Sounds like DC is coming out of your preamp.....
Audio Research REF II failed
I guess I should have changed the power supply tubes earlier... stupid me... Power amp shuts down when ever I take the pre out of mute. There is a component next to the second 6h30 (the bottom one to the right) that smoked. I assume that is a screen resistor? At the dealer now to get repaired and retubed. Booo!