Aesthetix Io strange behaviour


This morning, my Io won't play music. The only thing I hear is scratching/popping noise when I turn the volume controls. Same thing in both channels. Tried changing cables, etc, but no change. Anyone has an idea? The unit has played beautifully especially since I got a full tube replacement from Aesthetix some years ago. I've heard nothing to indicate a coming breakdown. The lights on the unit come on OK, and as far as I can see, the tubes light up normally too. Strange.
Ag insider logo xs@2xo_holter
Thank you, I got no answer but left a message.
The problem is specific, perhaps the cure also?
I've changed power supply tubes and fuses - no help.
Obviously there is power out, since I hear these noises in the speakers when I turn the volume knobs, varying with their level. Only no music, the input does not get through. I tried just now once more with the aux input (to cd player), just to be sure it is not some analog player or riaa problem. But the result is the same.
(For the record, the Io has mainly been problem-free for me).
OK, cleared up. A local electronics repair shop was able to do it. They found "a defect regulator V1 in the power supply and changed the V1 tube". Reason for failure not known, may have been the fault of the tube. Whatever the case, music is back - great.
i think is good to send to local unless they replaced same parts,
My IO is still on repair almost a month now.
:(
Csng1, I assume you mean, one should only use identical parts? Do you have your Io for repair at the factory, or locally?

For some reason, mine has failed once more, with exactly the same symptoms. After bringing it back from the repair shop, it worked OK for some days, then I turned it off for a day, and then, starting it, same thing as before. Sadness reigns. Strange how one can miss a piece of gear so much, I guess this says a lot about the Io. I can play a bit of digital, using the volume on the Squeezebox Touch through a Stello mk2 Dac connected directly to the amps - quite nice, but not the same. Not at all (sigh).

Obviously something is causing these failures that was not fixed, and I guess I have to try the repair shop once more. Jim White promised to get back to me on email, but that was some weeks ago - no further info.
(The digital comment may have been a bit unfair to the Stello DAC, which I bought recently. In my analog chain, the pickup alone costs quite a lot more than the DAC. However, even using the same source (digital), I prefer the DAC into the Io, rather than direct into the amps. Even if there is a bit of plus and minus on both sides, in that comparison. Direct is perhaps more precise and, well, direct. Through the Io it is a bit less immediate perhaps, a bit less precise. On the other hand the music is much more fleshed out, embodied, "humanized"; I don't quite know how to describe it, but it sure does create a more convincing illusion of live sound. Which is the goal of this hobby, for me. But as I said, the Stello is also fine).