We are very grateful to 6moons.com for reviewing the Rhythm 1.1. We are pleased to have our product recognized for its rhythm and dynamics, qualities that we focused on carefully in our quest to deliver truly live sound.
We would like to respond to a point on page 4, which states: “I could barely open the Rhythm 1.1’s volume before things got too loud…. I barely made it past 7:00…. For someone with a similar gain/SPL scenario, this preamp would be fatally flawed.”
WHAT HAPPENED HERE: Instead of using the Rhythm preamp with a power amp, the reviewer had plugged the output of the preamp into one of the inputs on an integrated amplifier, with its volume turned all the way up.
That is what led to the above comment.
To be clear:
- The reviewer plugged his music source into the Rhythm preamp.
- The Rhythm’s output was plugged into a source input, like “CD Input”, on an integrated amplifier.
- The integrated amp’s volume was turned all the way up, to maximum.
We do not recommend attempting to play music like this.
With the integrated set to maximum volume, it makes sense that the reviewer could barely turn up the Rhythm’s volume.
We do not believe this was due to a flaw in the Rhythm 1.1.
In the reviewer’s defense, he believed that the integrated amp did not have an active preamp section. Turning it up to maximum volume was a good-faith attempt to make it “act like a power amp”.
But looking at the integrated amp and what is available on the internet, it clearly has an active preamp.
We confirmed with the manufacturer of the integrated amp, Crayon Audio, that its preamp section is fully active.
We pointed these facts out to 6moons.com. They decided not to issue a clarification that they had used the Rhythm in an unconventional way.
Later, the reviewer used the Rhythm with a customary power amplifier, although when doing so he switched to different, higher-sensitivity speakers. He then reported that he continued to experience excess gain.
We take all listener feedback seriously.
We therefore created a reduced-gain version of the Rhythm 1.1, for systems like the reviewer’s.
We again thank 6moons.com for thoroughly reviewing our product.