Noisy Right Channel

Smells a bad tube. @newbee gave a solid advice.

Also consider using some contact cleaner on the tube pins and sockets. Think about it, on a tube amp with four output tubes two drivers, depending on the tube types, that is somewhere around 40 or more mechanical connections that need to be made. Corrosion or a bad connection on just one pin can create the noise you describe.

Sometimes switching tubes from left-to-right fixes the problem because the act of removing and reinserting tubes knocks off enough corrosion to address the issue.

Of course, tubes do age and/or go bad, so that could still be the issue. But the experiment above doesn't take much time and is completely free so is always worth a try.

Thanks guys… I popped the case open and swapped the left channel tube with the right channel tube, and the noise I was hearing followed the tube and is now coming through my left channel. Cool.
Should I be concerned about continuing to use my preamp while I wait for a new pair of tubes?

Any recommendations for where to order a matched pair of Sovtek 6h30’s?

looks like tctubes.com has them listed at $89.00/pair and vivatubes.com has them listed at $127.78. Thetubestore.com doesn’t seem to have them listed for sale in matched pairs, but has them at $53.95ea. In any event, I’m unfamiliar with all three of these companies so some guidance would be much appreciated.

@sgordon1

curious about your suggestion to unplug everything for 24hrs…

Better wait for new ones. To be on the safe side.

There is a chance that this tube will do more things other than be only noisy.

Upscale Audio sells tubes.