Backert Rhumba 1.3 preamp, doesn't sound like solid-state or tubes
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- Опубліковано 29 сер 2024
- The Backert Rhumba 1.3 preamp is a keeper! More info here backertlabs.co...
Backert's Green Force technology backertlabs.co...
Randy's CheapAudioMan UA-cam channel, / @cheapaudioman
The Rhumba review wouldn't have happened without Andy Singer's suggestion! www.soundbysin...
The Audiophiliac bust was made by Jan Sistek and John Scheppler, thanks so much!!
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Ortofon Cadenza Blue cartridge
Van Den Hul Grail phono preamp audioshield-di...
Jay’s Audio CD Transport www.jays-audio...
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Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ mytekdigital.c...
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Pass Labs XP30 preamp
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Mytek Brooklyn Amp+ mytekdigital.c...
Decware Zen Triode
Reisong A10 tube integrated amp
Denon PMA600NE integrated amp usa.denon.com/...
Klipsch Cornwall IV speakers • Klipsch Cornwall IV wi...
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Bob Backert lives about a mile from me and has done repair work on Tube gear for me. It is a pleasure to watch as they build out several of these Pre's on the bench.
Congrats to Bob, Andy and the folks at Backert Labs.
Steve, if anyone deserved an award in the audio world it is you and this is proof. Sculpture in Czech, printed in Iowa, master minded in Texas to be sent to you in Brooklyn. Congratulations 👏
As of wiring this I have a Mullard " The master Valve " t-shirt on . The power supply is what the valve controls Mr. Backert does understand what is happen with a pre-amp . Well done.
Oscar, Emmy, whatever, your 3D printed Bust is much more cooler than those pseudo awards but what you have Steve is the highest honor any audiophile/entertainer could ever receive. If there were a National Award in the field of Audio Excellence that is what it should look like. 👍🏻 Congratulations Steve!
I've had similar experiences with the Audible Illusions Pre-Amp. Back then we carried all of the Conrad-Johnsons and Tim's EAR Valve Amps ( I was the Importer for Tim ), the little dual mono Modulus filled the entire room, the music enlarged with beauty. I later learned that the Tubes are the cause. The Better the Tubes the better the entire presentation.
Marque Moon loitering by the rack, just seeing the cover gives me chills!
MR PHILIAC I’ve been looking forward to bumping into you when I pick up my wife at the home care . I knew you was from around here . Great show keep it up
That was a great review, Steve. Love the shout out to Yo La Tengo and Ira's guitar tone. "Electr-O-Pura" is a great sounding record, and now you made me want to try a tube amp.
Love your new 3-D sculpture! You can call it the Stevie award, and give it to worthy components you review :-)
Yikes ! Steve loving his own MINI-me !!! Great review. So nice to see these wonderful HiFi products made in the good ol' US of A..
YOU MAY NOT HAVE AN EMMY A TONY ETC. BUT YOU DO HAVE THE ONLY STEVIE IN EXISTENCE AND WELL DESERVED 1
I went to Backert's Green Force technology page. It unfortunately only has marketing details. I'd love to lean more about this. I had the unique experience of being there when Sony started introducing switching supplies in their amps. I was traveling doing Kenwood High Speed clinics ('70's) to introduce their new High Speed lineup. I would set up at a stereo shop with a signal generator, non-inductive loads and a Scope. A 10Khz squarewave at full power to measure slew rate and rise time. Fortunately we required a release of responsibility form signed. The 1st switching supply Sony comes in and the PS burns up immediately. 1st unit after days of testing to do that. 2nd one comes in so I warn the person. They sign, I test, it fries. I tried to refuse the 3rd one, but they insisted and left with a dead unit.
I travelled 6 states with that clinic and other than seeing a lot of bad output stages, the Sony with switching supplies were the only ones to burn up.
Thats very interesting, I'm surprised sony let those units out in public!
patents.google.com/patent/US8411475
You can get a PDF of the PSU patent here. Your opinion would be appreciated.
To me does not look like a new idea. And I cannot see how on earth a flat filtered DC signal can be derived from it. It is cheaper to manufacture however.
@@peterlarkin762 Sony let them out? They were bragging in ads about their new switching supplies. Kenwood's advanced ultrawide band design's promo clinic pushed amps into areas lessor companies ignored. Obviously Sony never bothered seeing what would happen when extreme frequencies at full output are applied.
Thanks for the link. I took a quick look. It will take some studying.
Bob Backert still does mods on other tube preamps as well as make his own. I sent him my early 90s Conrad Johnson PV8 18 months ago and he installed his special gain stage (which has an auto-bias feature), upgraded the capacitors and a few other things. I did not get the power supply mod, however. Nevertheless, the improvement was well worth the price and I have been enjoying it a lot. Last night, I was listening to the brass arrangements on Chicago II (Steve Wilson remix) through the CJ and my own Pass XA=25 and I had the same feeling of sonic density, dynamics, timbral realism, and instrumental separation that Steve mentioned. I have seen the Rhumba up close at audio shows... the knobs are OK, but not as nice as the ones he uses on his more expensive preamps. BTW, this CJ replaced my very first high end preamp, the Audible Illusions Modulus 3A, which I lost to a divorce. I heard she took it to Goodwill for the writeoff.
For 4 grand , I want everything. Tone controls, headphone jack and tape flexibility. Nice phono preamp section. These companies want to give the minimum for a lot of money. I don’t think I will ever buy one.
A Porsche 911 has limited features, while a fully loaded Toyota Camry has many bells and whistles including 2 more doors (to carry more passengers) and a boot space. Finally it is up to the user's preference. I have been using this preamp (same version, 1.3) since 2018 and love it. My preference is the Psvane tubes, since they add more clarity and oomph.
Thats understandable. A lot of people want everything for as little as possible. Seeing is believing. Then again, some people want something else for their money. These are the people that know that little bit more about setting up a system to get closer to the real thing or whatever the band was planning in the studio.
@@milpai Why compare a 911 to a Toyota Camry? Compare something in the same price range. Even if I compare the 911 to a cheaper Kia Stinger, the Stinger is not that far in term of performance with more features.
@@cpaint69 Like I said before - user's preference. One should choose what what suits them. I picked up the Rhumba because I like the way it makes music.
A side note from your review: why do "audiophile" reviewers hate euphonic sound? What's wrong with something sounding rich, and a bit warm and maybe a tad dark or whatever? I demoed the Dynaudio Special Forty with a high end solid state integrated. It was ok, but I was not bowled away., and it was a bit fatiguing Then the dealer switched in the Primaluna top-end integrated, and man oh man what a great sound! It was great! He said I must like a "tube-y" presentation. Yes, that's me. Why is that bad on a qualitative basis?
Nice ironing job on your T-shirt, Steve.
It's not easy to get a shirt THAT wrinkled ... it needs to be cast aside, the something of weight sitting a top pressing those creases in ...
It's akin to the mad scientist aesthetic ... which is certainly apropo
Always interesting, Steve...
Would love to hear you take on any of the many stereo power amplifiers with a set the Bruno Putzneys' 1ET400A modules in it. You perspective on this tech's place in the audio world would be very informative to a LOT of your viewers.
Bob, I just reviewed the Mola Mola Kula integrated amp that uses Bruno's tech, but in a very high-end design. loved it. Thing is, other amps with Bruno's Class D modules didn't move me, as much. Nice, small, sure. Basically, I'm not a Class D fanboy. Affordable Class AB amps are more my speed. That said I do have an affordable D integrated in the works.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Thanks, Steve!.....There is the NAD M33 which I guess a more mainstream use of the Purify Modules... and I am actually considering a March Audio build P452 from Australia. Very well put together and very affordable. Alan runs a great shop....and Class D is evolving.....👍🏼😎
You should also try to review Thorhauge. I think that a lot of your viewers would like that sound, very good value and very warm.
Styling of the fascia reminds of another pre-amp from the pages of Fi magazine.
Reminds me of my old BAT VK3. I loved the on/off switches on that thing, had the black facia with the brushed aluminium knobs too.
Congratulations! You are now immortalized for the ages with the special Audiophiliac sculpture bust just like all the greats in the music world.... Beethoven, Chopin, Hayden, Mozart.
Congrats Steve well deserved!,👩🎨
Very interesting review Steve. I’m curious to see a review of Decware ZTPRE and if possible a comparison between those two and the Freya +. By the way I like your bust sculpture, as someone said you should consider using it as an award in some of your future innovations
My Christmas present arrived early this year 🤓🎁😊❤️👍
Your killin it Steve-yeah thick guitar doing it for a change-Iommi dare I say or sludge music-cool-horns are LOUD
i had a Audible illusions 3a, about the same price. excellent line stage
Television: "Marquee Moon" in the background. Together with "Adventure" a wonderful set of albums.
I love Marquee Moon as well.
You sleep in that T-shirt?
Hi Steve, please let us see the inside and look at the parts and wiring. Thanks and take care! Pre amp design have not change over the years.
I definitely agree with the comment regarding tubed equipment that sounds like solid state. Octave Audio is a prime example. I'd also include the Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum integrated, at least with KT-120 tubes. Less so with El-34s.
Although not in the same price range, I wonder how it compares to the Freya+. Both run on tubes, both have balanced input & outputs.
Sorry, not even close. The Rhumba is spectacular
It will blow that piece of Schiit off the audio rack.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Thanks Steve
At $4K it better be better than the Freya. However the sum of the parts for this preamp irregardless of the Green Force power supply don’t add up. It’s similar to Carver’s approach in the 90’s.
@@epi2045 yes , this could be sold for half the price and still make profit.
Lol The Academy finds you much more than worthy ..... Thank you for bringing such joy and wisdom Into our lives You truly Rock Mr. Guttenberg......East Tennessee Luvs Ya!!....
Thanks for watching!
You won a Guttenberg Steve. Congrats mate. BTW, you remind me of the Rhumba :)
So very insightful, thank you! I played in a band, not at pro level, but I remember the viceral feeling of the sound, the intrument timbres, the dynamics. I did not hear as many CDs as I would like, but those SACDs from Kenichi Tsunoda Big Band are the ones that got me closer to the real thing sound. Have you heard them?
So did Rhumba sound closer to live brass band than other gear?
Got to hear one! Wonder how it would compare with a tube preamp by van Alstine.
"Just play the freak'n music, right"
Steve, my suggestion for a new Audiophiliac T-shirt.
The "In-between world" is likely the best compromise these days.
16:54 you should have them print more and give them out as awards for outstanding products at the end of the year or something
Steve, that MARQUEE MOON record...
That shirt Steve . 🚷
My cousins are the best.
Steve, thanks for that review. I think it would be great to show more love to tube preamps by having more of a comparison review of the Backert vs the Decware preamp vs the Schiit Freya+ vs Aric Audio Unlimited+. That would be great! I have the Freya+ but I wonder if there is another tube preamp that is even better? Thanks!
I like the "just rolled out of bed" look.
That's right!
Steve your t shirt is fine your at home man right people being silly in the comments.peace
Steve, WTH, did you just roll out of bed? Where's the neat shirts?
It's the grunge look...Only Steve can pull it off...
I have the life sized version at home. You’re 6’ 5”, right?
Randy, you’re so bad.
@@stevezeidman7224 what, Steve. I like Steve G. I’m working on one of you too
Oh cool! I’m 6’8” in case you couldn’t tell.
An idea for a new series of video, Steve could you look into the ability to get SACD signal out of your SACD player into your stand alone DAC. Bryston and PS audio make DAC that extract DSD using DOP but you are stuck with the built in DAC again. Upscale audio sells a DSD extractor, but kind of spends.We audiophiles love to make our own combos, and I personally don’t like to get trapped with a DAC, like I am with my Mcintosh C50.
For the real authentic look get the bust painted!!
Its most definitely your likeness👍
Glad to hear you agree with the late HP and JGH: Live, unamplified music played on acoustic instruments and/or sung by a human being in person is the Absolute Sound." And that is the one standard that a product of all the elements of electronic sound reproduction process, from the recording microphones through to the speakers, must aspire to and to which it can be compared...even though it can never perfectly achieve that standard.
I would pay good money (10's of dollars) for an Audiophiliac statue!!!
I still contend that we will never have the ability to re-create the sound of live music on any form of media. Music played in a live venue does not always sound better than a well recorded vinyl record or CD in an acoustically designed environment and never will. It’s always great to be at a live concert or jazz club because of the energy in the air. This does not necessarily mean that this live sound is what I want to hear through my music system. Many times live music does not sound ideal. There is a boundary at the face of my speakers that my hearing tells me that the recording environment is not acoustically the same as the listening environment and that boundary is why I believe we won’t reproduce a live music event in our home over an electronic system.
Never say never...
@@scottmichaels1764 Well that’s saying usually makes sense but in this particular instance I’ll stand by my statement.
The audio community is awesome.
Weird it doesn't sound like tubes, yet you could easily identify the characteristics of the three different valves. In fact choosing the one most notorious for tubey sound.
At least w/the Mullard's did the tube pre sound 'warm'?
You spoke of tubey w/a tube amp; that's completely obvious though.
Looks a lot like a Rogue product. Are they affiliated?
Yamaha has a $10,000 dollar Amp that has a Phono system that is truly different.
I have heard it's ground breaking for LPs.
Since you're checking out 'Twilight Zone' type equipment available - Maybe?
Neil Young is the king of grunge. feedback is an art in itself.
Nice bust. (Drab shirt tho;-)
Marketing opportunity for the audiophilliac store?
For the price the pre is drab too, but I like that it has a balance control;-)
månnis! is there a really good sounding preamp out there with one or two inputs? maybe one xlr and one rca? simple specs but great sound? decware have a nice pre, but not with both xlr and rca inputs.
Try the Holo Audio Serene it’s 2800 and one of the best preamps next to a mega dollar 35k Audionet Stern
the knobs look like they came from a Hafler DH-101
Mass produce that sculpture and put them on Amazon!
only 1x XLR input :(
Just got my RP600M's and am setting them up....few questions please:
1. They're positioned on a upper bookcase above my TV. Does it matter if they're in a horizontal vs. vertical position on the shelf?
2. In my setup they're very close to wall, can't help that...I've been told that I should stuff the soft foam that they were packed with into the rear port. Can you address this issue.
Sounds best in vertical orientation, as for the port could could try leaving it open, or stuff a sock into it. You Gotta do what you Gotta do. Don’t worry about what’s proper, experiment, and please yourself
"Get Better Sound" a book by Jim Smith is a goldmine of setup tips.
Good setup is free.
Use your ears to asses the results. Does it sound more natural, 3D and realistic?
Welcome to the club🙂
Far out man !!!😊
Tubey, or not tubey, that is the question.
Rhumba or Prima Luna 400?
Rhumba
You know Steve, I would pay you hourly for your advice.... Instead of my psychiatrist! 😉
Seriously, you should offer a consulting service.
when I was a kid there was a push to give kids in music programs busts of famous composers. I guess if we looked at Brahms all day, we'd like him more than John Lennon or Led Zeppelin... it didn't work, but I did end up with many composer busts. Your new bust could easily pass for a composer, maybe without the glasses
Why didn't you try the F8 amp...isn't that your newest/best?
2 more things I really want! Cheers Steve, love your photos on Instagram.
Thank you!
You need to throw your T-shirt in the dryer for a couple of minutes. Lol
Then he wouldn’t be an audiophile
@@alexxbaudwhyn7572 lol. You are probably right about that.
@DE-EVOLUTION
I thought it was a relief map of Brooklyn;-)
Looks like your slept in Brooklyn for a few nights, the shirt not the city...
It has character
Hey Steve are you going to Axpona this year? I met and spoke with you at the last functioning one. Keep up the Great Work !!
Thanks, not sure about the show, maybe
What is the volume controller in this preamp ?
Me Dead Head.You Bed Head.But like they say on Seinfeld "Not that there is anything wrong with that"
I'M guessing at 44 seconds. Predict it will have special transformers inside. No active gain stage. But that led might prove I'm wrong. Let's see
Well that was wrong
Steve I love you man. Honestly. But every product you review is good. Makes me wonder. Pardon. No offense. Cheers mate
I believe he has made a statement that he only shares the reviews of the products he likes. He's reviewed products that he doesn't like and chooses not to share those reviews.
@@chelle12368 ah ok. As you were
@@dcsmith1370
Steve likes to be a positive person, and to recommend things he thinks his audience will like.
To do a negative review of something is just a waste of everyone's time.
@@dcsmith1370
Fair enough.
I was just paraphrasing what Steve said previously about the topic.
so is this your new reference pre-amp?
No
Buy high, sell low.
Many Fans is an under-statement -- 188,000+ fans
Your home looks cleaner than ever, howja declutter? Decluttering could be another day's reporting
Tony in Venice Florida
Can I order that statue in the form of a Chia Head ?
Looks like the old Audionics BT2,
Tube + Tube + Horn
That's a great sculpt!
Very true to life.
Congratulations, Steve!
It's not anatomically correct as the bald spot is missing on the back of the head.
@@mikrophonie5633
What? You couldn't think of a worse thing to say?
@@HareDeLune Merely making an observation, you don't need to get your panties in a twist. Go argue with your buddy The General.
@@mikrophonie5633
Yeah, a negative observation.
You're a troll, same as him.
You never have anything nice or good to say about anything.
All you know how to do is stick the knife in.
@@HareDeLune Get a life.
Crunch? Drive? I believe you’re turning into a guitarist!
Steve, you should iron your tee-shirt a little bit.....just to be differentiated from your neck wrinkles so to speak ....joking of course !
Like ”just play the freakin’ music” 🤣
Forgot to iron your t-shirt :)
Which is tubbier Backert Rhumba or PrimaLuna Evo 400 Preamp? For your consideration: make a hole in your 3D print Mini-me and use it as a turntable clamp.
The evo is leaner in tone
“I have something to show off to my many fans around the world...”. Hmmm 🤔. Come back to us Steve.
Please do Mccintosh mha150 all in one dac, integrated amp and headphone amp. It looks so promising :D
#butbut, you can not afford either way, unless you sell those kids you kidnapped.
@@JohnJohn-lk4lq
#tuttut, Mr. Smallberries. You are overly offensive today.
Did they scan you?
No
Probably a petty gripe, but I kind of wish you’d state the price up front at the beginning...when I heard $4k, it was goodbye. But thanks for what you do, Steve.
And so, Steve introduces yet another pair of audiophile terms: Crunchy and trippy. Pay attention, You Tube pundits. We'll see these in mid-priced speaker brochures within a fortnight. Use these along with "tubey" and "gritty" amps.
Let me add a couple more: Thumpy, whompy, screechy, brittle, and fluffy. Well, OK, that's five more. Good, subjective hifi words....
Like the Seven Dwarfs of hifi: Crunchy, Trippy, Thumpy, Whompy, Tubey, Gritty, and Fluffy.
;)
"Crunchy" definitely not new.
Ethereal gooeyness came out of my mouth during a demo. It was the right word for the right moment.
Are your new digs still in Brooklyn?
Yes, it’s the same apartment just rearranged
I own a Backert Rhumba 1.3 preamp, you should ditch those Klipsch speakers and try it with some good speakers.
There are three systems in Steve’s space...and he has certainly heard and/or reviewed hundreds more speakers than you or I have -most likely- heard.
@@mkwilson38 Sure...
@@mkwilson38 I've owned a dozen pairs of Klipsch speakers over the years and still have a pair of Cornwalls and Epic CF1s, they're not high-end speakers and you'll never get truly great sound with them in your system.
@@arthurott4561 truth👆🏿
@@arthurott4561 They're not audiophile speakers for sure and their amplitude and phase response measures poorly. Whether or not you can enjoy music through them will cause endless debate. Likewise many consider R2R DAC's and SET amps not to be audiophile components due to their (relatively) poor measurements. I freely admit that I enjoy the sound of antique radios with their field coil speakers and single-ended tube amps more than most modern components.
"it's a prestigious award" - A Christmas story.
Paint the shirt on the sculpture loudly. Yeah, that's the ticket.
I'll take one of those statues please, let me know the cost and how to pay.
You don't have an oscar, tony or emmy, you have a "Steve". How many musicians or actors can say that?
How 4000 USD price can be reasonable?. I mean, please how can 4000 USD price tag can be reasonable?. The production, know how, very talented people with skills with many many years of R&D expenses to build this probably one of the best sounding preamp , the failures, the taxes, heartbreaks and put everything together and say it once again . I can't. I almost hate the expensive music gears as much as I hate the great. Cheers
Let me get this straight, because you can’t afford it or buy it you hate the Rhumba? OK, is that true of other things you can’t afford or buy? Like cars, houses, trips to exotic places? Sorry you’re weird.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliacsounds a bit of a snobby retort. Snobophile… some people put worth with other matters in life. Some like Bose. Others like Ayre Acoustics.