2. amps-preamps
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Backert Labs Rhumba preamp

Hello,
I am thinking of going to an active line stage for sometime now. I have a separate thread for that and people have suggested some good choices. The reason for this thread if that, while I have all along said that  don't want tubes in the system, a few have convinced me that I should try tubes in the system, especially with ProAcs.
With that said, I researched a few tube preamps, that have XLR out and the Backert Labs Rhumba is the one that has only 2 tubes, which makes me comfortable to "deal in tubes".

I would like to hear from Backert Labs Rhumba owners who moved from Solid State preamplification to this preamp. What are the differences you heard? Any improvements?

I read a review on the Stevehoffman forum and the user mentioned that there is a "hum" in this preamp. This bothers me and hence I decided to check on this forum, if anyone has experienced this with the Rhumba in their system. One poster on this forum also confirmed the "hiss":
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/backert-preamps-any-users

So I was wondering, if there are any users who have recently purchased this preamp and what is their experience with the hum/hiss issue.

BTW, I blame Ralph of Atma-Sphere, Almarg  and my dealer for making me consider tube amps :-) Can't believe I am creating this thread.

Thanks!
128x128milpai

Showing 6 responses by 1markr

1markr
594 posts
 
Definitely no hiss or hum is inherent in the excellent Backert Rhumba preamp. I have been running mine for almost a year now.

It’s wonderful. Crazy good sound with a pair of CBS 5814a tubes. 


1markr
594 posts
 
@milpai  thanks for the system compliment!  At the time I was looking for a preamp, I did want to try a Statement preamp, but none were popping up, so I decided to buy the Rhumba from a dealer instead (something to be said about a 30 audition policy!). 

Anyways, I loved what I was hearing, and obviously it didn't go back. Haven't heard the Coincident Statement, unfortunately.

The amps don't have XLR inputs, so I do not use the balanced input or output of the Backert.




1markr
594 posts
 
@milpai 

" Does tubes make this kind of music sound "slow and syrupy?"

I can tell you from my experience with the Rhumba 1.2, and using the excellent CBS 5814a tubes, your statement is about as far from the truth as can be.  This is no vintage Conrad Johnson preamp!

I have also used close to a dozen other tubes in the Backert, and never did it become slow and syrupy.... warmer, sure, less detailed, sure, but slow.... never!
1markr
594 posts
 
Congrats @milpai 

Welcome to the Backert family, and thanks for wonderfully articulating the sonic benefits that the Rhumba preamp brought to the table for you as it did for us other happy owners!



1markr
594 posts
 
@rdoc  +1!!!!!

100% agree that the Rhumba and XA25 combination is stellar!
1markr
594 posts
 
@maguiar102 

Can’t help you with recommending a SS preamp, haven’t used one in many, many years! I can tell you the Backert Rhumba is a great match with my Pass XA-25, and @jackd is right, the tube maintenance is nil for the Backert; it’s easy on it’s pair of 12au7 tubes, and very easy to replace. It also gives you the opp to tune your system based on tube choice for the Backert. 
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