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AUDIO FORUMS >> General Discussion and Support >> New to Rachel Amp (And Tubes)
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Message started by aperilla on 07/20/16 at 20:49:24

Title: New to Rachel Amp (And Tubes)
Post by aperilla on 07/20/16 at 20:49:24

I just took delivery of a Rachel Amp and I am really happy trying it out, and hopefully discovering new things about my music that before were not apparent. I have a couple of speakers whose sensitivity is rated at 89db. To get adequate sound, I have to raise the volume all the way up. There is no clipping or distortion of any type at this maximum level. My question is simple: will this hurt the amp, or reduce the life of the tubes in any way?

Many thanks.

Title: Re: New to Rachel Amp (And Tubes)
Post by hdrider on 07/20/16 at 21:04:41

aperilla- Congrats on the amp!! We took delivery of a Rachael last year and a few other Decware pieces and are living in musical freaking bliss all the time. I had some 87/89 dB sensitive speakers before our Omega came, and like you it would play, but volume was maxed. I doubt it would hurt the amp, I think in my case it was more of a mental issue of the volume on max. Now with 96dB speakers I have plenty o' volume almost all the time. Rachael is a GREAT amp, as all all Decware amps/products. Keep us posted on your journey into the Zen tube rabbit hole. Happy listening, Chris.

Title: Re: New to Rachel Amp (And Tubes)
Post by Palomino on 07/20/16 at 21:59:57

I don't think so, but I am not expert.

Like rider, I ran Rachael with 89db speakers for a while before finally moving to 95db and that is fine for nearly all listening.

Its a speaker to speaker thing though. I had other 89db speakers that just didn't cut the mustard.

Title: Re: New to Rachel Amp (And Tubes)
Post by Lin on 07/20/16 at 22:00:55

A couple of things to keep in mind: the amp needs 2.5 volts to reach max power and tube amps can sound louder to many people when they are indeed clipping and distorting.

Are you using a preamp?
If you are running directly from a source what is the max volts out?

What speakers? Are they 4 ohms?

A 6 watt EL84 sep amp has worked for me with 8 ohm speakers around 90 dB.

Title: Re: New to Rachel Amp (And Tubes)
Post by aperilla on 07/22/16 at 00:41:06

No preamp.

Speakers are Specimen (26").

Speakers are 8 ohm.

Thanks all.

Title: Re: New to Rachel Amp (And Tubes)
Post by Denizen on 07/23/16 at 04:56:56

I'm curious, is this a new Rachael, with the UFO tranny's or something you picked up used. The SE34I has under gone a lot of changes over the last 13 - 14 years. Does it have the DC ma meters and what are they reading.
The milliamp draw can have a considerable effect on its performance, it should be around 40ma DC.

Title: Re: New to Rachel Amp (And Tubes)
Post by aperilla on 07/23/16 at 17:08:57

Bought it new.

It is drawing 41.