2. amps-preamps
  3. 1238695457

What does microphonic tube sound like?

I have this strange problem since I replaced my old SS preamp to a tubed preamp. Some of my CDs when played through Linn Unidisk sound scratchy. There is this annoying scratchy echoy sound throughout the CD and I can't listen to them. But the same CD, played through my PS1, sounds fine. I had both Linn and PS1 with the old SS preamp, and I didn't have this problem with that particular CD in either player.

I think the problem is with either the CD (bad press?) or the new tubed preamp. The current hypothesis is that the more extended sound from Linn is triggering preamp to misbehave and produce the scratchy sound, because the sound from PS1 is softer in extreme frequency ends. I don't know if what I'm hearing is microphonics, but if it is shouldn't it happen to all the recordings?
jylee

Showing 1 response by vett93

vett93
205 posts
 
I am not sure about the hypothesis that your CDP overdrives your tube preamp. Your tube preamp should have a volume control that can attenuate the signal from the CDP.

My guess is your SS power amp overdrives your tube preamp. Your tube preamp may have a high output impedance and/or your SS power amp may have a low input impedance.

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