No, seriously, how low can you go when it comes to noise floor? (Hope I got this in under the right topic).
Noise Floor, one of those concepts that can supposedly improve your system overall right?
You ask yourself, "What can I do to improve my system overall without getting new equipment?"
Many will tell you, lower your noise floor.
But how far can it be improved? Obviously, everyone’s system will be different including room acoustics and so the solution will be different but I am inquiring to see there must be a point at which you say, well that is as low as it’s going to get, right?
For example, in my system just a while back I got a Isotek Evo 3 Sirius Power Bar and High Fidelity Cables MC-0.5 and I feel both together have made a noticeable difference, maybe not dramatic but noticeable (or maybe it’s just in my head).
But then I read about the following also:
- Dedicated power/circuit - Computer Audio Design Ground Control Products - JCAT Femto USB Card to enhance Digital Side
And the list can go on and on.
Is there a point where the floor is as low as it is going to go?
well there you have it, @millercarbon has stated that reducing the noise floor to improve dynamic range - leading to better clarity and details, larger imaging and improved PRaT - is a total waste of time and effort. As long as you can drown it all out with vinyl surface noise nobody should mind. Meanwhile buy more paste, tape, dots, and mats...which are for what again?
Two sorts of ways of looking at this. The noise floor that is the noise you hear when the volume is turned up, this noise hardly even matters. In my system this noise level is so high you can hear it from the door. Its totally obvious from the sweet spot. When the needle drops the groove noise is even louder. When the music starts none of this matters.
Because when the music starts then there's the noise floor that is the silence between the notes. When this noise floor is low you can hear the subtle acoustic signature of the recording venue clearly, sometimes even between the notes in fairly loud passages. Its just there all the time.
Whether you even call this a noise floor, or consider it more micro-dynamics or detail, or say its the ability of the system to start and stop so fast and clean, there's different ways of looking at it. Whatever you call it this one matters a whole lot more than the other one.
Grounds and dedicated circuits mostly affect the second more meaningful form of noise. The kind of noise that tends to become interwoven into the signal and part of the music. The other white noise, and sometimes low level hum, these are more constant and so more easily heard when nothing is playing, but also more easily tuned out by the ear/brain once the music starts.
Yeah I deleted and decided to go another way precisely because I could see one of the usual suspects completely misinterpreting it, misrepresenting it,and flat out lying about what was said. MDS. Its a thing.
Well I don't even agree with what you wrote in your sanitized version. How on earth doesn't this amount of noise as quoted below make a material difference in terms of both measured noise and psychoacoustics?
In my system this noise level is so high you can hear it from the door. Its totally obvious from the sweet spot.
Since you’re mentioning USB cards I assume you’re not wondering about vinyl playback. Unless you have old or very poorly designed components the speakers will measure the highest in most systems. DACs should be the lowest, preamps and amps or integrated next. As long as your system measurements are below approximately- 110 dB don’t worry about it. Cables, interconnects etc.. don’t add or subtract enough to matter unless they were designed as tone controls. Turn your system on crank it a bit if you don’t hear any hiss that’s a good start. Put on some music with vocals and acoustic instruments, turn it up as loud as you usually play then a little more if the guitar sounds like a digeredo and vocals a bit like they sucked helium you have some noise, if not don’t worry about it. If you don’t have vinyl or tape in the chain, only CD or streaming you should never hear any background hum or hiss, I can turn my volume all the way up with nothing playing and hear a pin drop it’s that quiet. I would blow out my eardrums before I can hear any level noise in even poorly recorded music and I use inexpensive interconnects and Canare 4s11 speaker wire. I don’t have dedicated circuits or cable risers, magic mats or goop pasted all over everything. None of that crap helps at all just have properly designed equipment that measures good and wires of proper guage. Oh and speakers that measure as flat as possible from 20hz to 20khz, speakers matter the most since they should measure the worse unless you’re into vinyl or tape then you’ll get hiss, flutter,rumble.
Man, I just woke up from a nap and missed Miller's first response.
But thanks for the responses nonetheless.
I hate this feeling of trying to run after something that might not even be there (Yea I know, it's probably there) instead of just sitting down and enjoying the music. My latest itch is to see how much better I can improve the system not by buying big fancy equipment but by trying to improve upon what I already have.
I certainly do feel overall things sound good (sure there is occasional songs/tracks that might not) and so I should just sit down and stay content.
Ahh Content, that is the word I'm looking for. I'm not content. I should be though.
I feel if I could just make one more tweak or get one more "thing", it's finally going to make me feel that I have finished but I know I'm fooling myself.
I just keep wondering, If I am able to further assist in dropping this supposed noise floor, then things will just sound soo much better.
Damn, I miss my boombox. It was so simple back in the day.
I see you have a turn table and some tubes in the Vincent? Tubes will cause distortion which is a bit different than noise and the turn table adds but other than the turn table connection, cables aren't going to lower noise in your system.
The passive ambient room noise Is important and not always super expensive to attack, especially if you have a DIY mindset. Think treatments, curtains, seal windows and doors, use weather stripping, double Sheetrock, green glue, etc...
the active noise is a bit more difficult but still can be attacked , wall warts ( the switch mode supply type ) on a separate conditioner AND a separate dedicated circuit, etc
get your power panel aligned, motors and hash producers on opposite leg of the analog audio
optical isolation
physical isolation, TT and balanced phono pre in separate room or failing that significant isolation
electrical components isolated with drains....
have fun
never lose sight of the emotional connection to music
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