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 

I don’t have a volt meter. The voltage on my UPS screen shows the correct local voltage of 230v

Not very practical for me to move them to a different system. No audiophile friend living close by…

Tried with the preamp and DAC disconnected. Same symptom.

If it's common to both amps, then It's most likely mechanical noise from the 6SN7 tubes as they heat up. Tubes are microphonic and the high gain of the amp makes it audible.

@gs5556 

Tried replacing the 6sn7 tubes…same.

 

I should mention that the noise doesn’t get any louder when the volume is turned up. 

It seems pretty clear that the noise is thermally related - and notwithstanding the fact that changing valves didn't make a difference, mechanical noise from the tubes seems the most likely explanation. As the noise is very faint and only last's a short time, and the amps are stable in operation it's probably best to just live with it as it doesn't seem to be indicative of a problem that's going to cause any kind of catastrophic failure.

Are you sure the noise is coming from your speakers?

It may just be mechanical from the amps warming up