Rudistor RP5.1 has arrived!

[Patu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ServinginEcuador Pretty much my thoughts exactly! I enjoyed the sound this amp made more than anything else even close to its price range. The first morning I was up until 4am listening to disc after disc, and relishing in how much it made me enjoy my music. I'm starting to regret returning the amp instead of just buying the review sample.

Your review had a big influence on me when I chose RP5.1. Thanks for that Doug! I really don't regret.

Oh neilvg. How does HF-1 sound out of RP6 or have you yet got them?

 

[gundam91]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RnB180 wow, I dont think I would ever leave any tube amp on for 4 days straight! I turn mine off when I leave the house, you never know if something ever goes wrong and you tubes explode, overheat or catch something on fire.

These are not power tubes. These are signal tubes that operate at low voltage level. They don't get anywhere nearly as hot as the power tubes that you are thinking off. And these are inside an enclosed "box". I have several tube equipment in my main rig and they are on stand-by position (power still on to keep the tubes warm). They only get turned off when I know I will not be listening for an extented period of time, say like 4 days or more.

My SET amp on the other hand, has exposed tubes, and they get HOT, really HOT. Burn my arm once when I accidentally touched it. So I always turn that amp off when I am out, and I do not leave it on overnight.

 

[Solude]

Not sure if its exclusive to the RP5.1 but the sides, more so the right side, get very hot. I don't think its the tubes so much as the bias into the bi-polars and regulators that are mounted to the sides. The top on mine at least was quite a bit cooler, though not cool, than the sides.

I tended to turn it off at night since it heated the upstairs pretty effectively

 

[neilvg]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solude Not sure if its exclusive to the RP5.1 but the sides, more so the right side, get very hot. I don't think its the tubes so much as the bias into the bi-polars and regulators that are mounted to the sides. The top on mine at least was quite a bit cooler, though not cool, than the sides. I tended to turn it off at night since it heated the upstairs pretty effectively

On my RP6 the top gets warm which is expected, but the sides are cool. Curiously the volume pot does in fact warm up a bit if left on for a while.

I'm really really beginning to like this amp, and it is excellent with the L3k's too! They have really opened up for me. I havent finished burning in, tube rolling my EMP AE but the RP6 sounds much more engaging with a richer tone with the stock tubes.

 

[Patu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilvg On my RP6 the top gets warm which is expected, but the sides are cool. Curiously the volume pot does in fact warm up a bit if left on for a while.

My RP5.1 gets really hot on the sides, but the top isn't just so warm. It's very warm still but the sides are so warm that you can't keep your hand there longer than a few seconds. But it's okay. I know that these tubeys get really hot when left on for a long time.

 

[gundam91]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patu My RP5.1 gets really hot on the sides, but the top isn't just so warm. It's very warm still but the sides are so warm that you can't keep your hand there longer than a few seconds. But it's okay. I know that these tubeys get really hot when left on for a long time.

I do not recall the chassis ever get so hot that I can't touch it. But it does get warmer than most other components that I have. From the pictures on Rudi's website, I think the power supply and the tubes are dissipating most of the heat, The sides of the chassis are acting like heat-dissipating heat sinks. But best to check with Rudi to be sure everything is operating within range. My volume pot do get warm as described by neilvg.

 

[Patu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gundam91 I do not recall the chassis ever get so hot that I can't touch it. But it does get warmer than most other components that I have. From the pictures on Rudi's website, I think the power supply and the tubes are dissipating most of the heat, The sides of the chassis are acting like heat-dissipating heat sinks. But best to check with Rudi to be sure everything is operating within range. My volume pot do get warm as described by neilvg.

Well I can touch it but not hold my hand there forever. Two seconds was a bit of exaggerated. Now I tried again and I can hold my hand there longer. Oh and my volume pot gets also warm but not too warm.

I'm beginning to understand what you meant by those micro details gundam91.

 

[Patu]

Man I'm happy with RP5.1. How can it make my music sound so damn good. It has never sounded so good. Every day I find some old song from my collection which sounds just so much better now than it sounded before.

It's just amazing how well it handles basses, highs, details, soundstagind... everything! I usually notice differencies in basses and highs (on the both ends) pretty well and so am I now. Here's a little mini-mini review:

Bass: RP5.1 does amazing job with bass. They're deep, fast, punchy and very well in control. I think it makes 650 much more balanced sounding and maybe reduces the bass volume littlebit making them sound clearer and brighter. Bass is definitely very well controlled. It just hits you when it's supposed to and does it really fast, deep and with punch and good extension. Here I can hear the biggest difference to my previous amps. I can't imagine how you'd get better basses out of 650s.

This amp makes 650 sound very good with rock music which it didn't with Corda HA-1 MkII. There's very big difference. I'm not even sure I need to order HF-1 for rock anymore.

Mids: Can't really say much about this but if I had to describe it with one word it'd be neutral.

Highs: As I said earlier RP5.1 makes 650s sound much better balanced. This gives more room for mids and highs making them sound lively, airy and well extended. RP5.1 doesn't remove the warmness which 650s have but it still makes them sound a bit colder than before which is good I think.

Details: RP5.1 has good instrument separation and details. It doesn't make my 650s to sound like DT880s when talking about details but it still makes details more present. I have found many new sounds and details on my tracks that I haven't been able to hear earlier. Those micro details which gundam91 told about earlier sure are there. RP5.1 isn't unforgiveable with bad records but it sure tells me when I play one. It's just well balanced here either.

But what I definitely like most in RP5.1 is the musicality and the enjoyment it gives me. It just makes me love my music so much. I've never experienced this before and I don't know is it the hybrid construction or what but it sure is something great. This doesn't tell much and is hard to describe. This said, it's sad how little attention this amp has got here.

Well I hope this very short review has something informative in it. If not then I hope it's even fun to read. This amp made me realize how big a difference can amplification make.

 

[ServinginEcuador]

Excellent review Patu! It was a very enjoyable read, and you captured the sound of the RP5.1 rather nicely. Qutie an achievement for such a short amount of time. Enjoy the new amp!

 

[Solude]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patu I think it makes 650 much more balanced sounding and maybe reduces the bass volume littlebit making them sound clearer and brighter.

Quote:

RP5.1 doesn't remove the warmness which 650s have but it still makes them sound a bit colder than before which is good I think.

Quote:

I have found many new sounds and details on my tracks that I haven't been able to hear earlier.

If this is in comparison to the Corda, it must be a very warm amp. The Rudi compared to the Reference is the opposite of this. The Rudi had more bottom end, more warmth and less inner detail yet still excellent.

Sounds like the Beyer 880 and Corda amps would be heaven.

 

[Sovkiller]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gundam91 I suggest leaving your system on, and put a CD on repeat, and just let the amp burn-in for three to four days. (Make sure your headphone is connected to the amp too, just turn the volume to a low level).

No need of that, all Rudistor amps are shipped fully burned-in, Rudi tests them individually for long time before shipping....

 

[gundam91]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sovkiller No need of that, all Rudistor amps are shipped fully burned-in, Rudi tests them individually for long time before shipping....

Now you tell me. Too late, my Rudistor has burned beyond recognition....

 

[Sovkiller]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gundam91 Now you tell me. Too late, my Rudistor has burned beyond recognition....

Nobody asked before about that....

But that doesn't mean that the sound specially on tube amps could change overtime, remember that tubes wear and change their signature with the use....

 

[Patu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solude If this is in comparison to the Corda, it must be a very warm amp. The Rudi compared to the Reference is the opposite of this. The Rudi had more bottom end, more warmth and less inner detail yet still excellent.

Well Corda definitely is warmer than Rudi. Would you say that RP5.1 is a bit on the warm side then? This really depends on what the listener is used to and is hard to compare over the interenet.

And I had DT880 here in home test with Corda. They sure sounded better than in shop but I still liked 650s better. Preferences preferences...

 

[Sovkiller]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patu Well Corda definitely is warmer than Rudi. Would you say that RP5.1 is a bit on the warm side then? This really depends on what the listener is used to and is hard to compare over the interenet. And I had DT880 here in home test with Corda. They sure sounded better than in shop but I still liked 650s better. Preferences preferences...

Just a remark, the DT880 is reported by Meier to sound better out of the 120 omhs jacks, for some design reason they respond better to that impedance, try to use it in the jack marked as L, (for Low power) that is about this same impedance, that should make it sound even better....