Pass labs X250.5 cracking noise


Hi all, recently bought a used X250.5 from a dealer on audiogon. Really happy with the SQ. The amp makes a crackling noise after powering down. Its a few cracks/pops - very intermittent and then it subsides. Spoke with Pass engineer and he assured me that the noise was coming from thermal contraction of heat sinks etc after normal operation. This weekend I noticed that the amp made cracking noise during warm up too. Again this is one or two and then after the amp warms up - i dont hear any more pops. Or i guess the sound from speaker masks it perhaps? I did pause music and noticed the amp for about 30 minutes and no cracking/popping noise during that period. Anything I should be worried about? I'll call Pass again this week - but wanted to see if there were any thoughts?
pistha

Showing 1 response by ozzy

I owned the X350.5 and X350.8 and both exhibited the cracking sound as you described. Too me it was more of a clink sound.
Its normal because the high heat that these units generate causes the metal casing / heatsinks to expand and contract. 

ozzy