NAD: Reborn Recto Multiwatt and preamp tubes question

[jkdsteve]

Well actually NAD was last week or so therefore I am still well within the honeymoon period but I really have nothing bad to say about the amp or transaction.

I owned a lot of prior vintages of Rectos, later and earlier revisions..including coveted chrome chassis/blackface/attached power cord/low serial #, 50W Rectoverb, TOV, RK I and I want to say this amp covers a lot of their tonal ground..maybe can't quite get so dark as the Rev C..but I am still dialing! \m/

In addition to this, we get all our favorite features from the DR, switchable TUBE Recto. BOLD/SPONGY etc. plus a whole host of Roadking/Roadster style features with Tube Tracking, killer foot switch, channel cloning and the new voicing (RAW/PUSHED) from latter day Rectos..and we're still not done, a new series FX loop and 50W/100W *PER CHANNEL* option without pulling tubes. \m/

The channel cloning is not identical to earlier versions but they got pretty close with the dual concentric pots

I think MESA hit it out of the park with this amp.

Downside, if you can call it such a thing....how bomb-proof the packaging was, impatient to get at my goodies..LOL Kudos to LPMojoGL \m/


Now my question:

Do you guys bother going beyond v2 when changing pre-amp tubes for gain voicing?

v1a/v2a are input and v2b I think is first gain stage for Ch 2&3.....

I swapped PI (v5?) for a MESA STR Tube (long plate) and I think that's for the better and changed v2 for a nice Philips 7025s. I tried v1 but that didn't have anywhere near the impact so left the nice, short plate (Sovtek?) tube in there.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

Congrats! The new MW Rectos are great. My favorite Recto version ever... even over the sub #200 serial Rev C... Rev E et al. Just tighter, and more upfront and present.

I usually swap out V1 and V2 first to see if I notice a big difference... and if I like what I hear I swap out the rest.

 

[jkdsteve]

Congrats! The new MW Rectos are great. My favorite Recto version ever... even over the sub #200 serial Rev C... Rev E et al. Just tighter, and more upfront and present.

I usually swap out V1 and V2 first to see if I notice a big difference... and if I like what I hear I swap out the rest.

Yeah, I had my doubts buying in but I couldn't believe how immediate the gratification was.....far easier to get that signature tone plus more usable control range to me.