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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
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. 
milpai's avatar
milpai OP
2,321 posts
 
@maguiar102,
I have never had tubes in my system. Last year was the first time I went with tubes. The Rhumba runs the tubes gently. So the tube life is pretty good. I believe it is a few years. And replacing tubes is not that difficult. I used to think that tubes have thin glass. That changed when I replaced the Mullards in the Rhumba with a pair of Gold Lions. This is a very musical preamp and I hope you get to try one in your system. If it does not work, you can always return it. Which I doubt you will.

philipwu
214 posts
 
hi, 
have anyone upgrade from a Rhythm 1.2 to Rhythm 1.3 ? may i ask what are the main difference you heard? Thanks, 
-Ph
chilehed's avatar
chilehed
198 posts
 
@philipwu, Not sure if it is helpful but I upgraded from the 1.2 to the 1.3 Extreme.
philipwu
214 posts
 
@chilehed 
hi, yes. i would appreciate your help if you like to share your experience with your new 1.3 Extreme. What are the new improvements that you notice? how long have you been burning in this new preamp ? Thank you for any info. 
regards,
-ph
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