Forums - SE84UFO noisy left channel

Geno

Seasoned Member

Without music, life
would be a mistake.

Posts: 2307

SE84UFO noisy left channel
09/16/18 at 18:32:24

Hi all,

I have a SE84UFO that has a noisy left channel. I removed all tubes and used a brush to clean the sockets. Reinstalled the tubes and there is less noise but it is still there. This is a light crackling sound.

Is there a safe way to deep clean the sockets? I’m talking about inside the socket. I’ve seen a few YouTube videos, but wanted to check with you members to see if anyone has done this.

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SE84UFO(Balanced Monoblocs) or Sansui AU222
Cambridge CXN(ModWrt)
SL1210 MK5(KAB Mods) London Decca Maroon cart • Darlingt.Labs MP8b
Otari MX5050-Bii2
ZLC Pwr cond.
Lii Audio PT-10 or F-12 or Betsy Alnico 8"/ W-15 in Open Baffles
Ordered: Altec Valencia's

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Geno Seasoned Member Without music, life would be a mistake. Posts: 2307	Re: SE84UFO noisy left channel Reply #1 - 09/16/18 at 19:01:58 I forgot to mention that the light crackling noise is on the left speaker. I swapped speaker terminals at the amp and the noise switched to the right speaker. This isolates the noise to the left channel. Also, I have thoroughly swapped all tubes out. I’m fairy sure the problem is a dirty rectifier socket.
Back to top	SE84UFO(Balanced Monoblocs) or Sansui AU222 Cambridge CXN(ModWrt) SL1210 MK5(KAB Mods) London Decca Maroon cart • Darlingt.Labs MP8b Otari MX5050-Bii2 ZLC Pwr cond. Lii Audio PT-10 or F-12 or Betsy Alnico 8"/ W-15 in Open Baffles Ordered: Altec Valencia's IP Logged

Archie

Seasoned Member

Posts: 2731

Re: SE84UFO noisy left channel
Reply #2 - 09/16/18 at 19:08:30

Geno, does the noise have anything to do with warm up? I'm having a CSP3 issue that occurs within the first few minutes of warm up where I have a right channel surge in sound that comes and goes and is influenced by shifting the corresponding tubes. Steve thinks it's a cracked solder joint. The issue came about suddenly but persists with different tubes.

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ZLC
Technics 1200G TT w/ Ortofon Jubilee MC cart
ZMC1
ZP3 (25th A Mods)
ZR2 (25th A Mods)
CSP3 (25th A mods)
ZMA (25th A mods)
Homemade Big Betsy Speakers (F15s)
Silver Cabling
DIY Isolation platforms under amps & TT.

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Geno Seasoned Member Without music, life would be a mistake. Posts: 2307	Re: SE84UFO noisy left channel Reply #3 - 09/16/18 at 19:17:43 Hi Archie. The light crackling noise is constant. Every once in a while, it gets a little louder, but then quiets back down. I guess that it is possible that there may be some kind of electrical interference.
Back to top	SE84UFO(Balanced Monoblocs) or Sansui AU222 Cambridge CXN(ModWrt) SL1210 MK5(KAB Mods) London Decca Maroon cart • Darlingt.Labs MP8b Otari MX5050-Bii2 ZLC Pwr cond. Lii Audio PT-10 or F-12 or Betsy Alnico 8"/ W-15 in Open Baffles Ordered: Altec Valencia's IP Logged

Archie

Seasoned Member

Posts: 2731

Re: SE84UFO noisy left channel
Reply #4 - 09/17/18 at 00:21:02

I also get a crackling from turning the master volume on the CSP3 when music plays. Based on my different but possibly similar issues I don't think you have a tube issue.

Steve once suggested that I take an old or burned out 9 pin tube and cut off 8 pins and use the remaining pin to test the tension of each pin socket. Might be worth trying if you haven't already.

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ZLC
Technics 1200G TT w/ Ortofon Jubilee MC cart
ZMC1
ZP3 (25th A Mods)
ZR2 (25th A Mods)
CSP3 (25th A mods)
ZMA (25th A mods)
Homemade Big Betsy Speakers (F15s)
Silver Cabling
DIY Isolation platforms under amps & TT.

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Geno

Seasoned Member

Without music, life
would be a mistake.

Posts: 2307

Re: SE84UFO noisy left channel
Reply #5 - 09/19/18 at 03:37:27

Well, by accident, I figured out where the noise was coming from. Today, I got a new digital interconnect to put between my cd transport and my new ZDSD. Hooked it up and played a couple of CDs. During a quiet passage in the music, I noticed I did not hear any interference. I stopped the music and turned the volume up slightly. No noise. Just goes to show that when a problem like this happens, it could be almost anything.

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SE84UFO(Balanced Monoblocs) or Sansui AU222
Cambridge CXN(ModWrt)
SL1210 MK5(KAB Mods) London Decca Maroon cart • Darlingt.Labs MP8b
Otari MX5050-Bii2
ZLC Pwr cond.
Lii Audio PT-10 or F-12 or Betsy Alnico 8"/ W-15 in Open Baffles
Ordered: Altec Valencia's

IP Logged