Help: My Eden WT-550 is making "crackling" noises

Failed or dirty volume potentiometer? Maybe if failed it's pretty old. It doesn't really sound like dirty from the description. Is it rhythmic?

My one and only failing tube amp (stereo) was similar and a long time ago, but the volume ramped up to full go soon after it would start. Parents hated it. It got loud and speakers were scared. Replacement tube also failed to resolve. I could see fireworks in the tube that was under attack by whatever failed. So maybe you can look at the tube when it's noisy.

 

One thing you can try, is to clean "all" the Jacks and pots with an electrical parts /contact cleaner like Deoxit. Spray some into all the jacks, front and back and then work a 1/4" plug in and out 10 times. (You can also use a Qtip) this will help make sure there is no built up gunk messing with the signal path through them. Make sure you do all of them. While the top is off, do the pots too. Get some Deoxit inside them and work them back and forth.
The sound you are describing sounds like tube noise from what I've read over on the Eden forum (my WT400 makes a noise like this on start up only and then is silent after and works fine).
You might pose this question over there too for more advice.
I am assuming you swapped with another new tube? Do you have another one?

 

Is the tube you tried a new one? (Even if it is, I'm not sure that's a guarantee that it's good too).
The cleaning is usually recommended as a course of action anytime there are issues. Some guys do it annually as a maintenance item.

 

Deoxit is the gold standard here in the US. You want plastic safe non-lubricating cleaner. Spray goes everywhere... Best to apply lubricant after cleaning in liquid form only if required. I think I would go after the volume pot first with deoxit if you can get it. Squirt, rotate the knob 5 or ten times, repeat and let dry before testing.

 

Yep. It would be. Hence my cleaning thought. If that doesn't work, try the Eden forum. There's a couple of pretty knowledgeable guys over there. Hopefully it's not tech time. (My WT800 is in tech time right now so I feel for you).

 

Oh hey. Now that I see you're in Germany, you need to talk to Armin. He's really good with Eden stuff. He's in Germany and is the tech guy on the Eden forum.

 

Edit:^^^That! Having an expert you can reach nullifies all that has been said

If someone else from Germany doest answer on what cleaner you can get maybe check german audio forums or big international forums like audio karma. A call to audio or instrument repair shop should yeild an answer.

 

I owned a WT400 for 10 + years. The controls are prone to dust.
Popping crackle sound was evident on Gain & Master.
Lowendtech is right. Do what he recommends.
Also, run the controls front & back by sweeping the full range
of each pot on a regular basis (with amp off).
That was my best fix. Seems to be a quirky thing with the Eden heads
but they are great sound & quality.
I miss mine.

 

Do you know the sound an amplified bass can make when near cell phones, computers, etc? There's a chance your problem is just interference from one of these devices, based on your description of the sound.

Examples I encounter most often:
- When the mail client on a smartphone is downloading the latest email
- When my fingers are on the computer's trackpad

Another possibility - try the amp with a power conditioner/filter.

Just some things to consider before visiting a tech.

 

If your amp has an effects loop try linking the send and return with a signal cable to see if that helps.

 

Dirty send and return jacks on an effects loop can even silence an amp.

 

I have this same problem with my WT-500. I'll try the same solution that's suggested.

 

It's the stepped volume knobs. A common problem with Edens.

Contrary to whats been said here - for potentiometers you do want a lubricating cleaner.

 

Those pots are very hard to access on the Eden WT amps. Make sure you get a "straw" when you buy whatever lube/cleaner you get. Even then it will be tricky to get to the pots.

Before cleaning the pots, I would try turning the amp off, and rotatating the controls fully numerious times, that usually works for me.

 

I have a older Traveler 300, made these shorting out loud electrical pop sounds. A spring on the back of one of the pots had popped out and was intermittently touching something. If the Deoxit and cleaning don't help, see a tech, could be similar to my issue.
Good Luck,
MJ