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  1. #1
    Join Date: Jan 2013

    Location: Birmingham

    Posts: 6,772
    I'm James.

    Default Dirty contacts

    I had some crackling / noise on a volume control the other day and used some contact cleaner to sort it. Not only did it remove the noise it seems to have improved detail and imaging.

    Is this possible or am I imaging it?

    In general can cleaning contacts significantly improve equipment / system performance, has anyone else noticed this?
    Main system : VPI Scout 1.1 / JMW 9T / 2M Black / Croft 25R+ / Croft 7 / Heco Celan GT 702

    Second System : Goldring Lenco GL75 / AT95EX / Pioneer SX590 / Spendor SP2

  2. #2
    Join Date: May 2011

    Location: Glasgow

    Posts: 7,718
    I'm Brian.

    Default

    Yes , I've experienced the same improvements as you James . I make a point of cleaning all the contacts , mains plugs and phono plugs , with Deoxit once a year and always reap the benefits with improved SQ . So no , you're not hearing things IMO
    Regards
    Brian

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  3. #3
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,012
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

    Default

    Where exactly did you apply the contact cleaner, Jim?

    Remember that volume pots sit directly in-line with the signal path (and at a critical point, too), so it's not surprising that improving integrity there has resulted in better SQ!

    Marco.
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  4. #4
    Join Date: Jan 2013

    Location: Birmingham

    Posts: 6,772
    I'm James.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Marco View Post
    Where exactly did you apply the contact cleaner, Jim?

    Remember that volume pots sit directly in-line with the signal path (and at a critical point, too), so it's not surprising that improving integrity there has resulted in better SQ!

    Marco.
    I applied the contact cleaner directly into the volume pots - they are fairly simple device on the Croft 25R and very accessible. I had heard some slight noise/crackles before i applied the cleaner but now nothing. However afterwards I noticed some more detail in the sound stage which had not been apparent before. Since posting this I have had a look round the net and found one HIFI journalist who had very similar results so maybe its definitely not me imaging it.

    I have now been through all my contact points with the cleaner and very pleased with the results. I used WD-40 Specialist fast drying Contact cleaner to do the job. Not particularly expensive and easy to apply with a long spray nozzle.
    Main system : VPI Scout 1.1 / JMW 9T / 2M Black / Croft 25R+ / Croft 7 / Heco Celan GT 702

    Second System : Goldring Lenco GL75 / AT95EX / Pioneer SX590 / Spendor SP2

  5. #5
    Join Date: Sep 2013

    Location: North Island New Zealand

    Posts: 1,757
    I'm Chris.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Jimbo View Post
    I applied the contact cleaner directly into the volume pots - they are fairly simple device on the Croft 25R and very accessible. I had heard some slight noise/crackles before i applied the cleaner but now nothing. However afterwards I noticed some more detail in the sound stage which had not been apparent before. Since posting this I have had a look round the net and found one HIFI journalist who had very similar results so maybe its definitely not me imaging it.

    I have now been through all my contact points with the cleaner and very pleased with the results. I used WD-40 Specialist fast drying Contact cleaner to do the job. Not particularly expensive and easy to apply with a long spray nozzle.
    Glad you are hearing this, Yes there are always losses with volume pots processing audio signals, as it is one
    surface grinding away on another with your audio signal the sandwich in the middle.

    Sadly no one except you and me wants to know about it. There is always an immediate rush to defend what is
    accepted, but not properly questioned, and you will quickly see comments reestablishing praise of pots,
    basically reasserting mediocrity- best to ignore them.

    This is why contact less optical methods creating a variable resistor by varying intensity of light is preferable. When done
    properly they are far superior, when done poorly though with cheap voltage regulators they are slightly better but fairly
    similar to pots.

    There are other methods too including fets used as variable resistors, transformers too, can also couple, so broadening your appreciation of attenuation methods, is very worthwhile.

    Cheers / Chris

  6. #6
    Join Date: Dec 2015

    Location: Alicante. Spain.

    Posts: 1,885
    I'm Adrian.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Light Dependant Resistor View Post
    Glad you are hearing this, Yes there are always losses with volume pots processing audio signals, as it is one
    surface grinding away on another with your audio signal the sandwich in the middle.

    Sadly no one except you and me wants to know about it. There is always an immediate rush to defend what is
    accepted, but not properly questioned, and you will quickly see comments reestablishing praise of pots,
    basically reasserting mediocrity- best to ignore them.

    This is why contact less optical methods creating a variable resistor by varying intensity of light is preferable. When done
    properly they are far superior, when done poorly though with cheap voltage regulators they are slightly better but fairly
    similar to pots.

    There are other methods too including fets used as variable resistors, transformers too, can also couple, so broadening your appreciation of attenuation methods, is very worthwhile.

    Cheers / Chris
    Totally agree - hence my love affair with the Truth linestage.
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  7. #7
    Join Date: Dec 2013

    Location: north

    Posts: 456
    I'm mick.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Jimbo View Post
    I applied the contact cleaner directly into the volume pots - they are fairly simple device on the Croft 25R and very accessible. I had heard some slight noise/crackles before i applied the cleaner but now nothing. However afterwards I noticed some more detail in the sound stage which had not been apparent before. Since posting this I have had a look round the net and found one HIFI journalist who had very similar results so maybe its definitely not me imaging it.

    I have now been through all my contact points with the cleaner and very pleased with the results. I used WD-40 Specialist fast drying Contact cleaner to do the job. Not particularly expensive and easy to apply with a long spray nozzle.
    Get yourself a can of Servisol,much better than WD40,which is not an out and out contact cleaner.Servisol is a lot cheaper than Caig Deoxit,which is also recommended but I have never used .Maplins sell it so is easily obtainable Mick
    Nothin' I do don't seem to work ,it only seems to make matters worse!. Jagger/Richards

  8. #8
    Join Date: Mar 2008

    Location: Galashiels

    Posts: 13,669
    I'm inthescottishmafia.

    Default

    The signal is going through the pot, so cleaning the contacts will make a difference to what you hear.
    “Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of fuel. Sentimental people call it inspiration, but what they really mean is fuel. I have always needed fuel. I am a serious consumer. On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio”

    Hunter S Thompson

  9. #9
    Join Date: Feb 2013

    Location: W Lothian

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    I'm Grant.

    Default

    Change of resistance
    Regards,
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  10. #10
    Join Date: Oct 2012

    Location: The Black Country

    Posts: 6,089
    I'm Alan.

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    If you read the post it is specialist WD-40 contact cleaner, not standard WD-40.

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