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Japanese Exotica Kondo, Leben, Luxman, Zanden

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  #21  
Old 08-11-2011, 11:19 PM
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Cyril... That's the best use of emoticons I've seen on this site.
+1
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  #22  
Old 08-11-2011, 11:20 PM
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Beautiful. Just beautiful. I may get me one of those one of these days .

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  #23  
Old 08-11-2011, 11:22 PM
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Jerry.......This may be the only thing that looks like "husband and wife" if these babies get discovered by the Mrs. at the wrong time.


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Last edited by jdandy; 08-11-2011 at 11:25 PM.
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  #24  
Old 08-11-2011, 11:27 PM
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Jerry.......This may be the only thing that looks like "husband and wife" if these babies get discovered by the Mrs. at the wrong time.


Dan,

I know I am treading on dangerous waters! I'll bide my time. Meanwhile, act dumb and bring down the beauty to power up, clean it when she's out of town.

Jerry
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  #25  
Old 08-11-2011, 11:34 PM
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Seriously, NO .. But I have been moving around listening.

Was told this Leben 15 watter works magic with Klipsch Cornwalls (yet to hear), Avantgarde Uno Picco (old model - phased out but a used mint pair available. Asking for S$28k), Uno (old model, again phased out but a mint used pair available for S$8k - snapped out unfortunately).

As speakers do take time (and need space), I am working on as the last issue. Meanwhile, all suggestions/recommendations are welcome. You have any recommendations I should go listen?

Meanwhile, I am trying to get the Leben RS30EQ. I have actually placed the booking for it. Just dont have the guts to complete the deal. So, let it sit in the dealer's showroom first. Put together with the CS300XS makes them looks like "husband & wife" pair!

Seriously, the Leben's like a cheap alternative for Shindo's I was told. In fact, Jeff Day's review praised Leben's quite highly, especially the higher Pre/Power combo where he matched them with the Tannoy Westminsters! tannoy

For sure, I am very happy with this tiny and cute amp! Heard it thru the Duevel Planets and it really sounded good, especially AFTER the mod I have done.

Cheers!
Jerry...I was going to mention Tannoy given the positive pairing of Shindo and Tannoy by Alberto and Serge recently. That's the obvious recommendation. I know that Leben has been shown with DeVore Fidelity speakers at various shows, they are not as sensitive generally speaking as Tannoys but they are tube friendly with a relatively flat impedance curve that stays above 6 ohms across most of their speakers. But there are many other tube-friendly speakers: Coincident Technology, Merlin, Living Voice, Zu Audio, and a lot of the horn designs like Acapella, not to mention the many designs that are based on wide-band single driver speakers like Altec and Fostex. Hope this helps

Last edited by cmalak; 08-11-2011 at 11:40 PM.
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  #26  
Old 08-11-2011, 11:50 PM
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Originally Posted by JSCC View Post
Seriously, NO .. But I have been moving around listening.

Was told this Leben 15 watter works magic with Klipsch Cornwalls (yet to hear), Avantgarde Uno Picco (old model - phased out but a used mint pair available. Asking for S$28k), Uno (old model, again phased out but a mint used pair available for S$8k - snapped out unfortunately).

As speakers do take time (and need space), I am working on as the last issue. Meanwhile, all suggestions/recommendations are welcome. You have any recommendations I should go listen?

Meanwhile, I am trying to get the Leben RS30EQ. I have actually placed the booking for it. Just dont have the guts to complete the deal. So, let it sit in the dealer's showroom first. Put together with the CS300XS makes them looks like "husband & wife" pair!

Seriously, the Leben's like a cheap alternative for Shindo's I was told. In fact, Jeff Day's review praised Leben's quite highly, especially the higher Pre/Power combo where he matched them with the Tannoy Westminsters! tannoy

For sure, I am very happy with this tiny and cute amp! Heard it thru the Duevel Planets and it really sounded good, especially AFTER the mod I have done.

Cheers!
Jerry, that link to the Tannoy Westminster SE should give you a clue what to do with the Leben. Your Meridian speakers may have to find another home though.

Actually I've read that review many times making mental notes as I expect my Canterbury's to be similar but on a smaller scale. I also have and enjoy all the records Jeff Day mentions in his review so it will be interesting to listen to the same records with Shindo and Canterbury.

Congrats and enjoy your Leben!
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  #27  
Old 08-11-2011, 11:55 PM
jwhite613 jwhite613 is offline
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Jerry... My father would buy and hide new equipment in plain sight too. He would lean an LP against the front of whatever new piece of gear he was hiding.
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  #28  
Old 08-12-2011, 12:18 AM
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Originally Posted by PHC1 View Post
Jerry, that link to the Tannoy Westminster SE should give you a clue what to do with the Leben. Your Meridian speakers may have to find another home though.

Actually I've read that review many times making mental notes as I expect my Canterbury's to be similar but on a smaller scale. I also have and enjoy all the records Jeff Day mentions in his review so it will be interesting to listen to the same records with Shindo and Canterbury.

Congrats and enjoy your Leben!
The following is a "ballsy" statement I am making.

I have discussed this with Howie 2 days ago about Jeff Day's review on the Westminsters as well as his pairing them with the Leben RS28CX + CS600P combo and I do like what I have read, seen BUT not heard. Still, this combo had been running circles in my mind and honestly, I am thinking very seriously about this. The local dealer can smell my thoughts (he must be an X-Men with some powers to do that) and offered me a complete dollar for dollar trade in of my souped-up CS300XS and just pay the difference for the combo I mentioned.

With this being said, Howie and me were discussing if we should buy 2 pairs of the Westminsters, or the alternative, the new Kingdom Royal. Problem is space and the talked went to me looking at new homes. That said and done, I am also KEEPING my existing Meridian system as I do like them a lot. Maybe it will end up as the bedroom system as the speakers, though tall are not imposing, while the Westminsters/Kingdom can grace the hall.

I do not know Jeff Day BUT I do trust what he had written about the Leben Pre/Power combo, which is not a lot of money as compared to Shindo or the Kondo Ongaku + G70 which Howie is eyeing (his wife is kinder to him and let him have toys every now and then).

The Tannoy Westminster/Kingdom Royal+Leben RS28CS+C600P is definitely cheaper than my current Meridian combo - sans the C15+Twinstore which both Howie and myself also agreed that we should keep as its so much easier and fun to listen to. Of course, serious listening, we'll go for the TT (which I am also keeping)!

I am waiting for home prices over here to go down to saner levels before I jump into it. Meanwhile, will KIV the dream as there are still 3 major hurdles to resolve. Firstly space, second keep Meridian and last/most important, how to open my big mouth to say the word "CHANGING SYSTEM" OR "ADDING ONE MORE". That is my headache which I will really need time to ponder. Luckily, I have time as the new home market is still not caving in over here.

Serge, unlike you, I have no credibility with my wife for what I have gone thru last year, when she discovered how much I have really paid for my gears all the years. Now, I am rebuilding the trust and integrity which I have so laboriously earned. So every move I make regarding spending on hifi really have to be sieved thru my thickhead many times before I dare utter a word. Its not that much about money, its more about if she will TRUST me again!

Since I have my Meridian, I am very happy and am enjoying. Just that sometimes, old habits die hard! Sigh!
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  #29  
Old 08-12-2011, 08:19 AM
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Jerry
Look in the mirror and repeat to yourself. "Keep the Meridian. Keep the Meridian."


Jim
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  #30  
Old 08-12-2011, 09:07 AM
JohnThomas JohnThomas is offline
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Jerry looks sweet. Another very interesting piece. Just tell the wife Howie's letting you borrow the Leben for a couple of months.

I'm hoping Matt or someone can jump in here and school me on the differences between the Shindo preamps vs. Leben RS-100/RS-100U . Sound wise,performance, etc.

John
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