CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS

  • December 31, 2015, 11:19:40 AM
  • Welcome, Guest
Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  
Pages: [1] 2

Author Topic: My amplifier talks to me...  (Read 2254 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Valentin Hogea

  • Able Bodied Sailor
  • Pirate
  • ***
  • Brownie Points: +6023/-0
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 190
  • In nomine musici
    • Headfonia
My amplifier talks to me...
« on: January 21, 2014, 07:56:17 AM »
Ok!


Now that I got everyone's attention. I need some input from wiser people than I.


I just bought a EC 2A3, and it's great and all except for one thing.


When no headphone is connected (and no speakers) and the ouput is on headphones. If the volume control is turned up, the transformer(s) sing the music.
Yeah, I know... Running a transformer-coupled tube amp without load for longer periods isn't good. But is this normal? I mean it sounds like a really cheap clock radio. And the volume increases if the volume control is turned up.


Normal? Or not so good?


Since I bought it (hardly) used 2nd hand, if it's flawed and needs new output transformers, now would be a good time to know.


Cheers,
V
Logged
"I consider them symbols, and I leave symbols, to the symbple-minded." George Carlin

CEE TEE

  • Master controller of all scores
  • Mate
  • Pirate
  • ****
  • Brownie Points: +98/-338
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 839
  • Need More Time To Loaf Around
Re: My amplifier talks to me...
« Reply #1 on: January 21, 2014, 08:00:52 AM »
Yes, Val...it's normal if you don't dip the transfos into wax or paint them so that they won't resonate and make music.  When no phones are plugged in but the source is feeding a signal, Craig's uncoated output transformers will ring. Best to turn the volume pot down. I went through this with Craig on the Super 7.  Buzzing like bees in the case?  No good.  Singing your music if no phones and volume up?  Okay, but better to turn volume down.
Logged
sound soft harmonics rich bile rich rhyme

Marvey

  • The Man For His Time And Place
  • Master
  • Pirate
  • *****
  • Brownie Points: +555/-33
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 6698
  • Captain Plankton and MOT: Eddie Current
Re: My amplifier talks to me...
« Reply #2 on: January 21, 2014, 08:17:09 AM »
That's normal. It's so fricking cool the output transformers sing!
Logged

Valentin Hogea

  • Able Bodied Sailor
  • Pirate
  • ***
  • Brownie Points: +6023/-0
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 190
  • In nomine musici
    • Headfonia
Re: My amplifier talks to me...
« Reply #3 on: January 21, 2014, 10:15:49 AM »
Thx C & M!


I had a feeling that something used for less than 50 hours couldn't be "flawed", especially coming from Craig.


Now... time to look for some 3W SET, bookshelf goodies... any tips that won't break the bank?


/V
Logged
"I consider them symbols, and I leave symbols, to the symbple-minded." George Carlin

thegunner100

  • Hentai Master Chief
  • Able Bodied Sailor
  • Pirate
  • ***
  • Brownie Points: +42/-4
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 443
  • A chubby anime cat
    • The Emotional Skyscraper
Re: My amplifier talks to me...
« Reply #4 on: January 22, 2014, 12:15:51 AM »
Whoah... that's pretty damn cool haha. I didn't know that transformers could make sounds other than humming.
Logged

CEE TEE

  • Master controller of all scores
  • Mate
  • Pirate
  • ****
  • Brownie Points: +98/-338
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 839
  • Need More Time To Loaf Around
Re: My amplifier talks to me...
« Reply #5 on: January 22, 2014, 12:38:23 AM »
Funny now, but we seriously think we've gone off our rockers when we're looking for the music..."WHERE is that music coming from???"  Then we start taking things apart.  Reminds me of this.



Logged
sound soft harmonics rich bile rich rhyme

Stapsy

  • Able Bodied Sailor
  • Pirate
  • ***
  • Brownie Points: +21/-0
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 423
  • a real bastid
Re: My amplifier talks to me...
« Reply #6 on: January 22, 2014, 01:07:10 AM »
Quote from: Valentin Hogea on January 21, 2014, 10:15:49 AM
Now... time to look for some 3W SET, bookshelf goodies... any tips that won't break the bank?

/V

http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,949.0.html

I started a topic about that a while ago.  I still haven't bought anything, but I am going to get one of the Omega's as soon as my 2A3x4 gets here.
Logged

AstralStorm

  • Speculation and Speculums
  • Able Bodied Sailor
  • Pirate
  • ***
  • Brownie Points: +250/-164
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 559
  • Warning: causes nearby electronics to go haywire
Re: My amplifier talks to me...
« Reply #7 on: January 22, 2014, 08:53:16 AM »
Yeah, same thing with the Super7, the output transformers will sing very quietly.

The choke will also buzz if unscrewed.

It's called magnetostriction.
Logged
For sale: Hifiman HE-500; Paradox; Brainwavz B2. PM me if you would like to buy them.

Valentin Hogea

  • Able Bodied Sailor
  • Pirate
  • ***
  • Brownie Points: +6023/-0
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 190
  • In nomine musici
    • Headfonia
Re: My amplifier talks to me...
« Reply #8 on: February 09, 2014, 01:40:06 PM »
Thx for the answers guys! Just as I suspected... Any other non-EC amps that have the same thing? Find it weird that I've never heard about it even though I've lurked so many threads on all sort of forums...
Logged
"I consider them symbols, and I leave symbols, to the symbple-minded." George Carlin

dsavitsk

  • Powder Monkey
  • *
  • Brownie Points: +27/-1
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 28
    • ecp audio d.i.y.
Re: My amplifier talks to me...
« Reply #9 on: March 22, 2014, 12:07:09 AM »
Quote from: AstralStorm on January 22, 2014, 08:53:16 AM
It's called magnetostriction.

Magnetostriction is more of an issue with core materials like nickel, etc., and it can lead to increased distortion at higher signal levels due to core deformation. It is one reason why while nickel is great for small signal transformers, but becomes less and less of a good thing as the signal level increases.
Logged
Pages: [1] 2
« previous next »