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Relative vinyl newbie here, long time audio nut.I own 3 phono stages, a tubed Bellari, a tubed Project Tube Box 2, and a "built into my preamp" solid state MM phono stage in my Threshold. When comparing the 3 for noise levels only (i.e. cranking them up LOUD with no LP spinning or cranking them LOUD during quiet LP passages or between tracks) the Bellari is the noisiest of the 3 with an midrangy type "wishy washy" noise; the Tube Box 2 is the second noisiest with a 40Hz"ish" hum (not your typical 60Hz deal)but little midrange noise; and the Threshold is the quietest with very little noise at all at the same given volume.
Is the noise I am hearing more related to the "tube topology" vs. "solid state topology" in a phono preamp or is it more of the, "hey those are $350 or less phono stages and your Threshold was big bucks" type of thing?
I want to use the tubed phono stages (I use tube amps) but am put off a bit by their backround noise. It's very mildly audible in between tracks or during quiet classical passages. If I didn't have the Threshold, I'd probably think nothing of the backround noise but it's "one of those things".
Just curious as to what others have noticed....
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Topic - Are tubed phono stages noisier as a broad sweeping generalization? - jjk12 15:37:16 04/16/07 (20)
- Still YES But There Are Exceptions - Karma16 17:59:39 04/17/07 (0)
- Re: Are tubed phono stages noisier as a broad sweeping generalization? - Bruce from DC 07:43:23 04/17/07 (1)
- Thanks Bruce and all for the .02 /nt\ - jjk12 13:40:18 04/17/07 (0)
- Thanks all, more info inside.... - jjk12 20:01:53 04/16/07 (1)
- If you have Threshold, why worry about the lesser gods? - Psychicanimal 08:16:35 04/17/07 (0)
- Yes, but, and that's a big butt. (nt) - Tightwad 18:26:40 04/16/07 (1)
- I don't see his butt. Must have been deleted - Olly 00:40:06 04/17/07 (0)
- Re: Are tubed phono stages noisier as a broad sweeping generalization? - Lew 18:23:48 04/16/07 (0)
- my experience has been completely opposite! - kuma 18:21:25 04/16/07 (0)
- So are you happy with the Threshold? I am unbiased in this topic. - tubesforever 17:58:49 04/16/07 (1)
- Missed opportunity! - bjh 18:06:06 04/16/07 (0)
- tubed phono stages sound better ! - Interstage Tranny 17:15:25 04/16/07 (1)
- You seem more than a little biased to me! Nothing wrong with that of course, - bjh 17:40:20 04/16/07 (0)
- "hey those are $350 or less phono stages and your Threshold was big bucks" - anumber1 16:16:33 04/16/07 (0)
- YES as a sweeping generalization. - Karma16 15:57:49 04/16/07 (2)
- Re: YES as a sweeping generalization. - rich121 16:37:51 04/16/07 (1)
- Re: YES as a sweeping generalization. - Karma16 17:43:31 04/17/07 (0)
- Re: Are tubed phono stages noisier as a broad sweeping generalization? - bjh 15:55:02 04/16/07 (2)
- Installing higher quality tubes can do wonders for noise... and give you many options for changing the character.. - rich121 16:45:10 04/16/07 (0)
- Exactly. nt - Rick W 16:40:48 04/16/07 (0)