Tube hiss - any idea what's causing it?


I own an Eastern Electric M520 integrated amp that I am very fond of. However, recently I have noticed that there is a great deal of rather disturbing hiss eminating from my Omega XRS speakers once I power the unit up. The hiss does not increase when the volume is turned up. It's always there and very noticable during quiet passages. It's definitely a hiss and not a hum.

I checked the tubes and noticed that when I touch or slightly jiggle the front EF86 tubes, the hiss gets louder/softer when they are moved. Could it be that these tubes are going already? I do not have many hours on them. Maybe 100 at best. Should I consider replacing them or perhaps checking the other tubes too - perhaps the 5 AR4 rectifier tubes? I doubt it's the power tubes.

Do you have any thoughts/recommendations for me at this point. I am not sure how to proceed. As always, thanks for your time.
jpstereo

Showing 1 response by czbbcl

Jpstereo

How do you like the Omegas. I am considering the XRS for a system up north in my cottage. I was thinking of driving them with a Cary CAD300SEI or SLI80.

Sounds like a bad tube to me I had one do a similar thing in a cj pre-amp replaced the tube and all was fine. I had a tube go microphonic in a different pre-amp which is characterized by you tapping on the or around the amp and the tapping eminates out your speakers.

Chuck