How Low Can You Go?


No, seriously, how low can you go when it comes to noise floor? (Hope I got this in under the right topic).

Noise Floor, one of those concepts that can supposedly improve your system overall right?

You ask yourself, "What can I do to improve my system overall without getting new equipment?"

Many will tell you, lower your noise floor.

But how far can it be improved? Obviously, everyone’s system will be different including room acoustics and so the solution will be different but I am inquiring to see there must be a point at which you say, well that is as low as it’s going to get, right?

For example, in my system just a while back I got a Isotek Evo 3 Sirius Power Bar and High Fidelity Cables MC-0.5 and I feel both together have made a noticeable difference, maybe not dramatic but noticeable (or maybe it’s just in my head).

But then I read about the following also:

- Dedicated power/circuit
- Computer Audio Design Ground Control Products
- JCAT Femto USB Card to enhance Digital Side

And the list can go on and on.

Is there a point where the floor is as low as it is going to go?

I should just shut up and enjoy the music.
128x128jay73
Yeah I deleted and decided to go another way precisely because I could see one of the usual suspects completely misinterpreting it, misrepresenting it,and  flat out lying about what was said. MDS. Its a thing.
Well I don't even agree with what you wrote in your sanitized version. How on earth doesn't this amount of noise as quoted below make a material difference in terms of both measured noise and psychoacoustics?  

In my system this noise level is so high you can hear it from the door. Its totally obvious from the sweet spot.
Since you’re mentioning USB cards I assume you’re not wondering about vinyl playback. Unless you have old or very poorly designed components the speakers will measure the highest in most systems. DACs should be the lowest, preamps and amps or integrated next.
As long as your system measurements are below approximately- 110 dB don’t worry about it. Cables, interconnects etc.. don’t add or subtract enough to matter unless they were designed as tone controls.
Turn your system on crank it a bit if you don’t hear any hiss that’s a good start. Put on some music with vocals and acoustic instruments, turn it up as loud as you usually play then a little more if the guitar sounds like a digeredo and vocals a bit like they sucked helium you have some noise, if not don’t worry about it.
If you don’t have vinyl or tape in the chain, only CD or streaming you should never hear any background hum or hiss, I can turn my volume all the way up with nothing playing and hear a pin drop it’s that quiet. I would blow out my eardrums before I can hear any level noise in even poorly recorded music and I use inexpensive interconnects and Canare 4s11 speaker wire. I don’t have dedicated circuits or cable risers, magic mats or goop pasted all over everything. None of that crap helps at all just have properly designed equipment that measures good and wires of proper guage.
Oh and speakers that measure as flat as possible from 20hz to 20khz, speakers matter the most since they should measure the worse unless you’re into vinyl or tape then you’ll get hiss, flutter,rumble.
Man, I just woke up from a nap and missed Miller's first response.

But thanks for the responses nonetheless.

I hate this feeling of trying to run after something that might not even be there (Yea I know, it's probably there) instead of just sitting down and enjoying the music. My latest itch is to see how much better I can improve the system not by buying big fancy equipment but by trying to improve upon what I already have.

I certainly do feel overall things sound good (sure there is occasional songs/tracks that might not) and so I should just sit down and stay content.

Ahh Content, that is the word I'm looking for. I'm not content. I should be though.

I feel if I could just make one more tweak or get one more "thing", it's finally going to make me feel that I have finished but I know I'm fooling myself.

I just keep wondering, If I am able to further assist in dropping this supposed noise floor, then things will just sound soo much better.

Damn, I miss my boombox. It was so simple back in the day.
I see you have a turn table and some tubes in the Vincent? Tubes will cause distortion which is a bit different than noise and the turn table adds but other than the turn table connection, cables aren't going to lower noise in your system.