Sounds like you have a floating ground on your preamp. You can lift the ground by using a three-to-two prong adapter plug. If there are only two prongs on the preamps plug already, then check to see if you are using balanced cables. It could be that the balanced ground connection is causing the floating voltage from another component, connecting between chassis ground and earth ground.
I'm SHOCKED literally .
I put a couple of new components in, and generally shuffled things around in my system last night - and after listening for a couple of hours today - got SERIOUSLY zapped (it was audible) as I touched the Volume knob on the preamp to turn it down. There was some kind of charge build up, and it took a while to drain it all down - I had to (gingerly) touch the knob a couple more times and then hold it until the charge was drained off. My finger still hurts!
This has never happened before - so it's not static from my rug or something. I'll be doing some careful testing tonight, but in the meantime - Any ideas what could cause this???
Possible explanatory variables:
---The "new" items were the preamp (tube) itself, the processor which connects through the Pre's Tape loop, and a Granite Audio power cord with toroidal noise filters at each end connecting the Pre to a surge protector (temporarily). The surge protector has been in use elsewhere with no trouble.
---The new processor is a two prong plug - Polarity?
Tonight I will try running a couple of hours with the processor unplugged and the Tape Monitor OFF to see if I have the same problem. Or if any other equipment has the charge buildup.
Any ideas? Is there a plausible explanation without there being an actual equipment problem?
This has never happened before - so it's not static from my rug or something. I'll be doing some careful testing tonight, but in the meantime - Any ideas what could cause this???
Possible explanatory variables:
---The "new" items were the preamp (tube) itself, the processor which connects through the Pre's Tape loop, and a Granite Audio power cord with toroidal noise filters at each end connecting the Pre to a surge protector (temporarily). The surge protector has been in use elsewhere with no trouble.
---The new processor is a two prong plug - Polarity?
Tonight I will try running a couple of hours with the processor unplugged and the Tape Monitor OFF to see if I have the same problem. Or if any other equipment has the charge buildup.
Any ideas? Is there a plausible explanation without there being an actual equipment problem?
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- 13 posts total
- 13 posts total