dead quiet

As Atmasphere states, hum is almost always due to wiring/grounding faults. If the preamp hums without any cartridge input it is faulty...often power supply capacitors. Tube preamps that used ac filament excitation sometimes hummed, but that's why we use dc today.

Even relatively inexpensive solid state preamps can be very quiet. "Dead" is subjective. In my experience tube preamps exhibit some hiss, but this is an inherent characteristic of a tube and not under total control of the designer.

But the bottom line is that hiss and hum is almost always below the level of LP surface noise, and even further below even quiet sections of the recording. If you worry about noise that is audible only with your ear against the speaker you are exhibiting irrational audiophile paranoia.

...except that noise, hiss, hum, growling, yodeling, etc. marks its imprint on the total sound. I had a Grado Sonata in a Rega P-25 that hummed ever so slightly - I couldn't hear the hum when the record was playing. When I learned how to get rid of the hum..at least lower it, the result was much better in the overall presentation.

Atmasphere and Eldartford, great posts. When I first started dealing with noise issues in a new table rig a few years ago it would have helped me if I could have found these comments. Instead, I had to weed through the archives.

The operative comment though is:

But the bottom line is that hiss and hm is almost always below the level of LP surface noise, and even further below even quiet sections of the recording. If you worry about noise that is audible only with your ear against the speaker you are exhibiting irrational audiophile paranoia.

I've come to agree with this - but do others who have posted that "dead quiet" is possible agree too? Also, I don't think this is the same as "dead quiet".

Stringreen, FWIW the hum that the Grado exhibits in the Rega is a problem with the wiring of the Rega. It can be corrected by grounding the platter bearing and the motor to the same ground that the arm uses. I have no idea why Rega does not do this themselves but they don't.

Bdgregory, I think that the term 'dead quiet' has a little salt with it. **A lot** depends on the efficiency of your speakers- if they are 89db you will probably have to put your ear to the driver to hear the background noise, but it will be there regardless of the technology of the amp or preamp.

My speakers are 97db but I am not aware of the background hiss from my listening chair, although I can hear it when I stand by the speaker.

So- 'dead quiet' has to be taken in that context. IOW, virtually dead quiet :)

Bd,

"dead quiet" IS possible...but the natural limitations of the equipment itself will always generate some sort of a wave / footprint. This is inherent wihin the materials/parts used in electronics. As simple as this sounds...if you increase your vol to around 3/4 max output and not be able to disern "annoying" sounds (hiss, hum, etc..) you are fine. Some of the most romantic tubed gear will do this (granted, on a relatively small scale)..but the music produced on these machines is breathtaking regardless.