Customer asked to check state of valves in case they needed replacement and a quick check over everything else, plus a rattle…
Very impressed by the build quality:
Valves recommended to be replaced after 5000 hours use, am seeing no degradation or need to change at this stage:
However a couple of minor issues were picked up – Low and High Mid centre frequency adjustment controls, there’s a scratchy noise which comes in below 1KHz (and 100Hz on low), the upper portion of the range is fine.
e.g. when reducing the High Mid frequency from 2KHz downwards, pretty much just as you reach 1KHz there’s a noticable dull pop and scratchy all the way back to fully counter clockwise. It doesn’t feel like there’s DC on the pot but it’s almost like it. 1KHz to fully clockwise is fine (same with the Low Mid from around 100Hz up)
Emailed Avalon to find out if this an inherent characteristic or should I be looking for the cause (don’t want to go down a rabbit hole!) – and the front meter panel was very loose and rattly, what was it secured with? Seems the glue used lost its bond to the glass.
I got a response from their rep in the UK “That unit is probably around 15 years old. The blue pots have proved to be reasonably long-lasting but the EQ sweeps are the most ‘sensitive’, along with the preamp gain. The noise has to be judged by its acceptability in normal use, which is OK as you describe it.”
I also secured the front panel with a small blob of clear silicone which should last “forever”.
Power supply section looks pristine:
Calibrated the meter and cleaned out the little dust that had accumulated inside.
And back to the customer for more studio production work 🙂