A few moments ago the FedEx driver delivered a new product released by the Leben Hi-Fi Stereo Company, the Leben CS-60T step-up transformer for moving-coil phonograph cartridges!
In typical Leben fashion the CS-60T is drop-dead gorgeous! Fit and finish is classy and extraordinary, as with all Leben products.
From the included information card:
The CS-60T features custom designed Permalloy-core transformers, made in Japan with the thickest possible wire relative to the core size.
To prevent sound quality degradation caused by contact points, a direct connection structure without a toggle switch was adopted.
A chassis with high shielding effect using two different materials. Right and left channel transformers are enclosed in a 1 kilogram aluminum block, which is then covered with a 2 mm thick steel chassis and 10 mm thick aluminum base.
Wooden side panels made of natural walnut to neutralize the metallic resonance of the chassis.
Wooden insulators (above) made of Zelkova serrata which is often used for the body of Japanese drums, pillars of shrines and temples, etc. This achieved natural and organic sound and realistic sound stage.
Specifications:
Frequency response: 10Hz to 100KHz +/- 1 dB.
Gain: 25 dB.
Input Impedance: below 14 Ohms (recommended cartridge).
Load Impedance: over 47 kOhm.
Dimensions (in cm): 11 (H) x 12 (W) x 15 (D).
Weight: 2.8 kg (6.2 pounds)
A classy badge of the Leben Hi-Fi Stereo company is on the top of the chassis.
The Leben CS-60T SUT is just stunning to see, and I wish the photos did it justice. Wait until you see a CS-60T in person - it's gorgeous!
Many thanks to Yoshi-san and Elia-san at the Muson Project, Inc., for sending the Leben CS-60T step-up transformer for me to listen to and tell you about.
I'll be installing it into my office system with the Leben RS-30EQ phono preamplifier shortly, so much more to come!
As always, thanks for stopping by, and may the tone be with you!
Postscript:
I couldn't wait to get the Leben CS-60T SUT installed into my office system. I was really excited to hear it in this system with the Leben RS-30EQ phono stage.
The big red loudspeakers are vintage Altecs that were custom built for conductor Leopold Stokowski way back in the day, which Frederik and I hot-rodded with custom Duelund CAST tinned-copper crossover components.
Up top are vintage Luxman AS-10 constant impedance attenuators that were recommended to me by Yazaki-san, and are perfect for adjusting the high-frequency horns' balance to match that of the low-frequency drivers.
I've been wanting to listen to the superb Murasakino Musique Analogue ‘Sumile’ MC phonograph cartridge that I reviewed earlier, but haven't had a suitable step-up transformer for it until the arrival of the Leben CS-60T SUT.
I installed the Sumile on the lovingly crafted artisanal Acoustic Revive RHS-1 headshell, and then mounted the combo on the Schick tonearm.
After doing the appropriate adjustments to get the cartridge dialed in, I then installed the Leben CS-60T SUT with the Leben RS-30EQ phono preamplifier.
After getting everything connected I fired up the RS-30EQ phono pre and the delicious Triode Lab 45 EVO SET amplifier.
Then I picked out a couple of albums to listen to: Tchaikovsky and Miles Davis.
Listening to Miles Davis's Birth Of The Cool at the moment and it is sounding very live and refined.
Amazing what those 78 direct-to-disc records were capable of that were compiled for this album, and Birth Of The Cool is sounding impressive indeed!
I'll keep you posted with more detailed observations after I get some more listening time in.
Postscript 2:
After writing my introductory post for the Leben CS-60T SUT, Yoshi-san (Muson Project, Inc.) shared further information with me that could be helpful for Leben enthusiasts.
I tend to take audio components apart to photograph them so you can see the components that populate a given circuit.
Yoshi-san advised me that the CS-60T SUT is not field-serviceable, so it was best to not dismantle it for photographs, and risk damaging it. Instead he sent me a photograph of a CS-60T just prior to its final assembly for you to see.
The CS-60T is as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside. Notice the two-chassis construction method as mentioned earlier. The outer chassis utilizes a metal chassis for shielding, with walnut side panels for vibration damping (and a classy appearance).
Inside the outer chassis, the inner chassis houses the 1 kg transformer block containing the sensitive transformers.
The first production run of the Leben CS-60T SUT will consist of 20 units.
Due to the uncertainty related to tariffs, wars, fuel prices, etc., and their effects on the costs of parts and materials using in manufacturing the CS-60T SUT (which are already rising as I write this), the next production run may be more expensive to produce.
A word to the wise: the CS-60T SUT is designed to be a perfect match to Leben phono preamplifiers, like my RS-30EQ, and I'm very impressed with what I am hearing from it in combination with the RS-30EQ.
If you're considering a CS-60T SUT for your Leben audio system, don't dilly-dally, as the first production run is small, and pricing uncertainties due to the world situation makes waiting a gamble on pricing.
Get one while you can!
The Leben CS-60T will be imported to the USA by Tone Imports (Jonathan Halpern), with a retail price of $2795 USD.
As always, thanks for stopping by, and may the tone be with you!
