Bottlehead Forum

Bottlehead Kits => Eros Phono => Topic started by: adeep42 on August 18, 2019, 11:01:22 AM

Title: New Eros 2
Post by: adeep42 on August 18, 2019, 11:01:22 AM: Hi Paul,

New Eros 2 is now in system that I was building it for. I'm having a new problem. Noise in the right channel. It's kinda scratchy, static like, relatively low pitched and intermittent. I thought it was a tube issue, so I made some changes. Wrong again. Your thoughts please.

Alan
Title: Re: New Eros 2
Post by: Paul Birkeland on August 18, 2019, 11:05:31 AM: That sounds a lot like interference from something like a powerline ethernet kit, wifi router, etc. Some cell phones can cause noise like this, though that hasn't been nearly as much of an issue with more recent hardware.
Title: Re: New Eros 2
Post by: adeep42 on August 18, 2019, 11:20:34 AM: Just unplugged the Apple AirPort Express that I use for AirPlay on that system. No Effect!!. Changed some of the electrical plugs around. No effect. Definitely not a cellphone. Also, only left channel. Confirmed that by switching output interconnects.
Title: Re: New Eros 2
Post by: Paul Birkeland on August 18, 2019, 11:45:15 AM: You can also try a cheater plug on the power cord to see if that disrupts the noise.

I'm hoping that you have shorted the inputs or at least have the interconnects from your turntable hooked up for evaluating this.

-PB
Title: Re: New Eros 2
Post by: adeep42 on August 18, 2019, 02:19:39 PM: interconnects are in. Excuse my ignorance, What is a cheater plug?
Title: Re: New Eros 2
Post by: Paul Birkeland on August 18, 2019, 05:47:55 PM: Like this.
Title: Re: New Eros 2
Post by: adeep42 on August 19, 2019, 04:28:04 AM: I'll pick one up and give it a try.
Title: Re: New Eros 2
Post by: rockpassion on August 19, 2019, 09:17:45 AM: Alan,

I had a similar experience after I changed my TT and VPI TT speed controller to a the opposite side.
I also changed IC cables to a new pair. I tried everything to isolate the problem and narrowed it down to either outside interference or my new ICâ€™s were picking up interference. So, I changed back to the original configuration. I changed back to the original configuration and went back to the original ICâ€™s and the intermittent scratchy noise went away completely.

Hope this might help. Good luck.

Richard
Title: Re: New Eros 2
Post by: adeep42 on August 20, 2019, 06:24:05 AM: Thanks Richard. This system is in a different location so I can't change back. Have tried changing interconnects, etc, but can't seem to isolate the problem YET. Definitely appreciate the input. That's what is so great about the Bottlehead forums.

Paul, got a cheater plug, no change. Am using a Rega TT in this system. Rega doesn't use a separate ground wire. They have their own way of doing things. Am looking into how to do a separate ground. Also will switch the Eros 2 with my other Eros. Just need the time to do everything. Your ongoing help is most appreciated.

Alan
Title: Re: New Eros 2
Post by: Paul Birkeland on August 20, 2019, 06:43:00 AM: You might also want to leave the Eros on overnight to let the tubes settle in. I do not recall hearing any noise when I had your Eros here, but it's not that abnormal for tubes to need to settle in before they will be their quietest.
Title: Re: New Eros 2
Post by: adeep42 on August 22, 2019, 07:58:48 AM: Hi Paul,

Running on empty (a bad Jackson Brown pun) for over 48 hrs. Scratchy sounds and occasional pops still there.
Title: Re: New Eros 2
Post by: Paul Birkeland on August 22, 2019, 11:22:01 AM: Is this noise present with nothing plugged into the inputs of the Eros?
Title: Re: New Eros 2
Post by: adeep42 on August 23, 2019, 06:09:55 AM: Quote from: Paul Birkeland on August 22, 2019, 11:22:01 AM
Is this noise present with nothing plugged into the inputs of the Eros?
Yes,
Title: Re: New Eros 2
Post by: Paul Birkeland on August 23, 2019, 06:24:30 AM: How about with the inputs shorted?
Title: Re: New Eros 2
Post by: adeep42 on August 23, 2019, 06:39:16 AM: How should I do that?
Title: Re: New Eros 2
Post by: Deke609 on August 23, 2019, 07:11:50 AM: Quote from: adeep42 on August 23, 2019, 06:39:16 AM

How should I do that?

Alan - see the following simple guide for making them: http://web.archive.org/web/20130326014838/http://www.siteswithstyle.com/VoltSecond/Shorting_plug_rca/shorting_plug.html (http://https://web.archive.org/web/20130326014838/http://www.siteswithstyle.com/VoltSecond/Shorting_plug_rca/shorting_plug.html)
Title: Re: New Eros 2
Post by: Paul Birkeland on August 23, 2019, 07:57:16 AM: You can use a pair of clip leads to connect the center pins of each RCA jack to ground in the amp.
Title: Re: New Eros 2
Post by: adeep42 on August 23, 2019, 08:25:45 AM: Strike out. No change
Title: Re: New Eros 2
Post by: Paul Birkeland on August 23, 2019, 09:45:27 AM: You said you had another Eros floating around, does it exhibit these symptoms?
Title: Re: New Eros 2
Post by: adeep42 on August 24, 2019, 08:32:24 AM: The other Eros is not just floating around. It's in my main system attached to 2 turntables with a switch that I made with your and Doc's and Paul Joppa's help back in August of last year. The reason I made the switch was that I really love the Eros and didn't want to replace it when I added the second turntable.

As per your suggestion, Eros No. 1 is now in the system that I wanted the new Eros 2 for. Not an iota of hiss, crackling, popping. Just beautiful music. Ergo, the noise is not environmental.

Stumped again. Very baffling.

Alan
Title: Re: New Eros 2
Post by: Paul Birkeland on August 24, 2019, 08:38:43 AM: Well, you are welcome to send it back and I can look it over again. It's possible that there's a solder joint that just isn't 100% perfect and the shipping process is enough to disturb it.
Title: Re: New Eros 2
Post by: adeep42 on August 24, 2019, 09:18:37 AM: Think I'll set up shop again and try to reflow as many joints as I can reach easily on the left side. Then we can re-evaluate.

Thanks as always,

Alan