Leben CS 300F Integrated Amplifier

Relatively low output notwithstanding, the CS 300F passes most tests with flying colours. That creaminess can mean a little too much ‘shape’ in the upper bass; not tubby sounding, but just a little broader in the beam, especially when compared to the thin sound of many systems. Also, if you do push the CS 300F to its limits, those limits start to show with a little muddiness in the deepest bass, as if the last two keys on the piano were not playing. But these are more observations than criticisms, and you need to be playing the CS 300F well past its limits to hear these emerge.

Leben has made a beguiling amp in the CS 300F, but perhaps not in the way you might expect from its external appearance. The amplifier is extremely clean and accurate sounding, but not in the cold and stark way often associated with clean-sounding electronics. Yes, it’s a valve amplifier, but one that brings out many of the good things of both valve and solid-state audio. If you have efficient speakers, this is the Little Leben That Could!

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Inputs: 5x line input, 1x tape input/output (all RCA), earth tag for optional phono stage
• Tubes used: 2x 17EW8, 4x JAN 6197
• Power output: 2x 15W
• Frequency Response: 15Hz–100kHz (-2dB)
• THD: 0.7% (at 10W)
• Input sensitivity: 600mV
• Output Impedance: 4/6/8Ω (Selectable), 300Ω (headphones)
• Headphone output: 1000mV
• Dimensions (W×H×D): 38 × 14 × 27cm
• Weight: 11kg
• Price: £2,850

Manufacturer:

Leben Hi-Fi Stereo Company

URL: lebenhifi.com

UK Distributor:

Midland Audio xChange

URL: midlandaudiox-change.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0)1562 731100