Evaluation

The new integrated amp CS-600X was highly evaluated bu UK audio magazine WHAT HI-FI

the original text

The new integrated amp CS-600X received "RED FINGERPRINT" award by the Polish hi-fi magazine "HighFidelity".

the original text

The new integrated amp CS-300F was nicely reviewed by Mr. Wojciech Pacula on the Polish hi-fi magazine "HighFidelity".

the original text

The new power amp CS-1000P received a great evaluation by Mr. Wojciech Pacula on the Polish hi-fi magazine "HighFidelity", and also on US magazine 6-MOONS.

the original text

Leben RS-28CX was nicely reviewed on Italian famous Hi-Fi Magazine REMUSIC

the original text

http://www.remusic.it/index.php?MasterId=g1_109&id_item=109&lng=3&node=330&rif=b68eae0bd1

RS-30EQ wan "Writers' Choice Award 2010" on a famous US hi-fi magazine "Positive Feedback"

the original text

RS-30EQ was nicely evaluated on US hi-fi magazine Stereophile in combination with CS-300

the original text

a pleasure to look at, a pleasure to use, and delightful to hear.

CS-300 was awarded by USA authentic hi-fi magazine "Stereophile" at the highest rating of "A" in the integrated amplifier section.

the original text

a pleasure to look at, a pleasure to use, and delightful to hear.

CS-300X(S) wan the GOLD Medal
of French authentic hi-fi magazine "Diapason"

the original text

This is the third Diapason GOLD Medal granted to Leben products:
* CS-660P : 2007 GOLD Medal
* CS-300 : 2006 GOLD Medal

a Polish authentic hi-fi magazine
"High Fidelity" selected Leben CS-300X and CS-660P as the Best Products 2010 in Integrated amp and Power amp category.

CS-600 was recently awarded by USA authentic hi-fi magazine "Stereophile" at the highest rating of "A" in the integrated amplifier section.

the original text

Leben CS-660P power amp was nicely reviewed by Mr. Wojtek Pacula on USA Hi-Fi Magazine 6-Moons.

the original text

Leben CS-660P power amp was demonstrated in mono block version at "KLANGBILDER" Show in Vienna combinated with RS-28CX preamp.

the original text

Leben new preamplifiers RS-100/RS-100U were nicely reviewed by Mr. Jeff Day on USA online magazine "Positive Feadback"

the original text

http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue46/awards.htm

Leben CS-300X(S) won the award by UK Hi-Fi magazine Hi Fi Plus "Product of the year award" on October 2009 Issue(Issue #68)

the original text

http://www.avguide.com/magarchive/hifiplus/2009

Leben CS-300 was highly evaluated by Dutch authentic Hi-Fi magazine "Music Emotion"

the original text

Leben impressed many people at Munich High-End Show 2009.

the original text

A new Phono Preamplifier RS-30EQ was tested by Mr. Jeff Day and greatly reviewed on USA Hi-Fi magazine "POSITIVE FEEDBACK ONLINE"(ISSUE 43)

the original text

CS-660P and RS-28CX two models from Leben were selected by 6-moons as the best amp of 2008 in each category.

the original text

Polish authentic hi-fi magazine
"HighFidelity" selected Leben RS-28CX as the "Best Product 2008" in Amplifier category.

the original text

It is almost unbelievable that one could prepare such great product for this money.
RS-28CX can be compared only with the best (the most pricey) preamplifiers on Earth.

RS-28CX adorned the cover of a German "image hifi" magazines.

the original text

CS-660P Power Amplifier was very highly evaluated by Mr. Jeff Day on 6-moons magazine/USA

the original text

It is supremely flexible for tube types, allowing the owner countless hours of joy experimenting with different vacuum tubes and their overall effect on the amp's voicing. The Leben CS660P is an easy Blue Moon award winner as a high-fidelity power amplifier.

CS-600 received a high acclaim by Mr. Jonny Park on USA magazine "sonicflare.com".

the original text

Leben CS-600 achieves a flawless harmony of form and function, in which the visual aesthetics perfectly reflects the musical performance. The CS-600 is an integrated amplifier which will not prove easy to replace for an upgrade, and qualifies without reservation as an exit-level component. At least in my system, as I suspect in many others, it will stay put for many years: Leben CS-600 is a classic, today.

CS-600 made a very impressive performance at FSI 2008 in Montreal, Canada.

the original text

Retro look of the Leben CS600 (EL34 tube-based, hand-built in Japan, with point-to-point wiring) which just oozes quality in a way that recalls the classic Marantz components. http://blog.stereophile.com/fsi2008/040708proac/

RS-28CX Preamplifier(with a matching Power amplifier CS-660P) was again reviewed very nicely by Mr. Jeff Day of 6-moons/USA

the original text

RS-28CX Preamplifier was wonderfully reviewed on Polish authentic Hi-Fi magazine "HIGH Fidelity OnLine"

the original text

we have a CR circuit here, completely without feedback (it was used in amplifiers like the Harman/Kardon Citation IV). The choice of elements and tubes allowed to prepare a preamplifier with the RIAA curve precision below 3%.

CS-660P was awarded "DIAPASON GOLD MEDAL" in amplifier category 2007
by French magazine "Diapason"

the original text

Evaluated as "Incomparable Musicality"

CS-300 was highly evaluated by Australian Hi-Fi Magazine "Audio & Video Lifestyle"

the original text

CS-300 wan the 5-stars prize at a comparison test of Greek authentic hifi magazine "IHOS"

Here are few exeptions from text:

"To cut a long story short, CS 300 is...simply magic. I expect that very few listeners will not be overwhelmed by its absolutely expressive and minutely consistent mid range. What could one possibly comment on its energy rich, harmonically flawless treble, which catalytically contributes to the realistic reproduction of natural instruments, or its truly deep bass, with the typically "valve like" flow and timing?"

CS-600 was greatly reviewed on sixmoons.com online magazine- USA

the original text

CS-300 was awarded "DIAPASON GOLD MEDAL" in amplifier category 2006
by French magazine "Diapason"

the original text

CS-300 won THE CD PRODUCT OF THE YEAR 2006 status in Integrated amplifier category by
a Polish authentic Hi-Fi magazine "HIGH Fidelity OnLine".

the original text

"This is brilliant, little, cute amp with fast transients and deep,
deep bass. Your friends will be looking for subwoofer that won't be there..."

"If CS-300 is great amp, it is even greater as an headphone amp and
could be sell for this one purpose. Thus if you are looking for amplifier
you are pleased with free, high end headphone amp.
Otherwise, if you are looking for a great headphone amp - you get great,
briliant amp for free."

CS-600's headphone amp gets rave reviews on Italian magazine "Head-Fi"

the original text

Nostalgia, when we see this little LEBEN !, we remember Leak and
Fisher from the 1960's, the golden age of the tube.
This amplifier brings out music with flexibility with a very
lifelike presentation.

Leben RS-28C Preamplifier - Revue du Son magazine - French

the original text

The Leben RS-28C gets the highest mark, a 5-star rating, from French hifi magazine Revue Du Son.

Leben CS-600 Integrated Amplifier - Image HiFi magazine, Jul/Aug 2006 - Germany

The integrated tube amplifier Leben CS-600 was reviewed on German Hi-Fi magazine "Image Hi-Fi" and received very very nice comments and superior evaluations.

Leben CS-300 Integrated Amplifier - Revue du Son magazine - French

the original text

The Leben CS-300 gets the highest mark, a 5-star rating, from French hifi magazine Revue Du Son. "Extraordinary musicality at a good price."

Leben CS-300X Integrated Amplifier - Image HiFi magazine, Jan/Feb 2006 - Germany

"The perfect little dream amplifier" - Roland Kraft

Leben CS-300X Integrated Amplifier - IXOS magazine - Greek (IXOS in English is Sound)

This texture could be described as extremely sleek and delicate, with great density of harmonious data and flexibility. Naturally, I refer to the widest middle area where Leben teaches us with its timbers, micro fluctuations of tone and rhythm against Manley Stingray, for example, and PrimaLuna Prologue Two. The first presents many similarities as to the timber with the Japanese full fledged, due to the EL84 it uses, while it is more dynamic with more ends and maybe, more detail. The latter is z"uperiorz?to Leben in those fields (let us not forget that the aforementioned are 40W). However, both cannot possibly have the brio (vigor, spiritedness), description and clarity of the middle CS-300X. Its keyword is range homogeneity and time continuity that rules before any detail or z?eatz In short, the Japanese z?rganizez? their sound in order for the listener to hear it effortlessly and to feel it calmly and deeply, while Americans and most Europeans prefer to s?feed the z?unter earz?and the ear that collects data.

Leben CS-300 Integrated Amplifier - Bild & Ljud Hemma magazine - Scandinavia

The Leben CS-300 has been reviewed by the Scandinavian hifi magazine "Ljud & Bild".

Like what every other previous reviewer already knows, the writer also found this wee integrated amp to be special, and aptly titled the review "Japanese Jewel". Verdict is 9+ out of 10. English translation to follow.

Leben CS-300X Integrated Amplifier - videohifi.com online magazine - Italy Reviewed by Givanni Aste and Bebo Moroni

the original text

* Bebo Moroni is one of the most famous italian hifi reviewers, and founder of videohifi.com
* Translated excerpts:

It makes it appeal to me that there is such an agreement, nearly on all aspects, between me and Giovanni. It confirms something to me that from time to time, there is indeed good equipment that emerges from the often shapeless mass of the super-marketed ones out there. I and Giovanni, it is true, we have more things on which we are of agreement, but it is also true that we rather follow distinguished sonorous philosophies: Giovanni from always and with extreme coherence, is a supporter of the high efficiency loudspeakers (particularly the Lowther). I, in some way an agnostic, listens to all and my systems of reference Pass Labs with large planar speakers, to monotriode single/ended amps with high efficiency speakers, and -- some mixtures between the different formulations.
...
Obviously the small Leben finds more comfort with other kind of speakers than my planars. With MANY kinds of diffusers. It has piloted magnificently, showing all the splendid colors of its richest harmonic range, the ProAC Tablette (the most efficient they are not), the Tannoy Cheviot (with which it has gone literally to wedding), the Dynaco To 25, Grundig 650b. It has made truly to understand how much the anodized gold frontplate corresponds to the gold of which is composed in its music heart, offering to me a performance simply like a narcotic. Japanese, discipline of the spirit.

Dynamics is considerable, with the right matching. The image is amplissima, independently from the speakers, deep and of an absolute sparkle, that it renders the atmosphere nearly impalpable. The price is not in the absolute lowest, but enough to listen to it ten minutes in order to understand that it is very more than justified, indeed, they said amazing.
...
In conclusion, One of the best integrated amplifiers of the last 10 years. Nothing else to say.

Leben CS-300X Integrated Amplifier was selected as The Best Amplifier of the Year 2005 by USA magazine 6-moons

Leben CS-300X Integrated Amplifier - sixmoons.com online magazine - USA

the original text

"I love integrated amps. Always have. Always will. They simplify by reducing clutter, cables and usually -- but not always -- cost. They avoid excessive nail biting over which preamp and interconnect to use."
...
"Yeah! If you are expecting the retro-chic Leben to exhibit the lush and warm tube sound of yore, you won't find it here. The CS-300X certainly offers the familiar valve characteristics - a sense of liquidity, smoothness and a palpable presence that some call glow. However, it was also surprisingly clean, airy and transparent. There was additionally a beguiling sense of delicacy and tonal refinement that made it easier to peer deeper into a performance.
The attack, body and decay of notes were completely believable and captivating. Bass performance was tuneful, fluid and without bloat or sluggishness. Acoustic bass was exceptionally well rendered and Ray Brown's throbbing lines on Live at the Loa [Concord 1027-6] were thoroughly involving.The wee 'Life" was relatively quick, agile and possessed of good rhythmic acuity and drive."

Leben RS-28C Preamplifier - Audio Accessory magazine - Japan

There are several hi-fi manufacturers specialized in valve amplifiers; however, we feel a striking fondness in products from Leben Hi-Fi.

Mr. Hyodo, the owner of Leben Hi-Fi Co. (a passionate music lover) said "I have been collecting several superior and characteristic tubes from all over the world, and it is very exciting when I find a very scarce and unusual tube".

I remember Leben's former power amplifier RS-35a, where in his unique audio sense he selected a TV tube for the first stage, resulting in such a clean, transparent and mild analog sound.

After such a great job, he has once again designed this time a fantastic preamplifier - the RS-28C. Needless to say, fully constructed tube circuits only with the best quality tubes selected by such a great tube collector. Furthermore, he also included a built-in phono stage, which is so nice and kind of him to support analog audiophiles.

The noteworthy phono stage does not employ the usual non-NFB circuit, but rather a CR type equalizer which exposes the naked characteristic of the tube itself. This is Leben's basic policy - to cook the raw materials without putting any seasonings or colours. In this case, it should be required to use the very best quality of tubes. Leben selected the Amperex (USA) "Bugle Boy Series" 12AT7 tubes, one of the premium tubes which can be used on this phono stage.
Enjoying a comfortable feeling turning the volume knob, I tried my favorite super analog LP. What a fresh and rich analog sound, with a massive harmony of bass that envelops my whole body.

When trying analog LPs of latest recordings, I felt as if the RS-28C was representing a naked quality of the LP itself. And it should be due to the high S/N of the CR type equalizer that the pianissimo touch of a piano is so clear and smooth.

Apart from the phono equalizer stage, it's line amp stage is also very unique and superior. I believe there are no other preamplifiers like RS-28C which are equipped with such a Broadcast-grade tube E288CC made by Siemens/Germany. E288CC tubes are fully driven by a powerful SRPP amplification circuit, creating a marvelous high power of 80V, this is really great.

A graceful and powerful sound, a more than enough capability to cope with all kinds of power amplifiers, and it's antique looking, don't you think this is really a precious preamplifier nowadays ?