white noise from tweeters

No this is absolutely not normal for high end gear - typically at one foot you shouldn't be able to hear any hiss at all even with it cranked. Of course, at the start of a track you will often hear hiss just before the music starts and from several feet away (when it is cranked & on older analog or poor digital recording quality).

I experience some of this too but only at four inches or so from the tweeter. I'm using merlin speakers, ars sonum filharmonia integrated amp, all cardas golden reference ics, benchmark dac1. I wonder if my power conditioner may have something to do with it? Any inputs as to what fixed this for others?

Some amps are like that. Nothing is perfect so there will always be some noise from any amp - unless the speakers aren't sensitive enough to reproduce it. But hearing it from 12" is kind of loud. I have a tube amp on my speakers and can't hear the noise more than 4" away.

Arthur

I agree with those who claim 4" when it is really cranked +> thatt is more typical of high end. Nothing is totally silent when cranked...

I'm using an Audio Magic Stealth XXX, BAT VK-D5(tubed output stage), TacT RCS 2.2X, Cary SLM-100(tubed monos/mains), Hafler TransNova 9505(woofers)and my system is dead quiet with your ear against the Main speakers. I'd have to say there is a problem with your power amp, OR: There is the possibility that your CD to Naim interconnect is picking up RFI/EMI do to routing. Try disconnecting it and listening for noise. Are you using a power conditioner/upgraded A/C cables? Could be hash on the A/C too.

I contacted Naim and they responded very quickly, see their response below.
I'll try different speaker cable and "listen" to what happens.


This white noise is perfectly normal from our amplifiers, what is the specification of the speaker cable. Our amplifiers do not have inductors in the output and therefore the cable forms part of the output circuit of the amplifier, NAC A5 has a resistance of 9 milli ohms per meter and 16pF per meter and we recommend 3.5 to 5 meters per side for optimum loading and performance.

I dont know about any of you, but I feel that true Hi Fi components should not hiss, hum, or create these types of distractions. Is that too much to ask?

I dont know about any of you, but I feel that true Hi Fi components should not hiss, hum, or create these types of distractions. Is that too much to ask?

Some people feel that way - others actually like the snap crackle pop and hiss of Vinyl and hum from some types of older amp designs...

I have a theory that added noise can actually help us hear things in some cases, as it is well known that we hear "beat frequencies" that do not exist....so contrasting sounds against a noise floor may actually bring something to the experience. (It is also well known that we can "hear" up to 15 db BELOW a noise floor...again proof that noise does not necessarily block out what we hear...)

totally normal. they all do it. no amplifier is totally silent. If it was a slight hum, or buzz, i would say something is wrong, but a hiss/white-noise sound is fine.

04-18-08: Rcg412
"totally normal. they all do it. no amplifier is totally silent. If it was a slight hum, or buzz, i would say something is wrong, but a hiss/white-noise sound is fine."
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+1

I've tried different speaker cables and have the same result, the "white noise" remains. This noise does not change in intensity as the volume is increased and is always present even with no source connected.
I suppose I'll have to live with it, not such a big deal since at listening levels you can't hear it and the music sounds great. Thanks for all the input.