Leben HiFi
Leben Hi-Fi Stereo Company is a Japanese manufacturer of simply superb
sounding tube amplification.
The designer and owner of Leben is Mr. Taku Hyodo who is known as
one of the best tube audio design engineers in Japan.
Mr. Hyodo is highly experienced Hi-Fi engineer having worked for Luxman
in the past, and is also a goo guitarist and other musical instruments
(He once was a professional guitarist).
He is also a collector of premium tubes such as 3CSS, 12AT7, E288CC,
6L6GC (5881), all of which are (will be) used in Leben amplifiers
at their best capabilities based on Leben's technology.
Mr. Hyodo left Luxman and established his own "Kouri Denki Co."(production
of electric/electronic components, parts & PCBs) in 1979 when
he was 30 years old. Besides producing electronic components and parts,
he also has been continuing production of amplifiers under "KFH"
brand name mainly for private requirements.
The first commercial based product "TRIODE 33"(under "KFH"
brand) was released in 1991 with very premium tube 3C33, and a first
model under “Leben” brand was a power amplifier RS-35a
(with 6L6GC) released in 1995, and then a preamplifier RS-28c (with
E288CC) in 1998. (RS-28c was recently renewed as RS-28CX with G.E.
6CG7).
Leben amplifiers are more of a product of passion, and not
many models are produced, however, several people in Japan have actually
gathered and set up a fan club called "Leben Audio Lovers’
Club". Members are always waiting for a new model from Leben,
which amazes them each and every time.
In light of these circumstances, Mr. Hyodo has started to produce
lower-cost amplifiers such as CS-200, CS-250, CS-300, CS-300X to allow
more music lovers a possibility to enjoy Leben’s tube sound
without investing too much.
All of the Leben products are hand made by well trained and experienced
people, and are all beautifully finished with high quality components
by point to point wiring.
All products are still made in Japan, and Leben product’s owners
can expect long life and high reliability as well as a highly musical
and rewarding performance.
All Leben products are based on “Self-biasing circuit”(even
by sacrificing the output power on specification) in order to allow
users to replace tubes without bias-adjustment and to continue stable
operation.
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