intermitent static pops from speakers st70

chopchip · 17th July 2010, 10:15 PM

hi,

i get intermitent static popping sounds from the speakers when i have the st70 plugged in. is it some bad solder joints? i dont think i had the problem when i first started listening to it.

any ideas?

thanks

20to20 · 11:13 PM

That sounds typical of intermittent contacts with tube pins. A hissy pop. Wiggle the tubes a little and see if you get more or less. Be gentle on the board tubes so you don't crack any weak solder joints under those sockets. It could also be bad solder joints already on those, mimicking a dirty socket. Inspect those joints closly with a magnifying glass and reflow them if you have any doubts. I'd do that first just to eliminate any obvious bad joints. You will probably find some some wrinkley, dark, solder and that is usually the source of trouble and should be reflowed. Be quick and add a dab of new solder to help the old flow better. You could also be hearing noise from leaky caps reforming if this is an unused amp.

BTW, diytube.com has a dedicated st-70 section.

chopchip · 17th July 2010, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 20to20

That sounds typical of intermittent contacts with tube pins. A hissy pop. Wiggle the tubes a little and see if you get more or less. Be gentle on the board tubes so you don't crack any weak solder joints under those sockets. It could also be bad solder joints already on those, mimicking a dirty socket. Inspect those joints closly with a magnifying glass and reflow them if you have any doubts. I'd do that first just to eliminate any obvious bad joints. You will probably find some some wrinkley, dark, solder and that is usually the source of trouble and should be reflowed. Be quick and add a dab of new solder to help the old flow better. You could also be hearing noise from leaky caps reforming if this is an unused amp.

thanks for the reply. ill reflow those joints. but now i have blown ANOTHER gz34. if i turn the amp off and on and dont wait for at least 30 seconds i blow a fuse and even then the rectifier gets damaged so that the next time it happens it is ruined and shorts out, sparks and dies. this is 3 rectifiers now! arrgh

any advice? sigh

DigitalJunkie · 17th July 2010, 11:32 PM

advice? Don't turn it back on so soon!

Seriously,tubes don't like being re-energized when they're still warm..Wait a couple minutes for them to cool down before re-applying power.

chopchip · 17th July 2010, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DigitalJunkie

advice? Don't turn it back on so soon!

Seriously,tubes don't like being re-energized when they're still warm..Wait a couple minutes for them to cool down before re-applying power.

thanks a lot for that! at least i know what the problem is. now the popping noise.

thanks again!

chrish · 18th July 2010, 01:05 AM

I have read that silicone diodes (eg UF4007) in series with the plates on the valve rectifier can help reduce the arcing/blowing. I did this on my latest project. There are generally plenty of spare pins on the socket to place the silicone diodes, so it is an easy mod.

17th July 2010, 10:15 PM	#1
chopchip diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: calgary alberta tundra canada	intermitent static pops from speakers st70 hi, i get intermitent static popping sounds from the speakers when i have the st70 plugged in. is it some bad solder joints? i dont think i had the problem when i first started listening to it. any ideas? thanks

17th July 2010, 10:54 PM	#2
20to20 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: W-S, NC	That sounds typical of intermittent contacts with tube pins. A hissy pop. Wiggle the tubes a little and see if you get more or less. Be gentle on the board tubes so you don't crack any weak solder joints under those sockets. It could also be bad solder joints already on those, mimicking a dirty socket. Inspect those joints closly with a magnifying glass and reflow them if you have any doubts. I'd do that first just to eliminate any obvious bad joints. You will probably find some some wrinkley, dark, solder and that is usually the source of trouble and should be reflowed. Be quick and add a dab of new solder to help the old flow better. You could also be hearing noise from leaky caps reforming if this is an unused amp. BTW, diytube.com has a dedicated st-70 section. Last edited by 20to20; 17th July 2010 at 11:13 PM.

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17th July 2010, 11:32 PM	#4
DigitalJunkie diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Portland,Oregon Blog Entries: 4	advice? Don't turn it back on so soon! Seriously,tubes don't like being re-energized when they're still warm..Wait a couple minutes for them to cool down before re-applying power.

18th July 2010, 01:05 AM	#6
chrish diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Sydney	I have read that silicone diodes (eg UF4007) in series with the plates on the valve rectifier can help reduce the arcing/blowing. I did this on my latest project. There are generally plenty of spare pins on the socket to place the silicone diodes, so it is an easy mod.