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Lowering the noise floor

I am coming to the conclusion that success in home audio reproduction is largely about lowering the noise floor. There are so many different types of “noise”, from so many different sources, that we only really “hear” by their absence.

Those components, cables, accessories and tweaks that SUCCEED at lowering the noise floor, can, and do, dramatically increase sound quality. Sometimes the type of “noise” dealt with is controversial, or not (yet) widely recognized as being a problem. Sometimes the explanation of how a product works is dubious. Sometimes the way it is marketed reeks of “snake oil”. Sometimes the reviews singing its praises go over the top. While these things will certainly put off some prospective purchasers, they do not negate the audible results that are there for anyone open to hearing them.
tommylion
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Oh, they could. But it would take, what, 10,000 car batteries? And crew of a hundred.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
tommylion "Lowering the noise floor"

90% of systems these days have enough gain from the source and in the poweramp so a passive pre can be used, this get’s rid of a large source of noise, the "active preamp".

Remember what nelson pass said:
Nelson Pass,

"We’ve got lots of gain in our electronics. More gain than some of us need or want. At least 10 db more.

Think of it this way: If you are running your volume control down around 9 o’clock, you are actually throwing away signal level so that a subsequent gain stage can make it back up.

Routinely DIYers opt to make themselves a “passive preamp” - just an input selector and a volume control.

What could be better? Hardly any noise or distortion added by these simple passive parts. No feedback, no worrying about what type of capacitors – just musical perfection.

And yet there are guys out there who don’t care for the result. “It sucks the life out of the music”, is a commonly heard refrain (really - I’m being serious here!). Maybe they are reacting psychologically to the need to turn the volume control up compared to an active preamp."


Cheers George


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cleeds
5,949 posts
 
georgehif
90% of systems these days have enough gain from the source and in the poweramp so a passive pre can be used, this get’s rid of a large source of noise, the "active preamp"
If your active preamp is a "large source of noise," you really need a better preamp.
gdhal's avatar
gdhal
1,641 posts
 
90% of systems these days have enough gain from the source and in the poweramp so a passive pre can be used, this get’s rid of a large source of noise, the "active preamp".

Wouldn't that be a moot point if one is using an integrated amp?

dodgealum's avatar
dodgealum
1,404 posts
 
I agree that lowering the noise floor can pay huge dividends. For those interested in super quiet amplification but do not want to go Class D, try one of Linear Tube Audio's (David Berning designed) ZOTL amps. I got a chance to try one in my system and it was amazing how silent the background was--not just "for a tube amp"--but quieter than any amp I've ever had in my system. 
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