PSVANE Discussion & Impressions Thread

Better do your due diligence when it comes to tube purchases. A wide variety brands, hierarchy within brands, NOS vs. new,  distributors, shippers. And then the vagaries of circuit design within the tube equipment. Blame for failures often confused.

Purchase tubes from well regarded distributors/retailers, testing of tubes at this level important. Make sure tube specs match the equipment it's being placed in, many tube equipment manufacturers run their tubes hot, not good for reliability. I've seen many repeated tube failures in certain equipment over the years, tubes get the blame when blame should have been assigned to equipment manufacturer. Shipping extremely problematic, expect handing of packages to be severe, either immediate failure of tubes or shortened tube life to be expected, extreme measures in safely packing tubes needed.

Being observant of all the above I've had widely variable experience with tubes over the years. NOS/New production aprox. same for longevity/reliability. Mostly I've had good luck with tubes since I've paid attention to above. As for Psvane, I've had a couple failures of 101DWE, this due to excess heater voltage, once heater resistor changed out no more failures. No issues with lower level Psvane or Acme 300B's, various 845's.

@alightronics

So, I did purchase a matched pair of the Psavne Acme 845's from AliExpress. 

I must say they do sound very nice.  However, periodically the 845 in the right channel will make a disturbing noise for a few seconds right at the time I turn the amplifier on and then the noise goes away never to return during that listening session that may be for about 3 hours long.  However, the next day or night I want to listen again, the noise happens yet again when I first power up the amplifier.

It's only the right tube, never the left.  It only lasts for a few seconds and then goes away until I have to turn the amp on again.

I have two other sets of 845's, both different brands and this does not happen at all with those.

What is goin on here with these Acme tubes?  Other than the start up noise, they sound amazing.  To the point that I was thinking of ordering another pair for backup, but not if they are not going to last.  

Please advise me as to what is happening.  

Thank you and best wishes,

Don

Just to add to the post above.  The noise the 845 makes in the right channel upon turning on the amplifier is kinda of like....

Phfffiiisssst... it only lasts for about 3-5 seconds and then goes away for the rest of the listening session. It only happens upon start up.  It's unnerving and very unsettling when it happens as it makes me afraid it going to either ruin my amp or my speaker.

@no_regrets

Understood. I suggest you contact the dealer for a replacement. This issue might be caused by internal component loosening during long-distance shipping and multiple handlings.

Please rest assured, our Acme series has been sold for many years and has never caused any equipment damage.

@alightronics

When you say... "This issue might be caused by internal component loosening during long-distance shipping and multiple handlings."

I find that to be a very plausible explanation of what may have happened to the tube in question.

I went onto the AliExpress website and was looking all over the site for how I could initiate contact with them to discuss the noise issue that I'm having - with one tube of the matched pair of 845 Acme tubes that I had ordered.  I couldn't for the life of me find how I can contact them.  

Then a pop-up appeared asking to do a live chat and that they are there to help me. I clicked on it and had a long back and forth discussion with them where I explained the noise issue that happens upon start up, etc.  They arranged for a return shipping label and said that I could return the tubes and that after their inspection my money would be refunded.  I explained to the "chat person" that I simply wanted a replacement matched pair that actually works without defect, to be sent to me and that I did not want a refund.  They then responded that I needed to contact the seller!  I said that I thought this whole time I was communicating with the seller (AliExpress).  They said no, we are just a  "chat service" assisting the merchant!

I still do not know how to contact AliExpress!  I guess I will have to just return the tubes via the return label provided; hope and pray I actually get my money refunded.  I only say this because the return label receiving address is in Beverly, New Jersey USA.  I thought AliExpress was in China? Along with the simple fact that I was not able to actually talk with anyone from AliExpress.

I will have to think long and hard to decide if I want to take another chance on ordering these again.

Although, I will say that these tubes sounded amazing in my amplifier and I was thrilled by that!  So much so, that I was actually contemplating ordering a second matched pair for back up. However, the stress and anxiety of trying to return them and not being able to communicate with the seller is very frustrating to me and I'm not sure if it is worth it to me at the moment.

I guess I will wait and see if I actually receive my refund and then make my decision at that point.

Best wishes,

Don aka No_regrets