Tube Amp noise

[skeith]

I am hearing a crackling, staticky noise from the speakers rather than the usual sort of simple whoosh of air sound, not sure if I am describing it correctly, but I hope you know what I mean.

Is this likely to be the tubes? I just replaced them recently.

I suppose it could be something further upstream and that it tube equipment too.

[paul secor]

I had a similar problem and it turned out that I had a bad connection on one of my tonearm leads. Only ocurred (obviously) when I was using my turntable.

[jazzbo]

When I've heard similar sounds from tube equipment (vintage tube equipment; I've never heard that particular sound from my Decware amps) it's been a tube. Does it seem evenly form both speakers or just from one speaker? If the latter, moving a tube to the other channel can show if it's just the tube. If you have only one input tube for both stereo channels replacing that tube and seeing if the sound persists. It's possible it's noise from other power supply components if it's not the tubes. . . .

What type of amp are you using? Is it integrated? Do you have a separate preamp?

[Kevin Bresnahan]

I had this problem and sprayed the sockets with some Caig DeoxIT Gold. Problem went away.

Kevin

[skeith]

Thanks guys for all of your suggestions. I will report back.

[skeith]

I had this problem and sprayed the sockets with some Caig DeoxIT Gold. Problem went away.

Kevin

After moving tubes around per Lon's suggestion, I am beginning to suspect this spray might work.

Did you spray into each hole in each socket with the straw attachment or do a more general spray of the socket? Is it more likely the power tubes or the other tubes?

[jazzbo]

I would wager it's likely the input tubes, but I'd clean all sockets. I've never used such a spray so I'm not sure how to advise you as far as that goes.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

I had this problem and sprayed the sockets with some Caig DeoxIT Gold. Problem went away.

Kevin

After moving tubes around per Lon's suggestion, I am beginning to suspect this spray might work.

Did you spray into each hole in each socket with the straw attachment or do a more general spray of the socket? Is it more likely the power tubes or the other tubes?

I used the little straw attachment and sprayed a little bit of DeoxIT into each socket pin hole and then "worked it in" by inserting and removing a tube a few times. My problem was with one of the output tube sockets but I cleaned all of them. As I understand it, the stuff won't hurt a working socket and can only help one that is marginal. Since I've done this, I haven't heard that faint crackly static since.

Edited May 8, 2012 by Kevin Bresnahan

[jostber]

I had some of the same with my tube amp. Cleaned tube pins and sockets with Deoxit and then the crackling disappeared.

Edited May 8, 2012 by jostber

[skeith]

thanks again for all your help guys!!!

[skeith]

I sprayed the Deoxit in the tube sockets and the put the tubes in and out several times, but the problem persists.

Should I do another treatment or maybe it is a tube?

[Kevin Bresnahan]

Were you able to figure out which tube was making the crackly noise?

Does it come from both speakers? If so, check the pre-amp & driver tubes. If it comes from one speaker, check the output tubes on that side.

If you wiggle a tube, can you hear the noise? Try to localize it. It may be a tube but it could be a bad socket.

BTW, what kind of amp is it? What type of tubes does it use? Do you use NOS or new tubes? How old is the amp and/or tubes?

Kevin

[skeith]

Were you able to figure out which tube was making the crackly noise?

Does it come from both speakers? If so, check the pre-amp & driver tubes. If it comes from one speaker, check the output tubes on that side.

If you wiggle a tube, can you hear the noise? Try to localize it. It may be a tube but it could be a bad socket.

BTW, what kind of amp is it? What type of tubes does it use? Do you use NOS or new tubes? How old is the amp and/or tubes?

Kevin

Kevin

Thanks for your response.

I became more convinced that the problem was in the preamp - mainly because those are the tubes I changed most recently. I was supplied NOS Mullards from Conrad-johnson who makes the preamp. The noise was spotty - at first it seemed mostly one speaker but at times it was coming through both. I put the old ones back in and the noise stopped so I think it must be the new tubes. Called Cj and I think they are going to send me a new set.

Both my amp and preamp are around 15 years old.

[jazzbo]

Good news!