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Help - static noise in speakers

I hear static in one speaker.  I switched the speaker wires and the static changed speakers, so I guess its coming from the amp or from the speaker wire.  Its not loud but its noticable.  I have a Mcintosh 352 integrated tube amp and Audioquest Red River cables.  It happensd regardless of the input, so its not the table or the streamer.  

Does anyone have any ideas beyond taking the amp in for service?

 

Thanks

mojo771
jea48
4,825 posts
 

Could just be dirty signal tube pin to tube socket connections. Pull and reinsert signal tube(s) in tube socket a few times. The friction should clean the connections.

mojo771 OP
79 posts
 

yogiboy and jea48, thanks.  I really thought those ideas would work, but they didn't.  I can try again to clean them, but the static stayed on the right speaker.  

 

I'm still waiting for McIntosh and Audio Advice to respond to my support requests.

 

ghdprentice
8,278 posts
 

Sorry to hear. You also switched both cables (both ends)... I assume. It's not likely to be the cable. But worth verifying 

mojo771 OP
79 posts
 

So now, I've removed and reinstalled the tubes several times with no improvement.  All the tubes are lit up green.

I also tried a different speaker cable with no improvement.  

I hate to buy all new tubes, but it seems that the problem is in the McIntosh amp

jea48
4,825 posts
 

yogiboy said:   04-18-2025 at 03:51pm

Swap the left and right tubes and see if the static moves to the other speaker! If it does you have a bad tube!

Did you try swapping the left and right channel tubes?

 

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