Pop Noise With a Preamp

johnthomas

johnthomas

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I've been running a fully balanced system with my amp going directly in the dac. The system is dead quiet. I'm playing around with a Primaluna Dialogue Premium Preamplifier now. So since this isn't a balanced pre I'm now trying RCA cables from the dac to the preamp to the amp. Now when I turn on the system in this order dac, transport, preamp, amp I get a slight popping noise from the speaker whether the volume control is up or down (off). The preamp is dead quiet when I put my ear up to the speaker not one hint of hissing. Also when I turn the system off in this order amp, preamp, dac, transport I get the same noise. Is this what happens when you give up a fully balanced system with a tube preamp (unbalanced)? I have all dedicated lines on seperate circuits. I even tried turning preamp off first and amp second still a pop noise.
 
johnthomas said:
I've been running a fully balanced system with my amp going directly in the dac. The system is dead quiet. I'm playing around with a Primaluna Dialogue Premium Preamplifier now. So since this isn't a balanced pre I'm now trying RCA cables from the dac to the preamp to the amp. Now when I turn on the system in this order dac, transport, preamp, amp I get a slight popping noise from the speaker whether the volume control is up or down (off). The preamp is dead quiet when I put my ear up to the speaker not one hint of hissing. Also when I turn the system off in this order amp, preamp, dac, transport I get the same noise. Is this what happens when you give up a fully balanced system with a tube preamp (unbalanced)? I have all dedicated lines on seperate circuits. I even tried turning preamp off first and amp second still a pop noise.
Click to expand...

Sounds like the amp doesn't have a muting cycle or it's short. Wait to turn the amp on say for a minute after turning on the preamp.
 
Myles B. Astor said:
Sounds like the amp doesn't have a muting cycle or it's short. Wait to turn the amp on say for a minute after turning on the preamp.
Click to expand...

I'm not familiar with a amp muting cycle. It sounds like the relay clicking on the amp when turning the system on or off. I did try your idea. No go but thanks for trying.
 
I run a all balanced system all solid state I leave it on 24/7 you could try that with the amp. I like the sound better always warmed up i seem to have less break downs this way as well at lest not yet. The pop if it is at the same number of seconds after turn on is likely the amp and a relay is a good thought. I at one time used at soft turn on device for a Conrad Johnson P1 or it would come on with a thud.
 
Hi Garth,

Thanks for the idea. But don't like leaving a class A amp on 24/7. I'm starting to think that maybe this amp needs a balanced preamp
 
Spending more money is always good thing have at it. I do like a all balanced system and if you get the right one a solid state preamp is a good thing. Tubes are great but IMO give more trouble Just IMO. Great sound can be had both ways tube or solid state.

What ever you dealer has would be a good place to start I am very happy with my AYre and Burmester gear never a problem and always sounds great. Just a suggestion but their is lots of great gear I have no way to get to short of leaving my dealer which is not going to happen.
 
hey JT, is it the soft start circuit in the PrimaLuna? My integrated was the same but never popped, just a click as the circuit became fully active. Then again I did run it through my Soulution 520!
 
Kev it's not preamp popping it's when I turn the amp on that it pops. When the amp is hooked directly to the dac no popping both both units are fully balanced and xlr connected..
 
just for the halibut, turn the plug orientation 180 degrees. You may have to use a cheater, but ...just wondering.
 
Have you tried turning the power amp on and off with no source gear connected, and the amp inputs shorted? If that test is dead quiet, something upstream is likely applying DC bias to the amp inputs. If the pop is still there, there's some DC offset present in the amp itself, at least at power-up/power-down.

John
 
I took out the demo Prima Luna today to return to my dealer. No more popping when turning the amp on an off. PLP is a nice unit well built and dead quiet.
 
Definitely turn the power AMP ON LAST, giving time for everything else to become fully powered up.

Turn the power AMP OFF FIRST also giving time for everything else to turn off.
 
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