Tubes for the Leben RS30-EQ
Kasper Bergholt
0xCD3d
April 9th, 2024

The RS30-EQ RIAA design features two ECC81 tubes to amplify the low phono-level signal extracted by the pickup from the vinyl record to line level, which is adequate for the input of a preamplifier or an integrated amplifier.

The RS30-EQ works very well with Leben’s own range of amplifiers, but it’s output levels are within standards making it compatible with a wide range of tube and non-tube based products.

In addition to the two ECC81 tubes, a rectifier tube of the 6X5 family is used. My RS30-EQ came with two Electro Harmonix ECC81 tubes, which I’ve upgraded to two NOS (New Old Stock) tubes from German Telefunken. The first photo shows the inside of a RS30-EQ seen from the top with its lid removed.

Leben RS30-EQ RIAA with ECC81 & 6X5GT tubes. The ECC81s are from Telefunken and was an upgade I made from the Electro Harmonix ECC81 the RIAA came with. The 6XGT5 is the Hytron rectifier tube the RIAA came with originally.
Leben RS30-EQ RIAA with ECC81 & 6X5GT tubes. The ECC81s are from Telefunken and was an upgade I made from the Electro Harmonix ECC81 the RIAA came with. The 6XGT5 is the Hytron rectifier tube the RIAA came with originally.

To the left are the two ECC81 tubes, to the right is the transformer and in the top right-hand corner we see the 6X5GT rectifier tube. Currently, I’m using a Sylvania tube produced in the 50s.

Semi-rare NOS 6X5GT/G tube by Sylvania.
Semi-rare NOS 6X5GT/G tube by Sylvania.

Camera: Nikon D3. Lens: Carl Zeiss 50mm f2 macro.

Also see: leben cs-600 / objects for an ideal home #3 ~ transient.xyz

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