2. amps-preamps
  3. 174207-10803

Can one have too many tube components in a system?

Especially if one has sensitive speakers? For myself with ZU Omen defs, I have to keep an eye on the gain of the amps I choose since my BHK runs tubes. If gain is too high, tube hiss becomes an issue. However, I see people with tubed amp, tube pre, tubed phono pre, tubed dac......doesn't the tube his (just like tape hiss every time you copy a tape over and over) intensify with every component? Or to pull this off one needs less efficient speakers?

aberyclark

Showing 1 response by russ69

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russ69
3,570 posts
 

...doesn't the tube hiss (just like tape hiss every time you copy a tape over and over) intensify with every component?

No it doesn't. Tube gear should be dead quiet. If you have hiss most likely one of your amplified stages has too much gain. You can lower that with an attenuator. I have 6 tube amps (and a few tube preamps) all are absolutely quiet. 

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