2. misc-audio
  3. 173637-90633

Unidentifiable popping sound

Not 100% sure it goes in this forum — apologies if there is a better place.

For 6 months now, something in my system is making a clicking/popping sound. It usually happens 15 minutes after I power things up, or about 10 minutes after I power them down. It can also happen spontaneously when everything is technically on standby. I actually have a recording of it, but not sure how to upload here. Any ideas?

Preamp — Nagra Jazz (possible) (it happened with both old and brand new tubes)
Amp — Nagra Classic Amp (possible)
DAC/Source — PS Audio Directstream (possible)
Phono stage — Pure Audio LV-1 (probably not)
TT — Clearaudio Concept (definitely not that)
Cables — Luna Orange (also, definitely not that)
 

andbaron

Showing 2 responses by reubent

reubent
7,072 posts
 

@andbaron 

it's definitely coming from something electronic, it's not from or through the speakers.

I would think that would make it easier to find as you may only need to have one component powered up to hear the sound. So, sometime when you can be in the room, but not listening to music, simply power up only one component for a reasonable period of time to determine if you hear the sound. If not, power it off, wait an appropriate period of time to determine if you hear it after power-off, then repeat with the next component. Worse case, it should take you less than 2-3 hours based on your description in the original post.

Good luck. Hope you solve this soon. 

reubent
7,072 posts
 

Pretty easy to rule out the DAC. Turn it off, disconnect the interconnect cables at the pre-amp input end and listen to vinyl only for a few days, or until you hear the popping noise. If you hear the popping noise with the DAC turned off and disconnected front the pre-amp, you've ruled out the DAC as a potential cause.

Question: Do you hear the popping noise through the speaker(s) or do you hear it emanating from the electronic equipment? If speakers, from one or both?

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