Tone, are you using headphones? When the volume control is all the way down and you first turn it up one channel might come one before the other but they will equalize.

Tone:

I have 2 CSP2 units. If you have good tubes in there it should not make much of any noise at all. Sometimes a rectifier tube can exhibit noise, crackling or hum.  Also, a noisy input tube in front could induce hum as well. You should swap tubes, rectifiers, and change the tube in the front position with one of the drivers to note whether there is any difference.  

I doubt you could damage the transformers in the unit, unlike a regular tube amp that must be connected to speakers when you turn it on. This unit does not have to be connected to anything.

Wait, yes, it seems to have custom output transformers, the OTL is for the headphone output.

What? My CSP2 needs his output line to be connected to ground to work correctly. If I don't do that, I only hear high frequencies through the headphone output. It seems to be different from yours. I'm gonna ask Steve. Anyway, my unit works fine, it sounds great.

PD: I read the manual several times before purchasing it. I read the entire website, even all the Steve's articles.  :)

Tone,

If you cut the power to your source, then the music stops. Are you in U.S.?

Tone:

No offense intended. Let us know how this problem works out.

About the channel balance:

"When the volume control is all the way down and you first turn it up one channel might come one before the other but they will equalize."

Yes, that is the electrical noise I told you. When they equalize, the noise is reduced at a level almost inaudible. That seems to be normal in tube gear. But what I meant when I said that the right channel comes before the left does is when you have the volume control very low, almost all the way down, when it starts to sound. At that volume, I only hear the right channel. To hear the left, I have to raise the volume more.

Hi Steve,

It seems to be the CSP2 itself because I test it with alternative power cords and well known interconnects, and nothing change. The Xhadow Silver Interconnects are the current cables between the CD player and the CSP2, but they are fine, I tested them apart.

The CD player is grounded to earth. I also test the CSP2 with an alternative source, in this case a DAC. This DAC is not grounded, but doesn't matter, the same effects occur.

I have a little more information if it could be useful for you (I'm not good at explaining these things in English ):

When the CSP2 is under these effects, there's no noise at all, 100% clean and inaudible when the volume control is all the way down. When I connect the output on the fly, the typical electrical noise appears, but of course, the music sounds normal and good when I increase the volume.
Another point is that under these effects and when the volume control is almost all the way down, (in other words, it's when the music starts sounding) it sounds reasonably normal and good with the vocals and bass there. Also the balance is centered, the left and right channel are in the same level, not possible when the output is grounded (the left channel appears increasing more the volume). But of course, the little you increase the volume, the less the vocals and bass are present. It's like if the mids and bass had a very poor volume and the high frequency is the only thing that you can increase with the volume control.

PD: Steve, I recommend you a Mac. I've got one and the benefits are noticeable over PCs. But of course, having Windows installed too when necessary.