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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
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
1,037 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.
1markr
592 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
2,313 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.

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