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In Reply to: Music Reference RM-10 with Quad ESLs posted by J Harris on March 21, 2007 at 18:47:09:
for my Maggies.
Henry
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Henry
.. be advised though, the RM9 sounds better.
True. The RM-9 is a better sounding amp. I owned both. Pretty easy decision to sell the RM200 when you really compare the two with the exact same equipment.
This a.m. a reply was waiting in my mailbox. Seems he has some RM-9s laying around and quoted some interesting prices. He also has some Signature versions, but those are out of my price league. I can get an MKI at a good price. And since they are coming direct from him, you know they are on-spec. So, it looks like an RM-9 will be coming my way.
Henry
You will like that combination. A few years ago I had 1.6s with modded xovers being driven by an RM9. Excellent sound. I know what Roger is asking for those and considering the price they have been fetching on Agon, it is more than fair.
I MUST place the amp on the bottom shelf of my equipment cabinet and max width is 18-18 1/2 inches. Max depth about the same. Ventilation no problem. Plenty of space above and open back on the cabinet. On the inputs, I know the RM-200 is balanced only. My pre outs are unbalanced RCA. Also, I'd probably have to get new speaker cables since all of mine are banana terminated. Alas, my disability precludes me re-terminating any cables.
Henry
You should be fine on the rack size, the amp is not that deep. It has single ended only inputs. As for the binding posts, I hate the stock ones Roger uses on the RM9s. I had mine upgraded years ago. If I were you, I would have him put some of those nice copper posts on like he uses on the RM200. Now would be the perfect opportunity to do that.
is the preferred one over the 125 wpc MKII. Is that correct?
I just ordered a set of speaker cables with spades at the amp end since all my cables are 100% bananas right now.
Henry
I've heard that too. Mine was an original RM9, but mine was upgraded a few months ago. I have had other upgrades done by Kevin Carter @ K&K Audio. So it's hard for me to say whether that is true or not. Regardless, it is a classic amp in either iteration.
KT88s, 6550s or EL34 output tubes? One better than the others? What about the input/driver tubes? Also biasing, is an external meter needed? Sorry to keep bugging you on this.
Henry
Roger voiced the amp around the EL34. I tried 6550s early on and liked EL34s better. I am using Valve Arts myself. Better tone w/o giving up much if anything in bass control or dynamics.
I have found Telefunken and Siemens input tubes to be good, but they aren't cheap. Buy the best you can afford for the two front positions, they are the most important.
I found that Roger's tubes always sounded better than any NOS that I could afford. I also ran with the Sovtek 6550WE, which I liked better than the EL34s, but that was with Revel speakers. I went back to El34s (Roger's Seimens which were a lot of money) with my Quad ESL57s. Roger's a great guy and I had him personally check out my amp and do the current upgrades. I would buy anything from him with confidence.When you talk to him again, ask him about his electrostatic speakers. I heard a prototype once and I've never really heard anything I liked better since!
Henry
I'm dying to see what he ended up with!
Henry
I haven't spoken to Roger in years, but another inmate has heard his speakers too and said they were great.
Henry
and I really don't think there is a better tube amp for Maggies.
If you ever see one on a'gon or elsewhere for, oh, in the $2.5K range, shoot me an e-mail. They almost never show up on the used market. Did you run balanced from your preamp or did you use an adapter? My Preamps are unbalanced only.
Henry
...and a single ended Supratek Chenin preamp. I had Robert Lee at Acoustic Zen make me a RCA X XLR interconnect that has "pigtails" on the single end that I connect to the chassis screws on the Chenin. It sounds excellent. BTW, I purchased some Gold Lion KT-88 reissues from Jim McShane that really sound sweet in the RM-200.
and it works great.
Another poster here came by and had a listen and was immpressed.
Its built like a tank and can play loud enough for me.
Used to have it running my 1.6's before that.
I got an audilble illusions pre wich is single ended and use cardas xlr adapters with it. Maybe down the road i'll get another one and bi-amp em.Good luck
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