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Tube Phonostage Causing Rumble and Noises

Hello, I am desperate in need for advices and help.

I have a Aesthetix I/O Eclipse (one power supply) that I acquired new in 2009. It started to make the SVS SB16 Ultra subwoofer rumble a few months ago. I sent it back to Aesthetix, they performed a bunch of upgrades and replaced 4 tubes in gain stage one claiming these would help with the noises. 

When I got it back three months later, the rumble got a bit better but it was still there. Then Aesthetix sent me a new set of tubes claiming there were specially selected and tested for low noise. However, they didn’t eliminate the rumble.

Then I played a record to during the test, the unthinkable happened. When the phonostage is idle, there was just rumble. As soon as a signal was passed from the phono, the sub went crazy, it produced some subsonic noise that made the room shake. I then connected the phono to a tube integrated amp and I heard a loud distorted noise through my LS 3/5A.

The strange thing is that I have no issues using the I/O with my Apogee Fullrange without the sub.

I would appreciate any shape or form of advice/help.

Thanks in advance and Happy New Year!

agharion
jetter
3,033 posts
 

Not as bad as yours, but I had a version of this occurring when playing my turntable, utilizing the built in tube phono stage in my preamp.  The solution for me is to turn off the subwoofer that is near my turntable when playing vinyl.  No problem leaving the 2nd sub on that is some distance away.

You might try turning off your subwoofer/subwoofers as a test.

agharion OP
9 posts
 

Thanks again misstl. I get the rumble when the turntable is not in use.

my turntable is about 6 or 7 years old. Lightly used because I listen to digital most of the time. 

agharion OP
9 posts
 

Thanks, jetter. If I can’t resolve the issue, that’s the only option. Luckily Aesthetix makes good phono. It is just as enjoyable with or without a subwoofer.

To me, the primary issue is not whether I use the sub or not. I am deeply concerned that the I/O is generating a subsonic frequency that could damage speakers with cone drivers, like what happened to the Rhea.

noromance's avatar
noromance
9,769 posts
 

I assume you mean by not in use as not playing a record but still connected and selected as the source. If this is the case, your table/cartridge is picking up subwoofer output and amplifying it somehow. Airborne or structural. Fit Nobsound springs under sub to decouple from floor. Or, if you disconnect the tonearm connection into the phono, and it’s still causing rumble from sub, then, yes something is amiss with the phono amp. Can you verify if this is the case? There is an unlikely possibility that components in the unit are microphonic. Given that you’ve experienced this with 2 units, it’s likely something else is going on unrelated to the phono amps.

I get the rumble when the turntable is not in use.

bpoletti
1,552 posts
 

Feedback.  Isolate the turntable.  Move the sub farther away from the table.  

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