"Mike" wrote in message
...
crackle is most certainly caused by loose connections. either via solder,
or input plugs to the power amp board.


On what do you base that ? Crackle is *not* most certainly caused by 'loose
connections'. It *may* be in some instances, where it is random and
intermittent, but if you actually read and understood the OP's symptoms, you
would see that what he has is neither random nor intermittent, but a well
defined set of conditions, producing a well defined and repeatable problem.

Arfa