Crack 1.1 noise in right channel

[A Jedi]

Hey gang, just finished my build and I have noise in the right channel. I've looked through the other posts with this issue but haven't found something that exactly matches my situation.

The details:
All build tests and checks are a-ok.
All noise issues are in the right channel.
Both LEDs are working as expected (constant ON with power).
I've visually inspected all connections and see no issues.
Makes no difference if RCAs are plugged in or not.
The noise is volume independent.
I've seated and reseated the tubes several times and it makes no difference.
The first time I turned it on with my headphones plugged in, I was getting loud twangs from vibrations on the chassis. Like if I moved the chassis or tapped it or anything else that causes vibrations. This issue seems to be disappearing as I use the amp more and more.
There is a quiet intermittent noise in the right channel. It mostly sounds like a buzz. Once it sounded exactly like a mosquito next to my ear.
The worst part is that it's intermittent so I can't correlate it to anything.

Any thoughts/suggestions?

 

[Jameson]

If you’re getting noise when you tap the chassis it could be a loose or undersoldered connection. Could you post some pictures of your build?

 

[A Jedi]

Any area in particular or everything?

 

[Jameson]

The more the better but probably want to focus on the area around the input and headphone jacks and tubes. And maybe take a pass through the hardware and make sure everything is tightened down.

 

[Jameson]

Caveat: I’m just some guy and don’t work for Bottlehead so I might have you focused on the wrong things. This is where I’d start, but you may have to post a couple rounds of photos.

 

[Doc B]

It could just be a tube that needs to settle in. Try letting it run for a few hours and see if anything changes.

 

[A Jedi]

Caveat: I’m just some guy and don’t work for Bottlehead so I might have you focused on the wrong things. This is where I’d start, but you may have to post a couple rounds of photos.

It's all good. Any suggestions help. I'll post some pics later when I shut it off....can't stop listening to it (even with the damn noise) lol.

 

[A Jedi]

It could just be a tube that needs to settle in. Try letting it run for a few hours and see if anything changes.

Yeah I've had it on for a several hours a day and it did get better but it's reached a plateu in improvement and there is still some noise.

 

[A Jedi]

BTW, is the chassis plate supposed to be hot to the touch? I expect the tubes to be hot but didn't think enough heat would be generated to heat up the entire thing.

 

[Paul Birkeland]

Sure, the chassis plate will be warm.  What wireless devices do you have around your Crack?  The mosquito comparison makes me suspicious that you're picking up noise from another device.

 

[A Jedi]

Sure, the chassis plate will be warm.  What wireless devices do you have around your Crack?  The mosquito comparison makes me suspicious that you're picking up noise from another device.

My cell phone is next to me pretty much always. The mosquito sound only occurred on one occasion. Will post pics shortly and then start going over every solder point.

 

[A Jedi]

Here are some pics:

 

[A Jedi]

And more

 

[A Jedi]

...

 

[A Jedi]

...

 

[Jameson]

You might want to take a look at the lower lug of the potentiometer on the outboard side of the chassis. It looks like some of the insulation got melted to the lug, and maybe there's some stray solder there too.

 

[A Jedi]

Yup, I'm going back and hitting all the ones MAY be the issue. That one on the volume is the prime suspect. So much easier to see these things when you take pics and blow them up!

 

[Paul Birkeland]

The black wires on the headphone jack are suspect.  The black wires that meet on the headphone jack are also suspicious, and this is a joint where it's easy to get one wire soldered and not the other.

The red wire connected to 7U also looks like it might not be all the way soldered. 

 

[A Jedi]

Thanks, I'll look at those again. In the meantime I fixed the lower red on the potentiometer and a few other suspects but no improvement so far.

 

[A Jedi]

Went through all questionables and still no bueno. It's actually a little worse now. Very frustrating. I'll have to do the chopstick test.