Lehmann Black Cube question

The original Black Cube had internal dip switches for setting gain and loading. Subsequently, a small hole was cut in the bottom of the box and these switches mounted on the bottom of the board so that you could get to them without taking off the bottom cover, but the circuit remained the same.

Next was the SE with the better designed and bigger outboard power supply, also offered as an upgrade option to existing Cubes.

I get foggy here, but more recently, I believe that the whole circuit was reconceptualized.

The originals, with our without, power supply are not just fine and not worth owning in my book. No doubt, others will feel differently depending on their tastes.

I bought the original Black Cube when it first came out based on the over-the-top reviews and user comments. Big mistake! It sounded mediocre at best. I don't know if later models sounded better (I would certainly hope so), but I would be skeptical.

The original Black Cube was the worst - sounding device I've ever heard in my system. It was efectively a PRaT filter: everything played through it came out sounding torpid and uninvolving. To cite one example, on the wonderfully driving "Sing, Sing, Sing" from Benny Goodman's 1939 Carnegie Hall concert, the Black Cube made Gene Krupa sound like he was playing underwater. The original BC was allegedly improved a little by replacing the stock power cord, but I didn't care enough to try that. You should definitely audition before buying.

Rob, just wanted to say that I have enjoyed your reviews and I am surprised that others experiences are consonant with my own; I thought that I held the minority view.

Thanks for remembering my efforts from long ago, Viridian. Bruce Kennett wrote the review of the Black Cube that appeared in "Listener" and he thought it sucked too, although he worded that opinion much more eloquently! I know I wrote a couple of paragraphs as a second opinion on the BC but I don't recall if Art ran it with Bruce's review. My back issues aren't handy at the moment. You're right though, majority opinion on the original Black Cube back then was that it was a giant killer.