Soundstage vs background noise?

I'm wondering if a significant contributing factor to the noise levels of your prior setup may have been noise induced by ground loop effects (which can result in high frequency buzz, as well as low frequency hum), and/or noise pickup in interconnects.

I see in your system description that you are now using a Pass INT-150 integrated amplifier, which obviously eliminates the possibility of ground loop effects between a preamp and power amp, as well as noise pickup in the cables that would connect those components. Also, perhaps you are now using a balanced connection between the Pass phono stage and the INT-150, while I suspect that your only option connecting the phono stage to the previous CJ or Rogue component would have been to go single-ended. Balanced connections are of course less susceptible to both ground loop effects and noise pickup than single-ended connections.

Assuring that a perceived sonic effect is attributed to the correct variable can often be a challenge in audio.

Regards,
-- Al

Zavato -

do you have a dedicated 20A line running directly to your system? If not, you may have had a ground loop or excessive RFI.

Background noise has nothing to do with sound staging. Noticeable noise, from the listening spot, during very low levels obscures the details. This noise is mostly quiet hiss. If the ambient noise in room is not very low, system noise may not matter.

I like the system noise to be inaudible, with my ear on the tweeter, at the highest volume level setting. Only then is the noise low enough, to not ever effect the low level details in music, IMO. This only happens with certain solid state equipment. Pure tube phono stages and LOMCs never reach this level, even on mint records.

I've have a dedicated 20A line for years. The Rogue is an integrated, but my CJ gear, an MV60SE and LS172, where seperates. Presently I am not running any balanced lines but years back when I had an Pass Pre and M L amp, I ran all balanced.

My phono stage and tuner have balanced outputs. Thinking of borrowing some balanced lines and experimenting into the INT-150