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To measure the Leben, I used Stereophile's loaner Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see www.ap.com and the January 2008 "As We See It").

The RS-30EQ phono preamplifier offered a voltage gain of 37.1dB, which is very much higher than the specified 23.5dB but is appropriate for moving-magnet cartridges. The preamp preserved absolute polarity (ie, was non-inverting), and its input impedance was 46k ohms at 1kHz, this dropping slightly, to 41k ohms, at the frequency extremes. The low-frequency output impedance was ridiculously high, at 28k ohms at 20Hz, and was…

The idea of a good-quality integrated amplifier—a power amp and preamp put together in a box of reasonable size—has never ceased to appeal to me. I owned three good integrated amps before I ever bothered to buy a stereo receiver (itself purchased before countless…

Rachmaninoff's Vocalise, Op.34, from Analogue Productions' recent 45rpm remastering of the recording by Donald…

Description: Two-channel tubed integrated amplifier. Tube complement: four EL84/6BQ5 (Sovtek), two 5751 (GE). Line inputs: 5 plus tape loop. Input sensitivity: 600mV. Output power: 12Wpc into 4, 6, or 8 ohms (7.8dBW, 9.3dBW, 10.8dBW, respectively). Frequency response: 15Hz–100kHz, –2dB. Total harmonic distortion: 0.7% at 10Wpc.
Dimensions: 14" (360mm) W by 5.5" (140mm) H by 10.5" (270mm) D. Weight: 22 lbs (10kg).
Serial Number Of Unit Reviewed: 106050.
Price: $3395. Approximate number of dealers: 11.
Manufacturer: Leben Hi-Fi Stereo Company, 3-22…

Analog Sources: Garrard 301, Thorens TD 124 turntables; EMT 997, Schick tonearms; Ortofon SPU, EMT OFD 25 & OFD 65 pickup heads.
Digital Sources: Wavelength Proton USB D/A converter; Apple iMac G5 computer running Apple iTunes V.10.2.2, Decibel V.1.0.2 playback software; Sony SCD-777ES SACD/CD player; Sony PlayStation 1 (as CD player).
Preamplification: Auditorium 23 Standard (SPU version), Silvercore One-to-Ten step-up transformers; Shindo Masseto preamplifier.
Power Amplifiers: Shindo Corton-Charlemagne monoblocks.
Loudspeakers: Audio…

To measure the Leben, I used Stereophile's loaner Audio Precision SYS2722 system (see www.ap.com and the January 2008 "As We See It").

I assessed the Leben CS300 integrated amplifier's performance from its 4 and 8 ohm output transformer taps; unless specifically addressed, the behavior from the 6 ohm tap can be taken as being between those two extremes. The maximum voltage gain into 8 ohms was modest for an integrated amplifier, at 27.1dB (8 ohm tap), 27.3dB (6 ohm tap), and 27.6dB (4 ohm tap). All inputs preserved absolute polarity, and the input…

Last Friday night, my old band, the Multi-Purpose Solution, played a show at Maxwell’s in Hoboken. We hadn’t performed since 2006, and, because we had only managed to get together for three full rehearsals prior to the show, each member of the band felt a certain amount of anxiety. But when we saw the room quickly fill with fans, family, and friends, we knew nothing could go wrong.

Still, I don’t think anyone expected the show to be as wonderful as it was. We played well enough&#151we were fast, loud, and relatively tight&#151but it was really the crowd…

A second event will be held at Sound Components (1536 South Dixie Highway) in Coral Gables, Florida, on Thursday, December 8, also at 6pm.

Additional demonstrations will be held across the country. Visit Wisdom Audio’s Events page for more info.

Working through my mostly 16-bit/44.1kHz playlist, I was struck by the 650D's consistent overall sound: unusually transparent, delicately drawn, and ethereal, with an almost complete absence of digital glare and hardness. Yet the 650D accomplished this without noticeably softening instrumental attacks or smothering natural transient…