What’s new?

See all of our reviews in the Press Room

2024:

We are now selling the “1.4” series of our linestage preamplifiers.

  • The Rhumba 1.4 is $5,000.
  • The Rhumba Extreme 1.4 is $8,500.
  • The Rhythm 1.4 is $12,900.

Each one, surpassing the previous 1.3. Music, even more “silky” and rich.

Soundstage, expanded.

Dynamic accuracy, already the hallmark of our brand, improved.

Call one of our dealers (or call us directly). Let us hear about your system, and we can answer any questions you might have.

(If you already have a Backert Labs preamp, ask about upgrading it toward the 1.4.)

2023:

We are grateful that Mr. Wood has allowed us to quote his thoughts in our latest ad, shown here.

There was no expectation of an endorsement – Mr. Wood called us as any other customer does and paid for his Rhumba Extreme in full.

 

January 2023:

Nice! “Analog Product of the Year” from TONEaudio magazine for our Rhumba Xphono phono preamp. Check out TONE’s story here

 

October 2022:

A wonderful review of our phono preamp, the Rhumba Xphono, in TONEaudio magazine, here (page 60)

 

August 2022:

A very nice review of the Rhumba Extreme 1.3 in Part-Time Audiophile, here

 

Summer 2022:

Check out this “preview of the review” from Part-Time Audiophile, here

 

Fall 2021:

Summary of our prices:

  • Rhythm 1.3 linestage: $10,750
  • Rhumba Extreme 1.3 linestage: $7,500
  • Rhumba 1.3 linestage: $4,500
  • Rhumba Xphono 1.1 phono preamplifier: $7,500
  • Red or blue body color option for all products other than the Rhythm: $300

 

Spring 2021: 

Check out Steve Guttenberg’s fantastic review of the Rhumba 1.3 linestage preamp — click here

 

Fall 2020:

TONEaudio gave the Rhumba 1.3 an incredible review – read here

 

Wow:

Our first phono preamplifier!  MC and MM… multiple gain settings… 15 different MC loading options… and two power supplies??  Learn more about Bob Backert’s latest innovation here

 

Fall 2019:

Enjoy the Music.com has just rewarded our Rhumba 1.3 Extreme with an excellent review, here.  A nice little sample:

“The Backert Labs Rhumba Extreme is priced on the low end of the high end, while being a formidable opponent to any pre at any price. As an added benefit, the extremely low output impedance lets the Rhumba be paired with amplifiers that other preamps my struggle to drive.

In my humble experience, the Rhumba Extreme is a serious contender if you are looking for a top notch preamplifier that has a neutral presentation, excels in macro and micro dynamics and gets the harmonics of delicate music right. They seem to get everything right, while not having to take out a second mortgage on your home. If you are looking to bring new life into your system by upgrading your preamp, you would be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t have the Rhumba Extreme on your shortlist.”

 

2019: 

We appeared at the Florida Audio Expo!

Enjoy The Music.com raved here: “Laid out before my ears was a glorious soundscape. Vocals were glorious, harmonious, and clean …. Backert Labs has figured out how to use hardly any capacitance to generate the power supply in their preamps, employing just two tiny 0.33uF capacitors. From personal experience designing and building audio gear, plus power supplies for car audio, I wholeheartedly agree on the smaller versus bigger caps approach but nobody has been able to use this few tiny caps before.”

Part Time Audiophile was also impressed: “Backert Labs focuses on Rhythm and Dynamics. … The newly designed and patented power supply uses very low capacitance, just the opposite from convention, but their design sounds better this way….”

A full write-up of our appearance at the show appeared in Part Time Audiophile here.

What a great show, with the nicest, coolest music-loving people in attendance!

 

2018:

The Rhumba Extreme

Rhumba Extreme preamp in blue

Our latest preamplifier is wrapped in the sleek chassis of our less expensive Rhumba, but places almost all of the circuitry from our flagship Rhythm preamp inside.

Our complete product line is now as follows:

  • Rhythm 1.3: $10,750
  • Rhumba Extreme 1.3: $7,500
  • Rhumba 1.3: $4,500
  • Rhumba Xphono 1.1: $7,500

Upgrades that place the Rhumba Extreme above and beyond our standard Rhumba 1.3:

  • Our proprietary auto-bias circuit, from the Rhythm. Your preamp is perfectly biased for each tube you insert. Automatically. Continually.
  • Upgraded polypropylene capacitors throughout the power supply and gain stage.
  • A dual-mono regulator in the power supply… and a completely dual-mono power supply.
  • Premium brass feet, from edenSound.
  • A blue LED on the perimeter of the volume knob notifies you of volume position in low light conditions.

What is the sonic effect of these upgrades?

The Rhumba Extreme takes the big, beautiful sound of the Rhumba 1.3 and adds more midrange resolution.  It has endless detail with smooth, never fatiguing levels of extremely high resolution. Imaging and microdynamics are also more accurate.   As with the standard Rhumba 1.3, blue and red body color options are available for $200.

The current models for the Rhumba and Rhumba Extreme are the 1.3.  The first Rhumba Extreme model, which was called the 1.2, is now on sale for $4,500.

See what everybody’s saying about us by visiting the Press Room.