What...the...hell???

Well...I think I caught a lucky break tonight.

After not having any trouble the past few days, Aurender>Vega>mAMPS...to both FACT 3 and now LS-50s (all off the conditioner); I decided to try Aurender>Vega>Calypso>XA-30.8. Right from the start...even at low, low, low volume (like as I went 1, 2 on the volume display); the "crackling" came back!

Left everything the same, but put the XP-10 in place of the Calypso; no issue! I am now convinced it's the Calypso; hopefully, just a blown tube or socket.
 
Chris, glad to see that you determined the source of the problem! It's probably a tube issue as you stated, but if you need support both Jim and Glenn from Aesthetix are known for their superb level of customer support. I've heard that they respond very quickly to email or phone calls from their customers about any issues. I'm confident that they'll be able to resolve your issue as quickly as humanly possible. It's always good to know that you have a reliable and supportive company standing behind your gear!
 
audio.bill said:
Chris, glad to see that you determined the source of the problem! It's probably a tube issue as you stated, but if you need support both Jim and Glenn from Aesthetix are known for their superb level of customer support. I've heard that they respond very quickly to email or phone calls from their customers about any issues. I'm confident that they'll be able to resolve your issue as quickly as humanly possible. It's always good to know that you have a reliable and supportive company standing behind your gear!
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Good to know. Thanks
 
Well...I'll spare the group, all my substantial cursing; and just say...it's b a c k :reallymad:

Happened, as I was enjoying Aurender>Vega>XP-10>mAMPS; off the power conditioner, and with unbalanced cables. First I went to a different amp; still there. Then unbalanced cables; still there. Then back to the first amps, unbalanced; still there.

Honestly...I can't pin this thing down, and I'm getting really...really...really...REALLY...p*ssed!

I guess the only saving grace, is I now know...it's not solely the FACT 3s, and it's not the Calypso.
 
Guys...this started, when I left the Wyred mAMPS on; and fired up the Calypso.

The system gave a mighty pop, at turn on...and then bettered itself, at circuit engage. What could be my likely culprits here?

I've swapped-out every piece of gear, at least once; ALL the ICs, SCs...and I think PCs, at least once.

It comes out of nowhere, once the system gets to cookin'; and then...no changing of gear, seems to make it go away. I swear...I think I blew a f*cking outlet!!!
 
Chris, I really feel badly for you as I know this type of problem can be extremely frustrating. Hang in there, try and keep your composure and you'll get it figured out. Since the problem began when you powered up the Calypso with the Wyred power amps on, my first inclination would be that the "mighty pop" you heard could have damaged the power amps and/or the speakers. Since it seems like you've eliminated the FACTs from being the problem, I would then concentrate on the Wyred amps. However I see that you said you also had the problem with a different amp, so now I'm also stumped. Looks like you also eliminated the power conditioner from being the issue, correct?
 
audio.bill said:
Chris, I really feel badly for you as I know this type of problem can be extremely frustrating. Hang in there, try and keep your composure and you'll get it figured out. Since the problem began when you powered up the Calypso with the Wyred power amps on, my first inclination would be that the "mighty pop" you heard could have damaged the power amps and/or the speakers. Since it seems like you've eliminated the FACTs from being the problem, I would then concentrate on the Wyred amps. However I see that you said you also had the problem with a different amp, so now I'm also stumped. Looks like you also eliminated the power conditioner from being the issue, correct?
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Yeah Bill; I've had the problem with the Calypso...XP-10, and even Vega as pre-amp. mAMPS and XA-30.8; and off the conditioner.

New working theory; could it be one of my outlets?? Eliminated one from the mix, and for all of about 10 minutes now...I'm OK :weird:
 
The only way I think it could possibly be outlet related is if when you had that loud pop it caused something to arc in your wiring or the outlet itself. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that you'll get it all figured out soon...
 
Chris

Know not "audiophile approved" but can you use one of the larger gauge orange extension cords from the PS conditioner to an outlet on another breaker and let it cook for a while. Could be a bad outlet or a weak breaker. Use the original setup that started the problem for the test.
 
Jack said:
Chris

Know not "audiophile approved" but can you use one of the larger gauge orange extension cords from the PS conditioner to an outlet on another breaker and let it cook for a while. Could be a bad outlet or a weak breaker. Use the original setup that started the problem for the test.
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Yeah, I'll keep that in mind Jack. I'm really starting to think, it is electrical and/or cabling; which is good news.

I mean...it'll be the hardest thing to track down; but the cheapest thing to fix!
 
If crackling is on only one channel, try swapping left ic cable to right, etc.
I had a similar sounding issue that turned out to be a loose cable/connector connection. Sounded similar to a faulty tube at first. A repair of the cable solved the issue. Good luck!
 
So true. Less than $25 for either a breaker or a couple of outlets are a quick and easy fix. That's why the extension cord to the other room would eliminate the gear altogether. If that didn't work then you have to track down which piece in the gear chain.
 
tunes said:
If crackling is on only one channel, try swapping left ic cable to right, etc.
I had a similar sounding issue that turned out to be a loose cable/connector connection. Sounded similar to a faulty tube at first. A repair of the cable solved the issue. Good luck!
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Thanks; but it's both channels (though it always seems to start with the right, and then quickly follows to the left). :huh:
 
Do you have a secondary system that you can slowly add pieces of your main system too? If you do, then start adding pieces of the main system to it and see if you can reproduce the problem. Consider running the secondary system on the same outlet and power conditioner first for a while to see if the problem shows up.
 
Mechnutt said:
Do you have a secondary system that you can slowly add pieces of your main system too? If you do, then start adding pieces of the main system to it and see if you can reproduce the problem. Consider running the secondary system on the same outlet and power conditioner first for a while to see if the problem shows up.
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I've already been down that road mech. Problem is...the issue doesn't present itself, right away. So there's been no put-piece-in, issue-presents-itself moment...where I can deduct that is the offending kit. The one time it did, was with the Calypso...so I thought that was it; but now the issue has occurred multiple times...without the Calypso in the loop. So it was just a coincidence, or something parallel to the Calypso.

Still...all I can do, is start over and go slower this time. It's really quite maddening; but I guess I'll have to wait, like a week or weeks...before I can conclude it's safe to add a new piece. In the meantime...my system becomes less-than :blush:
 
Hi Chris,

Please disregard if you have already done this but could you keep all the electronics the same and just change to a different set of speakers? That would at least rule out the speakers as the problem.

Anshul

CDLehner said:
I've already been down that road mech. Problem is...the issue doesn't present itself, right away. So there's been no put-piece-in, issue-presents-itself moment...where I can deduct that is the offending kit. The one time it did, was with the Calypso...so I thought that was it; but now the issue has occurred multiple times...without the Calypso in the loop. So it was just a coincidence, or something parallel to the Calypso.

Still...all I can do, is start over and go slower this time. It's really quite maddening; but I guess I'll have to wait, like a week or weeks...before I can conclude it's safe to add a new piece. In the meantime...my system becomes less-than :blush:
Click to expand...
 
CD, I would continue to replace 1 piece at a time as the problem shows itself. It will probably takes weeks or a few months to narrow it down due to the intermittent nature.

Does any of your gear have mechanical volume pots that could have oxidized and may need cleaning with deoxit?
 
Sorry I am late to this.

OK- the first question that really has not been answered- you say there is cracking like when you clip an amp, but is there distortion??

If it is only crackling and if it is in both channels... and we now know that the conditioner is off the hook as are both amplifiers and apparently the Calypso. Its also not the speakers:

Additional: the problem showed up after what sounds like a fairly high-powered event. Therefore it is not something like a dirty control (which could cause crackling, but not when the control is not being moved so that idea is out). So IMO/IME this problem is a result of the event. Another clue is that the problem is in both channels.

Here is my theory: there is a bad AC connection somewhere that is feeding the power amplifier (and maybe the rest of the system too but for sure the power amp). When there is enough AC draw/heating in the connection, it starts arcing. This causes crackling that can be heard with any component as the noise is transmitted through the AC line. It could be an outlet, a defective power cord or a wire feeding that outlet that simply has a bad connection on the outlet itself... If this is the case it is potentially dangerous as it can start a fire.

If it were me I would run an extension from another room to test this theory. Ideally that would be off of a different circuit, as the problem could be a breaker in the breaker box.
 
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