Ssssh, is your tube preamp really that quiet?


Does anyone own, or know of, a tube preamp that is TRULY QUIET even when the volume is turned up? On my CAT tube preamp, there is always a certain amount of tube rush when the volume is up. This doesn't really bother me as it is not really audible when music is playing, BUT I'm sure the sound could be better IF this wasn't the case. Anyone have a totally quiet tube preamp?? No ssssh whatsoever!
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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,
03-18-14: Charles1dad
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,

Thank you Charles. For the record, the hiss I heard was through the built in MC phono stage on my Cary preamp while listening to LP's. Just for fun, I just repeated this test through the line stage, volume up, no music playing. I could still hear a hiss when I put my ear right up to the tweeter. Again, I don't really know what purpose this serves. It seems like useless information to me, but there it is.

Cheers,
John
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?

Actually, all phono sections make noise. Tube units tend to make more, thus SUTs are more commonly used with tube phono sections.

I personally find that tubes are more musical, so even though its harder to make them be quiet, I much prefer them to solid state phono sections.
That's why I went complementary toplogy solid state. The only tubes which were sweet and quiet in my gear were Telefunken 6922's from the early sixties, specially selected for H/P. And good luck finding those - they cost the earth fifty years ago.