands are more manageable.
It is also worth mentioning that Leben likes long warming. ‘His’ usually shows after 40-60 minutes, and some owners even talk about 2 hours.
Therefore, it is worth planning to turn on the amplifier before listening.
Neutral or slightly insulated columns with a resolution source are best suited to Leben.
Leben works well with Vintage Tannoyami (Gold, HPD), Klipsch on Alnico, Snell E2 / E3, as well as the new Audio Note, Harbeth or Living Voice, a combination withJM Lab Spectral 913.1It was also great – but these loudspeakers just love the lamps. One of his colleagues obtained an excellent synergy with JM Lab Mini Utopia.
My opinion about Leben CS-300F
The Leben CS-300F is a very good, successful and universal amplifier.
It is not a random product from an anonymous manufactory, nor equipment with an artificially priced price – even though we compare it with its size to strong transistors and lampsSingle Ended, we can get the impression that it is a toy, not an amplifier.
Nothing could be more wrong!
I rate the price-quality ratio very highly. It may look inconspicuous, but it is well tuned and I am convinced that it will give more listening fun than more than one much more expensive and more powerful amplifier.
I know people who switched to, for example, the more expensive CS-600 model, but they lacked the character and versatility of the CS-300F. I also know people who have Lebena as one of several amplifiers, apart from electronics, for tens of thousands of zlotys.
Do you need a better recommendation?
Personally, I would find a few devices that fit my taste better or the sound system, but honestly?
Leben is a very safe, safe choice. I would find a dozen or so amplifiers that I liked less and cost much more. In addition, the aftermarket on the CS-300F is worldwide, so in the event of an upgradeWe can easily resell it without much loss.
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