Noise floors


I'd like to address an issue that every single audiophile experiences, that being inherent/ambient steady state noise floors. Here we spend so much effort and money on our equipment in order to lower noise floor and increase resolution, transparency, only to lose some percentage of it on relatively high ambient noise floors. By this I mean the noise generated internally by home, hvac systems and so much more, add to that external, outside the home generated noise. Measuring over many years, over large variables, lowest readings of mid 20db to highest mid 50db in my dedicated listening room, these are steady state readings, any particular system in house may activate and or outdoor generated noises, which are even more variable, may kick in raising if from here.

And so, while we can address both these internal and external generated noise floors to some extent, we can't rid ourselves entirely of them. I presume there are widely varying levels of these noise floors for each of us, and it should be accounted for in reviews or evaluations of equipment. And could be reason for trusting only long term reviews, with varying noise floor levels within one's listening room, short term listening could have taken place during time of best or worse case room noise floor.

But mostly what bothers me is, here all this effort and money spent on equipment in attempt to lower noise floor, and so much of that lost by relatively ridiculous levels of steady state and/or ambient noise. Makes one think about getting closed back headphones, or moving out to extremely remote area to home with minimal internally generated noise. To think how much better  the very system I presently have would sound in that environment!


sns
Absolutely wonderful thread, really enjoyed reading everybody's thoughts.

As for me and my system, the next home that I buy, I will also make sure I build a dedicated listening room for my equipment.
@artemus_5    

"And I really enjoy my Corvette’s V8 engine, especially on the curvy mountain roads."
They are right. Ignorance is bliss.
That external noise floor is something I recently noticed is gone with my RAAL SR1a headphones. Which are really 2 speakers strapped to my ears. If you are a 2 channel person then you really need to hear these headphones. Drive them with a powerful 2 channel amp.

I went a little crazy a few weeks ago by setting up the RAAL system with the quietest gear I had. I used an Audience FrontRow speaker wire, 2 Benchmark AHB2 monos, and a CODA 07x preamp, with a couple of DACs that measured great (BM DAC3B and Gustard X26 Pro). By eliminating the external noise and reducing the internal noise to what seemed like 0, I heard some of the best sound from any system I have encountered.

My Benchmark gear is very quiet. So much so that I cannot hear any noise with my ear against the floor stander tweeter. The new Topping pre90 is a preamp I sometimes use when I want something quieter than the CODA 07x.
Speaking of vehicles, noise and internal combustion engines. I have 2021 Ducati Supersport S, Suzuki DRZ400 and 2011 Mustang GT modded to no end. They all make lots of noise, I may be guilty of imposing on someone's listening session. Still,I'm relatively tame when it comes to aftermarket exhausts, not obnoxiously loud.

As for electric vehicles, was up Northern MIchigan on Ducati, nephew on his Aprilia RSV4, got behind a Tesla X (1,020 hp) on a beautiful very little traveled winding and hilly road. The Tesla saw us behind him, decided to race, we got up to speeds well in excess of 100, fun times if you don't mind danger.  That Tesla is one torque monster, and that torque is always on tap. My nephew had to hit over 150mph to pass the Tesla, I'm not quite the risk taker my nephew is, I was happy to stay behind.
Don't laugh at electric vehicles, they will supplant the internal combustion engine, performance freaks need not fret. Sure, they don't make the sound and the diy mechanic (as I am) will likely not have much to work on. But they will outperform the internal combustion engine, offer more reliability, and be more durable. The present greatest defects, specifically range, charging time and available charging stations will be solved. I'm a gear head and not scared and or hateful of the electric car future. And then we'll have all that silence to behold, good for the listening room.
I live 4-5 miles from Nellis AFB. When they are doing exercises some of the jets make enough sound to rattle my windows.

I love it.