2. amps-preamps
  3. 174684-115845

Strange ticking noise when amps were powered on from cold

Any one encountered this phenomenon? I have a pair of Aesthetix Atlas Monos. When they were powered on from cold I could hear some continuous ticking noise (10-15 beat per second) if I stick my ear right next to the speakers. VERY faint. The noise was gone in about 5 mins once the monos were warmed up. As long as the monos’s main switches were on the noise would not return regardless the monos were playing or stand by. It only happened when they were turned on from cold (e.g. after a power failure in the neighbourhood ). searched online and some people suggest that it is the capacitors charging?

 

Steps I’ve done to diagnose the problem:

1. Turn off preamp-same problem

3. Replace 6SN7 tubes

3. use other amps-no noise

4. plug them in other main sockets-same problem

5. switch off all other appliances at home (fridges, dishwasher, modem, router, down lights)-same problem

6. Disconnect all rechargeable devices (laptops, robot vacuum cleaner, power bank, electric toothbrush)-seemed to quiet the noise a bit but not to sure as it was very faint in the first place

At the moment it’s not very practical for me to take the monos to other places to try.

Your input is much appreciated. 
 

 

steven365
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 

I think your just fine. The location you had it before and the fact most of us don't turn off the main switch could be all it is. It was always there just the location may have masked the sound. I have a few class Ds and A/B preamps all the same way. You hear the soft start relay charging up discharged caps..  Some units are set up to bleed off the filter caps and some stay charged up.

Regards

ditusa's avatar
ditusa
1,719 posts
 

   Copied from Aesthetix owner's manual see below:

It is normal that a slight pop may be heard when going into or coming out of Standby. This is due to the amplifier switching from high bias to low bias.

 

steven365 OP
26 posts
 

@ditusa 

Thanks mate but what I heard is continuous ticking (10-15 beat per second) instead of some random pops.

tomstruck's avatar
tomstruck
350 posts
 

Not with my Atlas but this is simple call Jim White or you can guess all day

steven365 OP
26 posts
 

@tomstruck 

Thanks mate. One of the potential buyers acutally contacted Aesthetix regarding this and was advised that they never heard of such probem before. 

I should add that I might not have the best AC in our house. Previously whenever my wife switched on the dimmable down lights I could hear a pop from the speakers. A Torus isolation transformer fixed it. However, now even with the down lights switch off I could still hear the ticking noise in the first 5 mins.

More to discover