Aesthetix Io Users Group
- Thread starter audioquest4life
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Have you tried swapping left to right phono output cables and tonearm cables, to see if it follows the cartridge or the Io ?
Are you using a separate tube preamp? Perhaps, the tube preamp is the issue. Check all the cables from your sources. I always isolate components and cables when I troubleshoot and diagnose problems.
That IO path seem a bit scary ..??!!
I almost fell for it myself 5-6
That IO path seem a bit scary ..
I almost fell for it myself 5-6 years ago.
I bought one about 10 years ago, after I had the Rhea.
The Rhea was noisy with my dyna XV-1 and the IO was noisier.
It lasted overnight and I returned it.
My Io has been extremely quiet. I'm beginning to think this current noise issue has nothing to do with the Io.
Well, the concept dictates that if you do not use SUT with tubes, you will easily lose 10dB signal to noise. In my post above, 57dB at max gain is not a fabulous value.
Hi Ron,I swapped all the tubes. It's not the Io.
Nice to hear you’re going alright with the IO again. Could you identify the cause of the problem you just had?
Ron,
Don’t reject it could be some oxidation in the signal path. Some years ago I had the most spooky noice in my right surround speaker. It was a heck of a problem to identify. Thought my tweeter had broken down on that speaker. Then I thought it was the amplifier or the preamp’s output to that channel that had been broken… I fault search to the point of insanity. All and all it came down to oxidation inside the amplifier.
I opened it up and cleaned everything thoroughly and used DeOxit spray to remove the oxidation on the critical parts. I also cleaned the XLR input / output pins both on the amp and the preamp. I even cleaned the connector pins on the interconnect cables to be 100% certain I didn’t miss anything. Same with the speaker terminals.
After I put the system together again, the spooky sound from the tweeter was gone. Never had any issues since. So worth looking into.
Just saying !
Don’t reject it could be some oxidation in the signal path. Some years ago I had the most spooky noice in my right surround speaker. It was a heck of a problem to identify. Thought my tweeter had broken down on that speaker. Then I thought it was the amplifier or the preamp’s output to that channel that had been broken… I fault search to the point of insanity. All and all it came down to oxidation inside the amplifier.
I opened it up and cleaned everything thoroughly and used DeOxit spray to remove the oxidation on the critical parts. I also cleaned the XLR input / output pins both on the amp and the preamp. I even cleaned the connector pins on the interconnect cables to be 100% certain I didn’t miss anything. Same with the speaker terminals.
After I put the system together again, the spooky sound from the tweeter was gone. Never had any issues since. So worth looking into.
Just saying
!
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Just over a year since my post about not using the IO for the past couple years and she’s back in service and sounding better than I remember. Sent if off to Glenn late last year for the new transformers/caps, cleaning, and fresh set of tubes all around and now have four listening sessions on it.
First session was right out of the box and nothing to note other than definitely quieter than before. A bit bright sounding so just played records for a couple hours to get some time on the tubes. Second session the next morning and things were starting to settle in and open up. Highs were smoothing out and soundstage was filling in.
Third session that evening and my jaw was having a tough time staying closed. Soundstage was even bigger than tape, tonal balance smoothing out even more, and just the most liquid sound I’ve heard in a long time (probably since the IO was last in use a couple years ago). Fourth session was a few hours yesterday and not much change - a good thing considering how amazing it sounded the previous evening - just pulling out recent listens to see how things compare. The liquidity and soundstage size are just incredible. More to come as things continue to settle in.
Overall very happy with the updates and fresh tubes. Not sure if the updates are responsible for the very quiet background, or the new tubes, but very happy with the noise levels. Noise was one of my biggest concerns since I’d been using the solid state phono stage in my ML 585.5 (excellent phono stage btw) for the past couple years and any concerns have been put to bed.
Thank you for this great report, jj!
Your sonic report is perfectly consistent with my impressions after my Io upgrade and Don Saltzman's impressions after his Io upgrade.
I believe the sonic enhancements are due primarily to the new transformers and to the very quiet tubes Jim selects for each unit.
Jim, obviously, does not believe in bringing out new models just to have a shiny new toy for the magazines to review. So I feel like the Io, because it has been around since the 1990s, does not get the respect it deserves. But I still believe it is one of the top phono stages available today, and one of the top phono stages ever made.
Your sonic report is perfectly consistent with my impressions after my Io upgrade and Don Saltzman's impressions after his Io upgrade.
I believe the sonic enhancements are due primarily to the new transformers and to the very quiet tubes Jim selects for each unit.
Jim, obviously, does not believe in bringing out new models just to have a shiny new toy for the magazines to review. So I feel like the Io, because it has been around since the 1990s, does not get the respect it deserves. But I still believe it is one of the top phono stages available today, and one of the top phono stages ever made.
Think you’re right concerning the impact the new transformers/caps/tubes have on the sound. Have a feeling some of the NOS tubes may get installed again at some point but currently don’t feel the need to change anything.
Did you get your's working without noise again Ron ? Mine has been running smoothly for about a month now, never had noise issues though.
Mostly standard JJ’s. Can’t recall the brand of 6sn7 and el34 but just standard Russian tubes there as well if I recall correctly
ECC 83 S ? They sound wailed in my Io, i prefer the J.J E83 CC in standard or gold pins. I prefer the E83 CC to the Phillips miniwatt i also own a bunch of. Sovtek LPS sounds good in the first stage.
Will check tonight and report back, thanks for the recommendations! Can you clarify when you say they sounded “wailed” in yours?ECC 83 S ? They sound wailed in my Io, i prefer the J.J E83 CC in standard or gold pins. I prefer the E83 CC to the Phillips miniwatt i also own a bunch of. Sovtek LPS sounds good in the first stage.
A little stunted in the treble, excellent midrange and good bass response. The E83 CC have a little more sparkle in the treble, excellent midrange and a better bass response in my system.
I am using Sovtek LPS in the first gain stage.Can someone explain about the new transformers? I read the description on the mfr website and looked at the photos, and I don’t see any transformers on the audio chassis. Does the update involve new power transformers in the outboard PS?
Correct, only transformers in the power supply. The new, larger transformers are labeled Aesthetix now. The smaller are still Mercury branded.
Apologies for the semi blurry photo, was dark in my room and the iPhone used the longer exposure function which really needs a tripod or steady hand - makes for a nice tube glow though.
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