2. misc-audio
  3. 179956-9627

Background noise.

I was just reminded of how critical the ambient noise level is to appreciating a good system.

Because the air quality has not been that good over the last week. I had turned on my air cleaner in the next room, on low, about 25 feet away from my audio seat… and 33’ from my speakers. The air filter is not noisy and set on low. I do not notice it when not listening to music while sitting in my audio chair.

I was listening to a vinyl album I know well. I appreciated that I could not hear a bit of surface noise, not even a little. But it seemed like something was missing… the full dynamics of the album.

Finally I remembered the air filter was on. I turned it off. Wow. What a difference. My system’s noise floor is way below my room’s with the air filter on… even though it is really difficult to hear the air filter without the system on.

Ambient noise is really important… even when at the threshold of perception. Distant refrigerators, laundry… or air conditioners. 

ghdprentice
erik_squires
16,237 posts
 

I find bad rooms and background noise don’t necessarily detract from the music but they add to the stress. You don’t realize you are working harder to listen until it’s gone.

twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 

Yes!  And that n-th degree of blacker black that reviewers talk about as attributable to expensive components, doesn't matter that much if you have any significant degree of ambient noise.

dpop
293 posts
 

@twoleftears 

Yes!  And that n-th degree of blacker black that reviewers talk about as attributable to expensive components, doesn't matter that much if you have any significant degree of ambient noise.

You got it! 

 

ghdprentice OP
7,135 posts
 

@twoleftears 

+1

 

I just remeasured the background… 25db with iPhone. It is Thursday mid morning… so, under ideal late night conditions it probably goes down a bit more, low 20’s. I then flipped on the air cleaner. My phone showed 27db… but… of course it jumps to high 30s - 40s if I take a breath. I think my conclusion is the iPhone Microphone just isn’t that sensitive in this range.

To me carefully listening, with and without the air cleaner sounds more like a 10db change (guess). I have a better SPL meter somewhere and a high quality microphone I bought for this purpose. I’ll pull them out.

BTW, three walls of my audio room (front and sides) are underground and as such help significant lower the noise floor. The distance from the speaker wall to rear wall is over 40 feet… so rear reflections are minimal.

I have always been cognizant of background noise. But, I am really surprised at the amount of special information, dynamics, and detail lost by a seemingly really small increase background noise.

Obviously, there are two things going on… your system background and ambient room background. These factors and their interplay have to be really important in results reported by lots of folks about there equipment performance.

ghdprentice OP
7,135 posts
 

@dpop

I have also been lucky enough to experience quiet. I used to explore caves and underground mines. Frequently alone… hmm, having said that, I am thinking in retrospect that was not that safe… I did this stuff a lot. Anyway, I have always been surprised at the quiet… but that in confined areas how you can sense the walls… in big caverns the noise floor drops away. You have to hold your breath and listen of course.

I worked for high tech companies. Our office in Germany had an anechoic chamber… yeah, now that is quiet.

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