Amplifier issues
 

My 20 year old Rose valve preamp has started making a 'whooshing' sound,
varies in intensity, with a steady rush of background hiss. Might it be
the valves? Everything lights up, and I've had the back off and all
looks in order.

For now, I'm using an older(er) NAD 3020 integrated amp in preamp mode.
It works fine, but sounds 'soft' by comparison with the Rose (when it
worked) - 'smooth' treble and a quite overblown bass. I did notice this:

https://flic.kr/p/rjtZuf

when I got it out the cupboard - but I'm guessing all that mess is glue?
Anything look untoward?


--
Cheers, Rob

Amplifier issues
 

On Fri, 13 Mar 2015 21:02:25 +0000, RJH wrote:

My 20 year old Rose valve preamp has started making a 'whooshing' sound,
varies in intensity, with a steady rush of background hiss. Might it be
the valves? Everything lights up, and I've had the back off and all
looks in order.

For now, I'm using an older(er) NAD 3020 integrated amp in preamp mode.
It works fine, but sounds 'soft' by comparison with the Rose (when it
worked) - 'smooth' treble and a quite overblown bass. I did notice this:

https://flic.kr/p/rjtZuf

when I got it out the cupboard - but I'm guessing all that mess is glue?
Anything look untoward?

That brown stuff is glue - cheaper than proper clamps I suppose. The
symptoms do sound very much like bad caps.

Audio amplifiers definitely should not have a "sound" though. They are
supposed to be transparent apart from making things louder. If I were
you I would ditch all the suspicious old stuff and simply buy
something new.

d

Amplifier issues
 

RJH wrote:

My 20 year old Rose valve preamp has started making a 'whooshing' sound,
varies in intensity, with a steady rush of background hiss. Might it be
the valves? Everything lights up, and I've had the back off and all
looks in order.


** After 20 years, it is time you replaced all the valves.

I can find no details on the net about the unit other than it uses four small valves, possibly ECC83s or 12AX7s.

The noise you describe is a typical valve fault.


..... Phil

Amplifier issues
 

Some whooshing sounds can be just corrosion on the valve pins or sockets,
but it could be almost anything of course including drying out capacitors
causing either noise or instability, or a dodgy high value resistor.

Even switches have been known to case it.

A careful wiggle and prod might indicate if its valve related or switch
related.
Use something insulated obviously.
Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"RJH" wrote in message
...
My 20 year old Rose valve preamp has started making a 'whooshing' sound,
varies in intensity, with a steady rush of background hiss. Might it be
the valves? Everything lights up, and I've had the back off and all looks
in order.

For now, I'm using an older(er) NAD 3020 integrated amp in preamp mode. It
works fine, but sounds 'soft' by comparison with the Rose (when it
worked) - 'smooth' treble and a quite overblown bass. I did notice this:

https://flic.kr/p/rjtZuf

when I got it out the cupboard - but I'm guessing all that mess is glue?
Anything look untoward?


--
Cheers, Rob

Amplifier issues
 

On 13/03/2015 21:46, Don Pearce wrote:
On Fri, 13 Mar 2015 21:02:25 +0000, RJH wrote:

My 20 year old Rose valve preamp has started making a 'whooshing' sound,
varies in intensity, with a steady rush of background hiss. Might it be
the valves? Everything lights up, and I've had the back off and all
looks in order.

For now, I'm using an older(er) NAD 3020 integrated amp in preamp mode.
It works fine, but sounds 'soft' by comparison with the Rose (when it
worked) - 'smooth' treble and a quite overblown bass. I did notice this:

https://flic.kr/p/rjtZuf

when I got it out the cupboard - but I'm guessing all that mess is glue?
Anything look untoward?

That brown stuff is glue - cheaper than proper clamps I suppose. The
symptoms do sound very much like bad caps.

Audio amplifiers definitely should not have a "sound" though. They are
supposed to be transparent apart from making things louder. If I were
you I would ditch all the suspicious old stuff and simply buy
something new.


Yes, thanks. I think I might keep the NAD and see about fixing the caps.
Seem to be a number of guides online, and I've not much to lose.


--
Cheers, Rob

Amplifier issues
 

On 14/03/2015 00:18, Phil Allison wrote:
RJH wrote:

My 20 year old Rose valve preamp has started making a 'whooshing' sound,
varies in intensity, with a steady rush of background hiss. Might it be
the valves? Everything lights up, and I've had the back off and all
looks in order.


** After 20 years, it is time you replaced all the valves.


Yes, I'd better bite the bullet I suppose. Prices seem to vary widely (4
x National ECC82) - this seems to be about the cheapest:

http://www.rapidonline.com/electroni...de-valve-35348


I can find no details on the net about the unit other than it uses four small valves, possibly ECC83s or 12AX7s.


It's a Rose RV23-S. I got it on ebay for less than £100 IIRC, with
matching power amp, new.

I think they closed about 10 years back. Look very nicely made to me.

The noise you describe is a typical valve fault.


Grand, thanks.


--
Cheers, Rob

Amplifier issues
 

On 15/03/2015 20:58, RJH wrote:
On 14/03/2015 00:18, Phil Allison wrote:
RJH wrote:

My 20 year old Rose valve preamp has started making a 'whooshing' sound,
varies in intensity, with a steady rush of background hiss. Might it be
the valves? Everything lights up, and I've had the back off and all
looks in order.


** After 20 years, it is time you replaced all the valves.


Yes, I'd better bite the bullet I suppose. Prices seem to vary widely (4
x National ECC82) - this seems to be about the cheapest:

http://www.rapidonline.com/electroni...de-valve-35348


Ordered from Rapid last night, arrived lunchtime, amp now working fine.

Many thanks for your help.

--
Cheers, Rob

Amplifier issues
 

RJH wrote:
Phil Allison wrote:

RJH wrote:

My 20 year old Rose valve preamp has started making a 'whooshing' sound,
varies in intensity, with a steady rush of background hiss. Might it be
the valves? Everything lights up, and I've had the back off and all
looks in order.


** After 20 years, it is time you replaced all the valves.


Yes, I'd better bite the bullet I suppose. Prices seem to vary widely (4
x National ECC82) - this seems to be about the cheapest:

http://www.rapidonline.com/electroni...de-valve-35348


Ordered from Rapid last night, arrived lunchtime, amp now working fine.

Many thanks for your help.



** Valves are made to plug into sockets for a reason ...




..... Phil

Amplifier issues
 

On 18/03/2015 3:02 PM, Phil Allison wrote:
RJH wrote:
Phil Allison wrote:

RJH wrote:

My 20 year old Rose valve preamp has started making a 'whooshing' sound,
varies in intensity, with a steady rush of background hiss. Might it be
the valves? Everything lights up, and I've had the back off and all
looks in order.


** After 20 years, it is time you replaced all the valves.


Yes, I'd better bite the bullet I suppose. Prices seem to vary widely (4
x National ECC82) - this seems to be about the cheapest:

http://www.rapidonline.com/electroni...de-valve-35348


Ordered from Rapid last night, arrived lunchtime, amp now working fine.

Many thanks for your help.



** Valves are made to plug into sockets for a reason ...

**On a related matter: I used to love speaking to customers who were
considering purchasing Brand X valve amp. When prompted, they claimed
that it came with a very generous (1, 2, 3) year warranty. "How long was
the warranty on the valves." I would ask. "Oh, 90 days." Was the usual
reply. "How much to replace all those KT88s?" "Dunno, maybe a couple of
grand."

Imagine trying to sell a solid state amp, but only providing a 90 day
warranty on the transistors...

Sheesh!


--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au

---
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Amplifier issues
 

In article , Phil
Allison scribeth thus
RJH wrote:
Phil Allison wrote:

RJH wrote:

My 20 year old Rose valve preamp has started making a 'whooshing' sound,
varies in intensity, with a steady rush of background hiss. Might it be
the valves? Everything lights up, and I've had the back off and all
looks in order.


** After 20 years, it is time you replaced all the valves.


Yes, I'd better bite the bullet I suppose. Prices seem to vary widely (4
x National ECC82) - this seems to be about the cheapest:

http://www.rapidonline.com/electroni...-triode-valve-
35348


Ordered from Rapid last night, arrived lunchtime, amp now working fine.

Many thanks for your help.



** Valves are made to plug into sockets for a reason ...




.... Phil


Yep .. EY51 anyone;)....

--
Tony Sayer