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Japanese Exotica Kondo, Leben, Luxman, Zanden

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  #41  
Old 08-12-2011, 07:01 PM
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Hey guys,

Chinese saying .... "the most dangerous place is also the safest place" ...!

The most obvious is always being overlooked!

At the first glance, you will only see the plant. Only audiophiles like you will see the amp!

So, its safe ... its been 3 days already! No noise, no "discovery". See what I mean?
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  #42  
Old 08-12-2011, 07:12 PM
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Jerry... Have you seen your wife's closet lately?



And those shoes aren't from Wallmart!
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  #43  
Old 08-12-2011, 07:16 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Masterlu View Post
Jerry... Have you seen your wife's closet lately?

Nope. I know she's frugal and dont buy anything herself!

I am the one buying it all for her!

So, I do know how many bags, shoes and watches she has.

Furthermore, I am not into counting. She's the one who TRACKS me on my spending. On one hand, its good cause it teaches me to be careful BUT on the other, it makes feel like "in chains" when I see a new toy! Sigh!
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Turntable: SME Synergy All-In-One
Thorens TD147 Jubilee + Plixir LPS + Ortofon A-Mono
DS Audio ION 1
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Server: Roon Nucleus+ 8TB SSD + Plixir Elite LPS
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Amps: Air Tight ATC-5/ATM300R/ATH-3
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  #44  
Old 08-14-2011, 12:23 AM
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Jerry, have you heard your Leben yet? I'm considering adding Leben gear to my collection for another system. Looking forward to your impressions. I keep hearing the ProAc D2 is a popular combination with Leben.
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  #45  
Old 08-15-2011, 12:38 AM
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Originally Posted by PHC1 View Post
Jerry, have you heard your Leben yet? I'm considering adding Leben gear to my collection for another system. Looking forward to your impressions. I keep hearing the ProAc D2 is a popular combination with Leben.
Hi Serge,

I have audition my Leben CS300XS, before the mods and AFTER the mods. I like the AFTER better as it had much more.

Back to your question: How does it sound?

As a standard piece, it sound fluid, smooth and POWERFUL, give that its only a 15 watts amp. More so, driving the Duevel Planets where its not tube friendly in any way. Yet the sound it produces is very so very nice. I dont know how to describe sound, but for sure, one can keep listening to it and one can never fault it.

Of course, my mod piece is even better, in every way. Hordes of customers came in listening to my amp (being run in - due to the component changes) and everyone can only said one word ... unbelievable, for the price and performance. In fact, they thought it was the Air Tight Pre/Power amps in play. And my friend bought one and have it brought up to the same exact level .. of course paying premium as he had it new (mine used). 2 words best describe - VERY MUSICAL!

So my dear friend, get one. Its worth every cent. I did the mod because I bought it used and with the difference in dollars between a new and used (some 30%), I used the cash difference to soup up the amp and my, what a change! You will love it! Small, exquisitely build, and very musical!

I can only used these words to best describe the Leben - Its smooth, lucid and palpable. And in a way powerful too! Matched with the right efficient speakers, its every bit as good as any top tube amplifiers. This statement comes from my local dealer and I believe him as he had in his line - Air Tight, Reimyo, AMR and Kondo. Last but not least, its really "value for money" for what it gives.

Sadly, I had also bought the amp knowing I will never be ale to use it for a while. So its now sitting on top of my CD cabinet besides the pot of flowers. And know what, its been discovered by my wife. She did not kick up and fuss but merely told me: Are you keeping that for John (my friend) or did you buy it for yourself?

I just kept quiet and mumbled .... for eh .... John .... but its really mine. I dont know she heard the last words or not, but for sure, she did not say anything about it this morning on the way to work.
__________________
Turntable: SME Synergy All-In-One
Thorens TD147 Jubilee + Plixir LPS + Ortofon A-Mono
DS Audio ION 1
SACD/DAC: Luxman D-10x
Server: Roon Nucleus+ 8TB SSD + Plixir Elite LPS
Bluray: ModWright Oppo UDP205
Amps: Air Tight ATC-5/ATM300R/ATH-3
Speakers: Avantgarde Uno XD Piano Black/Stealth Grey
Cables & Interconnects: Audience Au24 SX Series
Power Conditioner: Audience aR6 OX
Rack & Amp Stands: Audio-Philar
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  #46  
Old 08-15-2011, 03:21 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JSCC View Post
Hi Serge,

I have audition my Leben CS300XS, before the mods and AFTER the mods. I like the AFTER better as it had much more.

Back to your question: How does it sound?

As a standard piece, it sound fluid, smooth and POWERFUL, give that its only a 15 watts amp. More so, driving the Duevel Planets where its not tube friendly in any way. Yet the sound it produces is very so very nice. I dont know how to describe sound, but for sure, one can keep listening to it and one can never fault it.

Of course, my mod piece is even better, in every way. Hordes of customers came in listening to my amp (being run in - due to the component changes) and everyone can only said one word ... unbelievable, for the price and performance. In fact, they thought it was the Air Tight Pre/Power amps in play. And my friend bought one and have it brought up to the same exact level .. of course paying premium as he had it new (mine used). 2 words best describe - VERY MUSICAL!

So my dear friend, get one. Its worth every cent. I did the mod because I bought it used and with the difference in dollars between a new and used (some 30%), I used the cash difference to soup up the amp and my, what a change! You will love it! Small, exquisitely build, and very musical!

I can only used these words to best describe the Leben - Its smooth, lucid and palpable. And in a way powerful too! Matched with the right efficient speakers, its every bit as good as any top tube amplifiers. This statement comes from my local dealer and I believe him as he had in his line - Air Tight, Reimyo, AMR and Kondo. Last but not least, its really "value for money" for what it gives.

Sadly, I had also bought the amp knowing I will never be ale to use it for a while. So its now sitting on top of my CD cabinet besides the pot of flowers. And know what, its been discovered by my wife. She did not kick up and fuss but merely told me: Are you keeping that for John (my friend) or did you buy it for yourself?

I just kept quiet and mumbled .... for eh .... John .... but its really mine. I dont know she heard the last words or not, but for sure, she did not say anything about it this morning on the way to work.
Jerry,

I heard only good things about Leben. Your amp looks terrific : I hope that you will be able to use it very soon.

According to the french dealer who used to have both Shindo and Leben in his store ( at the good time of no RoHS), and to people who owned both brands, they are pretty close to each other, with Leben being more neutral than Shindo. A comment often read is that Leben sounds like live concert music, making you listening to the whole, and Shindo has more a studio kind of sound, which makes you focus on each sound which are sublime.
Matt who sells both brands will surely have a better description.
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  #47  
Old 08-15-2011, 06:26 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JSCC View Post

Sadly, I had also bought the amp knowing I will never be ale to use it for a while. So its now sitting on top of my CD cabinet besides the pot of flowers. And know what, its been discovered by my wife. She did not kick up and fuss but merely told me: Are you keeping that for John (my friend) or did you buy it for yourself?

I just kept quiet and mumbled .... for eh .... John .... but its really mine. I dont know she heard the last words or not, but for sure, she did not say anything about it this morning on the way to work.
Jerry, what did you say??!!! I told your wife it was your friend Ken's. Now you go and say it's John's???!!!!!
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  #48  
Old 08-15-2011, 08:16 AM
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Originally Posted by howiebrou View Post
Jerry, what did you say??!!! I told your wife it was your friend Ken's. Now you go and say it's John's???!!!!!
Bro,

Nice to know you are safely back. My apologies for not being a good host. We had but that few hours. Need to be more.

I'll be going up to SuZhou for 2 days meeting (1st & 2nd). May just pop by over the Saturday (just me and my wife) and return home on Sunday. You free on the 3rd to go HiFi'ing?

If not, I'll do what I normally do, eat and shop (my wife's shopping).

Cheers!
__________________
Turntable: SME Synergy All-In-One
Thorens TD147 Jubilee + Plixir LPS + Ortofon A-Mono
DS Audio ION 1
SACD/DAC: Luxman D-10x
Server: Roon Nucleus+ 8TB SSD + Plixir Elite LPS
Bluray: ModWright Oppo UDP205
Amps: Air Tight ATC-5/ATM300R/ATH-3
Speakers: Avantgarde Uno XD Piano Black/Stealth Grey
Cables & Interconnects: Audience Au24 SX Series
Power Conditioner: Audience aR6 OX
Rack & Amp Stands: Audio-Philar
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