Re: RM 5 Mk3
Recently purchased from individual on line. No history of unit, but it appears stock.
72 hours on new tube set : Genalex 6922
matched for:
Transconductance
Gain
Plate current
DC balance
AC balance/section balance
Noise/microphonics
Shorts
Grid current ("gas")
Review System:
SOTA Star
AT 150MLX
Quicksilver Audio Silver interconnect cables
Amp. CJ 2500A
Speaker Wire Audioquest Clear 3
Speakers;
Soundlab M3
The stock gain setting put normal listen levels mid control. No hum or noise was noticeable.
Record surface noise is not exaggerated, as it often is with solid state preamps. Only a hint of tube
sound, unlike a Conrad Johnson of similar vintage which also had a new tube set from the same supplier.
By comparison, the CJ sounded downright old fashioned and soft - even a bit indistinct. I recently owned a Quicksilver Full Featured preamp, which sounded a bit darker and generally less neutral than the Music Reference.
To me the RM5 dynamics seem excellent with no hint of slowness or overload, (Perhaps the Genalex is particularly well suited.) however, I would call the character of the sound slightly mellow (not unwelcome). I can see how someone might describe the same perception as lacking resolution, however that was not my conclusion. Have I heard better? Yes, but not from a simple three tube preamp.
