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Re: Are tubed phono stages noisier as a broad sweeping generalization?

I assume you are judging the noise level for some fixed level position (volumn control) on your pre-amplifier, that's how the post reads in any event. The problem with that is that it assumes the units all have the same gain, which is highly unlikely.

However in general I would imagine that tube stage *do* have more static noise than SS units. Yet that in itself doesn't mecessarily mean much. For example these static noise tests, turning the knob way up with no music playing, are highly misleading. What would the music level be were it playing?... likely at ear splitting levels unless we're talking a *really* noisey phono stage.

Then these is the question of how the static noise compares compares to record noise (for a given level)... typically record noise is higher.

Hence to judge if the noise level really does intrude on the music it must be jusged while playing music!... and then you must determine of the noise is infact from the stage and no from other sources (record noise).

Some folks however give a great deal of credence to the simple *no music* static noise test... for then just sticking with SS is probably best in the same sense that those who simply cannot live with record noise (incl. tick and pops) are best sticking with CDs.

No Guru, No Method, No Teacher


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