[schw06]

I am wondering what preamp people have found to have nice synergy with the RM-10 amp?

[audiomaniac]

I use a McIntosh C220. Uses 2 X 12AX7 in the line stage and 2 in the phono. Hard to beat for all the features. Phono, headphone amp, bass and treble (fully defeatable), remote, a lot of inputs, including balanced, fiber optics so no bulbs to burn out and very quiet. Plus you can get pretty good deals on the used market. Seems to mate very well with the RM-10 MK II. I'm enjoying the combo very much.

[Scottdazzle]

There are a couple Music Reference preamps on Agon.  I assume they have synergy with a MR amp.

[Ericus Rex]

The RM-5 is a great match for these amps.  Also been using a Counterpoint SA-5.1 with good results.

[6BQ5]

Per my signature. A pair of RM5s currently available on Agon. That does not happen often.

[paularthur]

Nu Force P9 and Artemis Labs LA-1.  Different but both are excellent.

[Scottdazzle]

There's a Music Reference RM-5II on ebay for $500 buy it now.  If it works, that's a very good price.

[pubul57]

It works exceptionally well with the $450 Lightspeed Attenuator (the best passive I have heard - resitor, TVC, or AVC), and not too shabby with the Joule LA150 MKII Signature Edition.

[pubul57]

There is an RM5 MKIII up for $650, is that a good price? I know Roger went passive with the RM4 for the linestage, but I have been wanting to try a tube preamp from Roger - it certainly worked well with the Joule.

[tybee]

I decided to post my pre-amp update, because I had not been happy with my pre-amp choices with the RM-10.  I purchased my RM-10 over a year ago without using it much with my 95db Tonian speakers as I needed a preamp with adjustable gain.  I had almost given up and offered my MK II RM-10 for sale, but I found a perfect pre-amp for my system.  Enter Decware's CSP Two Plus pre-amp.

Recently, I picked up a Decware CSP Two Plus manufactured earlier this year, and I found it was not fully broken in.  After swapping stock tubes, vintage 6922s and a Mullard 5AR4 rectifier were inserted.  As many RM-10 users know, this little gem is very fast and leans to the neutral side of the tube amp world.  Decware products are also known for speed and a neutral presentation, and the CSP II is no exception.  Together, there is the synergy that I have been searching.  Yes, the RM-10 and CSP2+ work very well together.

What I really like about the CSP2+ is it has both input and output volume controls for each channel.  This really gives me the control I need when working with a low output MC when listening to LPs  The subwoofer jack is also a plus. Since the Decware products come standard with walnut bases the RM10 and CSP2+ match very well in my audio rack.

Oh I forget, the CSP2+ also works very well with my MR245.1 amp. Many have not heard Roger's 245.1 amps and they are no longer available.  Like the RM-10, the MR245.1 (45 tube) amp is very fast.  The midrange and treble with this 4 watt tube amp are strong points; however, a subwoofer is needed for bass.

[pehare]

No preamp ever - although I've often wondered about using one.  I only have one source.  I've always used my Cary 303/300 cd player (3V output) w/analog volume control direct w/ RM10 w/fantastic results.  It seems this amp is ideal for this scenerio.  I love the simplicity too!

[tubegroove]

I am using a Music First Audio transformer couple passive pre (Mk II transformers) and it works really well with the RM-10.  Like the RM-10, its fast and pretty much gets out of the way and plays the role of just an attenuator, which is what I wanted.  Also, gain control with MFAs standard windings work well with the stock gain of the RM-10

[pubul57]

One of my favorite subjects. I still use the Lightspeed Attenuator.  It was Roger that spent a long time explaining to me why a passive was the very best approach for controlling volume and I started with the Pot-in-the-Box and then tried several other passives - resistor, TVC, AVC, and finally the Lightspeed which to was the best of them all, only wish it had balance control, but.  What I wonder is given how highly most on this forum have for Roger's amp design genius, and his absolute belief that a passive is better than any active line stage, why so many still use actives with his amps.  As if we simply don't believe it.  How many of you have tried a passive with the RM10 and still preferred an active for the quality of sound (ergonomics and facility are other possible reasons, but with just CD as source, not to relevant in my case).  While the Joule LA-150MKII Signature Edition was on of the best preamps I have ever heard in my system, it was that hard to stick with the $450 Lightspeed.