Pot in the signal path . . .

[CJSF]

A few weeks ago I put up a thread encouraging the re making of all your lead plug contacts, as I had not done this for a while it made a big difference for me, I also found later some phono contacts which I had misses as they were hidden away, my DAC and the MC transformer, out of site out of mind.

I've just found another, although not a phono plug this time. My Icom phono pre amp has an independent volume control, it can be used instead of the integrated volume control or turned up and left high. This is how I use it, left at about 1 o'clock, this afternoon I had occasion to use the pre amp volume . . . it scratched and grated :? . . . so, all signals disconnected, I turned it low to high a few times, this cleared the pot.

So back to the music, the beginning of the track I was half way through . . . more air, detail and reality, better sound stage, we are not talking chalk and cheese here, but perceptible never the less. I mention it, just in-case anyone else has a pot or switch in the signal path that they have not moved for a while, could be worth a try?

CJSF

 

[lonely boy]

Those ALPS pots are known to develop noise over time, they can also be a cause of hum issues. I much prefer the little TKD pots over them, even though they're more expensive.

 

[chebby]

The system and it's cables, including the TV and it's periperals, all gets disconnected and cleaned and moved for hoovering and polishing under and behind everything every few weeks. So I never have to be concerned about deliberately re-making connections .

My banana plugs on the speaker cables are soldered and airtight so no worries there either.