Crackle/interference

[Richard Tarleton]

It doesn't usually make any difference apart from PHONO inputs (Disc on yours) which IS different
so AUX, CD, TUNER, TAPE, VIDEO etc are usually all the same and interchangeable

I've swapped the CD player to the Tuner input - fingers crossed, that seems as if it might have done the trick.

So yes, richardfg, the amp could well be living on borrowed time.....

I've also (Dave) tweaked the position of furniture & speakers....in fact it's sounding a lot better.....

Thank you all!

[Dave2002]

Are the connections into the amp phono connectors? Depending on what they and the plugs are made of, there can be corrosion or at least dirt getting into the metal on metal interfaces. Various methods of cleaning can improve this, and although Vaseline probably has slight insulating properties, I think a very thin layer of Vaseline can improve the fitting between plugs and sockets. That's just my idea of course. Very thorough cleaning without such lubrication would lead to a new metal to metal interface which may deteriorate quite rapidly.

It's possible that the amp is OK, but that simply removing and refitting the plugs has improved the connections. If that is the case, then it could be OK to reconnect the cables to their original inputs.

[Richard Tarleton]

Are the connections into the amp phono connectors? Depending on what they and the plugs are made of, there can be corrosion or at least dirt getting into the metal on metal interfaces. Various methods of cleaning can improve this, and although Vaseline probably has slight insulating properties, I think a very thin layer of Vaseline can improve the fitting between plugs and sockets. That's just my idea of course. Very thorough cleaning without such lubrication would lead to a new metal to metal interface which may deteriorate quite rapidly.

It's possible that the amp is OK, but that simply removing and refitting the plugs has improved the connections. If that is the case, then it could be OK to reconnect the cables to their original inputs.

Right - thanks for that. The cables are "Chord" (with banana plugs into the speakers) - normal-looking plugs into the amp, banana plugs into the speakers. This being an old cottage, there are issues with humidity, dust, spiders etc. in the micro-habitats either side of the chimney breast where the speakers are located, so perhaps all the plugs need a good clean....is there a spray, perhaps? I do my best with the Dyson, and have recently redecorated - but the place is not a bit like those minimalist interiors in the Dyson ads.

[Dave2002]

Various options. Brasso, Silvo to polish the outer cylindrical part of the phono sockets, or even very fine sandpaper. If the kit is newish it'll probably have gold coatings, which don't need much treatment, but some equipment (otherwise good) used other metals which corroded, or interacted with different metals used for the plugs.

It's the interconnect cables, which are most likely to give this problem with associated symptoms. Also some phono plugs are too tight a fit, or conversely too,loose, which can give problems in the long term. Maybe WD40 can help, sometimes - though personally I'd stick with a good physical clean first, then a very thin layer of Vaseline.

I wouldn't worry too much about the speaker banana plugs, though I did recently buy some new Fisual ones which are rather good, and can work with quite thick cable. A set of 4 from eBay sources is around £10.

Don't worry about this too much if you've checked the connections already - I'm merely suggesting possibilities, and there are plenty of others. Are you any closer to a solution, or has the intervention so far already caused the fault to disappear - with or without an explanation?

I used to have a receiver which I think had a dry joint. It was lovely when the weather was slightly damp, otherwise it needed frequent bashing (technical term) to get good sound quality. It was infuriating, and I never did find out exactly where the bad joint was.

[MrGongGong]

Lots of options
but I would avoid brass polish etc

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/contact-cleaners/1014937/

and so on

[richardfinegold]

I use isopropyl alcohol on my interconnects. I have no idea if it's recommended. I had rigged up a spray bottle to use to clean lps. After I sold off my lps and turntable I used the bottle for the new purpose. It seems to work.

[MrGongGong]

I use isopropyl alcohol on my interconnects. I have no idea if it's recommended. I had rigged up a spray bottle to use to clean lps. After I sold off my lps and turntable I used the bottle for the new purpose. It seems to work.

IMV Isopropyl alchohol is fine as it doesn't leave any residue.
Always was the best thing for cleaning tape heads rather than so called "head cleaner" which often has detergent in it and ends up sticky.

[Dave2002]

Lots of options
but I would avoid brass polish etc

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/contact-cleaners/1014937/

and so on

Looks like a better solution than my suggestion - but then again I often use Brillo pads on my LPs. I keep the wire brush for the 78s.

Maybe my more agressive proposals could be good for some severe cases - and I have seen some. The isopropyl alcohol could get the surfaces clean, but the RS contact cleaner has a lubricant which could be beneficial over a long period.

[Cockney Sparrow]

As an aside, we have a bedside digital radio (Pure - "The Bug") which suffered low signal for about a week even though I tried re-positioning the aerial. I wondered if there was transmitter maintenance at the time - initially. The radio has a screw-in connector on the aerial at the base ("F-type" ? - I think) so I thought I'd try hooking it up to a DAB receiver we have in the kitchen connected to the roof top aerial co-ax. The improvement was dramatic. As was the improvement after I had run wire wool over the connecting faces of the original standard portable pull out aerial. So the conclusion was that over time the connection had deteriorated.

Also - in the past I have found some phono plugs with a very solid grip on the socket (on, say, the amplifier). My days of buying more expensive phono leads are long gone*** - but I did buy a few leads which cost, say £15-£20 (then) to connect a CD player. The wire was somewhat inflexible and the plug itself much larger than the freeby moulded ones. I found that by unscrewing the outer shell, it loosened the grip on the amp socket (with the wire in the lead still secure in an inner shell) - I must have read it in an audio magazine (also something long gone for me). As I have had at least one fractured socket on an old amp (luckily an Audiolab with lots of inputs) from trying to release the plug, that might be worth keeping in mind. To my mind if using the contact cleaner or conductive grease a very small amount needs to be applied and all of it removed after working it round. Unless a solvent is used, there is still likely to be a thin film left behind to keep the metal faces lubricated.

(*** I mostly use TOSlink optical leads now, but for others I buy ordinary moulded phono to 3.5mm jacks, or for phono to phono I look for component video leads, basic moulded ones - a large variety of lead lengths are available and the quality is fine).

[jayne lee wilson]

Don't forget good old Kontak... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kontak-Audi...eywords=kontak

...little goes a long way, residue evaporates....

[Dave2002]

cockney sparrow - msg 24

Like you, I have also seen sockets on kit start to become loose because the phono plugs are too tight a fit, and the joint doesn't break when attempts are made to twist or pull them off. It's good to try to avoid getting to that state in the first place. A bit of preventative maintenance periodically - say at least once a year, could avoid that development.