What do defective phono tubes sound like?


I have noticed some rather loud energy discharges when playing LP's.Sort of an abrupt popping.Not unlike static discharge.I do not get this with my digital playback.
The ONLY change made to my system lately has been a new arm.The problem began immediately "after" it's installation.It was just fine with the previous arm.

I don't want to make this an "arm" mfgr thing(and will not mention arm name)but wonder if the phono tubes in use(very NOS Siemens CCa's,with low hours)can be the culprit.

This is making me pull my hair out,and I have little already.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
sirspeedy

Showing 1 response by tonywinsc

I mounted a new phono cartridge last week. It is a MC with about 0.3mV output. I am using an ARC pre-amp with 100 ohm loading. I suddenly developed an occasional popping noise like a static discharge. (Consistently in the left channel). My room is at 83% RH so humidity shouldn't have been a factor. This afternoon, looking around for related threads I found this one. This thread got me looking at all connections and I noticed that the insulation is worn on my headshell wires. I can see bare copper on the blue wire (Left channel). These wires have silk insulation. I have had them since the early 90's. When I mounted the new cartridge I noticed the exposed conductors but didn't think much of it. The connectors are a little loose as well. Considering that I am amplifying <0.3mV that exposed copper could surely be a problem. So I ordered some new headshell wires.

I took the head shell off today and pushed the connectors on tighter onto the cartridge pins. I also manipulated the silk insulation to cover up the bare copper. I know that is just a temporary fix until I get my new wires. But it seemed to do the trick. I played one side of an album with no pops. I ran out of time today, but will try and make time to play more records tomorrow.

I'll be glad when the new headshell wires come. Hardly relaxing listening to music right now just waiting for another pop to occur.