2. amps-preamps
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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
chocaholic
202 posts
 

You need to use a subsonic filter. Many of us use them. They operate below human hearing and will solve your problem. @stereo5  was kind enough to offer you one to try. You should do it as your next step and potentially save yourself a lot of grief and expense. Springs won’t fix this. 

pgaulke60
299 posts
 

Do you have a modem or internet satellite (like an Orbi) close by?  I notice that my phono pre-amp meters have activity when the Orbi satellite is close by.

agharion OP
9 posts
 

Hi Noromace, not in use means not playing and still connected to the select source.

my turntable is far away from a corner and the sub is at least 5 ft from the turntable.

At this point, I probably should try the rumble filter. I will give KAB a call tomorrow to get more info. Stereo5, did you mean RF-1 because I don’t see RF-5 on KAB website.

I appreciate everyone’s advices and help. Thank you all.

 

dmguaragno
14 posts
 

Do your tubes have tube dampers? It probably won't cure the problem you are having, but if the issue is microphonic tubes, damper rings may help.

Another thing to look at. A friend of mine had a terrible noise issue with his phono stage. It was later discovered to be a bad dimmer switch on the same AC circuit. You should try plugging the phono stage into different outlets to see if this is a noisy power issue.

sounds_real_audio
1,012 posts
 

Try changing out your interconnects. 

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