2. amps-preamps
  3. 161387-96791

Constant noisy tubes maybe go solid state?

I have a Quicksilver Line Stage Preamp (12AT7) mated to an Odyssey Khartago Stereo. Overall I like it. Way too much gain but I digress. Weeks after receiving it I rolled in a few different tubes, kinda fun to color the sound signature. I liked rhe RXA black plates I got and those stuck around for more than a year. They started going microphonic and making noises so I ordered another pair (noisy) then another different vendor (blasts of white noise) and another set that arrived today (one is noisy as holy hell and one seems fine).

So where does one order preamp quality tunes that are quiet? Is there something I’m not requesting when ordering? Maybe dump
snd go solid state? I’m trying to be humorous because I’m pissed. Ha.
gochurchgo

Showing 8 responses by leemaze

leemaze
329 posts
 
I sent back my crazy noisy RCA blackplates to Brent Jesse and spent 4x the money for Mazda 12AU7s pre-tested for noise and microphonics. These are better - actually listenable - but there’s a weird high pitched whine every so often and I can still clearly hear hiss from the listening position in quiet passages of music. I like the 3D effect but find myself straining to hear the music at my normal listening volumes (~60dB). This is after 72hrs of burn-in. 
Amp is Rogue Sphinx v2. Speakers are Wharfedale diamond 10.7. 
Am I missing something? Is this as quiet as it gets?

Thanks!
leemaze
329 posts
 
@gochurchgo ive got a Yamaha A-S2100 on the way in the post. In the meantime, I just went back to my Rega Brio-R - other than the French Mazdas (which were super 3D) the tubes don’t add much other than hiss and whine! Bye bye tubes. 
leemaze
329 posts
 
Also just received a set of noisy tubes from Brent Jesse in my first attempt at tube rolling - will report back on the resolution. 
leemaze
329 posts
 
Not to hi-jack the thread but it seems on topic - anyone have clues about the hiss on my Rogue Sphinx?

@gochurchgo the whine is less and less frequent so I want to believe it’s part of Brent Jessee’s burn-in theory. 

The hiss is a different story, steady and present all the time. I can’t listen to quiet, ambient music because it’s covered in white noise. If I turn up the amp the music covers it, but it’s very noticeable at low volumes. It’s not affected by the volume level - the hiss doesn’t increase if I turn up the volume with nothing playing. Is this the tubes or something else you think?
leemaze
329 posts
 
@gochurchgo interested to hear how the new Gold Lions compare to RCA black plates in terms of noise floor and soundstage! Have you listened yet? Also what “level” did you buy from Upscale?
leemaze
329 posts
 
Oh boy - what a bummer!  Did the replacement RCA from Brent sound good?  Let us know if Upscale takes those back?
leemaze
329 posts
 
@gochurchgo I'm giving up and going back to solid state - 4th round of tubes are microphonic.  These ones aren't noisy or hissy but they project *everything* through the speakers - like tapping on the floor and lightly rubbing the top of the amp.  Tube seller tried to tell me "this is normal, all tubes are microphonic".  Am i crazy?
leemaze
329 posts
 
Welp, spoke too soon? My Yamaha seems to be lost in the post and meanwhile I received some RCA clear tops that I had already ordered from a seller on eBay. Just popped them in- DEAD silent. No microphonics. Super separation. Clear, velvety and delicious sound. Wow. 
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