Is there such a thing??-- Tube Preamp Question


Hello All,

I have recently acquired my first tube preamp. Its a Blue Circle 21.1 with the stepped attenuator. From the start its been a journey. When I received it there was a distinct buzz/hum. I sent it out for repair and they found it was the power transformer. They made me a spiffy new external power supply which solved the problem. I truly love what it does for tonality, richness of voices and my sound stage appears deeper to me with good placement of instruments within it. However, and maybe my expectations are just to high, the hiss and tube replacements (needed to replace tubes after 6 months) along with a generally fussy nature in terms of the need to pop the top and clean to get the fuzzy sounds out occasionally just seems a bit much. Are all tube pres susceptible to this level of need an "fussy" temperament? Another issue, is when I am watching TV and/or using TV as a source, between songs there are strange sounds(bleeps and squeaks) and moments of scratchy sounds noted in quiet passages and seem triggered by moving from one song to the next. It seems very sensitive to picking up TV noise which I have never noted using solid state gear.  While it isn't evident at medium to high volume it just bothers me and I know that its there. 

Can I have all that this does for me in terms of tonality and sound stage along with a less fussy nature? Does such a thing exist for a reasonable price($1000-$2000). I would like a more silent background with less need for constant attention. 

Does such a thing exist?
128x128birdfan

Showing 2 responses by birdfan

Thanks Newbee and All. 

The preamp has a handy dandy gain switch which can be accessed from inside the cover. I have played with this and swapped in a range of speakers. My OB Spatial holograms certainly do magnify the problem as they are higher efficiency. when those are in the mix I set the gain switch to its lower settings. When using my Anthony Gallo 3.1's I use the lower setting. The associated equipment as follows:

Amps: Red Dragon M1000 (mkI) Mono Blocks-- I'm not sure the input sensitivity
Cabling: All interconnects are Anti Cable entry Level. Cullen pwoer cables, 
Tubes: Currently Running Electro harmonix 6922
Speakers: Green Mountain Audio Continuum 1's, GMA Chroma HD, Gallo 3.1, Magnepan 1.7i, Magnepan MMG, Spatial Hologram M3 Turbo S
Power conditioning:  Furman Power Conditioner (PST-8)
Sources: TV, JA Michel Gyrodec, Thorens TD166, Bluesound Node 2, 
Phono Stage: Lounge Audio LCR mkIII

 
Thanks all for your feedback. Removing the tv removed the problem. I also am using the low gain setting on all the speakers except the Maggie’s. Cleaned the tube sockets and tube pins as well as everything in the preamp with deoxit. It’s dead quite now. Thanks for all the guidance!! 

@curiousjim  do you have a recommendation on which brand 7308’s to look into?