Jarring sound & clarity lost
- Thread starter Gobes
- Start date
How old is your kit? Is it both channels?
This could be something as simple as a cold solder joint that is a poor conductor. Maybe you could make a recording of what you're hearing?
Thank you Paul, I went through the entire amp again, there was q bit of a cold solder at the RCA input. I re soldered, I however still get a jarring sound not as bad as before but just a jarring sound that i would like to address. The tubes are black? May be I replace them? If yes could you advise the tubes you would recommend and from where? Or could it be an issue with the transformers? Thank you and appreciate your help
Can you make a recording? I can't really imagine what a jarring sound would sound like.Gobes said:
Can you post a photo? If you said your tubes were white, I would say to replace them.Gobes said:
This is exceptionally unlikely.Gobes said:
There's an enormous tendency for folks to blame tubes and transformers when their amp isn't working, but most frequently it's solder joints.
Hi Paul, there are 2 dropbox links
1. T .wav file. The recording was from my cell phone from a SENNHEISER 6xx https://www.dropbox.com/s/nvl9qtm3pi6i21e/ampissue.wav?dl=0
2. The picture of the tubes. https://www.dropbox.com/s/vjdshoz3kf1217z/20210301_204041.jpg?dl=0
Thank you and appreciate your help
1. T .wav file. The recording was from my cell phone from a SENNHEISER 6xx https://www.dropbox.com/s/nvl9qtm3pi6i21e/ampissue.wav?dl=0
2. The picture of the tubes. https://www.dropbox.com/s/vjdshoz3kf1217z/20210301_204041.jpg?dl=0
Thank you and appreciate your help
I can hear you clipping the amp in the WAV file, what speakers are you using? The tubes look fine in the second photo, though they don't look like they are pushed in all the way. Your power transformer also appears to be missing. Your plate chokes also aren't properly mounted.
...so what does the inside look like?
...so what does the inside look like?
I heard the amp clipping.
I see a lot of build errors without seeing inside the amp.
I'm not sure what more I can offer.
I see a lot of build errors without seeing inside the amp.
I'm not sure what more I can offer.
It's also possible that you're overdriving the headphones.
It's difficult to judge from a recording because we can't hear how loud the headphones are playing, but to me the recording sounds like you are way overdriving your amp and your headphones as you turn the volume up. When you turn it back down in that recording it sounds just fine. Use caution, you can damage the HD6XX with the output swing from a SEX amp. They are only rated for a few tenths of a watt.
The plates of those tubes are indeed supposed to be black, if that is what you mean about the tube being black.
Aside from the fact that the power transformer has been improperly installed it's hard to know if there is anything wrong with the build since we can't see the underside assembly. I would suggest rechecking the voltages and noting if any are off at the same time that you take pics of the underside. If the amp is running not at the proper voltages there could be distortion that is not normal. But it sounds to me like it's probably fine and you have just cranked the volume up farther than the amp or headphones want to go.
The plates of those tubes are indeed supposed to be black, if that is what you mean about the tube being black.
Aside from the fact that the power transformer has been improperly installed it's hard to know if there is anything wrong with the build since we can't see the underside assembly. I would suggest rechecking the voltages and noting if any are off at the same time that you take pics of the underside. If the amp is running not at the proper voltages there could be distortion that is not normal. But it sounds to me like it's probably fine and you have just cranked the volume up farther than the amp or headphones want to go.
Thank you Doc and Paul. I appreciate your input. As mentioned before you guys are the experts and respect that. The reason I bring this issue up as just a week ago, the clarity was fantastic. Suddenly, something changed. I have taken some additional pictures. As mentioned I love the amp, but it's just different from last week. May be something I might have missed. I have attached futher picks for your references. Thanks again and I respect your time in helping me solve this issue.
Attachments
Why did you mount the power transformer on the bottom of the amp?
Thank you Doc and Paul, the voltage were in range as per the manual when checked yesterday to see if there were any cold solders.
With respect to the power transformers, given there were connections from and to the transformer to the other part of the amp my understanding was that it would be at the bottom. I was also initially confused, but I re checked the manual and I was under the impression that it should be at the bottom. Unless you think this is a big mistake?
With respect to the power transformers, given there were connections from and to the transformer to the other part of the amp my understanding was that it would be at the bottom. I was also initially confused, but I re checked the manual and I was under the impression that it should be at the bottom. Unless you think this is a big mistake?
Yes, that's a giant mistake.
