Paolo.
Switch the input interconnects to the amp from left to right and right to left, see if the noise stays in the same channel.
The ZH-270 is different from the Siegfried, as is has different feedback settings, if you remove the pot, then you will have problems with sensitivity in low and maybe medium feedback, you will most likely hear pre-amp noise.
You might be able to do it if you are running a CD player direct but there are few pre-amps made, especially tubes ones that the ZH-270 will not pick up the noise without having to reduce the sensitivity of the input to the amp, the only other alternative is to find the exact resistance needed to which feedback you use and put a fixed resistor.