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"Ringing from pre-amp

I just swapped out the Sovtek 6922s from my BAT VK3i pre with 4 NOS Siemens E88CCs. I did NOT replace the 2 Sovtek 6V6s. After about 4-5 hours of use, the pre has developed a significant "ringing" sound, a steady pitch tone that cuts out when I mute the output. It is not a hum, but a clear tone like you would hear if you struck a crystal wine glass. It is not present immediately after the mute-on-start delay kicks out, but appears within a few minutes thereafter. It is loud enough to be heard distinctly in the background with moderate level music and is quite noticable without any volume. I also notice a significant level of what I will call microphonics (when you tap the top of the case without any input (but not muted), it produces a sound thru the speakers. It occurs most prominently when you tap the case over the 6v6s. The unit is also running warmer than before. The sound, however, it more detailed and little more forward, with excellent bass. I did not get a chance to contact BAT today. I would also note that also I recently installed a BAT factory phono card. Any help would be most helpful. I am not an experienced electronics tech or only moderately handy. I do not have a nearby BAT dealer.
128x128swampwalker
bob_bundus
1,834 posts
 
I'm not that well versed with glassware myself Swamp. The 6V6's are output followers or buffers? Whatever, doubful that anything has been damaged. After you run the "tap-test" revert to your original tube configuration in order to find out for sure. In my case the ringing tube was in the gain stage, not the output. If it's possible to swap tubes around, then try that too as a diagnostic tool, even if it temporarily un-matches them. Your seller may not have experienced this problem because tubes' behavior can vary depending upon the circuit design of the equipment that they're used in. That, or you were taken? You might also discuss this issue with the seller?
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker OP
5,138 posts
 
Well now you've gone way beyond my knowledge of circuitry. Have no idea what an output follower or a buffer is. I can and will try the tap-test as soon as I get some time (pulling out the 16 torx screws from the BAT time after time is a real hassle). I hope that its not a problem with the NOS tubes since I fear that international customer service is not a strong point of ebay auctions.
lphunter2
15 posts
 
You should never tap tubes, you can ruin a tube real quick that way. Check out TUBE BASICS AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS on Upscale Audio's website @ www.upscaleaudio.com.
massvm
126 posts
 
Without knowing why it worked, let me provide a possible solution that was recommended to me and was successful. I had a similar ringing on one channel of my Line-3 when I put in 7308s, and it was recommended that I swap the channels they were being used in. It worked. No more ringing. Try changing the position of the E88 tubes ... seems like an easy fix and a heck of a lot easier than trying to get your money back.
bob_bundus
1,834 posts
 
Interesting reading thanks Lp. I'll clarify my definition of "tapping" vs. "banging" as referenced on the Upscale f.a.q. Obviously you don't go in there with a hammer. Go in with some thin gloves like white ones & be gentle & careful. In this case the ringing is so bad that even a slight wiggle in the socket should find the problem. Other places I've read that gently using a pencil eraser-end as your tapper is acceptable. This would produce no more stress than simply moving the equipment around, certainly less than, say, a UPS package handler. What else can you do find this - you just have to do someting? Maybe tap on the circuit board adjacent to the ssocket?
The output tubes are the last devices before the preamp's output; ask BAT or your dealer's tech. for some clarification, as I'm unfamiliar with this products' specifics
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