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

Taustin Powers

Taustin Powers

Gold Supporting Member
Oct 7, 2002
1,790
3,402
Berlin, Germany
#1
My Eden WT-550 is starting to act up. It will sound just fine for a while, then all of a sudden, I get some crackling sounds out of the speaker, along with the normal bass signal. It's not quite static, it kind of sounds like the dry pops of a fire place that's throwing sparks, or a geiger counter or something. It's nothing in my signal chain, cause the amp will even do it when I remove the input cable. I haven't found a confirmed way to influence this behavior... At times it seems that turning the master volume knob rapidly a few times will get rid of it, but then it will come back a few minutes later and be immune to that treatment. Turning the input level to zero has no effect, it will only go silent when I turn down the output level.

I replaced the tube, no difference.

Any idea what could cause this?
 
#2
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.
 
#4
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?
 
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#6
Taustin Powers said:
Tube replacement is actually the first thing I tried. I was almost sure that would be the culprit, cause I've had the amp for quite a few years and never messed with it.
Click to expand...
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.
 
#7
Lowendtech said:
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.
Click to expand...

Yes, new tube right out of the box, straight from the store. It would have to be very bad luck to receive a new tube that has the exact same fault as the old one... ;)
 
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#8
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.
 
#10
Taustin Powers said:
Yes, new tube right out of the box, straight from the store. It would have to be very bad luck to receive a new tube that has the exact same fault as the old one... ;)
Click to expand...
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).
 
#12
Edit:^^^That! Having an expert you can reach nullifies all that has been said :D

Taustin Powers said:
I'll have to check if I can get this here in Germany, or what the respective equivalent would be. :)
Click to expand...
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.
 
#13
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.
 
#14
Taustin Powers said:
My Eden WT-550 is starting to act up. It will sound just fine for a while, then all of a sudden, I get some crackling sounds out of the speaker, along with the normal bass signal. It's not quite static, it kind of sounds like the dry pops of a fire place that's throwing sparks, or a geiger counter or something. It's nothing in my signal chain, cause the amp will even do it when I remove the input cable. I haven't found a confirmed way to influence this behavior... At times it seems that turning the master volume knob rapidly a few times will get rid of it, but then it will come back a few minutes later and be immune to that treatment. Turning the input level to zero has no effect, it will only go silent when I turn down the output level.

I replaced the tube, no difference.

Any idea what could cause this?
Click to expand...

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.
 
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#19
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.
 
#20
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
 

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