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Slight "dust like ticks" through "R" headphone earcup from Consonance Cyber 20 HPA; Any clues to what this is ?

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Posted on May 23, 2017 at 06:09:36
Old SteveA
Audiophile

Posts: 648
Joined: March 27, 2011
 I hadn't used this HPA for a while,but have decided I like it's sound. I'm having a slight annoyance from occasional "tics" coming through the right headphone channel only.

Could this be tube pin noise ? As I've mentioned this isn't a steady state noise (& faint) so I'm treating it as if it were not dead silent(but quiet & detailed)Vinyl.... My sources are completely digital these days !

I can "live" with this ,but was curious if there was a simple "cure" to stop these tics

Any suggestions ?

 

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Have you tried cleaning the tubes and sockets?, posted on May 23, 2017 at 07:40:20
FenderLover
 Tightening maybe in order, too.

 

RE: Have you tried cleaning the tubes and sockets?, posted on May 23, 2017 at 08:01:52
Old SteveA
Audiophile

Posts: 648
Joined: March 27, 2011
 I'm not quite sure what (or how to)you're suggesting by "tightening" ?

 

RE: Have you tried cleaning the tubes and sockets?, posted on May 24, 2017 at 06:58:55
TubeAcolyte
Dealer

Posts: 366
Location: Ottawa, ON
Joined: December 13, 2009
 Tightening the sockets, as in retensioning the metal bits that grip on the pins. If your tubes drop in a little "loose" and have a lot of play, it may be time to perform that kind of work. It can be a little tricky - really depends on the kind of socket we're dealing with. I'd dig around the internet to see if anyone has any guides or experiences to share.

That said, I'd start with cleaning the sockets first and tube pins, and testing the channel with some spare tubes to see if the noise goes away.
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May your tubes be lively, warm, and long-lasting. Holy be thy heater.

 

RE: Have you tried cleaning the tubes and sockets?, posted on May 24, 2017 at 11:47:45
Eli Duttman
Audiophile

Posts: 10455
Location: Monroe Township, NJ
Joined: March 31, 2000
 A dental pick is good for tweaking the contacts.

Scrub miniature tube sockets with a periodontal brush. Pipe cleaners are good for scrubbing Octal sockets.

Caig DeOxit D5 is a good contact cleaner. Anhydrous isopropanol is another OK cleaner.


Eli D.

 

RE: Have you tried cleaning the tubes and sockets?, posted on May 24, 2017 at 13:09:21
Old SteveA
Audiophile

Posts: 648
Joined: March 27, 2011
 Thanks guys !

I've actually cleaned pins & sockets before ,but I wasn't familiar with "tensioning" the pin sockets !

I ended up going back to my McCormack Micro Line Drive as it's the only HPA I have that isn't producing more volume gain than my (Stupidly) over-efficient headphones need while connected to my Metrum Hex DAC!

(& the McCormack has always been an "over-achiever" in terms of great musical tonality; Thanks all the same)

 

One of my preamp tubes developed a short, posted on May 25, 2017 at 09:50:26
Jay Buridan
Audiophile

Posts: 10284
Location: Michigan
Joined: January 21, 2004
 The noise caused me to pull the tubes and test them. I replaced the one that measured as 'short' and the noise disappeared.

"Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people. "
― W.C. Fields

 

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