2. amps-preamps
  3. 1055517109

"Grid leakage" problem common to tube pre-amps?

Despite my EE degrees, I'm quite new to vacuum tube technology. I'm using a BAT VK-5 pre-amp (love it) and have developed a scary screaching, static when I adjust volume. It seems to happen most when the unit is cold. It's scary because I'm presently using a Krell KSA-200S and it will add 26.5 dB to pretty much anything you throw on its input. The noise is very loud, not low level static common to potentiometer-based controls (the BAT definitely doesn't use pots for volume control).

Victor & Steve at BAT are great and very responsive. Victor indicates that the problem is likely due to grid leakage on one of the tubes (6922s), causing the presence of DC.

Is this issue common or well understood by others w/ tube equipment? Can anyone provide some more details or background on this phenomenon?

Thanx,
John B
murphthelab

Showing 1 response by sean

sean
6,231 posts
 
While i know nothing about the line or product design, it seems as if DC leakage and the BAT name appear in quite a few threads on this subject. While i believe Victor to be extremely responsive to customer concerns, he might want to start checking into this. Sean
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