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Leben CS600X - Class AB or pure class A? [message #96413]

Wed, 22 February 2023 07:23

kasperbergholt
Messages: 44
Registered: August 2021
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

Baron

Hi clever people,

I'm in the process of reading a review of a Leben CS600X integrated amplifier.

In one passage it says:

"The amp runs in Class AB rather than pure Class A. During use, it gets fairly warm but not uncomfortably hot"

Is that so? I was of the impression that all of Leben's tube amplifiers ran in pure class A.

The full review can be read here:

Leben CS600X Integrated Valve Amp Review on Stereonet.com

Thanks in advance,

Kasper Bergholt
/ https://bergholt.net/blog

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Re: Leben CS600X - Class AB or pure class A? [message #96438 is a reply to message #96413]

Sun, 26 February 2023 00:19

positron
Messages: 113
Registered: May 2020

Viscount

Hi Kasper,

It won't put out 28 watts in Class A operation. AB1 is another
matter as AB is much more efficient.

At much lower output power, both output tubes will operate
Class A.

Cheers

pos

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Re: Leben CS600X - Class AB or pure class A? [message #96449 is a reply to message #96438]

Wed, 01 March 2023 06:28

kasperbergholt
Messages: 44
Registered: August 2021
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

Baron

Thank you very much for the reply, pos Smile

Would it be safe to say that class a operation is up to the output tubes max rating, which would be around 8 watts for EL84 tubes?

Thanks again,

Kasper

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Re: Leben CS600X - Class AB or pure class A? [message #96454 is a reply to message #96449]

Wed, 01 March 2023 18:35

positron
Messages: 113
Registered: May 2020

Viscount

kasperbergholt wrote on Wed, 01 March 2023 06:28

Thank you very much for the reply, pos

Would it be safe to say that class a operation is up to the output tubes max rating, which would be around 8 watts for EL84 tubes?

Thanks again,

Kasper

Good question. Mullard's manual says probably true for PP, maybe higher
at max tube plate dissipation. About 5 watts output in PP triode mode.

In single ended pentode mode, about 5 watts output. In triode mode,
about 2.5 watts out at max plate dissipation.

Hope this helps Kasper.

pos

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Re: Leben CS600X - Class AB or pure class A? [message #96534 is a reply to message #96454]

Sat, 18 March 2023 17:47

kasperbergholt
Messages: 44
Registered: August 2021
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

Baron

positron wrote on Wed, 01 March 2023 18:35

kasperbergholt wrote on Wed, 01 March 2023 06:28
Thank you very much for the reply, pos

Would it be safe to say that class a operation is up to the output tubes max rating, which would be around 8 watts for EL84 tubes?

Thanks again,

Kasper
Good question. Mullard's manual says probably true for PP, maybe higher
at max tube plate dissipation. About 5 watts output in PP triode mode.

In single ended pentode mode, about 5 watts output. In triode mode,
about 2.5 watts out at max plate dissipation.

Hope this helps Kasper.

pos

Yes, it does, thanks!

I ended up getting the prior model, the Leben CS-600 (no 'x'). It's stunning.

https://bergholt.net/gastronomi/wp-content/uploads/leben-600.jpg

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Re: Leben CS600X - Class AB or pure class A? [message #96549 is a reply to message #96534]

Thu, 23 March 2023 20:49

positron
Messages: 113
Registered: May 2020

Viscount

kasperbergholt wrote on Sat, 18 March 2023 17:47

positron wrote on Wed, 01 March 2023 18:35
kasperbergholt wrote on Wed, 01 March 2023 06:28
Thank you very much for the reply, pos

Would it be safe to say that class a operation is up to the output tubes max rating, which would be around 8 watts for EL84 tubes?

Thanks again,

Kasper
Good question. Mullard's manual says probably true for PP, maybe higher
at max tube plate dissipation. About 5 watts output in PP triode mode.

In single ended pentode mode, about 5 watts output. In triode mode,
about 2.5 watts out at max plate dissipation.

Hope this helps Kasper.

pos

Yes, it does, thanks!

I ended up getting the prior model, the Leben CS-600 (no 'x'). It's stunning.

Glad it worked out well for you Kasper. It is possible to obtain near perfect, if not perfect reproduction quality from a PP AB1 amplifier using non inductive speakers. With cone/reactive type speakers, one can tailor for near perfect quality sound, although somewhat time consuming.

All the best.

pos

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Re: Leben CS600X - Class AB or pure class A? [message #96551 is a reply to message #96549]

Fri, 24 March 2023 21:56

gofar99
Messages: 1949
Registered: May 2010
Location: Southern Arizona

Illuminati (5th Degree)

Hi, just FYI...in class A push pull a pair of EL84s at 225-275 V B+ will deliver about 5 watts in Ultra linear mode and about 6.5 watts in pentode mode. Triode mode is just about 4 watts. All at less than around 1% THD+N without negative feed back. Also FYI all my designs for amps (4 watts to 40 watts) are a forced class A U/L mode. Inefficient for sure, but really nice sound. Well designed class AB amps can sound really nice as well, but I have seen none without negative feedback that do so. IMO NFB alters the sound...in hard to define ways and is a cause for considerable consternation in the audio field. Lots of arguments on it. A SE amp can work either way...but then they are all class A.

Good Listening
Bruce

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Re: Leben CS600X - Class AB or pure class A? [message #96575 is a reply to message #96551]

Tue, 28 March 2023 10:48

kasperbergholt
Messages: 44
Registered: August 2021
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark

Baron

gofar99 wrote on Fri, 24 March 2023 21:56

Hi, just FYI...in class A push pull a pair of EL84s at 225-275 V B+ will deliver about 5 watts in Ultra linear mode and about 6.5 watts in pentode mode. Triode mode is just about 4 watts. All at less than around 1% THD+N without negative feed back. Also FYI all my designs for amps (4 watts to 40 watts) are a forced class A U/L mode. Inefficient for sure, but really nice sound. Well designed class AB amps can sound really nice as well, but I have seen none without negative feedback that do so. IMO NFB alters the sound...in hard to define ways and is a cause for considerable consternation in the audio field. Lots of arguments on it. A SE amp can work either way...but then they are all class A.

Thank you for the explanations.

My previous amplifier was an Audio Note P2SE (single ended-typology) and zero negative feedback.

The tonality is very close to the Leben's, I think, but the Leben has got 'more punch'; that said, I know it's very difficult to do sequential listening comparisons without being able to swithc between to.

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Re: Leben CS600X - Class AB or pure class A? [message #96578 is a reply to message #96551]

Wed, 29 March 2023 11:43

positron
Messages: 113
Registered: May 2020

Viscount

gofar99 wrote on Fri, 24 March 2023 21:56

Hi, .....

Well designed class AB amps can sound really nice as well, but I have seen none without negative feedback that do so. IMO NFB alters the sound...in hard to define ways and is a cause for considerable consternation in the audio field. Lots of arguments on it. A SE amp can work either way...but then they are all class A.

I know what you mean. I have heard enough PP AB1 amps over the decades,
that very very few are truly accurate/natural.

That is why I have designed my own monoblock PP AB1 amps, in triode mode,
No global negative feedback. Took some 30 years R&D, but found them to
be superior to SETs (with their inherent problems), and nearly perfect via specialized listening tests.
(I am tempted to say perfect, that close.)

It can be quite superior. Sorry if I sound argumentative, don't mean to be.

pos

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