2. amps-preamps
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Replacement tube recommendation for a Mcintosh amplifier?

Last night I thought it began to rain and then I discovered one of the tube amplifiers was giving off a crackling sound. Probably one of the small tubes is not working and there's six of them. And they are only a couple months old.

They are stock tubes, probably JJ.

There are six small tubes with two being for the preamp. Maybe I need to replace them all or just the preamp tubes. 

The amp is a MC 2301. When I disconnect the incoming RCA interconnect there is still crackling sound coming from the speaker even when it's muted. Also see the needle jumping around with no incoming signal.  Sometimes noisier but consistently annoying.

Wish there was a way to figure out which tube is bad.

emergingsoul

Showing 1 response by ghdprentice

ghdprentice
6,423 posts
 

@elliottbnewcombjr

 

+1 yep, it is a pretty simple logical task of switching tubes to isolate it to one or a few tubes. From what you said it is in one of your amps… so you can use the tubes in the good one to trouble shoot the one with the noise. Macs are well made so it is the most likely a tube problem.
 

I always order a spare set of tubes when I get a tube component. You can use these to narrow any tube issues to an individual tube, then get a replacement. Remember the same tubes on a single side should be matched.

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