DIY question on a preamp problem could use help...


Ok, love to hear from some of you who have good technical skill to help diagnose a problem. I purchased a used Lector Zoe preamp as an upgrade project. The unit has a lot of tube hiss/rush sort of noise through both speakers. The builder is no help as I have emailed them several times and they keep telling me to use a different tube. I have tried several tubes brand new and nos , but the same tube noise all the time. The preamp is very high gain as an FYI.

I am using two 6922 tubes. I have already modified the unit to sound far better with great results. None of the mods helped with the tube hiss that was present before and after my mods. I upgraded many caps and put in a nice Goldpoint stepped Attenuator with DACT remote. Lastly I bypassed the selector switch and went direct from the RCA input to the Goldpoint as I only use one source. I upgraded the signal wire and the end result is quite stellar. Problem is this tube hiss/rush noise that is constant through both speakers. I want to fix this and greatly reduce the noise. Where do I look?

Would reducing the gain help? Should I look at the resistors on the 6922 tubes? Change the value of any of these resistors to reduce gain? Not sure where to go next? The noise is not really impacted that much at all as I turn the volume up. The tube hiss stays pretty constant regardless of volume. The signal goes from the coupling caps right to the RCA outputs with no resistors after the coupling caps or on the RCA outputs to ground.

Any ideas?
grannyring

Showing 9 responses by grannyring

My speakers are 87db and thus not very efficient. My dac has a volume which I use to cut the output level my preamp sees. I know the pre can be modified to help with this tube hiss or rush. Not sure how to do it?
The tubes came from Upscale Audio and they do a great job testing. Great points all, but I have been there and done that. I use unshielded ic's by Anti Cables, but also tried the well shielded IC from Blue Jean cables and the same hiss was present.

I have done all the needed testing on sources, amps to be sure it is the pre and not the source or IC or anything else. It is the preamp.

As I mentioned above, the hiss does not change with volume and is always present even at very, very volumes.

The parts all test fine in the preamp. I know it is a circuit design thing and I will need to mod. Hoping someone would have an idea of where to try a mod.

I will continue to read all I can on this issue as I like the challenge! Love learning and trying .
Mechans, you are right about NOS's and perhaps Upscale's tubes are still noisy? I am going to try another set which the builder says are the quietest in the preamp. ECC802s from JJ.

We will see.
I did and do go direct from my dac to amps with dead silence both with the unshielded and shielded cables. Sound it fantastic direct also. I just love modifying gear to be the best it can be....thus this preamp project.

I will try another set of ic's and tubes.
Hi Al. I am using the main isolated CD input next to the two outputs. All of the non isolated inputs and the passive volume output have been disconnected. That total board is completely out of the picture now. I only kept that board in the chassis for cosmetic reasons.

This preamp has too much gain in my system and I have read others saying the same thing. My dac also has a volume that I keep 12 in order use the preamp's volume in the 9-1 dial range. Like to to able to,turn my dac all the way up and take that Attenuator out of the system. Simply too,much gain when I do that.
Thanks Mitch2. I ended up curing the noise and sold the unit. Now have a TRL Dude again!