Deoxit worked great! But the sound changed?

fishbones

Well, I've been debating on whether to post this, because some might attack me, or call me nuts, but as an audiophile desiring to come to a logical conclusion, not illogical delusion, I need to know if there is any reality to it?

I recently treated my 15-yr-old Cary tube preamp to some Deoxit on its scratchy volume pots. Deoxit also recommended using the Deoxit Gold to protect the components from future oxidation, so I did. For the heck of it, I also treated the tube sockets and pegs on the 3 tubes that were in it.

Not only did it completely cure the scratchiness of the volume controls and switches, but it's been a few weeks.....and the tube sizzling and popping noises that would break through intermittently disappeared!

But......As soon as I fired it up, it sounded veiled? :eek: Like I threw towels over the tweeters. For the record, I changed absolutely nothing in the chain. And the preamp had been in full service for the last couple months, so it wasn't anything to do with distant memory or break-in. I ran the same CD (one that I'm very familiar with) that I ran 30 minutes before the operation. So, I was like....WTH? Does this liquid solution have to burn-in like components? Did it screw up the sound?

I had it running a couple hours before the treatment. And, I had it running (doing critical listening tests) for a couple hours afterwards - I didn't notice it get any better. Now (after a couple weeks) I don't know if the sound coming out of my system is a new sound I've gotten used to, or it burnt-in, and the sound slowly opened back up?

So I wondered about my Polk friends......have any of you had a similar experience with either chemical?

My money, if there is an issue....would be on the GOLD, not the DN5 cleaner.

nooshinjohn

I think there is a possibility that something got messed up. I have always been told that components need to be stone cold before using something like Deoxit on them and that several hours need to pass before even plugging it back in. I always wait 24 hours before using any equipment that has been cleaned.


Good luck figuring it out.

Outfitter03

Is the wait time to allow most of the solvent or suspension fluid to evaporate?

nooshinjohn

That is my thought, I just have a very hard time with liquids of any kind being used on my gear without proper time to dry.

Outfitter03

That makes sense to me. Especially if using any of the spray products. Do you leave your connections open for a period of time such as RCA connectors or just do the wait time for the reassembled equipment before applying power?

nooshinjohn

Outfitter03 wrote: »

That makes sense to me. Especially if using any of the spray products. Do you leave your connections open for a period of time such as RCA connectors or just do the wait time for the reassembled equipment before applying power?

I plug nothing in at all until I am 110% certain there is no moisture of any kind left. The same goes for new gear going in my system. I will not plug gear in until it is up to ambient room temperature. I live in Indiana and sometimes thinks arrive home that are cold enough to serve as ice cubes until they warm up.

F1nut

Either you didn't wait until the DeOxit had evaporated and damaged something in the circuits or the way it sounds now is actually the way it's suppose to sound now that all the oxidation is gone.

dorokusai

I believe that Cali-Lube would have been a better choice for a volume pot.

TNRabbit

DeOxit makes fader lube as well; I was told that would be a better alternative for pots than the D/O GOLD.

hearingimpared

F1nut wrote: »

Either you didn't wait until the DeOxit had evaporated and damaged something in the circuits or the way it sounds now is actually the way it's suppose to sound now that all the oxidation is gone.

This sound like good advice. I would go a step further and break and make all the connections you treated with the De Oxit several times and then finally reseat them firmly. Try a warm up period and then play some music. This may help.

nooshinjohn

F1nut wrote: »

Either you didn't wait until the DeOxit had evaporated and damaged something...

Would spraying deoxit while the component was still warm(unplugged) potentially cause harm?

treitz3

Not in my experience.

F1nut nailed what I was gonna say.

heiney9

I use De-Oxit quite frequently to clean tube PINs, RCA ends, banana plugs, IEC prongs, female power cord recepticles and I always feel I hear an improvement or at worst no change, but certainly not worse.

One thing I noticed recently is how oxidized the female power cord ends get over time. I used 4-5 cotton tipped swabs that came out very black with oxidation before I got a clean one on every single power cord I own.

H9

treitz3

fishbones wrote:

As soon as I fired it up, it sounded veiled? :eek: Like I threw towels over the tweeters.

You may have another issue somewhere else in the chain that just so happened to be coincidental with your cleaning.

I would check all wiring leading up to the tweeters and if you find nothing wrong, verify that both tweeters are working. If that isn't the case, check your mid drivers next and everything associated with them. If that doesn't work, you can do a complete dismantling of the entire system [everything] from the first power cord to the speaker terminals. Wait a couple of minutes and then reassemble everything.

If you have other components you can swap out one at a time, try that to isolate where or which component may be compromised if none of the aforementioned works.

billbillw

Even though Deoxit is recommended to clean volume, balance pots, etc., I have seen some manufacturers that advice not to use any chemicals on their pots. Perhaps the film surface on some attenuators is more susceptible to damage. Have you called Cary to ask if Deoxit is OK with their Vol Pot?

Also, when you cleaned the pot, did you flush it good (like excess pouring out the bottom) and work it back and forth 50+ times? There is an art to using the D5 spray.

fishbones

Thanks for the feedback, there is some great info here!

NooshinJohn,
Because Deoxit's directions say: unplug, treat, plug back in. And, because I thought it would be a non-conductive solvent designed for electronics - I didn't think to wait for things to evaporate....but that is certainly something I'll do in the future.

F1,
I certainly hope nothing bad happened to my circuits, but that's a thought? I have my doubts only because I would expect bigger, or multiple changes, like: major sound changes (that even an outsider could tell), noises, weak power, or smoke....none of those though have occured. But, the thought on it being closer to what it is supposed to sound like, is an interesting thought? I could see high frequency grain being mistaken for air, or bloom.

Treitz,
All drivers are working as they should be.

BillBill,
No, I did not flush them as thoroughly as you mention for fear of getting it all over other stuff. Maybe that could be something? Maybe all I did was move the dirt somewhere else in the controls?
Your other thought scares me :eek:! I hope I didn't delaminate something by assuming the product was safe because of all the recommendations for it?
I'll give the techs at Cary a call and see what they say, and let you guys know.

billbillw

fishbones wrote: »

BillBill,
No, I did not flush them as thoroughly as you mention for fear of getting it all over other stuff. Maybe that could be something? Maybe all I did was move the dirt somewhere else in the controls?
Your other thought scares me :eek:! I hope I didn't delaminate something by assuming the product was safe because of all the recommendations for it?
I'll give the techs at Cary a call and see what they say, and let you guys know.

I usually put a paper towel down underneath the pot before flushing. Even if some gets on the boards, it is harmless once it dries. I would go back and clean it more thoroughly, let it dry for a couple hours, then test it again.

fishbones

I just got off the phone with a tech at Cary. He said that any of their pots should be fine to use a cleaner on. He wasn't sure what kind I had. Apparently they've used some carbon ones, wire wound and maybe one other. He also wasn't familiar with Deoxit (he told me they usually use inexpensive deflexer solvents). His thought was what some of you are saying on here, and what I think would be best - try to reclean the pot contacts with a Qtip if you can get inside it, if not, then just flush them thoroughly (like BillBillw said).

Do you guys think I should try a different solvent? (I'm definitely not going to use the GOLD on it, to be safe).

Doro had a recommendation which sounds good. Anyone else?

Face

Yes, avoid Gold for switches/pots. Pick up some fader lube for your pots.

billbillw

I wouldn't worry about getting any other product. Just use the D5 alone on the pot. I wouldn't try to disassemble it. Just find a hole and spray in liberally using the little straw that came with it.

HB27

I'd reclean the pots and contacts with a non residue cleaner, let dry, and start over.
Once the unit is cleaned good with the non residue cleaner let dry thoroughly again.
Then a VERY LIGHT shot of Deoxit where necessary.
I use products from GC Chemical. They're very inexpensive, cost effective and a quality product.

fishbones

I'm out of DN5 anyway, so I might as well try something else. Ordering online doesn't seem to be worth it since you pay $8+ just to ship it. Does Rat Shack have anything decent?

treitz3

As far as I know, they have the Caig De-Oxit, Gold and some other cheap aerosol spray in the store. Never tried anything but the Caig though.

fishbones

Just checked Rat Shack's online catalog...outlook doesn't look good to get it local, unless I want to buy another Deoxit pack that comes with the dam GOLD I won't use anyway. Might have to wait to buy more from PE?

btw, has anyone typed in "Rat Shack" in Google search by accident.....Radio Shack pops up at the top of the list - too funny!

Face

Do you have an Amazon Prime account?

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_9?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=deoxit+faderlube&x=0&y=0&sprefix=deoxit+fa

HB27

fishbones wrote: »

I'm out of DN5 anyway, so I might as well try something else. Ordering online doesn't seem to be worth it since you pay $8+ just to ship it. Does Rat Shack have anything decent?

Call your local electronics supply store. Most sell to the public.

eeagle

fishbones wrote: »

I'm out of DN5 anyway, so I might as well try something else. Ordering online doesn't seem to be worth it since you pay $8+ just to ship it. Does Rat Shack have anything decent?

I picked up may last Deoxit and Fader Lube from Sweetwater W/Free Shipping.

fishbones

eeagle wrote: »

I picked up may last Deoxit and Fader Lube from Sweetwater W/Free Shipping.

I like this idea!

HB,
No retail electronic supply stores around me except for Radio Shack (I went through the whole electronic supply listing in the phone book calling businesses). Seems to be a dying industry, like many, unfortunately - cause I would not call my area small town.

...I'm thinking that I want to get the GOLD solvent off of everything I put it on, including the tube sockets and pegs. So, I'm probably going to get the D5 to clean off those, and the F5 (faderlube) for the pots and switches. Sound like a good plan?...or do I hear groans?

TNRabbit

eeagle wrote: »

I picked up may last Deoxit and Fader Lube from Sweetwater W/Free Shipping.

Sweetwater is about 1/2 price off retail & have AWESOME customer service. I'm never ordering from anyone else~