What do defective phono tubes sound like?

What is suggestesd to use to clean tubes and sockets?

Once again thanks for the interest in my dilemma.
Jloveys,my entire system is on regenerated A/C,and dedicated lines,so something like a "refrigerator" kicking in should not be a cause.If I need to go to "that" level of forensics to diagnose a problem,then I think my time in the hobby may be running out.

Doug,nice to hear from you,as you always seem to have some inner input that I might find interesting.Yes,I have checked almost everything you mention,with the exception of tube sockets.
This will be addressed this week.My new cartridge worked flawlessly with my previous arm,so that is out of the equation.I just cannot see how anything about the arm can be the culprit,but who knows,and I have gone out of my way to be respectful of the mfgr.I hope this does not backfire on me!
One "serious" concern is if I blow my tweeters,there is NO replacement for them,as Avalon is looking for a new supplier,and mine are not made anymore.I cannot "live" without "this" speaker,it is "that good",so I shudder when I power up under these circumstances,even with a very low volume setting.
Of course the more I think about this,the more obvious it seems that the tubes are the culprit(only three),but I am guarded here,as I am getting quite insecure about reliability these days."These" super systems are really quite complex,when looked at closely.
You know how happy I was with my old arm,and "if" it is the new one,which took me three months to get(without the old arm,as it was sold to finance the "new")I am going to be a "very unhappy camper".I have had alot of analog down time,since selling my "as you know",beloved previous arm(there is a lesson here).
I really need to put some finality on my upgrade path,and go back to being an LP collector/spinner again!
Of course I DO realize this will all come to a happy ending(I hope)but right now I'm about as down on the hobby as ever.I'm also(really)getting more of a workout Fotzing around with my set-up,than I get in the two hrs I spend at the gym,four times a week.

Best to all

Keep your chin up SirS. Friday night our system sounded terrible. No life, no snap, just dull, dull, dull. I gave up and we went out for dinner. Yesterday I realized I'd moved VTF in the wrong direction. Doh! When I fixed that the music all came to life again. I rewarded myself by demagging some power tubes. Woh! Just like Dan_Ed told me. :-)

I know what you mean about the tweeters in your Avalons. I'd be sick if I killed one of our diamond tweeters but at least I could get a replacement. Like you I don't think we could stand going back to something slower, we are so spoiled. ;-)

Cte500 - if your pins/connectors are gold (plated), read the last paragraph of my previous post. If they're not, a different answer might apply.

Doug,I'd be ALOT happier if I could identify the problem.Usually this is very easy for me,but "this" is getting tiresome.

Also,I hate the thought of blaming the arm,unless I am certain it is the cause,but let's face it,everything was "honky dory" until I made the swap.If it turns out to be a wiring problem in my new arm I'll not be happy,as I was SO patient/understanding regarding it's acquisition.I'm sure you know what I mean.
Obviously,as I now still have the "pop,pop" noise issue,I can rule out the new table.

Question(to anyone)...can faulty arm wiring(in actual tonearm) cause a fuse to blow in a table's power supply,as well as a cap in the control section of the table(this happened in the old(really fairly new)table?My phonostage has 70 db of gain,and the cartridge's output is .48mv,so maybe enough transient distortion can cause this????

BTW,anyone considering a new table,who likes the stuff Sota offers(superb actually)....here is something "incredibly" rare in the hobby.....
When Kirk,of Sota,heard of my table being stricken,he felt so bad that he gave me a new Cosmos,just to take the table out of the equation!!
The guy is INCREDIBLE!!,but there is more.....

The new Cosmos is SO much more "refined/precise/flawless in every way" than my previous(superb series IV)one,it really deserves to be called a "series five".
It is almost as quiet as my CD player,even with the pump for vacuum.I really cannot convey how much effort went into this new table,and it is clear the mfgr went out of his way to do everything he can,in a situation like this one.
Btw,words cannot express how greatful I am,and how far superior this "very latest" Cosmos is "over" the previous
Cosmos was."IT" too was a series IV,but the new table smokes it in precision,and attention to detail.

It is appropriate I mention this,as great customer service is why U.S. mfgrs enjoyed success over the years,and now some are threatened by foreign interests.I doubt one can have such an intimate relationship with mfgrs a continent away.At the very least,it would not be "this" easy,and right now "the hassle factor" is not on my agenda!
THIS new/gorgeous table is one thing I have to look forward to,"if" I can iron out my problems.I did not know the meaning of quiet,in a table,until I set this up Thursday.
Best.

Try changing all tubes. If it clears go thu them one by one.
Regards.