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Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III crackling static in left channel

This has been going on almost as long as I've owned the amp, 5 years.  I bought it new in 2021, so it's 2 years out of warranty, so no help coming from manufacturer.

I can stop and or aggravate crackling by wiggling the tip of the left 12AX7, less so by touching the left 12AU7. I've transposed the two AX7s and it helps temporarily. I don't suspect the AQ Evergreen cable or its connection to the DAC.

I've tried switching inputs to Aux 1, Aux 2 and CD, but the noise occurs in all three.

Any thoughts, suggestions welcome.

 

dreedbollinger
newbee
4,843 posts
 

Possibly poor contacts of the tube pins  with the tube socket. I had a similar problem. For years I thought it was a faulty tube. Ultimately I identified the underlying issue. I solved the 'problem by using either gold plated tubes, which add a very small amount of thickness to the tube's pin, or taking a pair of plyers and bent the pins VERY SLIGHTLY to increase the contact.  A smart, and not so cheap, person would simply have the sockets changed out.

dreedbollinger's avatar
dreedbollinger OP
4 posts
 

Haha, thanks, newbee.  Cheap is good. I wouldn't call your fixes unsmart. The amp is heavy, as you know. I won't move it unnecessarily. 

Btw, where did you get the gold plated tubes?

newbee
4,843 posts
 

I believe they were some NOS (now) EI tubes (Telefunken wantabe's). On the cheap side you can use JJ's or EH tubes - both have gold pin versions. I like the JJ's much more - they have been reliable and had a tone that fit the needs of my pre-amp, amp, and speakers. EH's more neutral in tone, sort of 'boring' in my ear. I've never heard them in a Rogue so I can't comment, but from what I've read about Rogue's stuff I would probably enjoy the JJ's contribution more than the others I mentioned. 

Hope that helps some.

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