2. amps-preamps
  3. 1333080250

Any way to reduce pre-amp noise floor?

I have had my CJ ET3-SE tubed pre-amp for about a year now. When my system (McCormack DNA 500 amp, Esoteric X-05 CD, Aerial 10T speakers) is on and the CJ is set to "0" volume there is dead silence. However once I move the volume to to any level above zero ( no music playing, of course!) I hear a very soft but audible white noise. When I return the volume to zero the noise vanishes. This concerns me because I suspect that once the music begins to play, this noise floor becomes part of the overall sound.

This is my first "separates" system so I'm not sure if this is just a standard preamp phenomanon or if it is perhaps a sonic signature of CJ or if there is some real issue that needs to be fixed or can be tweaked. Any comments/suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
shoff

Showing 1 response by onemug

onemug
784 posts
 
For NOS the Amperex are my favorite 6922 followed by the Siemens. Supply can only go down and price most likely will keep rising so I'd say get em while you can.

I've been using current production Genalex Gold Lion 6922 in my CJ ART and have been very happy with them. Even though they are Russian, they sound more like the Amperex. The EH (sometimes Sovtek) is what CJ ships with. They are okay but I prefer the above for my tastes.

The JJ's have a nice tone and they are cheap but I'd have one or two get weak on me in short time. I did like them though so I would just buy a few extras with each batch of 10.

But so far the Genalex's are the ones that are doing it for me it tone and longevity. I buy them from Jim McShane at www.mcshanedesign.net.
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