[vmlistening]

I'm using an integrated PrimaLuna EVO 200 with Spatial M3 Turbo speakers. I have a mix of crackle and buzz from the right channel. The TT, amp, CD player, and streamer are all connected to the same power outlet source. The crackle and hum is from the right speaker only and it is intermittent without any pattern that I can notice. So the crackle and buzz is not all the time, but is there most of the time.

What I've done without any luck:
I changed the speaker cables.
I swapped the speakers from left to right - crackle and buzz is still from the right channel. So, it may not be a speaker issue, I think.
However, when I connected a different set of speakers to the same integrated amp there is not buzz/crackle.

I'd appreciate any advice or tips or things to try out.
Thanks

[Charles Xavier]

If the prima luma is tube based swap out the left and right tube. If it follows the tube the tube is making the noise.Try cleaning the contacts on thr tube and it should go away. The Spatials may be higher efficiency than your other speakers and that's why you hear it more than  on your other speakers

[Delta77]

I’m really not all that experienced, but my first thought is its possibly a bad tube?

Maybe swap your tubes next, the left side to the right side.

Good luck on fixing it

[vmlistening]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I swapped the pre-amp tubes but the crackle stayed at the same speaker as before. Next I swapped the left and right speaker connections and that revealed that it is coming from the LEFT speaker connection in the amp. So certainly not a speaker issue.

Any suggestions on what this could be and how to fix it?

Thanks

[Charles Xavier]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I swapped the pre-amp tubes but the crackle stayed at the same speaker as before. Next I swapped the left and right speaker connections and that revealed that it is coming from the LEFT speaker connection in the amp. So certainly not a speaker issue.

Any suggestions on what this could be and how to fix it?

Thanks

Now try new speaker cables

[dls123]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I swapped the pre-amp tubes but the crackle stayed at the same speaker as before. Next I swapped the left and right speaker connections and that revealed that it is coming from the LEFT speaker connection in the amp. So certainly not a speaker issue.

Any suggestions on what this could be and how to fix it?

Thanks

Hi
Don Sachs here.  OK, you have a basic Chinese tube integrated amp.  You can isolate the problem quickly if you are systematic.  It is most likely a tube, but could be loose connection on the tube socket or bad solder joint or even a source issue, so let's do this systematically.

1.  Prove it is not coming in from your source or cables.   Simply swap your input cables from your source component between channels, so move left output to the preamp right input and vice versa.  Does the problem stay on the same channel of the amp?  If so, you know it is not coming in the source.  Also, you should use a different input set of jacks to ensure it is not a bad connection to your input jack.  So if the problem stays on the same channel with a different input selected and cable swapping from L to R on the inputs, then you know your source or jack selection has nothing to do with it.  If it does change sides then you can quickly figure out if it is our cable or source.

2.  Assuming your source, cables, and jacks make no difference, then we know it is the amp or tubes.  So you have already moved the preamp tubes from one channel to the other and it didn't matter.  Now do the same with the big power tubes in the rear.  If the problem changes channels, then you have a bad power tube.  If it stays on the same channel, then it is the amp itself.

3.  If it is the amp itself, then look at the power tube sockets.  Often there are little pins on either side of the holes where the tube pins enter the socket.  With amp OFF of course, you can often take a sewing needle or one of the steel pins from a turkey lacing set and gently pry the pins together a bit to snug up the connection to the tube pin when you insert it.  Do it on both sockets on the bad channel.  Be gentle, just a wee pry on the pins inside the socket holes.   See if that fixes things.  You can also take plastic safe electrical contact cleaner and spray on the power tube pins and quickly insert tube into socket and remove.  DO NOT use WD40 or something like that.  Only contact cleaner than says it is safe for plastics. 

4.  If none of the above solve it, then your amp has a bad connection at one of the power tube sockets.  Probably a loose solder joint and most likely on pin 3 or 8 or 4 or 5.

cheers,
Don 

[vmlistening]

Hi Don,
Thanks for the detailed email with steps to follow. It took me a while to go through each of those. As of now the crackle/buzz is gone. It seems to have been caused by a power tube pin/s that needed some cleaning.

If it comes back, I will follow the next steps.

Thanks again!

[dls123]

Hi Don,
Thanks for the detailed email with steps to follow. It took me a while to go through each of those. As of now the crackle/buzz is gone. It seems to have been caused by a power tube pin/s that needed some cleaning.

If it comes back, I will follow the next steps.

Thanks again!

Glad you sorted it out.   These things are usually a tube or socket connection.  You may want to tension the socket pins with a sewing needle if they are a little loose.  But of course, if it ain't broke.....

[jnschneyer]

Hi
Don Sachs here.  OK, you have a basic Chinese tube integrated amp.  You can isolate the problem quickly if you are systematic.  It is most likely a tube, but could be loose connection on the tube socket or bad solder joint or even a source issue, so let's do this systematically.

1.  Prove it is not coming in from your source or cables.   Simply swap your input cables from your source component between channels, so move left output to the preamp right input and vice versa.  Does the problem stay on the same channel of the amp?  If so, you know it is not coming in the source.  Also, you should use a different input set of jacks to ensure it is not a bad connection to your input jack.  So if the problem stays on the same channel with a different input selected and cable swapping from L to R on the inputs, then you know your source or jack selection has nothing to do with it.  If it does change sides then you can quickly figure out if it is our cable or source.

2.  Assuming your source, cables, and jacks make no difference, then we know it is the amp or tubes.  So you have already moved the preamp tubes from one channel to the other and it didn't matter.  Now do the same with the big power tubes in the rear.  If the problem changes channels, then you have a bad power tube.  If it stays on the same channel, then it is the amp itself.

3.  If it is the amp itself, then look at the power tube sockets.  Often there are little pins on either side of the holes where the tube pins enter the socket.  With amp OFF of course, you can often take a sewing needle or one of the steel pins from a turkey lacing set and gently pry the pins together a bit to snug up the connection to the tube pin when you insert it.  Do it on both sockets on the bad channel.  Be gentle, just a wee pry on the pins inside the socket holes.   See if that fixes things.  You can also take plastic safe electrical contact cleaner and spray on the power tube pins and quickly insert tube into socket and remove.  DO NOT use WD40 or something like that.  Only contact cleaner than says it is safe for plastics. 

4.  If none of the above solve it, then your amp has a bad connection at one of the power tube sockets.  Probably a loose solder joint and most likely on pin 3 or 8 or 4 or 5.

cheers,
Don

Hi, Don,

This post has nothing to do with me, but I wanted to acknowledge your willingness to lend people your expertise. You've taken the time to answer innumerable questions of mine, and you regularly do the same with people on this site, regardless of whether they own one of your product or not.  It's commnedable, so I thought I'd take a second to commend it.  Cheers.