Rhythm 1.4 Preamplifier

Rhythm 1.4 is Backert's flagship preamp. Building on the strenghts of previous generations, this preamps gets all the innovations Backert Labs has developed over the years. The result is a better sounding preamp. Silky, powerful, dynamic, and huge sounding, Rhythm delivers all the clarity, accuracy, and beauty present on their source material. This preamp is built for those wanting pure performance, for the music to come alive with toe-tapping rhythm.

Rhythm 1.4 is chock full of features including plenty of input and output options (both single-ended and fully balanced), a remote volume control (with mute), a pure analog pathway and extra long tube life! Speaking of tubes, High-performance NOS 12AU7s were selected for their exceptionally low noise characteristics and gorgeous tonality, open and revealing as well as warm and dynamic. However, should the desire to tube roll strike, Backert makes this a breeze with instant access to the valves via a top-mounted panel. 

Built in Pennsylvania, USA
Based in PA, Backert Labs is located just a short drive from us! Each Backert product is designed, machined and assembled in PA, featuring premium parts and innovative circuit design to deliver an unparalleled listening experience. The Rhythm 1.4 has a very low output impedance of only 75 Ω, which gives it exceptional control over any power amplifier, even with long cable runs! Premium RCA and XLR jacks are well spaced across the back panel, ensuring ultimate compatibility with any cable choice. Even the volume knob has a built-in LED so you can quickly check the volume level, even from across the room!

Unique Technologies
The Rhythm 1.3 uses an amplification circuit (aka “gain stage”) unlike any other.  Their proprietary tech uses a remarkably low voltage of only 150 volts to drive the tubes, which keeps circuit noise vanishingly low and is also extremely gentle on the tubes giving them extraordinarily long life! Backert's patented GreenForce™ power supply is ultra efficient with an exceedingly low noise floor and in a first for the industry, features the much praised V-Cap™capacitors for superb linearity and dynamics. A custom-designed toroidal transformer rounds out the power supply and a high-quality Furutech IEC inlet ensures maximum current transfer with minimum power restriction. 

• Fully balanced XLR inputs (2x pr) and output (2x pr): for those of you with long cable runs or who feel that balanced XLR just sounds better
• Incredibly long tube life: Our proprietary five-step design process for the gain stage extends the lives of your tubes, to the point where they might just outlast all of us
• Brass: Solid-brass bottom panel supports the unit and the circuit board, providing a more holographic sonic image and more natural sound quality
• Dual-mono power supply: left and right channels have their own power supplies and regulators and their own separate windings in the power transformer, for the ultimate in separation, imaging and accuracy
• Highest-quality output capacitors:  The highly seductive V-Cap ODAMs handle output duty. These are not PTFE, because we find that this material is best suited for the demands of the power supply. To our ears they are extremely revealing, involving, accurate capacitors.
• “Crazy-good” power supply capacitors:  the famously dominant V-Cap PTFE capacitors now drive our GreenForce power supply — with copper foil, these exotic capacitors are unheard-of for use in an audio power supply. In any any power supply at all, actually
• Improved circuit board:  features design upgrades that improve grounding and separation throughout
• Improved stock tubes: our special NOS tubes provide maximum pace, dimensionality and resolution
• Our latest circuit: last but not least (because it’s probably the most important point), the Rhythm’s gain stage and power supply regulator designs benefit from our latest research

• Analog volume control
• Remote volume control with volume up/down and mute button
• Analog balance control
• Mute switch on front panel
• Stereo/mono switch on front panel
• Record Out output pair (RCA)
• Home Theater Bypass input pair (RCA). This does not require the Rhythm to be powered “on” during home theater use (this means you don’t need to burn your preamp tubes while watching movies, which is something most other manufacturers force you to do when using home theater bypass
• Our handy tube access door allows tube changes with no tools, just a twist of a finger
• Subtle LED on the volume knob indicates where volume is set at all times

Function: Line stage tubed preamp
Inputs: 3x RCA (Pr), 2x Fully Balanced XLR
Outputs: 4x Line Outputs (1x RCA Pr, 1x XLR Pr) + “Rec Out” (1x RCA Pr) & Home Theater Bypass (1x RCA Pr)
Other Functions: Balance control, mute switch, stereo/mono switch, remote volume control with mute button
Tube complement:  2x 12AU7 (accessible via tube access door on top panel)
Phase: Correct Phase
Chassis: Solid Billet Aluminum, machined in Pennsylvania; Bottom panel (supporting the circuit board) is solid Brass

Specifications:
THD+N: 0.09%
Gain:  +10dB
Frequency Response: flat within 1.5 dB from 6Hz to 108 kHz
S/N Ratio: 98dB (90dB referenced to a 1V output)
Input Impedance: 34k Ω
Output Impedance: Below 80Ω
Crosstalk: 78dB
Power Consumption: 31W (Idle)
Dimensions: 17 x 14 x 5"
Weight:  29 lbs

Rhythm Changes for Update 1.4

• New circuit designs in power supply regulator and gain stage for increased clarity and openess
• New solid brass bottom panel for increased midrange resolution and overall musicality
• Now has 2 pairs of fully balanced XLR outputs (1.3 only had 1pr)

Rhythm Changes for Update 1.3

• Fully balanced XLR inputs (2x Pair) and XLR output (1x Pair): for those of you with long cable runs or who feel that balanced XLR just sounds better
• Dual-mono power supply: left and right channels now have their own power supplies and regulators for the ultimate in separation, imaging and accuracy
• Improved output capacitors:  The highly seductive V-Cap ODAMs now handle output duty
• Improved power supply capacitors: the famously dominant V-Cap PTFE copper foil capacitors now drive the GreenForce power supply, an exotic capacitor that is unheard-of in any power supply
• Improved circuit board:  double the copper in each trace (!!)
• Improved feet: Rhythm 1.3 features the excellent Terracones, from edenSound
• Improved stock tubes: our special NOS tubes provide maximum pace, dimensionality and resolution
• Our latest circuit: gain stage and power supply regulator designs benefit from our latest research