static when changing volume

Milsivich
Milsivich Posts: 43
edited February 2012 in 2 Channel Audio
When I change the volume on my preamp while music is playing, an unpleasant static sound comes from the speakers. Just fine after I stop turning the knob. Any ideas?

Parasound 2100 preamp
Parasound 2125 amp
LSi9's
MicroPRO 2000
Post edited by Milsivich on

Comments

  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited February 2012
    Likely a noisy gain pot.
  • Milsivich
    Milsivich Posts: 43
    edited February 2012
    Is an easy way to fix this? Or will I have to have it get worked on
  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited February 2012
    Milsivich wrote: »
    Is an easy way to fix this? Or will I have to have it get worked on
    If it uses as I suspect an Alps motorized pot not much can be done beyond replacing. You could try turning the control several full rotations back and forth(without music) ,this might help in the short term.
  • bmbguy
    bmbguy Posts: 416
    edited February 2012
    If it really is just a dirty pot, you could try Deoxit's F5 Fader cleaner. I think it's a little friendlier to pots than their D5 spray is.
  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited February 2012
    If it's an Alps or similar conductive plastic pot it will be sealed so wiper will be inaccessable to apply contact cleaner.
  • lanchile
    lanchile Posts: 560
    edited February 2012
    FTGV wrote: »
    If it's an Alps or similar conductive plastic pot it will be sealed so wiper will be inaccessable to apply contact cleaner.
    as long as it is not "real" sealed...you can use Deoxit spray or any tuner cleaner, they are safe on plastic. The blue Alps potentiometers can be clean!!!. oh by the way...the ones with motors can be cleaned too. I say this because I work with electronics and I have done this many times.:mrgreen:
    Make it simple...Make it better!
  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited February 2012
    lanchile wrote: »
    !. oh by the way...the ones with motors can be cleaned too. I say this because I work with electronics and I have done this many times.:mrgreen:
    Maybe if you can get access to the small holes on the side.
  • lanchile
    lanchile Posts: 560
    edited February 2012
    FTGV wrote: »
    Maybe if you can get access to the small holes on the side.

    Yes!!! they have "small" holes by the connectors, but the best way is to take it out and spray it. easy as 1.2.3
    Make it simple...Make it better!
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,966
    edited February 2012
    Sure won't cost much to try and clean up that volume pot, just be sure to let dry before turning it on again.
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  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited February 2012
    lanchile wrote: »
    Yes!!! they have "small" holes by the connectors, but the best way is to take it out and spray it. easy as 1.2.3
    I suspect if he was able to desolder and remove it from the PC board I doudt he would have posted the question in the first place.Any way I pulled a motorised blue Alps(his may not even be the Alps) from my parts bin for a peek and it appears the only access to both wipers and substrate is through two small holes on one side.The top,bottom and other side are sealed.