tube amp noise



I have an integrated tube amp and recently started noticing a small popping noise coming from the speakers once in a while. If I get near the tweeter (< 1'), I hear a background hiss and a small pop every minute or so. Most of the time, the pop sound can be only heard less than a foot or two from the tweeter. Is this normal tube amp behavior or is something wrong? I.e. do all tubes make any popping sound in addition to low level hiss? I changed tubes and still the same thing. Thanks for any help.
plaser
If you gently tap on the faceplate do you get any noise? If your tubes are going microphonic, they'll definitely be noisy.

Sometimes, however, this could be a sign that the tube sockets themselves have some slight corrosion. Removing and re-inserting the tubes a few times might clean up the problem (and it's a cheap fix!)

HTH
I would also double check the fuse to see if there is some slight coloration on the glass.

How many tubes do you have to replace?
Same thing happened to me. New preamp unit and some hissing with popping noise once in a while. Even after tube rolling.

Happened to be an interconnect problem. The connectors themselves got a little loose. Tightened them and the problem was solved.

Another possibility that was brought to me by a technician is older cabling. An old interconnect that has remained plugged and untouched for many years can break inside its shielding sleeve without any apparent marks once it is moved or twisted again. Witnessed that problem at my friend's place when he changed is amplifier.
Hook up to a expendable pair of speakers and gently wiggle each tube and you will likely find a bad socket. The tube which swims the most is likely the bad site. Also, look for leaky capacitors, brown goo, oozing from the end. Jallen

Thanks for all the advices. This amp weighs 110 lbs with box so want to go over all possibilities before I take it in. For now, I think I can live with it given I have 2 more years of warranty and can take it in if it gets worse.

I don't think it's interconnect since it happens in all channels and don't think it's tubes since 2 sets (1 old 1 new) have same issues. Might be a bad socket or capacitor or fuse. Is McIntosh MA2275 easy to open up to check for capacitor or fuse? Thanks.