Mike Lindsey Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 ... and I don't have a spare. [] I just ordered 3 Sovteks, so no downtime in in the future. Not sure how this one went though. The fuse is still good, but when I tested all tubes on the tester it's dead as a doornail. This 5AR4 is only 3 months old, so not sure what hppened. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lwhaples Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 Ouch! And what do you get to listen to while down? Larry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garymd Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 Get some Mullards. Expensive but virtually indestructible. I just swapped a pair for my Sovtecs a couple days ago. I blew a fuse on one of my VRDs this morning but the Mullard is just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lindsey Posted November 12, 2006 Author Share Posted November 12, 2006 Ouch! And what do you get to listen to while down? Larry Nothing... because my DVD/CD player (Panasonic RP91) died about 2 months ago. Regardless, I still haven't played a CD since I got the Thorens TD-124. LOL However, that's about to change. I just bought a Denon 2900, which should be here by next weekend. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lindsey Posted November 12, 2006 Author Share Posted November 12, 2006 Get some Mullards. Expensive but virtually indestructible. I just swapped a pair for my Sovtecs a couple days ago. I blew a fuse on one of my VRDs this morning but the Mullard is just fine. Yeah, I had one in the Scott 299 but sold it when I sold the 299. I would probably do that, but they are even more expensive to replace than the Sovteks. BTW, long time no hear... give me a call sometime when you get a moment. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chops Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 Mike, What kind of tube tester are you using? What all does it measure? garymd, What would cause a fuse to blow in the VRD other than a dead short? [*-)] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deang Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 Quit buying the Sovteks -- they are pure unadulterated junk. I'm having much better luck with the Chinese Ruby from Parts Express. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 Dean, And how much experience do you have with either the Sovtek or the Ruby (Chinese)? Trust me it all in the luck of the draw with the modern 5AR4. To some extent this was the case back in the 60's also. Tubes fail simply as that. You they didn't sell them at every corner drug store for nothing. Mike, DId this tube happen to be in the amp you mentioned 3 to 4 months ago having some transformer noise? There is no garrantee that a fuse is going to blow when a tube goes bad it depends on what part of the tube goes bad. Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deang Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 I bet I have more experience watching tube amps go up in smoke then you do, LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lindsey Posted November 12, 2006 Author Share Posted November 12, 2006 Mike, DId this tube happen to be in the amp you mentioned 3 to 4 months ago having some transformer noise? Craig Yep... same amp. BTW, this transformer still buzzes off and on... no rhyme or reason to it. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 And your just going to let it go on like that forever .....Slightly on the careless side of things don't you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 By the way I don't understand how you know if the amp still has the problem if you currently have no tube to install in it? Did the 5AR4 even light up in the tube tester? Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lindsey Posted November 12, 2006 Author Share Posted November 12, 2006 And your just going to let it go on like that forever .....Slightly on the careless side of things don't you think? Well, I've been meaning to send it out to you. Now would probably be a good time to do so.... that's if you have the time to look at it. If not, let me know when you might. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 Did the 5AR4 even light up in the tube tester? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lindsey Posted November 12, 2006 Author Share Posted November 12, 2006 By the way I don't understand how you know if the amp still has the problem if you currently have no tube to install in it? Did the 5AR4 even light up in the tube tester? Well, after going thru the process of eliminations I know it's definitely the amp. Then when I checked the tubes in the tester, I don't recall it lighting up, and it also didn't give a reading. However, it did get hot in the tester. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 What process did you use to determine that it is the amp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lindsey Posted November 12, 2006 Author Share Posted November 12, 2006 What process did you use to determine that it is the amp? Well, I have a amp switch box (courtesy of Dr Who) that I took out of the mix for starters. 1. The right amp is the bad amp 2. I started by switching the speaker wires from one amp to the other. When I did this I now had sound coming out of the right speaker and nothing out of the left. This told me it wasn't a problem with my speaker cables. I then switched back so that there was nothing coming out of the right speaker. 3. I then switched the IC's going from the BBX to the amps (R to good amp and L to bad amp) , and again the right speaker played fine when I did this. This led me to believe it was the right amp that had the problem. 4. I then checked each of the tubes on that amp and found the bad 5AR4. I then tested the 5AR4 on the left amp and it tested fine. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 What process did you use to determine that it is the amp? Well, I have a amp switch box (courtesy of Dr Who) that I took out of the mix for starters. 1. The right amp is the bad amp 2. I started by switching the speaker wires from one amp to the other. When I did this I now had sound coming out of the right speaker and nothing out of the left. This told me it wasn't a problem with my speaker cables. I then switched back so that there was nothing coming out of the right speaker. 3. I then switched the IC's going from the BBX to the amps (R to good amp and L to bad amp) , and again the right speaker played fine when I did this. This led me to believe it was the right amp that had the problem. 4. I then checked each of the tubes on that amp and found the bad 5AR4. I then tested the 5AR4 on the left amp and it tested fine. Mike Mike, I wish you would just simply call me when you have issues. I believe we are talking about two completely different things here. I want to know what you have done too diagnose what was causing your amp to have this noise you mentioned months ago. Switching cables back and forth has nothing to do with diagnosing what is causing the amp to make the noise. Transformers make noises for a reason and it is never for a favorable reason 99% of the time it is a bad tube when your talking about a newer amplifier. The only other possibility would be a power supply filter cap problem. But no matter what it is should not be allowed to go on. If the motor in your car starts knocking do you not check the oil? Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lindsey Posted November 12, 2006 Author Share Posted November 12, 2006 Hey Craig, I apologize for the confusion. I have done nothing in regards to the transformer noise. Most of the times when I touch the transfeormer the noise goes away. Some times for the entire day. Other times it may come back hours later. Anyway, I will not play it until I have you look at it. Let me know how you would like me to proceed. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted November 12, 2006 Share Posted November 12, 2006 You put your finger on it and it goes away? Now that is a strange one for sure. When your new tubes arrive call me. I still think this is a tube issue. Of course if you want to ship it up here that is fine. Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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