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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
milpai's avatar
milpai OP
2,402 posts
 
@rdoc,Good to know. What are your source and loudspeakers?The Rhumba throws a huge soundstage in my system.
The Rhumba acts as a measurement tool for me. If I am able to listen to CDs at 10 o'Clock position, it tells me the recording on the CD is not dynamically compressed. If it gets loud by 9 o'clock position, then the recording sucks.
I am absolutely thrilled by this preamp.
rdoc
93 posts
 
I use a Musica Pristina Server with a 1 TB ssd to hold my music.  The MP is connected to a PS Audio Directstream dac via I2S which is a lot better than usb.  Loudspeakers are Sonus Faber Elipsa SE's and REL Carbon Limited subs.  Soundstaging is glorious in width and depth.  One of my non audiophile friends that sat to listen for the first time asked, "Do you have speakers behind us?".  The system is very easy and non fatiguing to listen to for hours. You can see a picture of my system on the PS Audio forum under the "System Photos" thread.  The Rhumba 1.3 is a very big part of sound of my system. 
maguiar102
83 posts
 
@1markr and rdoc

I am actually considering the Pass Labs XA30.8 and I was recommended to go with the XP22.  I was interested in a tube but I did not want to deal with the maintenance of tubes. It looks like I might be pulled back in with the Rhumba.
The speaker I am considering are the Verity Otello’s and they definitely work best with tubes....Help...🤔
maguiar102
83 posts
 
@rdoc & 1markr

I was wondering what other ss pre work well with Pass Labs other than XP22.
Recommendations are welcome....
jackd
1,070 posts
 
@maguiar102 

What tube maintenance are you worried about.  In a preamp like the Rhumba you are looking at a lifespan of five years or more on a single pair of tubes and changing them is from the top and simple.  Another option with the Pass amps is the PS Audio BHK preamp.
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