Leben CS-300 compared to Red Wine


In the market for an amp to join a pair of Devore Nines, with digital source (Mac); room about 17x25x8.

I heard the Leben with the Nines and loved the combo, just about ready to commit. However, obsessive audio speculation compels me to keep wondering about unopened doors, lately Red Wine, which I've read was another good match for those speakers.

Unfortunately I haven't been able to hear any of their gear---specifically I was intrigued by the Signature 30.2 amp and Isabella pre---so I wonder if anyone can offer any wisdom from personal experience: Leben sound, Red Wine sound? And what does it mean that Vinnie Rossi's gear is supposed to hit some middle ground between tubes and SS?

Many thanks.
price

Showing 3 responses by maxmad

I own RW 30.2 and owned PrimaLuna Prologue Two before and to tell you the true, Prima is more powerful and offers you the endless tube rolling to your liking, however, as always, this is about the match and you should try it first, imo, cos like you wrote, to make such step and invest blindly isn't ideal, for any of them.
Me, bought RW blindly, ha-ha, but my main use of it is for AKG K1000 ear speakers, however my Canton CD100 sound simply wonderful through RW. I loved Primaluna to, but because of her limited volume attenuator it draw me away from her, but my Cantons were great through PL, think even better than RW, gave more dynamics and tighter bass. Have to mention, I upgraded to NOS GEC KT88 plus all my pre amp tubes were NOS Mullards as well and it changed the tonality dramatically, from an very good amp to amazing sounding one. The delicacy of RW makes people say about their capability to sound like SS/Tube amp, but this is very personal and from my impressions RW do not sound like tube one, its still SS amp, which have the delicacy that makes him sound bit like tube one, but than again, its not the same at all.
Going to keep RW for a while and see how the things will be developing after another 50 hours of burn in, its still a fresh sounding, but have to become more ripe/fully developed and when I am on his 100 hours I will start to listen more critically, but so far so good, great amp from Red Wine.
Just a little advice. You may want to check the used market or contact Vinnie about some trades he have and maybe you can score a nice set up for 50% of the new costs, but than with fully check&warranty and new batteries as well.

Good luck.
By the way, you can ask Vinnie to send you one and if you don't like it, you can always send it back, its quite fair, just ask, he is a very nice and flexible gentleman.
After a while of owning RW 30.2 integrated, like 6 month, I switched to the tubes again, missed them a lot at the end, so I bought Cary CAD 300B and no regrets so far. I believe we are talking about preferences and best match up here rather than just a quality. One of the things I were missing, at least I felt so, the realism and bit of magic tubes offer. Of course there are other things that you may find better or differ, but thats only if you settle the things one next each other and listen, listen and enjoy.
From my expirience you will know what ever you like RW or not only if you use it for some longer term than one time or even a week or two try.
Regarding LEBEN, man, things I could find online, read and hear from users, its a stunning amp, which offers lots of tube rolling options, which again, offer you a lot of fun time, but be prepair, some NOS arent cheap at all, but still fun...