What do defective phono tubes sound like?

My Allaerts Finish Gold just asked me to send you a big Atmokisss !!!!!!

Dear Sirseedy, very strange you post this problem now, because I have the SAME problem occuring recently, and we have quite similar systems ! I am also on the diagnosis pathway, and I never thought of a tube problem . I swapped
recently the 12AX7A NOS Telefunken for military grade Mullards , and wonder if they are the culprits.It is like a big electrical discharge occuring every 10 minutes, but only with my analog system . I borrowed a PS Audio Premier Power plant and proceeding by elimination, apparently it is the phonostage headamp who is picking up AC noise when my REFRIGERATOR switches on. When I unplug the frig this not occuring anymore. Hope this helps.

Another possible source is the unshieled proximal part of the tonearm cable, Purist Venustas in my case, hooked to Graham Phantom, being too close to phonostage and picking ground loops and discharging loud pops. When I separate the tonearmcable from phonopreamp the noise and pops disapear

What a happy end! Sirspeedy you and Atmasphere demonstrated once more how Audiogon is a nice tool when properly used. I am quite new to this site and learn so much about this magnificent hobby/passion through the great communication you guys have that I hope this will never end !

Thank you, Sirspeedy, this is only a humble experiment I tryed, just to see the impact of a full size platter acting as rim drive . It turned out to be very effective at no cost, exept the new superplatter.
What have you tryed yet in your system to get rid of your "pops"?
I sincerely hope it will turn to an happy end for you.

Static discharge ! Thanks for your intervention, Atmasphere. I grounded the turntable to arm, separated the phonopreamp from turntable,check tonearm grounding and no more "pops". It wasn't the fridge! Are those static discharges harmful to cartridge coils or any components of the system?

Bad news, "pops" came back... I am also leaning towards tonearm connection failure, when i move the pivoting bottom of the Phantom awful pops appear.
I thought problem was resolved, but it was a short relief, maybe because I unplugged everything. Monday I take the tonearm back for checking. Fortunately we have a very good aftersale system here in Belgium and they lend me a new tonearm during repair.