Review: Leben CS-600 Integrated Amp

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COMMENTS (6) | Permalink | Integrated Amp $3k to 6k | Posted by Jonny Park on May 03 '08

HE2006: MBL's Babies

This little MBL system uses mere mortal speaker drivers instead of their omnis. Alas, this was a non playing demo. With the big 101s casting their spell, it's really no surprise. Shown above are the $3250 MBL 311 E speakers, $7480 7008 integrated and $8400 1531 CD player.

Pictured below is the new line of entry-level components: $4700 model 7006 integrated, $3600 4006 preamplifier, $3500 8006 B power amp and the 1431 CD player (no list price). Thoroughly confused by the numbering system yet? Me too.

| Permalink | Acoustic Treatment , Disc players $2 to $5k , Disc players $5k to 10k , Integrated Amp $3k to 6k , Integrated Amp $6k to 10k , Shows and Expos , Speakers $2k-5k | Posted by Josh Ray on Jun 07 '06

Pathos Logos Integrated Amplifier

Pathos Acoustics brings the Italian treatment to integrated amps with their $4795 Logos. If you haven't seen these products in the flesh, well, let's just say pictures doesn't do them justice. They're hot like Italian cars, Italian clothing and Italian models. Sound? Does it matter? Stereo Times says this:

It is the most beautiful integrated I have laid eyes on and truly draws the listener into its orb, with its cosmetic beauty and its mid to upper delicacy and naturalness second to none.

If you didn't notice, the volume knob is actually a wheel with the center portion the volume level. The center stays stationary while you spin the outer portion. Oh, and did you notice the heat sinks on the side spell "PATHOS PATHOS PATHOS"? Cool, cool, cool.

Pathos Logos Review [Stereo Times[
Pathos Acoustics

COMMENTS (3) | Permalink | Integrated Amp $3k to 6k | Posted by Josh Ray on Mar 15 '06

Vegas - Tri and Micropure

Tri (Triode Corporation Japan) and Micropure exhibited their goodies at Alexis Park, showing off a slew of new and cool equipment. Tri is, obviously, all about tubes. They demoed their new TRV-35se integrated (45 watts x2, $1800), TRV-CD2 cd player ($1800) and the big boy 88 Signature integrated (75 watts x2, $5000).

The speakers from Micropure are new prototypes facing a few hurdles before going into production. They use full range drivers with a super tweeter for 65-100k Hz. Without the super tweeter, they go for $800 under the Studio name. The super tweeter is from MuRata which got a lot of love this last year. MuRata is putting up a bit of a battle with dropping the price of the tweeter and, thus, forcing the price of the speakers up to $3000 a pair.

More pictures after the jump...

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Permalink | Comments (2) | Posted to Integrated Amp $1k to 3k | Integrated Amp $3k to 6k | Shows and Expos | Speakers $2k-5k

KR Audio Kronzilla and VA340 Reviews

Can anyone say overcompensation? At 13" tall, the Kronzilla T1610 tubes are some of the biggest single ended tubes in production and some of the most powerful -- they pound out a massive 50 watts per monoblock amplifier. Audiophilia says this of KR Audio's beasts:

The sound had the fullness and depth that is evident in the best single ended's, it also had that essential power reserve that one feels with really good solid state designs. It seemed a little naughty to be able to get the best of the single ended topology in addition to the one attribute that I admire in solid state. An embarrassment of riches.

The best of both worlds ain't cheap at $20k. More reasonably priced is the $5999 KR Audio VA340 20 watt stereo integrated amp reviewed by Superior Audio:

While I never felt it was the most dynamic amplifier that I've heard, neither did I think it lacked dynamics to any significant degree. And it certainly is among the most transparent windows I've had the pleasure to hear. For overall enjoyment of the music, it is hard to imagine it getting any better than this.

Go read Superior Audio's excellent article for all the goods on this Czech company that's taking the tube world by storm. We covered the VA340 earlier.

KR Audio Kronzilla Review [Audiophilia]
KR Audio VA340 Review [Superior Audio]
KR Audio

Permalink | | Posted to Amplifiers $10k to 20k | Integrated Amp $3k to 6k

Leben CS-300x Integrated Amp

Paul Candy of 6Moons likes integrated amps - no need to match components, fewer components means better sound, etc. And, you know what? He's right. The retro-fab piece pictured is the Leben CS-300x tube integrated from Japan and is the personal project of a Japanese master tube engineer Taku Hyodo. Only available in limited quantities, Paul Candy seems to like it will enough - with 12 watts a side, he describes the amp as "alive" in ways most simply are not. Price runs $3295. Check out his review for tube rolling and component matching.

Leben CS-300x Review [6Moons]
Leben Home

Permalink | | Posted to Integrated Amp $3k to 6k

Edge G3 Integrated

Now that's one fine piece of audio gear! Edge Electronics' G3 integrated is reviewed by John Brazier of Positive Feedback and, wouldn't you know it, John ends up buying the review piece. Perfection doesn't come cheap - 85 watts costs $5495. But for that five and a half grand, you get some sweet industrial design and knobs that even light up!

Edge G3 Integrated Amplifier [Positive Feedback]
Edge Electronics Home

Permalink | | Posted to Integrated Amp $3k to 6k

News: DK Design Sells VS.1 Reference Amp

Sound Stage has the scoop on DK Design group selling off their VS.1 Reference integrated amp we posted about earlier to LSA Group out of Louisville, Kentucky. Sounds a tad strange DK would only sell the VS.1 and not the rest of their lineup of amps, but who knows.

Sound Stage News
DK Design Group Home

Permalink | | Posted to Integrated Amp $3k to 6k

PS Audio GCC-250 Integrated Amp Review

Stereo Times reviews the PS Audio GCC-250 integrated. Now, what's different about this sucker is the proprietary Gain Cell - a digital means of controlling the gain (volume) of the system without using a sound-degrading volume pot. PS Audio claims to achieve the sonic purity of an amplifier without a pre-amp while still providing volume control.

Keep reading for the rest.

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Permalink | | Posted to Integrated Amp $1k to 3k | Integrated Amp $3k to 6k