Did my Pathos ClassicOne Mk2 just die?

Getting just a slight bit stressed out here.

Was doing some listening (at normal volume levels) this morning and the sound cut out. A bit bewildered, I got up and as I was making my way up to see what the matter was, it came back. Puzzled, I sat back down. Over the next 30 mins it did this a further 2 times until the last time it cut out and didn't come back.

Switched off, back on - nothing. Now I notice that the tubes arent glowing, but the amp is getting power as theres the little blip on the speakers as its switched on and off.

So basically I'm wondering, what the hell has gone on here and what can I do to sort it, any pointers?

 

It sounds to me like the (ECC82?) tubes are simply on the way out. I take it you don't have any others around as it would be an easy problem to overcome if so?

 

That did cross my mind, though it is less than a year old. Would one of them going on the blink mean that neither would work?

I guess there's no harm in replacing them, don't suppose there's anywhere easily driveable from Nottingham that I would be able to get them from as opposed to ordering and waiting?

 

You could try Kevin at Definitive Audio in Nottingham. He's very helpful, and would probably be prepared to do a test swap for you on his premises to see if it can be fixed
Phone number is 01159733222.
He's in Long eaton

 

Cheers for that

He's out of the country until tomorrow though
Could be worse, damn being so impatient

(any other kind souls in or around nottingham that can lend a hand? )

 

Hotrox UK, Nottm based supplier of valves, amongst other things:

http://www.hotroxuk.com/store/erol.html#3492X0

Don't know much about them other than a mate of mine has bought a few tubes from them!

 

Yeah, a pair of sovtek/EH 6922's shouldn't set you back more than £15 a pair. Sounds like they've given up the ghost.

Otherwise, you could contact the UK distributors, UKD. They're very nice, helpful chaps.

DT

 

Yes, the pre tubes going so quickly is a bit unsusual. Do you have the unit on all the time? What's the hours life that the manufacturer's would expect? I would have thought that 6000 hours would be not exceptional. I would definitely contact UKD to discuss ~ there may be an underlying problem of which they're aware or the unit may need an inspection ~ always best done under warranty!

There are many on this forum who are quite expert in matters valve ~it'd be interesting to see what they think.

 

Mine is left on 24/7 (apolgies to all you environmentalists out there) and the orignial tubes have something like 7,000+ hours on them and are still going strong.

Great tube, the 6922

DT

 

I don't think any of us would expect input valves to go that quickly unless pure bad luck. I read too quickly earlier and had the mental picture of the sound fading our rather than cutting out.

Assuming it's an instant cut-in/cut-out then I'm off on the wrong tangent and other than eliminating the possible cuases, ignore my suggestion as being the likely cause.

 

Ok, a bit of an update on the situation.

I popped out and got another pair of 6922s, popped them in and the same happened (poo).

After switching it straight off I popped the old tubes back in and switched it back on. They lit up as per normal and then faded out after around 3 seconds, at the same time there was a very (very very) faint static pop on the speakers (if i didnt have my head 12" away I wouldn't have noticed)

 

Oh dear. It sounds as if you need to have this looked at by your dealer/UKD. Hopefully it's still under warranty.

 

Still in warranty, yes... until next Wednesday! cutting it a bit close, though I'm thankful that its not a week in the other direction.

UKD has stated that it sounds like a loose connection somewhere, if that really is the case I'd rather just go in there myself and have a look, though I won't want to risk invalidating the warranty. Shall be sending it off tomorrow.

 

Sod the warranty - I'd be more concerned with accidentally tripping the 44,000 picofarads of capacitance lying around the amp!!

DT

 

pfft, my balls are bigger than my brain (you can take that how you like)

and isnt it 44000 uf?

 

Hi,my Logos did a similar thing,would make a "squelching" noise in one of the channels,it was very faint and you had to get close to the speakers to be able to hear it,but only died on me once.
Ordered two sets of spares and had no problems since with a years use.

GJO.

 

oops, yes - microfarads

 

Hmmm.....