Issues with my system, help!

bsuhy · « **on:** 4 Mar 2006, 11:44 pm »

I have a system that consists of an Ah! Njoe Tjoeb 4000 CD player, an Antique Sound Lab AQ2004-DT preamp, a pair of Quicksilver Mini-Mites, all driving a pair or Omega A8's.

Lately I have noticed that music has more presence, or is more up front when coming from my left speaker, and the sound seems to be stronger on that side.

It sounds is as if I had a preamp with dual volume controls and had one a little louder than the other.

At first I thought it might be the recording I was listening to, but it seems to be that way with everything I listen to.

Nothing has changed in my system, everything is in the same place it has been in for months.

I am about to switch some tubes around on my preamp, then I will try swapping the power amp tubes to see if it is something there.

Any other ideas?

Thanks in advance.

Brian

Dmason · « **Reply #1 on:** 5 Mar 2006, 12:10 am »

I would also try swapping the tubes in the Tjoeb as well.

My best guess would be one of the EL34 output tubes in the Mites.

bsuhy · « **Reply #2 on:** 5 Mar 2006, 02:58 am »

i swapped the tubes in my pre, and no change.

i swapped the tubes in the amps, no change.

i am going to try the cd player's tubes next...

arthurs · « **Reply #3 on:** 5 Mar 2006, 03:21 am »

Be sure and switch your amps to see if that might be where it is....

bsuhy · « **Reply #4 on:** 5 Mar 2006, 04:11 am »

well, i switched the amps, and the problem followed the amps.

actually, i just switched the speaker cables between the speakers, so i guess all i know at this point is that its not a speaker issue.

it might be my pre or one of my mini-mites, or my cd player...

i suppose my next step is to try to put the cd player into the amps and see if the problem goes away. if yes, then my preamp is the issue. if not, it could be the cd player or the mini-mite.

another question - both channels pop when i turn off the amps and the preamp...is that a bad thing? they aren't REALLY loud, but they are loud and i hear a sharp snap.

thanks for the suggestions so far.

bsuhy · « **Reply #5 on:** 5 Mar 2006, 08:53 pm »

i tried swapping the tubes out of the cd player, no help there.

i swapped out the preamp for a passive that i have, and that was no help.

i think at this point it is safe to say the problem is with the amplifier on the right channel.

if there is anything else i should try, please chime in. i can't think of anything else to do a this point except to call mike sanders at quicksilver.

brian

mcgsxr · « **Reply #6 on:** 5 Mar 2006, 09:47 pm »

Can you swap the tubes in the amps side to side - that might isolate if it is as simple as new tubes, or more in depth surgery...

unityaudio.ca · « **Reply #7 on:** 5 Mar 2006, 09:57 pm »

Sounds like it might be time for a re-tube of the amps..............

bsuhy · « **Reply #8 on:** 5 Mar 2006, 10:03 pm »

thanks unity and mcg --

i swapped all the tubes from the left channel to the right channel, and the problem still stayed on the right channel...

unityaudio.ca · « **Reply #9 on:** 5 Mar 2006, 10:51 pm »

Perhaps you have a short in one of the speaker cables?

bsuhy · « **Reply #10 on:** 5 Mar 2006, 11:19 pm »

that was another good idea, thanks.

i swapped cables between the amps and the problem did not follow the cable.

unityaudio.ca · « **Reply #11 on:** 5 Mar 2006, 11:34 pm »

Quote from: bsuhy

well, i switched the amps, and the problem followed the amps.

actually, i just switched the speaker cables between the speakers, so i guess all i know at this point is that its not a speaker issue.

Could be an internal component in the amp in question, or perhaps a cold solder joint.....

bsuhy · « **Reply #12 on:** 6 Mar 2006, 01:46 am »

thanks again for the suggestions, i really appreciate it.

if i can't find someone locally ( indianapolis ) i will probably send the amp to mike sanders at quicksilver.

Dmason · « **Reply #13 on:** 6 Mar 2006, 02:34 am »

If you have a good pro audio music store with a good guitar and amp technician, he should easily be able to divine what the trouble is. A tube amp is a tube amp. Meantime you should contact Quiksilver for some schemas.

I would guess it has to do with tubes.

bsuhy · « **Reply #14 on:** 6 Mar 2006, 11:54 pm »

thanks again.

what is the going rate for this type of work?

i called quicksilver and they quoted me an hourly rate. i dont want to have to ship the amp if i dont have to.

Louis O · « **Reply #15 on:** 9 Mar 2006, 02:33 pm »

Hi bushy,

Sorry I didn’t chime in on time and you might want to check the bias. If it’s auto bias this won’t work. If you have to manually bias the amp I would check it out.

Thanks again,
Louis

Dmason · « **Reply #16 on:** 9 Mar 2006, 02:37 pm »

I believe the Mini Mites are auto bias.

I know QuickSilver OP tubes are run hotter than normal. Before you send it to the Technician, perhaps buy a matched pair or quad of EL34, (or try KT66, which are very nice) and my gut tells me that new output tubes might well solved the mystery.

Louis O · « **Reply #17 on:** 9 Mar 2006, 02:46 pm »

Hi Dmason,

KT66 are great as well as 6L6s. If I where to get new EL34s and not NOS I would get the JJs.

Talk to you soon,
Louis

bsuhy · « **Reply #18 on:** 10 Mar 2006, 02:19 pm »

I swapped tubes between the amps and the problem stayed with the amp. So I dont think its a tube issue.

Thanks again.