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New to Rachel Amp (And Tubes) (Read 5332 times)

aperilla

Verified Member

Posts: 3

New to Rachel Amp (And Tubes)
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.

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hdrider

Seasoned Member

On the path with
Decware.

Posts: 695

Re: New to Rachel Amp (And Tubes)
Reply #1 - 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.

CSP3, Rachael, ZP3, ZMC 1, Sony ES Bluray, Schitt Bitfrost DAC,Sota Star TT w/ FR-64, Hana SL Low Output Moving coil, Omega 7XRS Mk 2 walnut, DeepOmega 8 sub, Morrow Audio PH3 and MA3 IC's, Gamma Electrostatic phones.

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Palomino Seasoned Member Posts: 2474	Re: New to Rachel Amp (And Tubes) Reply #2 - 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.
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Lin

Ex Member

Re: New to Rachel Amp (And Tubes)
Reply #3 - 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.

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aperilla Verified Member Posts: 3	Re: New to Rachel Amp (And Tubes) Reply #4 - 07/22/16 at 00:41:06 No preamp. Speakers are Specimen (26"). Speakers are 8 ohm. Thanks all.
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Denizen Verified Member Posts: 41	Re: New to Rachel Amp (And Tubes) Reply #5 - 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.
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aperilla Verified Member Posts: 3	Re: New to Rachel Amp (And Tubes) Reply #6 - 07/23/16 at 17:08:57 Bought it new. It is drawing 41.
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