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Problems with tube noise?

45.26.128.222

Recently I noticed an intermittent crackling in one channel when turning on the system. After tolerating that for a couple of days I then began hearing distortion in that channel. I traced that to my tube based line stage.

I suspected it was a bad tube but sent a note to the designer just to verify. He suggested it was a main output tube in that channel and to change to a new one. But I remembered advice from Jim McShane on cleaning pins and sockets. So I pulled all tubes, checked them on my B&K 707 (all good), cleaned the pins and sockets, and reinstalled the tubes.

Back to silence and then no distortion with music.

So even those without access to a tester I suggest following Jim's advice before replacing any tubes.

"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho

Follow Ups:

I had intermittent crackling as well.... - Rod M 13:11:11 10/26/24 (1)
My Mac MC-30s were crackling on and off randomly. I tracked it to the left mono block and didn't want to change out 7 tubes to figure out which one was the issue.

I tried swapping back and forth a bit, but then talked to John, my tech for them, and he said to clean the sockets and use some deox-IT. If it didn't do it, then tweak the tube sockets and tighten them.

Luckily, the deox-IT and cleaning did the trick.

-Rod
- Instant snap crackle pop - Byrd69 14:50:20 10/26/24 (0)
  To test a 6072 tube for someone I put it a 12AT7 slot on a SE console pull.
  
  As expected....Snap crackle pop....pop.
  
  Wiggle wiggle.
  
  Snap crackle crackle pop.
  
  Wiggle wiggle and rock around the clock.
  
  Fzzzzzz. Pop.
  
  Rock around the clock.
  
  Fzzzzzzzz.
  
  One more time. (Miles)
  
  Silence.
  
  There. Take that.
  
  Your interest may vary but the results will be same. (Byrd 2020)
  
  I can't compete with the dead. (Buck W. 2010)
  
  Cowards can't be heroes. (Byrd 2017)
  
  Why don't catfish have kittens? (Moe Howard 1937)
RE: Problems with tube noise? - Jim McShane 09:38:30 10/24/24 (0)
I'm glad to hear you had a positive outcome. Cleaning the sockets/pins doesn't work EVERY time, but it works FAR more often than it doesn't.

Thanks for the report!
- Tube Problems That Aren't Tube Problems (Open in New Window)

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