Vacuum tubes expert help....

[rara114]

I picked up a brand new in the box never opened Thermionic Culture Phoenix this week and something happened....
I carefully took the unit out of the packaging...admiring the beauty.... noticed the vent slits along the sides and back to reveal the plate of all the tubes etc..

I plugged the mains into the wall outlet and....

a really bright light came out of one of the two rear tubes (by bright I mean like a 25watt clear incandesant lightbulb bright) and then the light flash died down....

I saw it but couldn't react fast enough to do anything about it. I looked at the front and power toggle switch was "down" and figured it was off... but wait... they wired the switch with "down" as ON. They shipped the unit with the mains on and I plugged it in that way (not knowing)

I did a quick test and both sides pass audio but 1 side does seem clearer than the other. What just happened?

[orange]

sounds like you lost/damaged a valve to me ?

It wouldn't be because the unit was shipped 'on' or because the unit was plugged into the main 'on'. Probably got a bump in transit.

si

[rara114]

Originally Posted by orange

sounds like you lost/damaged a valve to me ?

It wouldn't be because the unit was shipped 'on' or because the unit was plugged into the main 'on'. Probably got a bump in transit.

si

I've asked for a checkup and possibly new matched replacement tubes from my vendor who forwarded the problem to the distributor. I hope it gets resolved soon.

The unit shipped with a detailed report on the specs of each and every tube and stated that calibration may be needed with an oscilliscope when replacing tubes and that certain ones have to be matched real close. That's beyond my capabilites. What should I do now?

[Reptil]

send it back.
get a new one.
it is a DOA (dead on arrival)
in this pricerange, your dealer should send a pickup
monday..

if they don't pick it up, send it back, request a refund, and get one somewhere else..

[Fletcher]

This happens from time to time with Thermionic stuff [especially on the trip from England to the US... "never opened boxes" are not necessarily a good thing in the 'Thermionic' culture]... bottom line... it's no big deal.

If you notice, the Thermionic people don't bother to use any covers/holders/etc. to insure the tubes will stay in place during transit. We've had more than a few units where the tubes popped out... in those cases the owners put the tubes back in and all was great... but we have had a couple tubes that arrived "DOA".

Usually DOA tubes can be cured with a simple tube swap... if that doesn't work then you should call your vendor and request an "advance replacement" unit.

An "advance replacement" is a new unit... they send you then new unit and issue a UPS call tag for the old unit... then they deal with AXI [aaaaaarrggghhhh!!!!] on getting the repair accomplished [that's how M-A works... I don't know (nor care) where you got your unit].

My "Culture Vulture" was 'trashed in transit' by UPS... one side definitely isn't working properly... however because of what the unit does I happen to love the fukked up side as much as the working properly side. My "Phoenix" was in the same car accident... we're going to try a "recal" in house... and if that doesn't work we'll have to deal with sending it back to AXI.

There are a few things that are just 'worth the hassle'... the Thermionic stuff is definitely one of them!!

--and bro... check out the Early Bird 2!!! I just replaced a VT-2 with an Early Bird 2 and API 3124MB+... zero loss on a sonic level, big pickup on a "function" level!!!--

[rara114]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

AXI [aaaaaarrggghhhh!!!!]

Yeah, well they are "on the clock" as of 24 hours ago for me.

-Rob

[rara114]

by the way... I know what you mean about leaving it the way it is...for the unique sound it produces... a new trend? na.....

[orange]

Originally Posted by rara114

I've asked for a checkup and possibly new matched replacement tubes from my vendor who forwarded the problem to the distributor. I hope it gets resolved soon.

The unit shipped with a detailed report on the specs of each and every tube and stated that calibration may be needed with an oscilliscope when replacing tubes and that certain ones have to be matched real close. That's beyond my capabilites. What should I do now?

I'm assuming that they'll send you a matched pair. Don't worry too much - valves don't normally last forever (they're more like lightbulbs). It may well not be the last time you change them.

If it was me I'd take it back then get the dealer to swap out the ENTIRE UNIT. Why should you have to worry about doing it yourself. I would also make sure that you plug the unit in at the dealers to avoid it happening again.

FWIW in the UK the dealer is responsible, he's the one who took the cash. The distributor has nothing to do with it. If they won't help then you can always take it up with your credit card dealer (that works beautifully in the UK).


PS - UPS probably amused themselves by playing football with it - don't blame the dealer - it happens.

si

[larry zip]

when we got our phoenix from vintage king it showed up in a sealed box with a problme. they sent us to axi to get it resolved and it took longer thna it should have. we finally got our money back and bought an atomic squeezed box and even though it's only one channel its the best sounding compressor i've ever heard and i used to work at henson

[Kevlar]

Originally Posted by rara114

I picked up a brand new in the box never opened Thermionic Culture Phoenix this week and something happened....
I carefully took the unit out of the packaging...admiring the beauty.... noticed the vent slits along the sides and back to reveal the plate of all the tubes etc..

I plugged the mains into the wall outlet and....

a really bright light came out of one of the two rear tubes (by bright I mean like a 25watt clear incandesant lightbulb bright) and then the light flash died down....

I saw it but couldn't react fast enough to do anything about it. I looked at the front and power toggle switch was "down" and figured it was off... but wait... they wired the switch with "down" as ON. They shipped the unit with the mains on and I plugged it in that way (not knowing)

I did a quick test and both sides pass audio but 1 side does seem clearer than the other. What just happened?

Hi,
I'm responsible for the international distribution for Thermionic and I'm based in the UK. I happened to be trawling through Gearslutz the other day when I came across your thread. I've consulted with Vic Keary the designer, and it seems that you need one spare CV4025 side chain detector tube. If you can email me your postal address ( sales@unityaudio.co.uk ) I'll get one off to you asap. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused you, I've passed this power switch comment onto them and hopefully they'll make sure units are shipped in the 'off' position in future. Hope you enjoy using your nice new Phoenix!

[rara114]

Originally Posted by Kevlar

Hi,
I'm responsible for the international distribution for Thermionic and I'm based in the UK. I happened to be trawling through Gearslutz the other day when I came across your thread. I've consulted with Vic Keary the designer, and it seems that you need one spare CV4025 side chain detector tube. If you can email me your postal address ( sales@unityaudio.co.uk ) I'll get one off to you asap. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused you, I've passed this power switch comment onto them and hopefully they'll make sure units are shipped in the 'off' position in future. Hope you enjoy using your nice new Phoenix!

I'm responsible for the international distribution for Thermionic and I'm based in the UK. I happened to be trawling through Gearslutz the other day when I came across your thread. I've consulted with Vic Keary the designer, and it seems that you need one spare CV4025 side chain detector tube. If you can email me your postal address ( sales@unityaudio.co.uk ) I'll get one off to you asap. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused you, I've passed this power switch comment onto them and hopefully they'll make sure units are shipped in the 'off' position in future. Hope you enjoy using your nice new Phoenix![/QUOTE]

Still hasn't gotten fix or replaced...

Man, I've been dealing with RSPE in Los Angeles and they say AXI (US distributor) does not have a replacement for me. A pair of tubes were sent(by AXI hoping for a quick fix) and installed over at RSPE, and the same problem happened again with the detector tube... There is also reportedly other units that this happened to... probably a bad batch of tubes.... Not really sure because no one called my reseller back... Chris B. over @ RSPE has been really helpful during this whole situation and finally bypassed AXI and we are dealing directly with Thermionic Culture. I am supposed to get an advanced replacement hopefully soon. Anyone else having issues??

I was so floored and impressed with the sound of this unit that I was told this whole mess will be worth it. I hope so.

also from the original post... me plugging the unit in with the power switch on had NOTHING to do with the unit going bad.

[Kevlar]

Hi,

Sorry to hear that this problem has not been resolved, I was unaware until I spoke with Chris at RSPE that this had not been sorted for you. I will be sending a brand new Phoenix out to Chris tomorrow, Chris will contact you to arrange the swap over etc.

This really is an isolated case, we've never that this problem that you have reported and the tubes have been very reliable.

[rara114]

I was keeping names out of this at first because I figured the situation would be promtly resolved. I'm actually glad to read the reponse today from my last post. I wish I would of had this speedy service 2 months ago. Thanks for taking care of me. The products are truly outstanding in both workmanship and sound quality... The finish alone on my Phoenix made it the best looking piece of gear I've ever owned. Thanks again.