[GreenNeedle]

BTW, where did you source your choke and crees? What are the specs on them (I have no idea about the specs )? Thanks.

Sorry didn't reply on specs. No idea on specs, I copied other links from posts on BH crack site. I bought these:
https://www.mouser.co.uk/ProductDet...T0O8Zu9aP3g==&countrycode=GB&currencycode=GBP
https://www.mouser.co.uk/ProductDet...fQT7VqjsiJw==&countrycode=GB&currencycode=GBP

 

[DenverW]

Crackling is usually a solder issue or a tube issue. Try Other tubes, and if it remains the same it’s probably solder. Most crack issues are solder .

 

[cddc]

Sorry didn't reply on specs. No idea on specs, I copied other links from posts on BH crack site. I bought these:
https://www.mouser.co.uk/ProductDetail/triad-magnetics/c-7x/?qs=/PiZ59IM4y3T0O8Zu9aP3g==&countrycode=GB&currencycode=GBP
https://www.mouser.co.uk/ProductDet...fQT7VqjsiJw==&countrycode=GB&currencycode=GBP

Cool, thank you very much for the links!

Same as @DenverW , I think it's best to replace the current driver tube with a different one first. If the crackling is still there, we can conclude that it's not a bad tube problem, and you can proceed to reflowing the joints on your Noval socket.

 

[GreenNeedle]

I tried several tubes already before the last post. All had the crackling. I've had a bit of a mare since then. lol. I decided to reflow some wires and then I had some low level hum.........so I decided to tighten up the screws thiking maybe that might help...........and some enamel chipped off round the screws..........so I've had to take it all off and respray the top. Happy days

 

[DenverW]

@GreenNeedle Hopefully it won't be much more of an issue and you can get back to the music. Did you do any voltage checks after you redid the solder? I admit I've skipped that step before, and every time I have I usually end up regretting it.

Here is a question to the group: how many people get the background tap tap tap from other electronics (such as internet) that might be nearby. So I do get this intermittently, and I have a truly ghetto solution. I've put a small wall of tin foil up between the crack and the router. I've noticed that its actually the top of the crack (the tubes) that needs the tin foil blocking. When I folded the tin foil in half and placed it on the side of the frame i'd getting the background sound. I'm thinking of trying some DIY tube shields. Anyone done this?

 

[jivex5k]

I recently purchased this amp after asking for some advice here. I'm incredibly happy with this decision and really enjoyed building it. I was happy to see a huge thread here dedicated to the amp, very cool to see the various mods and upgrades. It's been fun to slowly upgrade this amp. I installed speedball, a mod with the ground lug to filter PC noise (worked great), and built that special power cable.

I installed a new pot and knob today, came out nice. I ended up going with the audio note since it had solder lugs, and figured what the hell I'll splurge a little. The new pot fixed the audio balance at low levels so that's cool. I was at a loss for what to upgrade, glad I found this thread, going to find some inspiration.

 

[DenverW]

It looks great! Prepare to fall into the tube and upgrade pit! Output caps, Cree diodes! Chokes! Gec tubes!

 

[cddc]

I recently purchased this amp after asking for some advice here. I'm incredibly happy with this decision and really enjoyed building it. I was happy to see a huge thread here dedicated to the amp, very cool to see the various mods and upgrades. It's been fun to slowly upgrade this amp. I installed speedball, a mod with the ground lug to filter PC noise (worked great), and built that special power cable.

I installed a new pot and knob today, came out nice. I ended up going with the audio note since it had solder lugs, and figured what the hell I'll splurge a little. The new pot fixed the audio balance at low levels so that's cool. I was at a loss for what to upgrade, glad I found this thread, going to find some inspiration.

Excellent work!

I love the legs, where can I find them?

 

[cddc]

@GreenNeedle Hopefully it won't be much more of an issue and you can get back to the music. Did you do any voltage checks after you redid the solder? I admit I've skipped that step before, and every time I have I usually end up regretting it.

Here is a question to the group: how many people get the background tap tap tap from other electronics (such as internet) that might be nearby. So I do get this intermittently, and I have a truly ghetto solution. I've put a small wall of tin foil up between the crack and the router. I've noticed that its actually the top of the crack (the tubes) that needs the tin foil blocking. When I folded the tin foil in half and placed it on the side of the frame i'd getting the background sound. I'm thinking of trying some DIY tube shields. Anyone done this?

Too bad you have the RF interference issue. My Crack is also very close to my router (about 1.5m), but I didn't have the tap tap tap issue.

For the 12AU7 tube you can find aluminum shields like this:

But I am not sure if there are similar shields for the 6080/6AS7G tube.

 

[cddc]

@GreenNeedle Hopefully it won't be much more of an issue and you can get back to the music. Did you do any voltage checks after you redid the solder? I admit I've skipped that step before, and every time I have I usually end up regretting it.

Here is a question to the group: how many people get the background tap tap tap from other electronics (such as internet) that might be nearby. So I do get this intermittently, and I have a truly ghetto solution. I've put a small wall of tin foil up between the crack and the router. I've noticed that its actually the top of the crack (the tubes) that needs the tin foil blocking. When I folded the tin foil in half and placed it on the side of the frame i'd getting the background sound. I'm thinking of trying some DIY tube shields. Anyone done this?

Another solution to get rid of the RF interference issue is to use Faraday cage.

You can find some metal mesh, and DIY a cage to cover the whole Crack or just the tube section. It works best if you connect the Faraday cage to the ground - maybe connect it to the grounding nut on your Crack.

 

[jivex5k]

It looks great! Prepare to fall into the tube and upgrade pit! Output caps, Cree diodes! Chokes! Gec tubes!

Thanks

Excellent work!

I love the legs, where can I find them?

Thanks
I got them on Amazon. Just looked up jewelry box feet. They scratch stuff up though, I really need some rubber pads for them.

 

[cddc]

Thanks


Thanks
I got them on Amazon. Just looked up jewelry box feet. They scratch stuff up though, I really need some rubber pads for them.

Cool, thank you very much!

That's indeed a very innovative idea

 

[jivex5k]

Here is a question to the group: how many people get the background tap tap tap from other electronics (such as internet) that might be nearby. So I do get this intermittently, and I have a truly ghetto solution. I've put a small wall of tin foil up between the crack and the router. I've noticed that its actually the top of the crack (the tubes) that needs the tin foil blocking. When I folded the tin foil in half and placed it on the side of the frame i'd getting the background sound. I'm thinking of trying some DIY tube shields. Anyone done this?

I was getting a lot of noise from my PC, I installed two diodes from the ground on the IEC to the ground lug in place of the buss wire, it's dead silent now.
PB made a post about it here: https://forum.bottlehead.com/index.php?topic=11676.0

Sounds like your noise is RFI though.

 

[cddc]

That's also a very promising solution.

I haven't installed that solution yet, coz it came up just recently (maybe the end of last year). Saw it on the BH forum, but almost forgot about it.

 

[GreenNeedle]

@GreenNeedle Hopefully it won't be much more of an issue and you can get back to the music. Did you do any voltage checks after you redid the solder? I admit I've skipped that step before, and every time I have I usually end up regretting it.

Alas I didn't. It all tested fine when I first did it and I was just reflowing things so didn't deem it necessary. When I put it all back together I will do the checks.

Before I re-flowed though I tested the power cord I made. No inputs just phones into the unit. With the old power cord (from a 5A LED power supply) it was pretty quiet but you could hear hum at near max to max volume. With new power cord, silent all the way to max. After reflow............humm all the way from bottom. lol. Sounds to me like ground. Like the humm you get plugging a guitar into an amp with a dodgy lead. Like the beginning of Oasis-Cigarettes and alcohol.

Here is a question to the group: how many people get the background tap tap tap from other electronics (such as internet) that might be nearby. So I do get this intermittently, and I have a truly ghetto solution. I've put a small wall of tin foil up between the crack and the router. I've noticed that its actually the top of the crack (the tubes) that needs the tin foil blocking. When I folded the tin foil in half and placed it on the side of the frame i'd getting the background sound. I'm thinking of trying some DIY tube shields. Anyone done this?

I get this. My phone's charger base is above the Crack. My solution is to turn the phone off. lol. Works a treat and no interruptions either.

Is it a router you are talking about or wi-fi? If router, can't you shield around that and hide it away somewhere?