Ssssh, is your tube preamp really that quiet?

No all-tube phono section is perfectly quiet. But a lot has to do with what cartridges it can work with and whether it has an SUT or not.

If we use an SUT with our preamp the noise is not an issue with any cartridge. If no SUT then when you turn up the volume some hiss is audible.

A surprising number of manufacturers that are otherwise all-tube will use a semiconductor as the first stage of gain.

The real issue has to do with the surface noise on the LP. If the phono section is louder than the surface of the LP then you have a problem. If not, if the surface noise of the LP is the dominant background noise, you have no worries.

Ralph, that's interesting. I do use a fairly low output MC. However, I am hearing noise not when music is playing, BUT when it isn't. So, by lifting the arm of the record and increasing the gain, I do hear tube rush...which lead me to my OP. Are you saying that without an SUT, all tube phono preamps will solicit some tube hiss when the gain is turned up and no music is playing?
BTW, in my case. the surface noise is louder than the dominant background noise....BUT I would think this still leads to a reduction in the "blackness" of the sound.

I should add that I do crank my system up sometimes at very generous levels on quietly recorded acoustic Jazz trios, or with Shirley Horn for example:) There is never the slightest noise whatsoever between tracks or between discs. I have yet to try the built in phono stage, so that will be the better test.

Well I just put my ear right up to my speaker and sure enough I heard tube hiss from my Cary SLP-98P. I guess I'm not used to listening just for noise. I usually mute the preamp while changing sides on an LP. So I had to unmute it and put my ear right up next to the tweeter to hear the noise. It was inaudible more than a foot away.

So yes, tubes are not as quiet as solid state, but I guess I always knew that. Tubes certainly sound better to me while the music is playing though. As long as I'm listening to music, and not listening for noise, I think I'll stay with tubes.

Jmgrogan2,
You have your priorities in order and I happen to agree with your conclusion(while the music is playing). For the record my DHT tubed line stage is silent.
Charles,