Help in minimizing hiss


I’m wondering if all hiss can be removed, particularly with highly efficient speakers.
The hiss in my system is audible from about 4-5’ away when it’s silent in the house.

All gear is on a dedicated line I installed with new 12/3 romex to the panel with a 20 amp breaker.
I’m using all quality power cables and XLRs.

Rig:
Oppo 105 - Schitt Freya + - Legacy Wavelet DSP - Pass Labs X260.8 - Legacy Valor (101 dB sens)

Thanks for any input you may have,Scott
simpleman68

Showing 6 responses by simpleman68

@mihorn  I have tried a few different types of power cords from stock to Pangea and now Nordost. I don't hear an audible difference in hiss.
The hiss got substantially quieter when I pulled the Panamax power conditioner out of the system.
Thanks for the input all; sarcastic and otherwise. lol
Oddly, I think the Wavelet may be as noisy as the Schitt.Switching to passive mode doesn't quiet things up very much.
Will play around with it more the next few days.
I don't have an extra set of tubes to try but will be ordering Gold Lions today to try out.
Agreed that it's important to lower the noise floor as much as possible and the hiss, while faint, is audible.
Turned on the Pass amps first and there was almost no audible noise with my ear on the tweets
Then I turned on the Wavelet and the hiss came back but not full volume
Then the Freya in full tube mode and the hiss got a bit louder but not much
Approximation:The Pass amps are less than 10% of the hissThe Wavelet is about 60% of itThe Freya (surprisingly) is only about 30% of the hiss
Thanks again for all the help guys, it's greatly appreciated.I can live with a bit of hiss that is inaudible from 3' + but just want to be sure I'm doing all I can to keep the signal path clean/clear.Scott
@erik_squires  I do have absorptive panels covering much of the wall behind the speakers and a 2'X4' treatment on sidewalls at first reflection points. Room is 18'X 34' with 19' ceilings.
@jsautter I'm only rolling tubes to replace the JJs that came with the Freya.
@lowrider57  Tube Depot set me up with low microphonic, matched etc GE 6SN7 GTAs. Should be here in a few days.
@jsautter  Again I don't expect the tubes to quiet things down. I am rolling them for improved sonics.
I'm not sure there's much I can do to quiet down the Wavelet which seems to be making the lions share of the hiss.