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

Showing 1 response by designsfx

designsfx
783 posts
 

ghdprentice-

I can appreciate your comments and it makes me want to ask “how low is the typical noise floor in your listening environment? I would think very low if the effects of an air cleaner made a difference from that distance.

I fight this myself since putting my equipment into a small room. The equipment (tubes) can quickly raise the temperature in this space by over 10 degrees and demands the use of air conditioning for listening periods of over an hour.

This room (when using a db meter phone app) sits at 25db with just the equipment running. That will jump to 45 with the A/C on. The airflow definitely has an effect on how I hear the music- but sometimes it becomes unbearable without it!

BTW- I like your system! A very nice setup- our systems have some similarities as we are both AR users.

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