2. amps-preamps
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Frustrated with new pre-amp and need advice

Hello all. I just bought a new tube preamp from a well-respected company. I'd rather not say who at this point because I'm still trying to work with them. But I am not real satisfied with the responses I've gotten thus far and need to know if my concerns are valid.

There are two main problems: (1) whenever I change sources or go passed 0 volume, I get a loud thump through my speakers. (2) When I have the phono input selected and i'm listening to an lp (via the internal phono board) but my cd is spinning too, I can clearly hear the CD source. It's intruding into the phono input.

So the manuf. rep has pretty much blamed problem #1 on either my ground connection or my power amp. However, when I use another pre amp (a peachtree decco), this problem doesn't happen. So how can it be a problem with my ground or amp?

For problem #2, they've not commented on what could be going on, and their silence doesn't make me feel warm and fuzzy.

So I'd most like to know if others ever have similar problems with any of their gear, if they indicate a defect in the equipment, or are these issues things I'll have to learn to live with.

I appreciate all comments!

Steve
slanski62
recordho
49 posts
 
I assume the tube preamp you are speaking of is a tube unit? To me is sounds like one of two issues. 1. The preamp is faulty. 2. Some tube preamps and solid state power amps simply don't get along. If the preamp is under warranty, why not ask them to replace the unit? Then again what if they do and that doesn't solve the problem. You're right back at square one again. I have had a couple of friends that have has a popping noises in their preamps but they never mentioned the crosstalk. In a properly designed preamp you should not hear the crosstalk. It will be interesting to see what they do and what solves the problem.
macdadtexas
1,794 posts
 
I had a problem with my Cary preamp when I first got it, and I got just the opposite response. The dealer put me on the phone with Dennis Had of Cary, he listened through the phone, apologized, told me to pack it up and ship it back. I had it back the next week. Something was just miswired, it happens, and they fixed it and sent it back.

I would give the preamp back to the dealer.
unsound
7,329 posts
 
Let me first say, that there's a good chance I'm not reading what you posted correctly.
It's been my experience that it's always a good practice to lower the volume to zero before switching sources and turning off the unused sources.
recordho
49 posts
 
Unsound you are correct, that is what we were taught but you don't have to go down to 0. Go just low enough that if your preamp generaes a popping noise or pulse surge it won't send through your amp. This usually does not happen in tube amps. If your gear is designed properly, grounded properly and better than good quality components are used you should neer hear crosstalk or have any popping noises, etc. Oh, and a good power supply should be included on the list too.
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