You might have some noisy tubes. Is it the same on both channels?
My 1st Tube Equipment Experience
I just purchased a used Herron Audio VTSP-3A(r02) tube preamp, as a replacement for a NAD M12. I paired the M12 with a NAD M22 v2. My first impressions are the M12 has more detail, the VTSP is much warmer, which is what I wanted. The VTSP sound is definitely different. And while it lacks the M12 detail, I do like it.
With the M12, my speakers were dead silent when music was not playing. With the VTSP, I hear a slight hiss when I put my ear very near a speaker. With the M12, I used XLR from the M12 to the M22; XLR from my Parasound JC3 jr; and RCA from my Liberty DAC. With the VTSP, everything now is RCA.
Is a little hiss common when using a tube preamp and SS power amp with RCA cables?
With the M12, my speakers were dead silent when music was not playing. With the VTSP, I hear a slight hiss when I put my ear very near a speaker. With the M12, I used XLR from the M12 to the M22; XLR from my Parasound JC3 jr; and RCA from my Liberty DAC. With the VTSP, everything now is RCA.
Is a little hiss common when using a tube preamp and SS power amp with RCA cables?