2. misc-audio
  3. 168100-1853

Noise floors

I'd like to address an issue that every single audiophile experiences, that being inherent/ambient steady state noise floors. Here we spend so much effort and money on our equipment in order to lower noise floor and increase resolution, transparency, only to lose some percentage of it on relatively high ambient noise floors. By this I mean the noise generated internally by home, hvac systems and so much more, add to that external, outside the home generated noise. Measuring over many years, over large variables, lowest readings of mid 20db to highest mid 50db in my dedicated listening room, these are steady state readings, any particular system in house may activate and or outdoor generated noises, which are even more variable, may kick in raising if from here.

And so, while we can address both these internal and external generated noise floors to some extent, we can't rid ourselves entirely of them. I presume there are widely varying levels of these noise floors for each of us, and it should be accounted for in reviews or evaluations of equipment. And could be reason for trusting only long term reviews, with varying noise floor levels within one's listening room, short term listening could have taken place during time of best or worse case room noise floor.

But mostly what bothers me is, here all this effort and money spent on equipment in attempt to lower noise floor, and so much of that lost by relatively ridiculous levels of steady state and/or ambient noise. Makes one think about getting closed back headphones, or moving out to extremely remote area to home with minimal internally generated noise. To think how much better  the very system I presently have would sound in that environment!


sns
sns OP
3,357 posts
 
So, assuming there is a listening room noise floor, would a room with 0db ambient noise level be best, would it have to be an anechoic chamber? There have been a couple posts here with practical advice for lowering listening room noise levels, thank you. As for further measures within listening room, how about double layers of drywall with the best absorptive materials between walls, same with ceiling, cement slab floor. Any room treatments to try to limit external noise would likely be detrimental.

Another funny thing, some ridiculing this post are Schumann Resonator fans, a piece of equipment designed to mask earth's  background electromagnetic noise, shazam, a device used in audio systems to block ambient, steady state noise within listening rooms.
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
I think that is what most here are addressing. Ambient, Gear and Shock sound. The occasional noisier than usual car or helicopter or fog horn or gun shots or fireworks, or dog barking or the neighbor being a dick or Or OR.. LOL

Total noise is total noise, just like grove noise it's there just depends on the record, it's as simple as that.

I don't like dead quiet rooms that is for darn sure.. Clap test ready I say..
No heavy report, your close.
pauly
1,012 posts
 
We live a half mile from the freeway and those idiots produce so much noice it is unbelievable.


Yeah, you may want to consider the wisdom of living so close to the freeway if you wanted quiet. 
bigkidz
3,397 posts
 
Step One:  Install AC filter chokes in your components.  Plitron makes great chokes if you want to go all out.

Happy Listening.
baylinor's avatar
baylinor
1,430 posts
 
I no longer experience noise. Whisper quiet split AC unit verses central air duct. Triple pane 4" thick windows. 3" thick solid wood door, sound proof walls and ceiling construction on concrete floor. I see the outdoors but never hear it. Even construction trucks passing by 50 feet away. Without music playing it can get spooky. I even recently had to add a screen door because the room is so sealed I have to aerate it a half hour once a day because the C02 levels get out of whack at the end of each listening session. It's always something.
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