Microphonics

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nikolas812
nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
edited February 2008 in Electronics
What exactly is microphonics? Whenever I listen to certain CD's or Alison Krauss A Hundred Miles or More, it sounds like her voice is scratchy. Is this microphonics. I am using a jolida 302a tube amp. Could it be my pre amp tubes. I am using JJ's E88's. Its not like this on all her songs or even most CD's. Just certain songs and certain CD's. I am just using the JJ's until my NOS Amperex pre amp tubes get here. Then I will swap them out and see if there is a change. I was just wondering if someone could shed some light on this subject until they get here.
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  • mulveling
    mulveling Posts: 505
    edited February 2008
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    The tube microphonics I'm familiar with usually sounds like a thump or thud, sometimes with a bit of dull "ping" in there. That's at its most extreme, when you physically tap the tube or something close to the tube. I don't think acoustic feedback could cause something so extreme as a voice sounding scratchy when it shouldn't. I've certainly never experienced anything like that, even with VERY microphonic preamp tubes near the speakers. Rolling tubes could make a difference, but again probably not enough in this case (unless the tube is really whack).

    My guess is there's either something wrong with some equipment in your chain or that scratchiness is actually part of the recording. Have you listened to it on another system?

    And exactly how scratchy we talking here? Extreme, subtle, somewhere in-between?
    Tannoy Dimension TD10, SOTA Star Sapphire, Heathkit W4A's, McIntosh MC2100, Eddie-Current Zana Deux, Singlepower SDS, Sennheiser HD650, Audio-Technica L3000, Sony Qualia 010
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  • nikolas812
    nikolas812 Posts: 2,915
    edited February 2008
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    You know. Now that you mention it. I think it has always been there.:o I think what is happening is the tube amp is picking it up a lot better than anything else I have had.
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  • mulveling
    mulveling Posts: 505
    edited February 2008
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    nikolas812 wrote: »
    You know. Now that you mention it. I think it has always been there.:o I think what is happening is the tube amp is picking it up a lot better than anything else I have had.
    That certainly could be the case! Good tube amps can be surprisingly detailed, just like SS. Now whether it's more accurate reproduction or merely accentuating certain details is difficult to determine...and it's 100% up to you to decide whether you like what it's doing :D
    Tannoy Dimension TD10, SOTA Star Sapphire, Heathkit W4A's, McIntosh MC2100, Eddie-Current Zana Deux, Singlepower SDS, Sennheiser HD650, Audio-Technica L3000, Sony Qualia 010
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