Seems like the amp and probably not the tubes. The speaker can be a magnifying glass but if all the tubes are producing the same result, again, something with the amp. IMO.
Leben CS300XS Tube Rolling
Of course there are older threads, here and elsewhere, that cover the subject. But I’m looking for fresh takes from new users (and given how quickly used units move, I’m guessing there are a few of us around) as well as feedback from seasoned experimenters (maybe even some dating back to those mind numbingly long threads of 10+ years ago).
Some say the Leben CS300XS is responsive to different tubes, both EL84 and 12ax7. Others say only the signal tubes noticeably impact the sound. Given that versions of the amp have been around for ~20 years, this seems like something that should be already settled, but here I am…
New production or NOS and no hard budget, I’m open to trying anything anyone else enjoyed. What am I trying to achieve? Occasionally, I hear some random graininess and/or hardness at higher volumes (could this be tube related? I don’t know). Beyond that, I’m really looking for anything that brings more of the Leben’s great qualities forward (like when I added A23 cables to the mix, *everything* improved).
Speakers are Klipsch Forte IV and sole source at the moment is a Chord Qutest DAC. Thanks in advance for any advice/help you care to share.
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@oceanandmountains silent. |
@oceanandmountains first of all, friends dont let friends buy tubes on Amazon. The good news is you can probably return them. Can you hear hiss through the headphone section? If not, then perhaps try some low noise matched 5751’s from Brent Jesse. You dont need that much gain with those speakers.
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@bjesien Thanks again! That's *really* good to know... Tomorrow I'm supposed to receive my second, new Leben CS300XS (hence the original purpose of this thread). Don't want to go into the long, boring details of my Leben saga here (at least not yet), but I'll soon be able to compare two different units and better distinguish amp behavior from tube behavior for myself ('cause there's no substitute for experience, right? Lol.) I promise to report back..
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@ghasley Unfortunately, I don't have wired headphones. But yeah, definitely shopping 5751s from Brent or VTS (good point on the speakers). In addition to the GE version, the Sylvania 5751 black plate, triple mica get some great feedback. |
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