Tubes and their problems

Clean the top surface of all tube sockets just in case. It is often arcing from one pin to another via dirty sockets that produces the pop or crackle.

I heard popping from my Jolida FX-10's tubes on my right speaker. To see if it was the tubes, I swapped all the tubes from left and right channel and visa versa. The popping then happened on the Left side.

This proved it was the tubes - I went ahead and replaced all of them, fixing the problem.

If you do the swapping as mentioned above, and the popping continues on the same channel, then it's Not the Tubes.

The idea that a microphonic tube is one that is going to blow is incorrect. Microphonics is a construction issue but not an indication of imminent failure.

@ Joeylawn, its likely that only one of the tubes you replaced was actually the one giving you troubles. To find it, swap the tubes left for right one at a time rather than the whole bunch.

Atmasphere, you're right, but I just went ahead and replaced all 6 tubes (which were Electro Harmonix and Tung Sol) with matched and cryo'd JJ's.

Before I take out the many screws to get at my tubes I decided to buy a new rectifier before diving in. I'm hearing a very low thump, or thud, intermittently, and irregular when it shows. The two 6sn7 driver tubes are Shuguang Black Treasure which are only a few months old. Not sure which is the problem, but will switch out the rectifier first since I'm unsure of its age. (Mullard)