Ssssh, is your tube preamp really that quiet?

Cary SLP-05 is dead quiet through my 107dB sensitive horns (via Lamm ML2).

My Allnic H3000 is dead quiet coupled to my Edge NL12.1. I also use an Edge Signature 1.1SE pre and notice no difference in background noise-both are dead quiet.

When I bought my Counterpoint SA1000, it was fairly quiet for a tube preamp, but over the years that my current, Golden Dragon matched 6922 which has been in the preamp for 22 yrs, has been exhibiting a slight whoosh which was not there let's say 4 or so years ago. However, any program material masks the background hash. Still, this tube sounds so good that I have never found another one to match it. At the rate it is going, maybe I will have to replace it in another 10 years.

Hog-88, I think your Golden Dragon tube is going to outlive you.

It is obvious that most of the folks here on this thread don't experience any hiss at all, therefore the handful that do must be cursed.

Phd, all active circuitry makes noise. Transformers are passive devices and don't make noise, but there is a price paid for their use as well. IOW there is no free lunch.

IOW there is no curse :)

I see the words 'dead silent' used a lot. I know that is not the case; as I mentioned before different people have different tolerances for noise.

For those who think their all-tube system is dead silent on phono try this little test. Leave the tonearm on the tonearm rest. Set the source to phono and turn up the volume all the way. If you can then say that even with your ear pressed to the drivers of your loudspeakers that there is no hiss whatsoever then you have a good case for 'dead silent'. I think you will find though that you have no need to press your ear to the drivers- the noise will be quite evident.