Leben CS600 vs McIntosh MC275

I used the MC275 with Harbeth M-40.1's a few years back and it was a nice combo. I have no experience with the Leben, but I'm sure you'd be fine with either amp.

MC275 has a more gutsy powerful presentation and it is also more fluid. The Leben has better micro dynamics and micro details. It has a certain sparkle in its sound which is makes for a lively presentation.

If your speaker needs more power, get the MC275.

If you listen to Rock, pop, blues, big band more then the more gutsy and driving sound of MC275 will be more enjoyble. If you are into small ensemble Jazz, Acoustic music get the Leben.

I have owned both at different times. Both are worth demo'ing in your room with your equipment and will give different results. Remember your hearing is as different from others as your fingerprints, as is your room & equipment. The Leben is exceptionally well built & has a really great headphone output for late night listening and the ability to run different output tubes if that makes a difference to you.

I heard both amps, with different speakers though. I listen mostly to Jazz, vocal and Pop. It was a hard decision to make. At the end, I went with the CS600. The headphone output is a plus. My Sennheiser HD650 sounded very good with it. The CS600 came with stock tubes Sovtek 6L6WGC which I didn't like. I replaced them with new reissue Mullard EL34 and I like it much better. The Mullard EL34 sounded less lively (with less extension on both ends) than 6L6WGC but it is smoother and the mid range is more pronounce and sweeter. I can live with it. I will try other tubes such as KT77, KT66, KT88, KT90, KT120 and 6CA7-Z (maybe this tubes is compatible, got to double check) in the future. I just noticed that the price for SED Winged C EL34 at thetubestore has increased again. It was $49.90 last month. Now it is $57.95. Probably I should get a quad now. Some say KT77 is better. Some say SED Winged C is better.

Here is the unboxing photos of CS600 for those who are interested.

https://andyhangout.wordpress.com/2014/08/04/unboxing-a-new-leben-cs600-stereo-amplifier