Thanks James, as per Steve “The relay for the tube power must have gotten stuck”.
If the blue LED light stays lit and it means that the tube is still powered on, so it isn’t really in stand by mode. Consequently one tube could have a shorter life than the one in the other amp.
vs
If you are saying it’s not the case, because the blue LED light has only a cosmetically function, it means that there is no problem as for power consumption and tube life is not different compared to the one of the other amp and the stand by mode is working correctly.
Searching for some solutions I tried rolling the tubes on both the M1200s. Replacing the NOS Mazda Telefunken with the match paired (I ordered a sextet from VivaTube) well known Gold Lions, that I use also in BHK Pre.
@dchang05, one of these days try them back as we were used, you could appreciate them again. Sooo silent background, engaging liquid sound, yes a little (just a little) warmer than the TFs but detailed and unveiled as I like and must of all they seem to add more body and richness, especially in low frequencies.
I’m incline after that, to get some conclusion, considering a factor the correlation/synergy between pre-tubes with amps-tubes.
Please, take duly note only about one BIG “temporary” variable: due to persistent issues with my P15, that is stuck on initializing mode (one more problem!), I have to go directly from M1200s to wall sockets since yesterday. I know, I know… a never ending story.
Nevertheless… I’m really liking what I’m playing now (René Marie) and I’m feeling so relaxed listening to music. Great evening and weekend of music ahead!
My experience is similar with tube swaps on the BHK preamp. I tried Mullards and Telefunkens from the 60’s but favor the Gold Lions. They have better detail and extension. I used to like the warm and liquidy
midrange but now it just sounds muddy. I also just tried a pair of PS Vanes Art Series. It was in effort to isolate a “pop” I get when turn off the preamp. It still pops. Anyway, the Vanes were very close in character but still not as good as the GL’s.
I was getting a pop when I turned off my BHK Pre too. Changing the tubes (Gold Lions) in the pre didn’t make a difference, but swapping the GL’s in my M1200’s for a different pair of GL’s did the trick. Go figure. (I used the trigger connections so turning off the pre also turned off the amps.)
Always had a pop turning off the M1200s since day one, regardless Psvane, GL, NOS Mazda Telefunken and a few other kind of tubes I tried along the years, both in amps and BHK Pre. I also use to set the BHK volume to 0m before turning off the M1200s, consequently it stays on the same volume when I turn it on again pressing the logo button.
Also always had subtle clicks and pops (not the well known at 25/52) turning up and down the volume knob on the BHK Pre, since day one.
Anyhow I prefer the GLs not only because of their sound but also for the dead silence they bring to the spaekers, I have to put my ears within a few inches from the tweeters to hear some (white/static) noise. Other tubes are noisier, a lot noisier.
After turning on the amps, I occasionally hear a pulsing modulation hiss from one of the speaker (with ears close to the tweeter) that usually goes vanishing after a few minutes, I think it is correlated to the warm up of the tubes.
I learnt to live with these kind of things, as the normality.
Next amp, solid state, just to try how I can live with a less nervous and unpredictable bunch of things making my experience more relaxed with less surprises each time I turn the system on or off.
I have slight pops thru the Sonist speakers when turning off the M1200’s, but there is complete silence with the FR20’s when turning off both left and right M1200’s. I think the Infinity’s are also silent when connected to the M1200’s
Just for curiosity, do you think that the REL subs matter (2 of them connected in high level) in some ways? Do you you usually keep them on or off when you turn off (both in stand by mode with from blu button and/or completely off with the rear button)? Switching on/off the M1200s after a normal listening session, is there an order you usually follow with subs?
Bought new Jul of last year, my M1200s have a subtle pop when turning on or off. Stock tubes. Nothing offensive. I demo’d a pair of well regarded SS mono blocks prior to the M1200 but returned them in large part because of what I’d characterize as loud pops at on/off. All my Schiit gear is dead silent as is anything else I’ve ever owned.
After a couple of days of listening to the Gold Lion 12au7 in M1200s, I reinstalled back the NOS Telefunken “Mazda” 12au7. Which set do I like better? The GL sounds a bit warmer and sweeter, while “Mazda” has a tighter mid-range and bass. In my system the Telefunken Mazda sounds better. They are more neutral and accurate sounding to my liking.
These Telefunken, after 2500 hours, sound better than 1000 hours ago, and they still have thousands of hours left, I believe.
The NOS Telefunken Mazda are excellent tubes for M1200s, loved them for almost 1 year. Thanks to dchang05 recommendation a few months ago.
Since then our systems became step by step a little different, we added different cables and components. Maybe the DAC played the biggest role because recently I’m finding that the Gold Lions are fitting better my needs, bringing a beautiful tonal balance, a richer sound with rounded bass and clear mids, so smooth and pleasant. Most of all they sound in my system more silent than the Mazda, my new room is also a factor, it is contributing to change the perspective. I was used to listen to music at a lower volume before, while now I can go a little bit higher without distortion or fatigue. Who know?
