Lowering the noise floor

If it Is a battery powered headphone setup we’re talking about, then except for cost and audio nervosa, I’d say that you have not **completely** (to use your word) avoided all the noise issues. There is the noise from the components themselves at the very least, just for example. I’m not saying that you **have** to solve it this way, just that you could make gains with it if you wanted to. Nor am I saying that the approaches that you’ve used, or that others use generally, are somehow invalid...just that there are usually other ways to skin the audio cat (I prefer to just swing them around). From what I understand, cryo’d wire measures lower in EMR than the same untreated wire, in effect lowering resistance and increasing power efficiency.

But, as far as the icebergs go, I can only offer that you try and relax and just enjoy the cruise while it lasts. If you’re looking to guarantee smooth sailing, I’d say that you’re likely in the wrong hobby. In case you haven’t noticed, there are rather a lot of icebergs all around at any given time anyway. I’d say that we are all on that same Titanic ya know, whether we are into rearranging the deck chairs or not.

Cheers

I never said I eliminated all noise. What I said or at least intended to say is I eliminated all RFI/EMI type noise produced or carried by the house AC, cables, fuses, power cords, AND all magnetic type noise produced by transformers (induced magnetic field) and the induced magnetic fields inherently produced by current traveling through cables and wire. And no GROUND issues. I thought I was pretty clear. Furthermore, by minimizing the player itself, which is a portable player, noise and distortion produced by the player itself is obviously MINIMIZED, e.g. NO BIG TRANSFORMER. NO FUSE. NO BIG CAPACITORS. Capish?

I think I understand what you’re saying with the magnetic type noise (mu metal, yes??) and also the minimized player. It’s the "...all RFI/EMI type produced or carried by the house AC, cables, fuses, power cords..." part that’s confusing me...not sure what method of noise removal here you are referring to??

I'm not sure what Geoff is referring to either, but I'd like learn. Are you off the grid, Geoff? ( sounds like you did something more than that though). That's something I'd be interested in doing and believe it would greatly lower the noise floor. Adding the battery powered Concert Fidelity DAC to my system greatly lowered the noise floor and as the OP pointed out, that allows the music to really come forth. I'd be very interested in pursuing off the grid solutions for my entire system but don't know much about doing so. Would love to hear people's experiences here. 

I've never actually tried that, but it may be 'somewhat' worthwhile to at least look at I think. There is less noise with batteries, but from what I've gathered it never totally goes away. But, you could expect rather good results with all except most amplifiers...just not enough playing time or dynamic oomph to satisfy according to what I've seen, so going **completely** off the grid would be rather complicated and expensive, possibly to the point of being impracticable. But, with the lower wattage devices, perhaps very likely it's feasible.

Also, homes with solar power apparently often have noise problems from the cheaply made solar panel supporting electronics. Solutions have been found there too, but again, get rather pricey and specialized.