Service

Frequently Asked Questions

Below we answer the most common questions that reach us. If your question is still not answered, please contact us directly!

General

Lehmannaudio in general

Are all Lehmannaudio products made in Germany?
Yes, all products are exclusively developed and manufactured in Germany.
How long is the guarantee period for Lehmannaudio products?
After registering your product Lehmannaudio gives a 2 year limited warranty for all products. You can register online or use the printed form supplied with the product and send it by fax, email or mail.
My product is out of guarantee, is it possible to have it repaired anyway?
Sure, please contact us with the problem you have. We will find a solution.
I would like to have my Lehmannaudio product updated to the current revision. Is that possible?
Yes, we'd love to update your device, no matter where you live. Just contact us and don't forget to tell us your device type and serial number.
Why aren't there any prices on your website?
Since we do not sell directly to end customers and because of the different international pricing we don't have any prices online. Please contact your favourite dealer or the distributor in charge for your country and ask for a pricelist.
Is it possible to order Lehmannaudio products online?
We do not sell directly to end customers. But there are hifi shops that sell our products online.
I am not sure whether I have bought a genuine Lehmannaudio product. Is it possible to verify my device?
Yes, that is possible. Please contact us.
Is it possible to get in touch with Lehmannaudio via social media?
Yes, you can talk to us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Youtube and Google+
Is it possible to meet the Lehmannaudio staff at trade shows?
Sure, we are present at trade fairs, mainly in Germany, like the Frankfurt Music Fair, the Tonmeistertagung in Cologne, or the High End in Munich. We are looking forward to meeting you there!

Pre- & Headphone Amp

Questions about our Pre- and Headphone Amps

What should be preferred: a high gain with plenty of reserve for the volume pot or a low gain with a volume setting between 12 and 4 o’clock?
As long as you can realise a volume setting that is loud enough, the low gain setting is to be preferred. As a matter of fact potentiometers tend to have a weaker channel balance in the lower volume range. Secondly the danger of cranking up the volume to insane and dangerous levels is minimised.
On my Linear I have set the dip switches to 0dB. To get a decent volume, the volume control is between position 12 and 1 o'clock. Is this normal? Would altering the DIP-switches to 20dB give me the same volume level without moving the volume knob to such high positions? Do the different gain settings affect sound quality in any way?
We recommend to leave the gain setting at 0dB. At 12 o'clock you still have 20dB of reserve. If you choose a higher gain setting, you will have to turn down the potentiometer to a lower level and also slightly increase the noise. Using higher gain settings is only recommended in cases where the potentiometer reaches the maximum level and volume is still insufficient. This is highly depending on the efficiency of the headphone in question.
How important is the impedance for headphone volume?
In general low impedance headphones have a higher current consumption and a higher impedance results in a higher voltage consumption to reach higher sound pressure levels. The sensitivity of the headphone itself is a much more important parameter because here the sound pressure level can be seen much more obviously.
What is the maximum recommended SPL (sound pressure level) for long term listening (8 hours)?
There are recommendations by European and US authorities which differ greatly and which do not apply to private listening but to people's working environment.
How can I find the perfect headphone for myself?
First try to wear the headphone without music playing. Not only ears are different - heads are different as well. You will never feel comfortable with a headphone that does not fit your head. Secondly, choose from those headphones you feel comfortable with. Time is a very important factor here. Some headphones sound quite spectacular first, but cause headaches when used for a longer time.
What is the best music for evaluating headphones and headphone amplifiers?
The best music is the music you personally know very well. There are of course some other helpful rules: Use music that is not overly compressed dynamically. Music with a very low dynamic range causes listening fatigue and does not allow to evaluate the dynamic behaviour of the piece of equipment in question. Use music that does not have a reduced data rate. That means MP3 files are rather unsuitable.
Which operating systems does the Linear USB support?
The Linear USB supports the major operating systems Windows, Mac OS and Linux.
I connected the Linear USB to my computer, but I still cannot hear anything.
Please make sure that you selected the right output device ("USB Loudspeaker" or "Burr-Brown") in your operating system preferences.
Is the Linear USB compatible with the Apple iPad?
Yes, please use the Apple Camera Connection Kit and connect the Linear USB to it.
I have one of your Linear USB headphone amps and a Stamp Amplifier, can you recommend a good set of speaker for this?
As a rule of thumb you should first go for highly efficient speakers (+87 dB), but this is also dependent on the planned distance to the listening place and to the desired listening level. We found that speakers with a simpler frequency division network tend to absorb less energy from the sound - regardless of efficiency. I had two pairs of speakers compared with the same efficiency but with different concepts for the filter network. One pair sounded really tired and sleepy, the other pair was alive and full of energy. The Stamp has a maximum rated power of 20W per channel into 4 Ohms. So 4 Ohm speakers can make better use of the power delivered by the Stamp. Into 8 Ohms there are approx. 11W. In every case, try to audition the combination in your own environment with your own music to get an impression if the setup will work for you or not. We had very good experiences with Odeon speakers, which are all 90dB and more types.
What's the difference between the Black Cube Linear and the Linear?
It's the same product. The Linear had been called Black Cube Linear by the time of the product launch and also had the Black Cube signet on the face plate. To avoid misunderstandings, we just changed the name and the logo on the face plate some time ago. Some dealers and some customers still call the product Black Cube Linear.
What is the optimal gain setting for my headphone?
The optimal gain setting is geared to you: It’s the setting with the lowest gain where you don’t always feel like turning up the level beyond the right-hand stop of the volume control. Very often this is indeed the 0 dB unigain position. A higher gain setting than what is actually needed is noticeable from the fact that the volume control needs to be turned up only very low with normal listening. Therefore it is working in a range with a less favourable channel balance.

Phono Stages

Questions about our Phono Stages

Are Lehmannaudio phono stages capable of handling MM and MC Cartridges?
All of our phono stages can be used with MM and MC cartridges.
How can I configure the right impedance for my cartridge?
Apart from the selectable internal impedances, all phono stages have a slot for a custom impedance. Please refer to the product manual or ask your local Lehmannaudio dealer for help.
What’s the difference between the Black Cube SE and the Black Cube SE II?
The Black Cube SE and the Black Cube SE II use an identical circuit design. Both phono preamps are powered by the PWX power supply. The two devices differ mainly in three points: The Black Cube SE II is equipped with special high-grade sockets which, other than in the Black Cube SE, are all located on the rear panel. The Black Cube is an inline phono stage with inputs on one side and outputs on the opposite side. The Black Cube SE II has a front panel that is available in silver, black or chrome; as a matter of principle, the Black Cube SE has no front panel. A comprehensive bass filter with a total of 16 configuration settings expands the SE II’s functionality. It allows to adjust the lower cutoff frequency to suit your personal requirements. The Black Cube SE merely offers a single jumper setting for this function. All functions of the Black Cube SE II – except for the DC Capacitor Bypass – are accessible via DIP switches on the bottom side, whereas the Black Cube SE uses internal jumpers for High Gain, DC Bypass and Soft Bass Rolloff (filter), and only the coarse gain selection and impedance setting are operated via DIP switches. When the DC Capacitor Bypass is activated, the output capacitors are bridged by jumpers and removed from the signal path. This measure should only be performed if the subsequent input stage is DC protected.
Can I use the phono preamps from Lehmannaudio also as step-up transformers?
The Lehmannaudio phono preamps cannot be used as a step-up preamp. This is because the internal RIAA filter cannot be bypassed. This passive filter corrects the characteristic reproduction curve of the record in a mirror-inverted way and for this reason largely contributes to the good sound of the devices. The output of all Lehmannaudio phono preamps must therefore be connected to a high-level input under all circumstances and by no means to a phono input. Otherwise this very filtering process would take place twice, resulting in a totally wrong and extremely muffled sound.
Can I upgrade the Black Cube Statement with a power supply from the Black Cube (SE)?
Unfortunately no. In the Black Cube Statement the entire electronics of the power supply sits on the audio board, it is fed by a 24 V DC power supply whereas the Black Cube and the Black Cube SE are fed by a completely external 2 x 15 V power supply. These two systems are not compatible.
How can I determine the optimal impedance?
According to the rule of thumb, the terminating resistance should be at least ten times higher than the system impedance (referred to as e.g. internal resistance, impedance, system impedance or source impedance in the data sheet). A lower terminating resistance will result in a gradual loss of dynamics and output level. The extent of that loss depends on the degree of mismatch. The configuration “load impedance = system impedance“ is not recommended. In this case the system will not deliver its optimal sound; furthermore the level loss is 50% of its output voltage. In general the mechanical parameters of both the tonearm and the pickup system should be perfectly adjusted prior to any impedance settings.
Which is more advantageous: a high output MC or a low output version of the same model?
Soundwise the low output MC should always be given preference. Since it has a lighter coil, the typical MC benefits can unfold their true potential.
I own an MC system for which a high-Z terminating resistance (47 kohms) is recommended. Is this combination possible?
All our phono preamps allow an independent adjustment of both the gain and the terminating resistance. So simply choose the settings for the gain and terminating resistance which are the best tonal match to your system.

Ask us directly!

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