Thinking about going tubes

tonyb

Any Joule model really. I'm using their first version, the LA-100. Then there are different iterations of the LA-150, MK1, MK2, MK3. Then an LA-300, which was their top dog.

With any piece of tube gear, the tubes you use play heavily on the sound you'll hear. Certain bad reviews on tube pieces take with a grain of salt as some simply don't roll tubes in them to see what that piece is capable of. You'll find many threads on here with tube gear owners, all seeking input on the best tubes to use for their piece. As always, preferences and gear matching with the right associated gear is also key, as is with anything SS or Tube.

tonyb

Vac is another very good pre, VTL also, that 2.5 posted earlier is certainly one worth experiencing.

stangman67

Great , thanks again for all the suggestions. I am in no rush for any of this, so plenty of time to research. Good news is a get a 10K bonus at work in June, so I may just wait until then and buy some nicer stuff

delkal

stangman67 wrote: »

scubalab wrote: »

Zach, did you see this?

https://cnj.craigslist.org/ele/d/rogue-audio-cronus-integrated/6461473490.html

A little dusty, but seems like a good price...

I did not see that. I texted the guy and hit him at 800, if I can get it for that I think it would be worth it either way, even if I did not like it in the long run

stangman67 wrote: »

I did speak to him. I offered 800 and he agreed but then told me he was very unsure of the operational state of the amp and I got a little weary. If it is still around this weekend, I may take a quick trip up there and take a look at it

I was looking at it too. You did good to get him down to $800 from his original $1200? (without even trying). But I don't like that it is untested either. He just got the amp from his dad with nothing else?

I did notice from the pictures that the tube V4 is burning a lot brighter than V3. What does that mean?

stangman67

Bias probably just needs to be adjusted, I hav e read that tube brightness doesn't necessarily mean much so that wasn't a worry. He said 800 would be fine right away. He seemed very unsure of the condition, so it turned me off a little but. I can't really put a value on it, I think 1k was a little much considering it is just the cronus and not the magnum. 800 might be a good deal if if is all operational

tonyb

I'm gonna throw one more at ya. This one has done a demo run here at the Polk forum and was well received. Plus the guys who run the place are simply fantastic to deal with.

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/tube-backert-labs-rhumba-1-1-tube-preamp-preamplifier-sale-2018-01-21-preamplifiers

Maybe a tad more than you wanted to spend on a pre, but it is a darn fine sounding one at that.

stangman67

Well Tony, I done did it

marvda1

stangman67 wrote: »

Well Tony, I done did it

dang, i was going to show you this "steal"
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=155162.msg1660219#new

Clipdat

What'd you end up getting?

stangman67 wrote: »

Well Tony, I done did it

kharp1

Clipdat wrote: »

What'd you end up getting?

stangman67 wrote: »

Well Tony, I done did it

I'll tell you what he got, he got lured in to the van, coaxed in by audio candy. Just relax and let it take its natural coarse.

stangman67

Backert Rhumba 1.1. Blew all my money on the preamp so bought a used B&K ref st125.2 to hold me over for awhile. TEAC must go to recoup some of the moneys

tonyb

lol, just curious bro, what pushed you to make that decision ?

Tell ya what, the owners and guys who build them are easily accessible. You can talk directly to them, ask questions whatever. Just super nice guys over there.

stangman67

I read through the review threads on here and some of the other reviews available which had me intrigued.

What really made me choose it is they are an hour down the road from me so support will never be an issue and the preamp is made in the USA. I figure if I spend the same money on an integrated eventually I will want more and then the whole thing is useless. I see this piece being something I can be happy with for 20 years and I can just buy a better amp at some point when it is feasible/

tonyb

Cool, didn't realize they were that close to you. Now get your read on and see what tubes people are using in them. The stock ones weren't bad that came with them but I'm guessing some NOS TUBES might kick it up a notch or 2.

stangman67

I’m just gonna ask them when I go pick it up. I’m sure they have some good suggestions

pitdogg2

There is many good 6BL7 tubes to choose from. I am not familiar the other tubes used.

stangman67

They are 12au7

tonyb

stangman67 wrote: »

I’m just gonna ask them when I go pick it up. I’m sure they have some good suggestions

Tell Andy he owes me a drink or 2....and I aim to collect.

pitdogg2

stangman67 wrote: »

They are 12au7

I looked at this and commented.

http://www.dehavillandhifi.com/MERCURY_PRE.htm

This one uses the 6bl7 I got confused {red faced}

agfrost

At this point I would like to recommence my occasional whine about how I chose the correct name (Rhumba) in the "name the preamp, win a free preamp" contest, and then lost the flip of a coin against another person who suggested the same name.


Got some amazing tube-powered coffee mugs out of the deal, though...



Enjoy that preamp! It went through my house on the traveling road show and was impressive.

Tony M

Nice review here!

https://hometheaterreview.com/backert-labs-rhumba-11-stereo-preamplifier-reviewed/

hochpt21

agfrost wrote: »

At this point I would like to recommence my occasional whine about how I chose the correct name (Rhumba) in the "name the preamp, win a free preamp" contest, and then lost the flip of a coin against another person who suggested the same name.


Got some amazing tube-powered coffee mugs out of the deal, though...



Enjoy that preamp! It went through my house on the traveling road show and was impressive.

I remember this. I felt/feel bad for you. You got shafted.

heiney9

What's the budget for tubes? That will make or break a piece. Old stock tubes from the late 50's and early 60's is where it's at.

Let me know if I can be of any help, I might have some experience and knowledge in that area.

H9

Probably have some mice tubes you could get for a good price

agfrost

hochpt21 wrote: »

agfrost wrote: »

At this point I would like to recommence my occasional whine about how I chose the correct name (Rhumba) in the "name the preamp, win a free preamp" contest, and then lost the flip of a coin against another person who suggested the same name.


Got some amazing tube-powered coffee mugs out of the deal, though...



Enjoy that preamp! It went through my house on the traveling road show and was impressive.

I remember this. I felt/feel bad for you. You got shafted.

They did nicely offer me a multi-hundred dollar discount if I decided to purchase one at that time. Rich (SCompRacer) had recently sold me the Krell KSL pre in my signature that he had painstakingly recapped & chased a small problem with the phono board on it. I couldn't say that the Rhumba was better than the Krell during the time I had both in the house (each pre excelled in certain areas), so I passed on buying the Rhumba... Still have that "if only" regret, though. It's nice having the phono built into the Krell, also.

Really looking forward to hearing Zach's impressions after taking the Rhumba for a dance...

tonyb

I think he'll like it, moving away from the teac as a pre. It's got great pratt, that rhythm and pace...slam, that he's looking for. I always thought the Rhumba might benefit a little from some better tubes, but that was just my take on it.

mhardy6647

would a product called Rumba tend to have syncopated PRaT?

Just musing, here...

agfrost

heiney9 wrote: »

Probably have some mice tubes you could get for a good price

Artist's rendering:

mhardy6647

... or maybe a Habitrail?

tonyb

Gotta have a wheel for backup power supply....pay not attention to that squeaky wheel either.

stangman67

I think I’m gonna pick up a set of these rca tubes to start off with. Have heard they work well with the Backert and should fair well with the focal

https://www.upscaleaudio.com/collections/preamp-tubes/products/rca-black-plate-5814wa-12au7-triple-mica