High Efficiency System- Noise Floor Reality Check?

Just a point of reference regarding the Audiopax monoblocks and the Art Audio PX 25 amplifier. I've had both in my system driving Duos. Both are fantastic products. Although the 'Pax are quiet, the Art Audio PX 25 amp has a significantly lower noise floor. The Art Audio could be the quietest tube amp around.

Some people talk about a desire to achieve a noise-free "mystical" blackness where music appears against a noise-free background. Using the PX-25 with my Basis Debut 'table (w/its hydraulic suspension that keeps the 'table immune to outside vibration/noise) this blackness was achieved which adds significant enjoyment. Hearing low level details that would otherwise be missed, and to hear every note played during fade outs is a thing of beauty.

For high efficiency speakers such as Avantgardes, be sure to get the low voltage input option on the Art Audio PX 25.

"...if you put your ear up the tweeter or midrange horn, a soft 'zzzz' type electrical noise, and from the woofers, a muted 60 hz hum. From the listening distance you can't hear it at all...

I'm not so anal as to believe I can eradicate all system noise on a set up of this type, but I'm concerned that even this low level of residual noise may interfere with the system's musical capabilities."

My friend, listen to yourself. You're analyzing it to death.
You have the same problem as me, you are listening to the machinery and not the music.

I have found a simple solution; reading while listening. It distracts my analytical nature enough to allow my asethetic nature to enjoy the music without criticism. Try it.

Douglas, using your solution 'reading while listening', could also be applied to all perceived 'problems' with audio systems, especially those nasty sounding cables and PCs. Still, I don't know how you can listen AND read at the same time, if you are serious about any of the two!
Bob P.

'reading while listening' that'll make the music sound better

I like to listen while reading... it makes the book better too

;-)

Well, no joy yet. Got one of those Granite Ground Zero thingies, it does work, but it is not solving my problem (yet). In fairness to the manufacturer, I don't want to suggest that I have reached the end of all possibilities in using it- for example, where does one find a ground on the Shunyata Hydras? Those are the only 'components' in the system that have not yet been routed through the Ground Zero.

I also tried: removing everything plugged into the step down transformer other than the hi-fi system Shunyatas- no difference; running the Shunyatas into conventional outlets in the room that have nothing to do with the step-down transformer (and pulling the plug on the step down transformer as well). No dice.

My electrician came by yesterday- at first, he looked at me like I was insane for complaining about noise that you hear by putting your ear close to these big speakers- but, after a few minutes he acknowledged that he could hear it in the room, sitting nearby the speaker, not right on top of it.

He is of course willing to install a separate subpanel for 240, giving me the option of either leg to experiment with and setting up yet another group of dedicated lines with an isolated ground. This will involve some cost and some breaking of walls~ so i've been trying to find solutions short of that. The killer, though, would be for him to do all this work, and for me to still have the hum.

I suppose he could rig up something temporary to see if it does the job, but the distances are more than 50 ft. from the main panel to the room- and three floors up- I wonder if he has a really long extension cord?

Any further thoughts on this, gang?

BTW, got a Monaco amp stand with the carbon shelf and footers from a fellow 'Goner yesterday- wow! Sort of like
taking your car out of the mud and driving it on smooth, fresh pavement. The fact that it is gorgeous doesn't hurt,either.

This noise problem is driving me a tad crazy, though.

(OH, yeah, I'm supposed to get my new TT today too, so
at some point, this system is going to reach its potential).