Mar 262010
I fell in love with the Leben Hi-Fi Stereo Company and the electronics designs of Mr. Taku Hyodo, the founder of Leben Hi-Fi Stereo Company (shown left with the RS30EQ phono stage). I hope to make this blog a resource for Leben enthusiasts like myself. Enjoy!
Hi Jeff
Hope you are well.
I would like your advice and that of anyone else reading please on a package that a distributor has put together for me. I have no gear presently so am keen to get the right set up from the outset. I want to do this once if possible.
I am defiintely buying the Leben CS300XS and RS30-EQ. The distributor is recommending Tannoy Stirling SE speakers, which at least have the right sensitivity. The choice of turntables where I currently reside (Jakarta, Indonesia) is limited and he has suggested the Linn MajikLP12. For the interconnect Cables he has suggested Rega and same for the speaker cables (Rega SC42). All of the above is about right in terms of my budget (could probably spend a bit more on cables).
I noticed the other recommendations for speakers for the Leben CS300XS and RS30-EQ above in the Feb posting but neither WLM or Contrast are available in Indonesia (or even Singapore by the looks of it). Any other thoughts/insights on speakers for the Leben units and do you have any views on the abovementioned turntable and cables.
Thanks in advance for any feedback and I have enjoyed reading the posting in this blog over the past day or two.
Jared.
Hi Jared,
The Leben CS-300XS and RS-30EQ is a great choice. I don’t have any experience with the Stirling SE, but I just went out to take a look at them on web, and they sure do look nice.
I’ve always liked the Linn turntables, but you need to make sure you have someone local who can set it up and do any required maintenance, as they’re a little more tricky than some. I really like the VPI Classic series of turntables, if they’re available where you’re at you should check them out.Check out my ‘Winning Systems’ post here at Jeff’s Place on other speaker ideas, as Jonathan Halpern has had great success with ProAcs and Devore Fidelity, for example.
I have no experience with the Rega cables, but Auditorium 23 is always a good choice for cables with Leben, and I really like the Sablon Audio Panatela interconnects as well.
Be sure to check back in and let me know what you’ve decided to do and how it works out.
Kind regards,
Jeff
Hi Jared!
It’s not so difficult. Please try Harbeth or WLM Speakers. That’s the right choice for a middle-sized room. If you’re looking speakers for a great room, than try Tannoy. But remind you: You want the SUPERTWEETER with a Tannoy.
I’ve heard some really great Tannoy speakers, they are sometimes a little bit uninspired. I like the Harbeth to much!!
On the other hand you can look for some really nice pair of Altec Valencia or Altec 604.
One advice for the turntable: The Linn LP 12 is not a easy turntable. Some small problems everyday!
You can look for am REGA P5/ P7 / P9. Take an Rega RB1000 tonearm.
An then use a Ortofon 2M Black. This is a very good MM System!!!
For the cables: Try BELDEN 9497 for the speakers. You can also configure the same BELDEN cable for interconnect.
If you want a really good whole system:
Try all cables from Keith Aschenbrenner! And then take a Ortofon SPU with T1 Hommage Transformer.
Best regards from Germany
Maik
The Contrast Model One As3 sounds very nice with Leben CS 300.
WLM Speakers LaScala , Diva etc also sounds very nice.
I am shure that WLM and Contrast can help you with speakers to Indonesia.
I know them both, and I can help you with this matter
Hi,
I am considering the Contrast Model 1 AS-3 to use in a small room with my LM Audio 3 WPC el84 tube integrated. There is very little information on these speakers and I was leaning toward the Nola Boxers until I read about contrast. Since you have heard them can you give me any insight on their sound?
Thanks,
Art Veves
Hi Art
The Contrast Model one AS-3 has a very dynamics sound and the sound are very open
Please sen me a e mail ketih3@online.no
Guys, thanks very much to both of you for your advice, its much appreciated. I will spend the next week looking into your recommendations further. There is also Rega dealer here in Jakarta with some new stock so will check those units out this weekend.
Best regards,
Jared.
Hi Jeff,
Thanks for your blog which is truly a gold mine of informations on great Hi-Fi companies (I really dig the fact that you are looking for edgy/new companies such as NVO).
I have a quick question regarding Shindo Labs. A few years back you wrote an interesting piece about Shindo for 6moons , but since them almost nothing.
I would be interest in hearing your view on their products and how they compare to Leben’s products. For instance, I was wondering if you had the chance to listen to the Shindo Apetite 6v6 and compare it to the great Leben CS300XS.
Thanks!
David
Hi David,
Thanks for the kind words – appreciated.
I really like the Shindo gear. In a perfect world, if I could afford to collect some more Hi-Fi gear, I’d love to have their Garrard 301 player, their top preamp, and their 300B monos. I haven’t heard the Apetite, but if it’s like the rest of the Shindo gear I’m sure it’s really nice.
The Leben is really nice gear too, but it’s a different sort of idea. The Shindo has a ‘golden era’ voicing to it that is hard to resist. The Leben is a more modern interpretation, but set up correctly it’s amazing too (see the ‘Winning Systems’ post. I still use a system very much like the ‘Winning Systems’ post here as my system #2 reference.
Thanks for stopping by!
Kind regards,
Jeff