Hello,
You and another person talked about having the same issue. I do like MC’s answer. People forget what their system sounds like. It might be your capacitors. Uneven sound, cracking, and inconsistent times. I am not sure of what your pre/ amp is but caps do go bad and can give off inconsistent sound signatures. Power it up and listen. If it is a tube product it could be a tube. Roll the tubes from L to R and R to Left. If it is solid state switch the IC at one of the ends. Also there can be caps in your speaker crossovers. Switch the speaker wires too to see. Or try the speakers on another device. Sounds like a cap or tube problem.
You and another person talked about having the same issue. I do like MC’s answer. People forget what their system sounds like. It might be your capacitors. Uneven sound, cracking, and inconsistent times. I am not sure of what your pre/ amp is but caps do go bad and can give off inconsistent sound signatures. Power it up and listen. If it is a tube product it could be a tube. Roll the tubes from L to R and R to Left. If it is solid state switch the IC at one of the ends. Also there can be caps in your speaker crossovers. Switch the speaker wires too to see. Or try the speakers on another device. Sounds like a cap or tube problem.