2. amps-preamps
  3. 161387-96791

Constant noisy tubes maybe go solid state?

I have a Quicksilver Line Stage Preamp (12AT7) mated to an Odyssey Khartago Stereo. Overall I like it. Way too much gain but I digress. Weeks after receiving it I rolled in a few different tubes, kinda fun to color the sound signature. I liked rhe RXA black plates I got and those stuck around for more than a year. They started going microphonic and making noises so I ordered another pair (noisy) then another different vendor (blasts of white noise) and another set that arrived today (one is noisy as holy hell and one seems fine).

So where does one order preamp quality tunes that are quiet? Is there something I’m not requesting when ordering? Maybe dump
snd go solid state? I’m trying to be humorous because I’m pissed. Ha.
gochurchgo
decooney
2,358 posts
 

@slaw
"Why not talk to Mike Sanders?"

@gochurchgo
... "Emails and voicemails unreturned. Sh*t service".

Really, no response ???

Mike at Quicksilver just emailed me back in 10hrs, on a Saturday weekend day mind you. Fast response. Use email.  

He’s fine, open for business and customer service. I shared some of you could not reach him. He wanted to know what the issue is and what its about. He said to call or email him. Try again. FYI: his contact page is UPDATED with the direct (gmail) email address listed, go to: http://quicksilveraudio.com/contact/

jjss49's avatar
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
decooney raises an important point

with covid, many manufacturers are not manning the land lines into their offices as most if not all staff work remotely

for example, one person in another thread complains that audio research doesn't answer the phone - but i email greg c (arc service manager) and he answers me in 2 hours
gochurchgo OP
934 posts
 
@decooney  2 emails and 2 voicemail. 
It’s fine. Things are running and I’ll be moving on the QS next year anyway. 
leemaze
332 posts
 
Not to hi-jack the thread but it seems on topic - anyone have clues about the hiss on my Rogue Sphinx?

@gochurchgo the whine is less and less frequent so I want to believe it’s part of Brent Jessee’s burn-in theory. 

The hiss is a different story, steady and present all the time. I can’t listen to quiet, ambient music because it’s covered in white noise. If I turn up the amp the music covers it, but it’s very noticeable at low volumes. It’s not affected by the volume level - the hiss doesn’t increase if I turn up the volume with nothing playing. Is this the tubes or something else you think?
audition__audio
1,683 posts
 
The problem with your Rogue is most likely not the tubes but just a higher noise floor with the component. Could be an issue with gain and also probably just the price you pay for a less expensive component. You can only do so much for a given retail price and certain short cuts are often taken by manufacturers in order to reach a target price. 
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