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Leben Owners: which speakers do you use?

I was talking to a fellow Audiogoner about our Leben CS300XS; he made the very good point that the model is in an unusual area: "it's not low powered set, not mid-powered like a lot of el84, el34, and kt88 push-pull tube amps." So maybe you have to take care speaker matching?

He's using Audio Note AN/Ks and liking them. I have Devore Nines and like them a lot (though for various reasons I am moving the Nines somewhere else and I'll be on the hunt for new speakers... hence the thread). I know Devore is a natural for these, maybe partly due to In Living Stereo/Tone Imports (that's where I heard the combo and fell for it).

Anyone else? What have you found? Especially the smaller Leben, but 600s too.
price
tjnindc
91 posts
 
I have to add that I am really liking the Quad 22L2's with the Leben. I had originally heard them with a Synthesis el84 amp and thought the sound was worth exploring. The Quads are a great match and super affordable for what they do.

I am the aforementioned Audio Note AN/K owner. While I love their musicality, I think that you really need to get a bigger AN speaker to get more low end extension (of course).

I have also run the Zu Soul Superfly's with mine. They are a great match as well. Tons of life, very very fun speakers.
draconis
11 posts
 
I'm using Harbeth SHL5s with my CS600 and it is wonderful. I have tried Living Voice IBX RWs as well, and whilst they were very nice, they were a bit too polite for my tastes,
defride
89 posts
 
Edoit, I think you might struggle to get the SFs going with the 300 though the 600 might work. I ran a 300x with Grand Piano's for a short time and it really wasn't happening. Pleasant but lacking dynamics. A friend runs a 600 with Elector Amators and that does work and the Cr Auditor M is often dem'd with 30w valves over here.

I heard a 300xs driving the mid / treble of Avantguard Nanos recently and though they weren't set up properly it sounded a very promising combo.
dsholl1
99 posts
 
I'm using the 300 with my Tannoy Kensington SE the synergy is outstanding. I'm selling my other amps and keeping the Leben.
allchemie
118 posts
 
Any of the excellent Coincident Technology speakers would be a good match. From the bookshelf Triumph Extreme II's, the $10,000 Super Victory's, and even the more expensive Total Victory V's.

The Coincident speakers are very low-powered amp friendly (although they also can sound great with high powered amps). The Coincident speakers don't have any low dips in resistance--they stay very constant, generally from 6 ohms and higher. Plus, these speakers stay very true to the source signal. So if you have quality power and quality source components youwill get great sound.

Another potential speaker buy would be the Vaughn Cabernet's, at around $8,500 direct from the manufacturer. They sound excellent and are a great bargain at their price and quality.

Greg
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